We're nearing the end of the Feature Freeze. Next step is to finalize all of the tutorials, documentation, etc. and achieve string freeze.
There are also still 19 critical bugs open.
Bryce
Frost: + (DONE) Wrap up development work + (DONE) Select an about screen + (DONE) Release Notes is 90% filled in + (DONE) Bug Hunt: 300 points + (DONE) Identify the Release Wardens for 0.45 + (DONE) Post inkscape-0.45pre0.tar.gz
Feature Freeze: *** + (DONE) SVN is branched + (DONE) No further development work on release branch + (DONE) Re-enable the old PDF export + (DONE) Focus on critical bug fixing + Finalize all tutorials, docs, extensions, etc. + Translators create translations + (DONE) Inkscape must pass 'make distcheck' + (DONE) Packagers encouraged to test package creation + (DONE) Post inkscape-0.45pre1.tar.gz
Hard Freeze: + Focus on 'MUST FIX' bug fixing + Finalize translations + Finalize release notes + Test installation of packages for all major platforms + Post inkscape-0.45pre2.tar.gz
Release + Final verification of late work, packaging, release notes, etc. + Post inkscape-0.45.tar.gz + Post packages for major platforms + Post official announcements