add page on beta releases & release candidates for EasyBuild v5.0

docs/easybuild-v5/index.md

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # EasyBuild v5.0
 
+
+- [Beta releases and release candidates](release-candidates.md)
 - [Overview of changes](overview-of-changes.md)
     - [Backwards-incompatible changes](backwards-incompatible-changes.md)
     - [Changes in default configuration](changes-in-default-configuration.md)

docs/easybuild-v5/release-candidates.md

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+# Beta releases and release candidates for EasyBuild v5.0
+
+Due to the large amount of changes in the upcoming EasyBuild v5.0 release,
+we will tag a couple of beta releases and release candidates before releasing EasyBuild v5.0.0.
+
+**Please consider testing these and providing feedback!**
+
+## Beta release `5.0.0beta1` (18 Dec 2024)
+
+!!! warning
+    This is an early pre-release that includes the majority of changes that will be included
+    in EasyBuild v5.0.0.
+
+    It can be used for testing and providing feedback (reporting bugs or unexpected behaviour, etc.).
+
+    Additional changes will be made for the release of EasyBuild v5.0.0 however, [see below][beta1_planned_changes].
+
+### Highlighted changes
+
+EasyBuild v5.0.0 will include some significant changes compared to EasyBuild v4.x that you should be aware of, including:
+
+- **Python >= 3.6** is required to run EasyBuild (Python >= 3.9 is recommended);
+- using **Lmod >= v8.0** or **Environment Modules v4.3.0** is required as modules tool (check with `module --version`);
+- a new function named `run_shell_cmd` is used to run shell commands like `cmake`, `make`, `pip`, etc. (more info [here](run_shell_cmd.md));
+- the **default settting of some configuration options has changed**:
+    - **RPATH linking** is used by default (can be disabled with `--disable-rpath`);
+    - **trace output** is enabled by default (can be disabled with `--disable-trace`);
+    - Lua module files generated by EasyBuild will use `depends_on` rather than `load` by default (can be disabled with `--disable-module-depends-on`);
+    - the `use_pip` and `sanity_pip_check` custom easyconfig parameters used by the `PythonPackage` and `PythonBundle` easyblocks are enabled by default;
+- **some functionality has been deprecated**, including the use of the `run_cmd` and `run_cmd_qa` functions (`run_shell_cmd` should be used instead);
+- easyconfigs using an old [unsupported toolchain](../policies/toolchains.md) have been moved to the [easyconfigs archive](https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-easyconfigs-archive);
+
+### Installation
+
+To install the initial beta release of EasyBuild v5.0.0 (`5.0.0beta1`), you can either:
+
+* use the [provided easyconfig file](https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-easyconfigs/pull/22049);
+* install into a Python virtual environment:
+  ```shell
+  venv_name='venv-eb-5.0.0beta1'
+  python3 -m venv ${venv_name}
+  unset PYTHONPATH
+  source ${venv_name}/bin/activate
+
+  tag='5.0.0beta1'
+  pip install https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-framework/archive/easybuild-framework-v${tag}.tar.gz
+  pip install https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-easyblocks/archive/easybuild-easyblocks-v${tag}.tar.gz
+  pip install https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-easyconfigs/archive/easybuild-easyconfigs-v${tag}.tar.gz
+  # optional dependencies for EasyBuild
+  pip install archspec rich
+  ```
+
+### Planned additional changes {: #beta1_planned_changes }
+
+A couple of additional changes that will be included in EasyBuild v5.0.0 are still a work-in-progress,
+including (but not limited to):
+
+- deprecating of `module_req_guess` method (see [framework PR #4653](https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-framework/pull/4653));
+- deprecating of `parallel` easyconfig parameter (see [framework PR #4580](https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-framework/pull/4580));
+
+For a complete overview of planned changed, see the [GitHub dashboard for EasyBuild v5.0](https://github.com/orgs/easybuilders/projects/18/views/2).
+
+### Providing feedback & reporting problems
+
+Please test this release, provide feedback, and report problems, either via:
+
+- the `#eb5` channel in the EasyBuild Slack;
+- the EasyBuild maling list;
+- one of the upcoming [EasyBuild conf calls](https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild/wiki/Conference-calls);
+- the [dedicated issue in the `easybuild` repository](https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild/issues/911);
+
+You should include:
+
+- the output produced by `eb --version`, `eb --show-config`, and `eb --show-system-info`;
+- an overview of what you tried;
+- whether it worked or not;
+- which problems you ran into (if any);
+
+Also positive feedback is welcome!
+
+### FAQ
+
+- *Do I need to reinstall all software that was installed with EasyBuild v4.x when I want to start using EasyBuild v5.x?*
+  No, you do not. You can install additional software using EasyBuild v5.x on top of installations performed with EasyBuild v4.x.