tests/RedpandaInstaller release_range method

this method creates a list of versions to install to simulate an upgrade path.

each version is either the latest for its line,
or one from the provided do_not_skip list

the list starts with the "earliest" parameter (default oldest line)
and the "latest" parameter (default to HEAD)

tests/rptest/services/redpanda_installer.py

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 # by the Apache License, Version 2.0
 
 import errno
+import copy
 import json
 import os
 import re
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@
 import requests
 
 from ducktape.utils.util import wait_until
+from more_itertools import unique_justseen
 
 # Match any version that may result from a redpanda binary, which may not be a
 # released version.
@@ -411,6 +413,70 @@ def latest_for_line(self, release_line: tuple[int, int]):
 
         assert False, f"no downloadable versions in {versions_in_line[0:2]} for {release_line=}"
 
+    def release_range(
+        self,
+        *,
+        earliest: typing.Optional[typing.Union[tuple[int, int],
+                                               tuple[int, int, int]]] = None,
+        latest: typing.Optional[typing.Union[str, tuple[int, int],
+                                             tuple[int, int, int]]] = None,
+        do_not_skip: list[tuple[int, int, int]] = []
+    ) -> list[tuple[int, int, int]]:
+        """
+        returns a list of version to implement an upgrade path. for each line, it will return the latest for the line,
+        from earliest up to latest line.
+        versions in the do_not_skip list will be integrated in the upgrade path
+        e.g release_range(earliest=(21, 2), latest=RedpandaInstaller.HEAD, do_not_skip=[(22, 2, 7)]) ->
+            [(21, 2, 8), (21, 3, 9), (22, 1, 7), (22, 2, 7), (22, 2, 8), (22, 3, 9), (23, 1, 0)]
+
+        :param earliest: first version or line to install DEFAULT the oldest line
+        :param latest: last version or line or HEAD to install DEFAULT RedpandaInstallerHEAD
+        :param do_not_skip: versions to integrate in the list DEFAULT empty
+        :return: a list of version in the range [earliest, latest],
+            each being a) the latest from its line or b) one from do_not_skip.
+        """
+
+        self.start()
+        self._initialize_released_versions()
+
+        # default to oldest
+        if not earliest:
+            earliest = self._released_versions[-1][0:2]
+
+        # convert to specific version
+        if len(earliest) == 2:
+            earliest, _ = self.latest_for_line(earliest)
+
+        # default to _head_version
+        if not latest or latest == RedpandaInstaller.HEAD:
+            latest = self._head_version
+
+        # convert to specific version
+        if len(latest) == 2:
+            latest, _ = self.latest_for_line(latest)
+
+        # setup a copy (we are going to modify it)
+        rel_range = copy.deepcopy(self._released_versions)
+
+        # glue head in front, as the most recent version
+        rel_range.insert(0, self._head_version)
+
+        # clamp to [latest, earliest]
+        rel_range = rel_range[rel_range.index(latest
+                                              ):rel_range.index(earliest) + 1]
+
+        # keep one version per release line (needs to reintegrate earliest)
+        rel_range = list(unique_justseen(rel_range, key=lambda v: v[0:2]))
+        rel_range.insert(0, earliest)
+
+        # integrate versions that needs to be in
+        rel_range.extend(do_not_skip)
+        # put them in order
+        rel_range = sorted(rel_range, reverse=True)
+
+        # final unique pass, to remove duplicates + sort them in upgrade order
+        return sorted(unique_justseen(rel_range))
+
     def install(self, nodes, version: typing.Union[str, tuple[int, int],
                                                    tuple[int, int, int]]):
         """

tests/setup.py

@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@
         'xxhash==2.0.2', 'protobuf==3.19.5', 'fastavro==1.4.9',
         'psutil==5.9.0', 'numpy==1.22.3', 'pygal==3.0', 'pytest==7.1.2',
         'jump-consistent-hash==3.2.0', 'azure-storage-blob==12.14.1',
-        'kafkatest@git+https://github.com/apache/kafka.git@058589b03db686803b33052d574ce887fb5cfbd1#egg=kafkatest&subdirectory=tests'
+        'kafkatest@git+https://github.com/apache/kafka.git@058589b03db686803b33052d574ce887fb5cfbd1#egg=kafkatest&subdirectory=tests',
+        'more-itertools>=9.0.0'
     ],
     scripts=[],
 )