Process Improvement: v0.18.0

[galargh]

Related to #9417

This PR is to track the process improvement as identified during the v0.18.0 release.

The new version of the release issue template available at https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/blob/process-improvement-v0.18.0/docs/RELEASE_ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

[BigLep]

For the Bifrost gateway deployment, it's probably worth adding a pointer to Bifrost's docs: https://www.notion.so/pl-strflt/Kubo-Gateway-Release-Notes-6e0efff28ee540be9ccb8f2b85104c42

[BigLep]

I think we should add a post-release step for creating the PR that updates our dependencies. As long as the PR gets created and linked to the the next release, we are good. Something like:

- [ ] Initiate dependence update
   - [ ] Run X to update all dependencies and create PR (example)
   - [ ] Link new PR to next release issue that was created above

[BigLep]

I noticed that https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/blob/master/docs/changelogs/v0.18.md doesn't include contributors or changelog filled in.

[galargh]

I noticed that https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/blob/master/docs/changelogs/v0.18.md doesn't include contributors or changelog filled in.

I'm a bit confused. Looks to me like it has both. Is it possible you loaded the page before #9581 was merged?

[BigLep]

@galargh : doh - my bad. I think I must have been looking at the file in a branch before #9581 was merged! Thanks!

[galargh]

I'm going to test the new instructions on the v0.18.1 (since I'm proposing to merge the regular and patch release instructions in this pr; with only a couple of excluded steps for patch) and then I'm going to mark this as ready for review.

[galargh]

The release instructions tested during v0.18.1: https://github.com/ipfs/kubo/blob/process-improvement-v0.18.0/docs/RELEASE_ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

[galargh]

@BigLep We tested these instructions during v0.19.0. Let me know if you're OK with merging this now.

[BigLep]

I didn't go through the latest line by line, but no doubt this is an improvement on what is there. Further adjustment can be made in future if/as needed.