feat(release strategy): Add archway protocol versioning and release strategy

releasing-archway.md

@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+# Archway Protocol Release Versioning
+
+Reference: [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org)
+
+Legend:
+
+- **X.Y.Z** refers to the version (git tag) of Archway Protocol that is released.
+- **Network Operator** refers to an entity running a node and/or a validator and/or a relayer.
+- **archway-1** refers to the chain id of archway protocl main network.
+- **constantine-1** refers to the chain-id of the archway protocol canary public test network.
+- **titus-1** refers to the the chain-id of the archway protocol development public test network.
+
+Note: Please refer to https://github.com/archway-network/networks for a registry of all public networks running archway protocol
+and network specific information.
+
+## Release versioning
+
+### Minor version scheme and timeline
+- X.Y.Z-rc.W (Branch: release-X.Y)
+  - When main is feature-complete for X.Y, we will cut the release-X.Y
+    branch and cherrypick only PRs essential to X.Y.
+  - If we're not satisfied with X.Y.0-rc.0, we'll release other rc releases,
+    (X.Y.0-rc.W | W > 0) as necessary.
+- X.Y.0 (Branch: release-X.Y)
+  - Final release, cut from the release-X.Y branch.
+  - X.Y.1-rc.0 will be tagged at the same commit on the same branch.
+- X.Y.Z, Z > 0 (Branch: release-X.Y) ([Patch releases](#patch-releases))
+  - [Patch releases](#patch-releases) are released as we cherrypick commits from main into
+    the release-X.Y branch, as needed.
+  - X.Y.Z is cut straight from the release-X.Y branch, and X.Y.Z+1-beta.0 is
+    tagged on the followup commit that updates pkg/version/base.go with the beta
+    version.
+- X.Y.Z, Z > 0 (Branch: release-X.Y.Z) (Branched [patch releases](#patch-releases) only for hotfix situations)
+  - These are rarely used and are special in that the X.Y.Z tag is branched to isolate
+    the emergency/critical fix from all other changes that have landed on the
+    release branch since the previous tag
+  - Cut release-X.Y.Z branch to hold the isolated patch release
+  - Tag release-X.Y.Z branch + fixes with X.Y.(Z+1)
+  - Branched [patch releases](#patch-releases) are rarely needed but used for
+    emergency/critical fixes to the latest release
+
+### Major version timeline
+
+There is currently no mandated timeline for major versions beyond version 1.Y.Z, Y,Z >= 0. We haven't so far applied a rigorous interpretation of semantic
+versioning with respect to incompatible changes of any kind.
+
+TODO: Major versioning criteria need to be put up for discussion once Archway protocol reaches 1.Y.Z release.
+
+## Patch releases
+
+Patch releases are intended for critical bug fixes to the latest minor version,
+such as addressing security vulnerabilities, fixes to problems affecting a large
+number of users and severe problems with no workaround.
+
+They should not contain miscellaneous feature additions or improvements, and
+especially no incompatibilities should be introduced between patch versions of
+the same minor version (or even major version).
+
+Dependencies, such as cosmos-sdk or tendermint, should also not be changed unless
+absolutely necessary, and also just to fix critical bugs (so, at most patch
+version changes, not new major nor minor versions).
+
+## Network Upgrades
+
+- Upgrade documentation and a graceful migration path must be provided between all **consective** minor releases.
+  e.g. going from v1.3.Z, Z >= 0 to v1.4.Z, Z >= 0 must be accompanied by relevant documentation and automated migration path.
+- Network upgrade must also follow sequential minor releases. e.g. if a network is running v1.2.Z, Z >= 0, it must first
+  upgrade to v1.3.Z, Z >= 0 before upgrading to v1.4.Z, Z >= 0
+- Network upgrades may skip patch release e.g. a network running v1.2.1 may directly upgrade to v1.2.4
+- Network upgrades on archway-1 and constantine-1 must happen through software upgrade proposals, with the exception of patch releases
+  e.g. for security hotfixes.
+- Once a software upgrade proposal passes, all network operator are expected to upgrade to the exact
+  same archway protocol release within a reasonable timeframe.
+- Each new release must be adopted and tested on constantine-1 before being adopted on archway-1.
+- titus-1 is an unstable development network, with no guarantees for stability or graceful upgrades. Network upgrades on titus-1 are
+  expected to reset network state and start again from block 1 at any given time.
+
+### Open Questions in Network upgrades:
+
+- How to build artifacts for titus-1?
+  - Should there be a build on each new commit on main branch?
+  - use X.Y.0-{alpha,beta}.W, W > 0 (Branch: master)
+    Alpha and beta releases are created from tags on main branch branch and should be used to run titus-1
+
+### Important upgrade scenarios with examples
+
+The following scenarios have hypothetical versions and do not reflect versions of actual live networks
+
+#### constantine-1 needs a network upgrade that only applied to constantine-1
+
+Imagine we need to adjust 'const' (cost is the stake denom for constantine-1) token supply for constantine-1 and this requires an upgrade handler (TODO: Add link to upgrade handler description) specifically for constantine-1
+
+Current Hypothetical State:
+
+- archway-1 is running v1.2.1 and cosntantine-1 is also running v1.2.1
+- v1.2.1 is the latest tag on the branch release-1.2
+- release-1.2 also has previous tag v1.2.0 and possibly various release candidate tags e.g. v1.2.0-rc1, v1.2.0-rc2 etc
+- release-1.2 branch was cut from main branch at a previous point in time to mark the feature completeness of 1.2.Z
+  release cycle and main branch has since moved on with various new features
+
+Upgrade Path:
+
+- Cut release-1.2.1 branch from release-1.2 at tag v1.2.1 to hold the isolated patch release
+- Add the specific upgrade handler to release-1.2.1 branch
+- Tag release-1.2.1+upgrade handler as v1.2.2
+- Upgrade constantine-1 to v1.2.2, at this point archway-1 will still be at v1.2.1
+- Next tag on release on release-1.2 branch would be v1.2.3
+- constantine-1 will upgrade from v1.2.2 -> v1.2.3
+- archway-1 will upgrade directly from v1.2.1 to v1.2.3
+
+TODO: Add more scenarios and examples.
+