Cut a Release - CI/CD Glossary Definition

Cutting a release means creating the specific versioned, tagged build that will be tested and shipped.

To cut a release is to create the specific, versioned build (often by branching and tagging) that will be tested and shipped as a distinct release.

Cutting a release fixes a point in the codebase as "this is what we intend to ship". It usually means creating a release branch or tag so ongoing development on the main branch does not disturb the build being prepared.

Typical steps

Create a release branch from main, bump the version, tag the commit (for example v1.4.0), and let CI build the artifact from that tag.

Related guides

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