Setting Up CI/CD GitHub Actions for Releases in All Repositories

[SergeyShorokhov]

Proposal

We propose to configure Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) using GitHub Actions for all repositories within the ReHLDS organization. This setup will streamline the release process for modules, engines, and plugins, ensuring that each release is well-structured and adheres to clear versioning standards.

Objectives

1. Automated Release Process: Implement GitHub Actions workflows that automate the build and release processes for each repository. This will reduce manual intervention, minimizing the risk of errors during releases.

2. Clear Versioning: Establish a clear versioning strategy (e.g., Semantic Versioning) that defines how version numbers are incremented for different types of changes (major, minor, patch). This clarity will help users understand the impact of each release.

3. Release Artifacts: Ensure that the CI/CD pipeline generates relevant release artifacts (e.g., compiled binaries, documentation) that can be easily accessed by users and contributors.

4. Automated Changelog Generation: Utilize tools to automatically generate changelogs based on commit messages or pull request titles. This will provide users with a clear understanding of what has changed in each release.

5. Notifications and Announcements: Configure GitHub Actions to notify relevant stakeholders or community channels (e.g., Telegram group) whenever a new release is published. This will enhance visibility and engagement around new features or bug fixes.

Implementation Steps

1. Define Versioning Strategy: Decide on a versioning convention (e.g., Semantic Versioning) and document the process for contributors.

2. Create GitHub Actions Workflows:

   • Set up workflows for building, testing, and releasing code.
   • Ensure workflows are defined in a way that they can be reused across different repositories.

3. Integrate Release Management Tools: Consider using tools like release-it, semantic-release, or custom scripts to facilitate automated versioning and changelog generation.

4. Test the Workflow: Conduct thorough testing of the CI/CD setup to ensure it functions as expected across all repositories.

5. Document the Process: Create clear documentation for contributors on how the CI/CD system works, including how to create releases, what versioning strategy to follow, and how to write changelog entries.

Benefits of CI/CD Implementation

• Consistency: A standardized release process across all repositories ensures that releases are predictable and reliable.
• Efficiency: Automation reduces the time and effort required to manage releases, allowing maintainers to focus on development.
• Quality Assurance: Automated testing as part of the CI/CD pipeline helps catch issues early, improving the overall quality of releases.
• Enhanced User Experience: Clear versioning and well-structured releases provide users with a better understanding of updates, leading to increased satisfaction and engagement.

Conclusion

Implementing CI/CD with GitHub Actions for releases across all ReHLDS repositories is a vital step toward improving our development workflow. This initiative will enhance the quality, consistency, and efficiency of our releases, benefiting both contributors and users alike.