[{release_main_version}] Release {release_version}

These are the instructions for releasing {release_version}, scheduled for {release_date}.

---

Perform all the steps below in order. When running any GitHub workflow, ensure you do it from the trunk branch (the default) and input the release version or branch as indicated.

Keep the Release Troubleshooting & Recovery guide handy, in case you encounter any issues.

---

1. Release readiness review

Go through this with the Product DRI (named on the parent tracking issue) before starting the build. The goal is a deliberate "this RC is ready to go out" call, with the evidence in one place. See the readiness guide for details on each item.

• Review the QIT compatibility regression sweep report for this prerelease. Every introduced issue has a verdict: blocking or not.
• Every open finding against this release (bug reports, testing threads, monitoring alerts) has a linked issue and a verdict: release-blocking / fix in a point release / not a bug.
• The rollback path for this release is known: who reverts, how, and what revert means for this version (see the troubleshooting guide).
• Comms are ready: the changelog is in shape and there's a known-issues list if the verdicts above left anything open.

If an item can't be checked, raise it in #woo-core-releases before continuing - delaying an RC is cheaper than reverting a stable.

2. Pre-build checks

• Confirm GitHub services are operational.
• Verify no open issues or pull requests exist against the {release_milestone} milestone. Ping authors as needed to merge or close.
• Ensure that there aren't any pull requests with label "cherry pick failed" that apply to this release that haven't been actioned.
• Confirm the Stable tag value in the readme.txt on the release branch matches the one on WordPress.org's trunk.

3. Build the release package

• Run workflow Release: Bump version number: enter {release_main_version} as Release branch and {release_type} as Type of version bump to perform.
• Review and merge the PR that was generated against the release branch. Check for remaining open issues or pull requests in the {release_milestone} milestone.
• Run workflow Release: Compile changelog: enter {release_main_version} as Version and leave Release date empty, except when building the package ahead of schedule.
• Review and merge the PRs that were generated: one against trunk and another one against the release branch. Both are linked in the workflow run.
• Run workflow Release: Build ZIP file to build the asset and create the GitHub release: enter {release_main_version} as Release branch and check Create GitHub release.
• Confirm that a draft {release_version} release was created in the repository with an attached woocommerce.zip asset.

4. Upload the release to WordPress.org

• Run workflow Release: Upload release to WordPress.org: enter {release_version} as Release tag to upload and make sure to check 'I confirm that I want to upload a release to WordPress.org.'
• Confirm that SVN tag {release_version} exists on WordPress.org SVN.
• Log into WordPress.org using the credentials from the WordPress.org "WooCommerce" user account secret in the secret store and approve the release.
• After a few minutes, confirm that {release_version} is available for download.

5. Deploy to the staging environment

• Follow the guide to deploy to the staging environment and monitor for at least {release_monitoring_time} hours after deploy.
• Share the #atomic staging thread in #woo-core-releases for visibility. If monitoring surfaces an issue, create a dedicated #woo-core-releases thread for that issue.

If a critical issue was detected while monitoring...

• Request a revert in the staging environment.
• Pause the release process and do not continue with any steps on this issue. Follow the procedure in the troubleshooting guide instead.

6. Publish the release

• Publish the {release_version} release draft that was previously created, as well as any other {release_main_version} drafts that might exist from previous attempts. Do not check "Set as the latest release".