Document the Release Process

.vscode/settings.json

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+{
+  "cSpell.words": [
+    "supermajority"
+  ]
+}

release-checklist.md

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+# Release Checklist
+
+## Overview
+
+This document describes the checklist to publish a release via GitHub workflow.
+
+The maintainers may periodically update this checklist based on feedback.
+
+NOTE: Make sure the dependencies in `go.mod` file are expected by the release.
+For example, if there are dependencies on certain version of notation library (notation-go or notation-core-go) or ORAS library (oras-go), make sure that version of library is released first, and the version number is updated accordingly in `go.mod` file.
+After updating go.mod file, run `go mod tidy` to ensure the go.sum file is also updated with any potential changes.
+
+## Release Process
+
+1. Determine a [SemVer2](https://semver.org/)-valid version prefixed with the letter `v` for release.
+For example, `version="v1.0.0-alpha.1"`.
+1. Bump up the `Version` in [internal/version/version.go](internal/version/version.go#L5) and open a PR for the changes.
+1. Wait for the PR merge.
+1. Be on the main branch connected to the actual repository (not a fork) and `git pull`.
+Ensure `git log -1` shows the latest commit on the main branch.
+1. Create a tag `git tag -am $version $version`
+1. `git tag` and ensure the name in the list added looks correct, then push the tag directly to the repository by `git push --follow-tags`.
+1. Wait for the completion of the GitHub action [release-github](https://github.com/veraison/go-cose/blob/main/.github/workflows/ci.yml).
+1. Check the new draft release, revise the release description, and publish the release.
+1. Announce the release in the community.

