RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md

# 📋 Release Checklist Template

## 🚀 Pre-Release Preparation

### **Code Quality & Testing**
- [ ] All CI/CD checks pass
- [ ] Test coverage > 80%
- [ ] No security vulnerabilities detected
- [ ] Performance benchmarks met
- [ ] All tests pass locally
- [ ] Integration tests completed

### **Trading-Specific Validation**
- [ ] Strategy backtesting passed
- [ ] Risk limits validated
- [ ] Model performance acceptable
- [ ] Compliance checks passed
- [ ] Position limits enforced
- [ ] Drawdown limits verified

### **Documentation**
- [ ] README.md updated
- [ ] API documentation current
- [ ] Changelog prepared
- [ ] Migration notes (if needed)
- [ ] Release notes drafted
- [ ] User guide updated

### **Infrastructure**
- [ ] Docker image builds successfully
- [ ] Docker Hub credentials configured
- [ ] Environment variables documented
- [ ] Configuration files updated
- [ ] Dependencies reviewed

## 🔍 Release Validation

### **Automated Checks**
- [ ] Quality assurance pipeline passed
- [ ] Security scan completed
- [ ] Performance tests passed
- [ ] Backtesting validation successful
- [ ] Docker build successful
- [ ] Documentation generation completed

### **Manual Verification**
- [ ] Code review completed (2+ reviewers)
- [ ] Trading expert approval received
- [ ] Risk management review completed
- [ ] Security review completed
- [ ] Performance review completed

### **Pre-Deployment Testing**
- [ ] Staging environment deployment successful
- [ ] Smoke tests passed
- [ ] Integration tests passed
- [ ] Performance tests passed
- [ ] User acceptance testing completed

## 🏷️ Release Process

### **Version Management**
- [ ] Version number updated
- [ ] Changelog updated
- [ ] Release notes finalized
- [ ] Tag created with proper message
- [ ] Branch protection rules verified

### **Release Creation**
```bash
# Create release branch
git checkout -b release/v1.2.0

# Update version files
# Update CHANGELOG.md
# Update documentation

# Commit changes
git add .
git commit -m "chore: prepare release v1.2.0"

# Create tag
git tag -a v1.2.0 -m "Release v1.2.0: Enhanced risk management"

# Push tag (triggers release workflow)
git push origin v1.2.0
```

### **Post-Release Verification**
- [ ] Release workflow completed successfully
- [ ] Docker image pushed to Docker Hub
- [ ] Documentation deployed
- [ ] Release notes published
- [ ] Notifications sent

## 🚨 Critical Trading Checks

### **Risk Management**
- [ ] Maximum position size: 100 shares
- [ ] Maximum portfolio allocation: 5%
- [ ] Maximum drawdown: 5%
- [ ] Stop-loss orders configured
- [ ] Take-profit orders configured

### **Strategy Validation**
- [ ] Minimum Sharpe ratio: 0.5
- [ ] Maximum volatility: 20%
- [ ] Minimum backtesting period: 6 months
- [ ] Strategy logic verified
- [ ] Performance metrics acceptable

### **Compliance**
- [ ] Regulatory compliance verified
- [ ] Risk limits enforced
- [ ] Audit trail maintained
- [ ] Trading permissions verified
- [ ] API rate limits respected

## 📊 Performance Monitoring

### **Pre-Release Metrics**
- [ ] Strategy execution time < 100ms
- [ ] Memory usage < 1GB
- [ ] CPU usage < 80%
- [ ] API response time < 500ms
- [ ] Error rate < 0.1%

### **Post-Release Monitoring (24h)**
- [ ] Error rate monitoring
- [ ] Performance tracking
- [ ] User feedback collection
- [ ] System health monitoring
- [ ] Trading performance validation

## 🔧 Emergency Procedures

### **Rollback Plan**
- [ ] Previous version identified
- [ ] Rollback procedure documented
- [ ] Rollback team notified
- [ ] Rollback timeline established
- [ ] Communication plan prepared

### **Critical Issues Response**
- [ ] Stop trading immediately
- [ ] Assess impact and scope
- [ ] Apply emergency fix
- [ ] Deploy hotfix
- [ ] Notify stakeholders
- [ ] Document incident

## 📢 Communication

### **Internal Notifications**
- [ ] Development team notified
- [ ] Trading team notified
- [ ] Operations team notified
- [ ] Management notified
- [ ] Support team briefed

### **External Communications**
- [ ] Release announcement prepared
- [ ] User documentation updated
- [ ] API documentation updated
- [ ] Community notifications sent
- [ ] Support tickets updated

## ✅ Release Completion

### **Final Verification**
- [ ] All automated checks passed
- [ ] Manual verification completed
- [ ] Performance monitoring active
- [ ] Error tracking configured
- [ ] User feedback channels open

### **Post-Release Activities**
- [ ] Monitor system for 24 hours
- [ ] Collect user feedback
- [ ] Address any issues promptly
- [ ] Update release notes if needed
- [ ] Plan next release cycle

## 📈 Success Metrics

### **Quality Metrics**
- [ ] Zero critical bugs in first 24h
- [ ] Performance maintained
- [ ] User satisfaction > 4.5/5
- [ ] System uptime > 99.9%

### **Trading Metrics**
- [ ] Strategy performance > benchmark
- [ ] Risk compliance: 100%
- [ ] Error rate < 0.1%
- [ ] Execution time < 100ms

---

## 🎯 Release Checklist Usage

### **For Major Releases (vX.0.0)**
- Complete ALL checklist items
- Require trading expert approval
- Perform extensive testing
- Include migration guide

### **For Minor Releases (vX.Y.0)**
- Complete core checklist items
- Require code review
- Perform standard testing
- Update documentation

### **For Patch Releases (vX.Y.Z)**
- Complete essential checklist items
- Quick review by maintainer
- Regression testing
- Update release notes

---

**Note**: This checklist is specifically designed for algorithmic trading systems where code quality directly impacts financial performance and risk management. Always prioritize safety and compliance over speed.