Hi all,

We're getting close to being ready to make the 0.42 release. Currently we are in Feature Freeze mode while we fix bugs. We've closed a lot of bugs over the past few weeks and are nearly ready to move into the next phase.

Here is our process:

1. Start of release process - Finish up work on features. 2. Feature Freeze Mode - Shift focus from feature implementation to bug fixing <--- ** You are here ** 3. Hard Freeze - Two freeze wardens are named. All development must be done as patches submitted to the freeze wardens for review and integration. 4. Branch - The codebase is tagged and branched. Final release tarball is posted. The codebase is returned to regular open development. 5. Packaging - Three days are allowed for creating release dists (rpm's, deb's, exe's, and autopackages). 6. Release Announcement - A Release Announcement and a Press Release are written and circulated to relevant online news sites. Our Freshmeat record is updated.

Judging from the speed of our development work, we may be entering into Hard Freeze mode as early as this weekend.

At this time, in addition to resolving the remaining 'Must Fix' bugs, we need to wrap up work on the following:

* Everyone who has added features, please describe your work on the ReleaseNotes page.

* Arpad, can you let translators know we will be in Hard Freeze (including String Freeze) in about a week?

* ScislaC, would you mind bringing AUTHORS up to date? Several people have submitted patches lately, and I want to make sure we have all the credits in time for the about screen. :-)

* Jon & Kees, let me know if you two will be our Release Wardens this time through.

* Bulia, please let us know if we have the right set of Must Fix bugs accounted for.

* Ted, when you get a chance, can you put up another pre-release

* Rejon, can you prepare a preliminary press release for us? It's been a while since we had a release, so this will be important news. :-)

Thanks, and happy 4th to the usians. :-)

Bryce