release-management.md

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+# go-cose Release Management
+
+## Overview
+
+This document describes [go-cose][go-cose] project release management, which includes release criteria, versioning, supported releases, and supported upgrades.
+
+The go-cose project maintainers strive to provide a stable go-lang implementation for interacting with [COSE][ietf-cose] constructs.
+Stable implies appropriate and measured changes to the library assuring consumers have the necessary functionality to interact with COSE objects.
+If you or your project require added functionality, or bug fixes, please open an issue or create a pull request.
+The project welcomes all contributions from adding functionality, implementing testing, security reviews to the release management.
+Please see [here](https://github.com/veraison#contributing) for how to contribute.
+
+The maintainers may periodically update this policy based on feedback.
+
+## Release Versioning
+
+Consumers of the go-cose project may build directly from main, or pull from released builds.
+Builds from main must reference the git-commit as the version: `v1.0.0-2300d5c`
+
+All go-cose [releases][releases] follow a go-lang flavored derivation (`v*`) of the [semver][sem-ver] format, with optional pre-release labels.
+
+Logical Progression of a release: `v1.0.0-2300d5c` --> `v1.0.0-alpha.1` --> `v1.0.0-alpha.2` --> `v1.0.0-rc.1` --> `v1.0.0`
+
+A new major or minor release will not have an automated build/release posted until the branch reaches alpha quality.
+
+- all versions use a preface of `v`
+- `X` is the [Major](#major-releases) version
+- `Y` is the [Minor](#minor-releases) version
+- `Z` is the [Patch](#patch-releases) version
+- _Optional_ `-alpha.n` | `-rc.n` [pre-release](#pre-release) version
+  - Each incremental alpha or rc build will bump the suffix (`n`) number.
+  - It's not expected to have more than 9 alphas or rcs.
+The suffix will be a single digit.
+  - If > 9 builds do occur, the format will simply use two digit indicators (`v1.0.0-alpha.10`)
+
+_**Note**: Pre-releases will NOT use the github pre-release flag._
+
+## Branch Management
+
+To meet the projects stability goals, go-cose does not currently operate with multiple feature branches.
+All active development happens in main.
+For each release, a branch is created for servicing, following the versioning name.
+`v1.0.0-alpha-1` would have an associated [v1.0.0-alpha.1](https://github.com/veraison/go-cose/tree/v1.0.0-alpha.1) branch.
+All version and branch names are lower case.
+
+### Major Releases
+
+As a best practice, consumers should opt-into new capabilities through major releases.
+The go-cose project will not add new functionality to patches or minor releases as this could create a new surface area that may be exploited.
+Consumers should make explicit opt-in decisions to upgrade, or possibly downgrade if necessary due to unexpected breaking changes.
+
+The go-cose project will issue major releases when:
+
+- Functionality has changed
+- Breaking changes are required
+
+Each major release will go through one or more `-alpha.n` and `-rc.n` pre-release phases.
+
+### Minor Releases
+
+The go-cose project will issue minor releases when incremental improvements, or bug fixes are added to existing functionality.
+Minor releases will increment the minor field within the [semver][sem-ver] format.
+
+Each minor release will go through one or more `-alpha.n` and `-rc.n` pre-release phases.
+
+### Patch Releases
+
+Patch Releases include bug and security fixes.
+Patches will branch from the released branch being patched.
+Fixes completed in main may be ported to a patch release if the maintainers believe the effort is justified by requests from the go-cose community.
+If a bug fix requires new incremental, non-breaking change functionality, a new minor release may be issued.
+
+Principals of a patch release:
+
+- Should be a "safe bet" to upgrade to.
+- No breaking changes.
+- No feature or surface area changes.
+- A "bug fix" that may be a breaking change may require a major release.
+- Applicable fixes, including security fixes, may be cherry-picked from main into the latest supported minor release-X.Y branches.
+- Patch releases are cut from a release-X.Y.Z branch.
+
+Each patch release will go through one or more `-alpha.n` and `-rc.n` pre-release phases.
+
+### Pre-Release
+
+As builds of main become stable, and a pending release is planned, a pre-release build will be made.
+Pre-releases go through one or more `-alpha.n` releases, followed by one or more incremental `-rc.n` releases.
+
+- **alpha.n:** `X.Y.Z-alpha.n`
+  - alpha release, cut from the branch where development occurs.
+To minimize branch management, no additional branches are maintained for each incremental release.
+  - Considered an unstable release which should only be used for early development purposes.
+  - Released incrementally until no additional issues and prs are made against the release.
+  - Once no triaged issues or pull requests (prs) are scoped to the release, a release candidate (rc) is cut.
+  - To minimize confusion, and the risk of an alpha being widely deployed, alpha branches and released binaries may be removed at the discretion, and a [two-thirds supermajority][super-majority] vote, of the maintainers.
+Maintainers will create an Issue, and vote upon it for transparency to the decision to remove a release and/or branch.
+  - Not [supported](#supported-releases)
+- **rc.n:** `X.Y.Z-rc.n`
+  - Released as needed before a final version is released
+  - Bugfixes on new features only as reported through usage
+  - An rc is not expected to revert to an alpha release.
+  - Once no triaged issues or prs are scoped to the release, an final version is cut.
+  - A release candidate will typically have at least two weeks of bake time, providing the community time to provide feedback.
+  - Release candidates are cut from the branch where the work is done.
+  - To minimize confusion, and the risk of an rc being widely deployed, rc branches and released binaries may be removed at the discretion, and a [two-thirds supermajority][super-majority] vote, of the maintainers.
+Maintainers will create an Issue, and vote upon it for transparency to the decision to remove a release and/or branch.
+  - Not [supported](#supported-releases)
+
+## Supported Releases
+
+The go-cose maintainers expect to "support" n (current) and n-1 major.minor releases.
+"Support" means we expect users to be running that version in production.
+For example, when v1.3.0 comes out, v1.1.x will no longer be supported for patches, and the maintainers encourage users to upgrade to a supported version as soon as possible.
+Support will be provided best effort by the maintainers via GitHub issues and pull requests from the community.
+
+The go-cose maintainers expect users to stay up-to-date with the versions of go-cose release they use in production, but understand that it may take time to upgrade.
+We expect users to be running approximately the latest patch release of a given minor release and encourage users to upgrade as soon as possible.
+
+While pre-releases may be deleted at the discretion of the maintainers, all Major, Minor and Patch releases should be maintained.
+Only in extreme circumstances, as agreed upon by a [two-thirds supermajority][super-majority] of the maintainers, shall a release be removed.
+
+Applicable fixes, including security fixes, may be cherry-picked into the release branch, depending on severity and feasibility.
+Patch releases are cut from that branch as needed.
+
+## Security Reviews
+
+The go-cose library is an sdk around underlying crypto libraries, tailored to COSE scenarios.
+The go-cose library does not implement cryptographic functionality, reducing the potential risk.
+To assure go-cose had the proper baseline, two [security reviews](./reports) were conducted prior to the [v1.0.0](https://github.com/veraison/go-cose/releases/tag/v1.0.0) release
+
+For each release, new security reviews are evaluated by the maintainers as required or optional.
+The go-cose project welcomes additional security reviews.
+See [SECURITY.md](./SECURITY.md) for more information.
+
+## Glossary of Terms
+
+- **X.Y.Z** refers to the version (based on git tag) of go-cose that is released.
+This is the version of the go-cose binary.
+- **Breaking changes** refer to schema changes, flag changes, and behavior changes of go-cose that may require existing content to be upgraded and may also introduce changes that could break backward compatibility.
+- **Milestone** GitHub milestones are used by maintainers to manage each release.
+PRs and Issues for each release should be created as part of a corresponding milestone.
+- **Patch releases** refer to applicable fixes, including security fixes, may be backported to support releases, depending on severity and feasibility.
+
+## Attribution
+
+This document builds on the ideas and implementations of release processes from the [notation](https://github.com/notaryproject/notation) project.
+
+[go-cose]:        https://github.com/veraison/go-cose
+[ietf-cose]:      https://datatracker.ietf.org/group/cose/about/
+[sem-ver]:        https://semver.org
+[releases]:       https://github.com/veraison/go-cose/releases
+[super-majority]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermajority#Two-thirds_vote

reports/README.md

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 # Security Reports
-This folder contains all the security review reports for the go-cose library.
 
+This folder contains all the security review reports for the go-cose library.
 
 ## List of Security Reports
 
 | Review Date | Name of Security Review               |         Report Location       |
-|:------------|:--------------------------------------| -------------------------------
+|:------------|:--------------------------------------| -------------------------------|
 | May 16, 2022 | NCC Group go-cose Security Assessment |  [NCC Report](./NCC_Microsoft-go-cose-Report_2022-05-26_v1.0.pdf) |
-| July 26, 2022 | Trail of Bits go-cose Security Assessment | [Trail of Bits Report](./Trail-of-Bits_Microsoft-go-cose-Report_2022-07-26_v1.0.pdf) |
+| July 26, 2022 | Trail of Bits go-cose Security Assessment | [Trail of Bits Report](./Trail-of-Bits_Microsoft-go-cose-Report_2022-07-26_v1.0.pdf) |