managing-python-releases

---
name: managing-python-releases
description: Manages Python library releases including semantic versioning, changelog maintenance (Keep a Changelog format), release automation with GitHub Actions, and deprecation workflows. Use when planning releases, writing changelogs, automating release pipelines, or communicating breaking changes.
license: MIT
---

# Python Release Management

## Semantic Versioning

```
MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH (e.g., 1.2.3)

PATCH: Bug fixes, no API changes
MINOR: New features, backward compatible
MAJOR: Breaking changes
```

## Changelog Format (Keep a Changelog)

```markdown
# Changelog

## [Unreleased]
### Added
- New `batch_encode()` function

## [1.2.0] - 2024-03-15
### Added
- Support for custom formats (#123)

### Fixed
- Edge case at -180 longitude (#145)

### Deprecated
- `old_function()` - use `new_function()` instead

[Unreleased]: https://github.com/user/repo/compare/v1.2.0...HEAD
[1.2.0]: https://github.com/user/repo/releases/tag/v1.2.0
```

**Categories:** Added, Changed, Deprecated, Removed, Fixed, Security

## Version in Code

```python
# src/package/__init__.py
__version__ = "1.2.3"

# Or use importlib.metadata
from importlib.metadata import version
__version__ = version("my-package")
```

## GitHub Actions Release

A tag-triggered workflow builds with `uv` and publishes to PyPI via trusted
publishing (no stored token). The full canonical pipeline — TestPyPI dry run,
GitHub release, and the release runbook — is in **[AUTOMATION.md](AUTOMATION.md)**.

```yaml
# .github/workflows/release.yml
on:
  push:
    tags: ['v*']

jobs:
  release:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    permissions:
      contents: write      # create the GitHub release
      id-token: write      # trusted publishing (no token)
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v5
      - run: uv build
      - uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
        with:
          files: dist/*
      - uses: pypa/gh-action-pypi-publish@release/v1
```

## Deprecation Process

Warn with `stacklevel=2` so the message points at the caller. Deprecating
parameters, classes, or whole modules — and the migration-guide template — is
covered in **[MIGRATION.md](MIGRATION.md)**.

```python
import warnings

def old_function():
    """Deprecated: Use new_function() instead."""
    warnings.warn(
        "old_function() deprecated, will be removed in 2.0.0",
        DeprecationWarning,
        stacklevel=2,
    )
    return new_function()
```

## Release Process

```bash
# 1. Update CHANGELOG.md (move Unreleased to version)
# 2. Bump version in pyproject.toml and __init__.py
# 3. Commit and tag
git commit -am "Release v1.2.0"
git tag -a v1.2.0 -m "Release v1.2.0"
git push origin main --tags
# 4. CI publishes automatically
```

For detailed workflows, see:
- **[AUTOMATION.md](AUTOMATION.md)** - Version bump scripts
- **[MIGRATION.md](MIGRATION.md)** - Migration guide template

## Checklist

```
Before Release:
- [ ] All tests pass
- [ ] CHANGELOG updated
- [ ] Version bumped
- [ ] Documentation current

After Release:
- [ ] PyPI shows new version
- [ ] pip install works
- [ ] GitHub release created
- [ ] Docs updated
```

## Learn More

This skill is based on the [Maintenance](https://mcginniscommawill.com/guides/python-library-development/#maintenance-the-long-game) section of the [Guide to Developing High-Quality Python Libraries](https://mcginniscommawill.com/guides/python-library-development/) by [Will McGinnis](https://mcginniscommawill.com/). See these posts for deeper coverage:

- [Semantic Versioning](https://mcginniscommawill.com/posts/2025-01-28-semantic-versioning/)