Update Develop-ref after dtcenter/MET#1967 (#1281)

Co-authored-by: George McCabe <23407799+georgemccabe@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Julie Prestopnik <jpresto@seneca.rap.ucar.edu>
Co-authored-by: TaraJensen <jensen@ucar.edu>
Co-authored-by: bikegeek <3753118+bikegeek@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: bikegeek <minnawin@ucar.edu>
Co-authored-by: johnhg <johnhg@ucar.edu>
Co-authored-by: Christina Kalb <kalb@ucar.edu>
Co-authored-by: lisagoodrich <33230218+lisagoodrich@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: jprestop <jpresto@ucar.edu>

docs/Release_Guide/index.rst

@@ -2,10 +2,60 @@
 Release Guide
 =============
 
-This METplus Release Guide provides detailed instructions for creating software releases from the METplus component repositories.
+This METplus Release Guide provides detailed instructions for METplus
+developers for creating software releases for the METplus component
+repositories.  **This Release Guide is intended for developers creating
+releases and is not intended for users of the software.**
+
+.. _releaseCycleStages:
+
+Stages of the METplus Release Cycle
+===================================
+
+Development Release
+-------------------
+
+Beta
+^^^^
+
+Beta releases are a pre-release of the software to give a larger group of
+users the opportunity to test the recently incorporated new features,
+enhancements, and bug fixes.  Beta releases allow for continued
+development and bug fixes before an official release.  There are many
+possible configurations of hardware and software that exist and installation
+of beta releases allow for testing of potential conflicts.
+
+Release Candidate (rc)
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+A release candidate is a version of the software that is nearly ready for
+official release but may still have a few bugs.  At this stage, all product
+features have been designed, coded, and tested through one or more beta
+cycles with no known bugs.  It is code complete, meaning that no entirely
+new source code will be added to this release.  There may still be source
+code changes to fix bugs, changes to documentation, and changes to test
+cases or utilities.
+
+Official Release
+----------------
+
+An official release is a stable release and is basically the release
+candidate, which has passed all tests.  It is the version of the code that
+has been tested as thoroughly as possible and is reliable enough to be
+used in production.
+
+Bugfix Release
+--------------
+
+A bugfix release introduces no new features, but fixes bugs in previous
+official releases and targets the most critical bugs affecting users. 
+
+Instructions Summary
+====================
+
 Instructions are provided for three types of software releases:
 
-#. **Official Release** (e.g. vX.Y.Z) from the develop branch
+#. **Official Release** (e.g. vX.Y.Z) from the develop branch (becomes the new main_vX.Y branch)
 
 #. **Bugfix Release** (e.g. vX.Y.Z) from the corresponding main_vX.Y branch
 

docs/Users_Guide/release-notes.rst

@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 METplus Release Notes
 =====================
 
+Users can view the :ref:`releaseCycleStages` section of
+the Release Guide for descriptions of the development releases (including
+beta releases and release candidates), official releases, and bugfix
+releases for the METplus Components.
+
 METplus Components Release Note Links
 -------------------------------------
 
@@ -33,6 +38,32 @@ When applicable, release notes are followed by the GitHub issue number which
 describes the bugfix, enhancement, or new feature:
 https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues
 
+METplus Version 4.1.0-beta4 Release Notes (2021-11-16)
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+* Enhancements:
+
+  * **Create an Amazon AMI containing all METplus components** (`#506 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/506>`_)
+  * Added support for setting a dictionary value for time_summary.width (`#1252 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1252>`_)
+  * Added support for setting obs_quality_inc/exc in PointStat (`#1213 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1213>`_)
+  * Properly handle list values that include square braces (`#1212 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1212>`_)
+  * Reorganize the Cryosphere and Marine and Coastal use case categories into one group (`#1200 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1200>`_)
+  * Update wrapped MET config files to reference MET_TMP_DIR in tmp value (`#1101 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1101>`_)
+  * CyclonePlotter, create options to format output grid area to user-desired area (`#1091 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1091>`_)
+  * CyclonePlotter, connected lines run over the Prime Meridian (`#1000 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1000>`_)
+  * Add harmonic pre-processing to the RMM use case (`#1019 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1019>`_)
+
+* New Wrappers:
+
+  * **IODA2NC** (`#1203 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1203>`_)
+  * **GenEnsProd** (`#1180 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1180>`_, `#1266 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1266>`_)
+
+* New Use Cases:
+
+  * **IODA2NC** (`#1204 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1204>`_)
+  * **GenEnsProd** (`#1180 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1180>`_, `#1266 <https://github.com/dtcenter/METplus/issues/1266>`_)
+
+
 METplus Version 4.1.0-beta3 Release Notes (2021-10-06)
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 

metplus/VERSION

@@ -1 +1 @@
-4.1.0-beta4-dev
+4.1.0-beta5-dev