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+# Release Process
+
+1. Open PR to master that
+   1. adds release notes to `doc/CHANGELOG.md` and
+   2. if this is **not** a patch release, updates `_PKG_VERSION_{MAJOR,MINOR}` and `_LIB_VERSIONS_*` in `configure.ac`
+2. After the PR is merged,
+   * if this is **not** a patch release, create a release branch with name `MAJOR.MINOR`.
+     Make sure that the branch contains the right commits.
+     Create commit on the release branch that sets `_PKG_VERSION_IS_RELEASE` in `configure.ac` to `true`.
+   * if this **is** a patch release, open a pull request with the bugfixes to the `MAJOR.MINOR` branch.
+     Also include the release note commit bump `_PKG_VERSION_BUILD` and `_LIB_VERSIONS_*` in `configure.ac`.
+4. Tag the commit with `git tag -s vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`.
+5. Push branch and tag with `git push origin --tags`.
+6. Create a new GitHub release with a link to the corresponding entry in `doc/CHANGELOG.md`.