Release of DataFusion: 7.0.0

[alamb]

I wonder if it is time to release a new version of datafusion to crates.io?

It would be great to crowdsource:

1. Update readme / changelog
2. Update version
3. (maybe) a blog post?

I am happy to handle creating a release candidate / doing the official voting process.

[xudong963]

Yeah, I think we can wait for arrow2 related tickets merged into master?
BTW, I can help write a blog!

[alamb]

arrow2 may be a good driver.

I don't have a good sense of how many projects use datafusion from crates.io (aka what has been released) vs how many use it via a github sha . IOx (my project) uses the sha but I realized that maybe others are waiting for an actual release

[alamb]

There is all sorts of good stuff in DataFusion since we last made a release. Since arrow (C++) just released a 7.0.0 I was thinking to do the same with DataFusion (as @pauldix says the success of a project is predicated on 1. Making sweet sweet software and 2. telling people about it). We have done 1, and now we need to do a bit more of 2. ✍️

[matthewmturner]

Perhaps we can start crowdsourcing points for a post / blog on a google doc. I've made one here (sry havent had chance to add anything yet but trying to help as i can):

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17uB1GIN58xOehQP5XpJH8J3qA7KDS1WQJzyHzW7L1kU/edit?usp=sharing

[alamb]

Thank you @matthewmturner

[houqp]

I won't have the time to drive the release this time, but happy to help fixing any issue with the existing release automation and guide anyone through the process.

[alamb]

I can drive the release

[xudong963]

I will finish this issue #1400 before release to give our users a clearer readme

[matthewmturner]

@alamb FYI i went through and made some updates to the google doc.

Next up I will focus on performance improvements / new features. If you have anything in particular in mind you would like added could just mention here or on doc and ill add it / look up the relevant issue / PR to link?

[alamb]

Thanks @matthewmturner -- I'll try and give the doc another pass through later today