docs(libevm/tooling/release): add readme

README.md

@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ with `geth`.
 
 We are immensely grateful for the hard work of the `geth` authors, and hope that our contribution can be of value to others too. Thank you!
 
+To create a release, please refer to [libevm/tooling/release](libevm/tooling/release).
+
 ## Go Ethereum
 
 Golang execution layer implementation of the Ethereum protocol.

libevm/tooling/release/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+# Release
+
+In the following, we create a release candidate version `v1.13.14-0.2.0.rc.4` and your Github username is `myusername`. We set environment variables accordingly:
+
+```bash
+VERSION=v1.13.14-0.2.0.rc.4
+USERNAME=myusername
+```
+
+1. Create two branches, usually from the tip of the `main` branch, but the base commit MAY be from anywhere on `main`:
+
+    ```bash
+    git fetch origin main:main
+    git checkout main
+    git checkout -b "release/$VERSION"
+    git push -u origin "release/$VERSION"
+    git checkout -b "$USERNAME/release/$VERSION"
+    ```
+
+    The `$USERNAME/release/$VERSION` branch will be used to add "release modifications" and will target the branch `release/$VERSION` in a pull request.
+1. Run the script `./cherrypick.sh` which cherry picks all Geth commits listed in [cherrypicks](cherrypicks). You may have to resolve conflicts. If you encounter a CI error NOT from the `go_test_tooling` job, ideally [amend](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-Tools-Rewriting-History) the cherry-picked commit(s) responsible for each issue.
+1. Modify [params/version.libevm.go](/params/version.libevm.go)
+    - Change the `LibEVMReleaseType` to the correct release type, for example `ReleaseCandidate`
+    - If planning a release candidate: set `libEVMReleaseCandidate` to the correct number; in this case `4`
+    - If needed: change the `LibEVMVersionMajor`, `LibEVMVersionMinor` and `LibEVMVersionPatch` numbers
+    - Change the `LibEVMVersion` to the correct final version string `$VERSION` (`version.libevm_test.go` will ensure that this is correctly formatted)
+1. Commit your modifications to [params/version.libevm.go](/params/version.libevm.go) with a commit title `chore: release v1.13.14-0.2.0.rc.4`:
+
+    ```bash
+    git commit -m "chore: release $VERSION"
+    ```
+
+1. Push your modified branch to the remote `git push -u origin $USERNAME/release/$VERSION`
+1. Open a pull request from your modified branch `$USERNAME/release/v1.13.14-0.2.0.rc.4` and targeting `release/v1.13.14-0.2.0.rc.4`:
+    1. You can create the pull request for example using
+
+        ```bash
+        open -a "Google Chrome" https://github.com/ava-labs/libevm/compare/release/$VERSION...$USERNAME/release/$VERSION
+        ```
+
+    1. Set the title of the pull request to
+
+        ```txt
+        chore: release `v1.13.14-0.2.0.rc.4`
+        ```
+
+1. Wait for all the checks to pass on the pull request
+1. Fast forward merge your branch in the release branch:
+
+    ```bash
+    git checkout "release/$VERSION"
+    git merge --ff-only "$USERNAME/release/$VERSION"
+    git push
+    ```
+
+    This will also close the ongoing pull request.
+1. Finally create your tag and push it using the release branch:
+
+    ```bash
+    git tag "$VERSION"
+    git push origin "$VERSION"
+    ```
+
+1. (optional) you can then cleanup with:
+
+    ```bash
+    git branch -D "release/$VERSION" "$USERNAME/release/$VERSION"
+    git push -d origin "$USERNAME/release/$VERSION"
+    ```