From 7c6f96b370b7208f699d037b81b2ce2720736794 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Joe Grandja <jgrandja@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2018 21:11:16 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] Initial version

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+# Spring Security Release Process
+
+## Perform a Milestone, RC or GA Release
+
+**NOTE:** This release process uses the [spring-build-conventions](https://github.com/spring-gradle-plugins/spring-build-conventions) gradle plug-in. 
+
+### Process Overview
+
+1. Update dependencies
+2. Update release version
+3. Push the release commit
+4. Tag the release
+5. Update to next development version
+6. Update version on project page
+7. Close / Create Milestone
+8. Announce the release
+
+### Detailed Steps
+
+#### 1. Update dependencies
+
+- Dependencies are declared in `gradle/dependency-management.gradle`
+- Update Spring Framework and Spring Data at a minimum
+- Then find dependencies that need updating by running the following commands:
+    - `./gradlew dependencyUpdates -Drevision=release`
+    - `find . -name report.txt | xargs cat > dep-updates.txt`
+    - `cat dep-updates.txt | fgrep ' ->' | sort | uniq`
+
+#### 2. Update release version
+ 
+- Update the version number in `gradle.properties` for the release, for example, `5.1.0.M1`, `5.1.0.RC1`, `5.1.0.RELEASE` 
+
+#### 3. Push the release commit
+ 
+- Push the release commit and [Jenkins](https://jenkins.spring.io/job/spring-security/) will build and deploy the artifacts
+
+#### 4. Tag the release
+
+- Tag the release and then push the tag
+
+#### 5. Update to next development version
+ 
+- Update release version to next `BUILD-SNAPSHOT` version and then push
+
+#### 6. Update version on project page
+
+- Update release version on [projects.spring.io](https://spring.io/admin/projects/spring-security)
+
+#### 7. Close / Create Milestone
+
+- In [GitHub Milestones](https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-security/milestones), 
+create a new milestone for the next release version and move any open issues 
+from the existing milestone you just released to the new milestone and then close the milestone for the release.
+
+#### 8. Announce the release
+
+- Create a [Blog](https://spring.io/admin/blog)
+- Tweet from [@SpringSecurity](https://twitter.com/springsecurity)
+- Send email to [Spring Developer](spring-developer@pivotal.io)
+- Announce via Slack and cc Andy Wilkinson, Gary Russell and Artem Bilan