docs: describe release process

README.md

@@ -109,6 +109,10 @@ Check the [development](docs/development.md) page for more information about dev
 This document covered the features of the Node and its external APIs in a high-level manner.
 Check the [architecture](docs/architecture.md) page for more details about the Node internal components.
 
+## Releasing
+
+Check the [release](docs/release.md) page for more information about the steps to release a version of the Rollups Node.
+
 ## Contributing
 
 Thank you for your interest in Cartesi!

docs/release.md

@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+# Release process
+
+This page explains how to create a release of the Rollups Node by showing each step that should be performed, from updating the change log and testing the changes to announcing a release.
+
+## Pre-release procedure
+
+Before starting the release process, we must confirm all project dependencies have been updated for the new release.
+
+All related tasks are described in the [update-dependencies issue template](https://github.com/cartesi/rollups-node/blob/main/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/update-dependencies.md).
+
+## Pull latest changes
+
+On your local machine, make sure to pull the latest changes made to the `main` branch.
+
+## Perform tests
+
+Execute all end-to-end tests and whatever specific tests concerning the changes made at the release (let's use `X.Y.Z` as the release version number).
+
+If necessary, fix any issues with the team by following the normal development workflow.
+
+Once all tests pass and the `main` branch is up-to-date, proceed to the next step.
+
+## Update the [`CHANGELOG`](../CHANGELOG.md)
+
+Confirm the code changes listed under `Unreleased` are accurate, and then:
+
+- in the beginning of the file, replace the heading `Unreleased` with the version number of the new release, followed by the current date (`YYYY-MM-DD`);
+- at the end of the file, create a link to the differences from the new release to the previous one;
+- update the link to the differences related to the `Unreleased` changes.
+
+Commit the changes, push them to the repository and create a corresponding pull request.
+
+> [A sample commit](https://github.com/cartesi/rollups-node/commit/16ba20137a1575b98d069500168261cccb2e0eb2) may be found in the repository.
+
+## Create the release tag
+
+Once the pull request is approved, merge it and update your local copy of the `main` branch.
+
+Then, create a new tag for the release based on the `main` branch as follows:
+
+```shell
+git tag -a vX.Y.Z
+```
+
+Make sure to add a message to the tag commit as follows:
+
+```txt
+Release X.Y.Z
+```
+
+Then, push the tag to th repository:
+
+```sh
+git push origin vX.Y.Z
+```
+
+## Check CI results
+
+Check if the CI actions associated with the release pass.
+
+After that, pull the docker image generated by the CI to make sure it's been pushed to Docker hub as follows:
+
+```shell
+docker pull cartesi/rollups-node:X.Y.Z
+```
+
+## Update release information
+
+Go to the [Releases page](https://github.com/cartesi/rollups-node/releases) and edit the current release by:
+
+- unchecking the `Set as a pre-release`;
+- checking the `Set as the latest release`.
+
+Remember to save the changes after that.
+
+## Announce the release
+
+Once the release information is updated, announce it on the appropriate communication channels.
+The announcement should contain:
+
+- the release number;
+- a link to the tag/release;
+- instructions on how to pull the corresponding docker image from Docker hub.
+
+## Update/create a maintenance branch
+
+Either create a maintenance branch for any major or minor release and name it as `release/X.Y.x` or update an existing maintenance branch if the release is a patch release.
+
+## Prepare for the next release
+
+Last but not least, prepare the [`CHANGELOG`](../CHANGELOG.md) for the next release by creating a new heading (`## [Unreleased]`) in the beginning of the document.
+Create a pull request based on the `main` branch and merge it once it's approved.