1. Test (make clean all check), fix if broken before proceeding 2. Ensure proper version in package.json 3. Ensure NEWS section exists for the new version, review it, add release date 4. Recreate npm-shrinkwrap.json with: `make shrinkwrap` 5. Commit package.json, npm-shrinwrap.json, NEWS 6. git tag -a Major.Minor.Patch # use NEWS section as content 7. Stub NEWS/package for next version Versions: Bugfix releases increment Patch component of version. Feature releases increment Minor and set Patch to zero. If backward compatibility is broken, increment Major and set to zero Minor and Patch. Branches named 'b.' are kept for any critical fix that might need to be shipped before next feature release is ready.