[ Note: this howto is probably useful to core vlc developers only ]

  Release HOWTO
  -------------

 * Tests : compilation, regression tests ...

 * Changes on the svn repository
   - update the version number everywhere it's needed
     · configure.ac
     · extras/MacOSX/vlc.pbprj/project.pbxproj
     · extras/MacOSX/Resources/English.lproj/InfoPlist.string
   - update the ChangeLog and NEWS files, as well as the Trac database
     · LANG=C svn log -v -r '{YYYY-12-31}:{YYYY-01-01}' >! ChangeLog
     · read all the commits and add important things to the NEWS file
     · update the milestones info on https://trac.videolan.org/vlc
   - Add a note about the matching contrib package in INSTALL.win32
   - Make sure that the gpg key embedded in include/vlc_update.h is the last one

 * Commit

 * Tarballs (Use a clean tree !!!)
  - Use 'make distcheck' to make sure all files are exported
    correctly
  - copy the tar.gz and tar.bz2 file on ftp.videolan.org in
    /opt/ftp/pub/videolan/testing/vlc-X.X.X/
  - generate md5 hashes and gpg signature of these files

 * Contribs
  - Put a copy of the libraries or svn snapshot in vlc-X.X.X/contrib
  - Put the relevant win32 contrib package
  - Update developers.v.o/vlc and www.v.o/vlc/download-sources.html

 * BeOS Packages
    Information on building: http://developers.videolan.org/vlc/beos-compile.html
    Configure with --enable-update-check
    Build in the "buildbeos" chroot on altair.
    # add the .zip files to /opt/ftp/pub/videolan/testing/vlc-X.X.X/beos/
   generate md5 hashes and gpg signature of these files

 * Win32 Packages
    make the packages using the nightly builds configure/options/... , don't forget --enable-update-check
    don't forget to test the installer and uninstaller (the first 0.8.4 uninstaller was broken ...
    kind of suxxs)
    add the .zip and .exe files to /opt/ftp/pub/videolan/testing/vlc-X.X.X/win32/
   generate md5 hashes and gpg signature of these files

 * OS X packages
   configure with --enable-update-check
   generate md5 hashes and gpg signature of these files

 * Commit changes ... it never works the first time

 * "Tag" the release
    svn cp svn://svn.videolan.org/vlc/trunk svn://svn.videolan.org/vlc/tag/X.X.X
    or
    svn mv svn://svn.videolan.org/vlc/branches/X.X.X svn://svn.videolan.org/vlc/tag/X.X.X

 * Move /opt/ftp/pub/videolan/testing/vlc-X.X.X to /opt/ftp/pub/videolan/vlc/X.X.X
  - At first block access to this directory by http or ftp. Only authorize rsync.
    This is to avoid leak as some journalist and forum seems to watch the ftp.
  - Update the "latest" symlink

 * Update the website
  - edit the /index.php /vlc/*.php pages
  - add a news item to news.msg

 * "Check for updates" functionality
  - add /opt/ftp/pub/videolan/vlc/X.X.X/vlc-X.X.X-announce
  - edit update.videolan.org/vlc/status.xml

 * Mirrors
  - Forwarn the mirror admins
  - Update the list of files for the mirror check (/var/www/local/mirrors.v.o/files)
  - Disable mirrors which haven't replicated yet and possibly ganesh if enough
    other mirrors

 * Update wiki
  - edit http://wiki.videolan.org/Template:VLC:latest_version

 * Announce on www.gnome.org
  - click on "Get more software"
  - click on "Edit an existing map entry"
  - look for the 'vlc' package
  - update the version number and other info and submit
  - the change is instantaneaous

 * Announce on www.freshmeat.net (let sam do it)
  - you need a freshmeat account
  - go to http://www.freshmeat.net/projects/vlc/
  - click on the release's branch (ie Stable)
  - chose "add release" in the dropdown menu
  - fill out all the info and submit
  - the update can take several hours

 * Announce on VersionTracker
  - ask Meuuh

 * Announce email
  - write something along the lines of previous releases
  - post in videolan-announce (moderated), vlc et vlc-devel
  - add a sticky thread in the "General VLC media player discussion" forum