# Racket v8.5 release thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Internals\ **Tags:** release-management\ **Created:** [April 2, 2022, 12:38am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841 "2022-04-02T00:38:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jbclements](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/jbclements/32/11_2.png) [@jbclements](https://racket.discourse.group/u/jbclements)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2022, 12:38am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/1 "2022-04-02T00:38:02Z")
``` The release process for v8.5 will begin in about a week. If you have any new features that you want in and are relatively close to to being done, now is a good time to do that. Upcoming dates: - 7th: Branch day, merge window starts - 15th: Merge window ends, testing starts - 22nd: Testing ends ``` ---
**Author:** ![jbclements](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/jbclements/32/11_2.png) [@jbclements](https://racket.discourse.group/u/jbclements)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 6:46am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/2 "2022-04-08T06:46:08Z")
``` The release process for v8.5 has begun: release checkpoints have been created for all packages in the main distribution, and release branches have been created when necessary. You can go on using `master` branches as usual. The main Racket repo's is now bumped to v8.5.0.1 (to avoid having two different trees with the same version). If you have any bug-fixes and changes (including history updates) that need to go in the release then make sure to specify that in the commit message by using the word `merge` or `release` or mail the relevant repo manager [1]) the commit SHA1s. Do not push commits directly to `release` branches. Please make sure that code that you're responsible for is as stable as possible, and let me know if there is any new work that should not be included in this release. >>> NOW IS THE TIME TO FIX BUGS THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT <<< The time between now and the end of the merge window is for fixing new errors that prevent proper functioning of major components and that show up during the preparation for a release. You can also finalize piece of work that is not yet complete, but please avoid merging new features. Note that nightly builds will go on as usual (starting from v8.5.0.1 and going up as usual), and pre-release builds will be available shortly at https://pre-release.racket-lang.org/ Please tell me if you think that this release is significant enough that it should be announced on the users list for wider testing. [1] https://github.com/racket/racket/wiki/release-repo-managers Upcoming dates: - 15th: Merge window ends, testing starts - 22nd: Testing ends ``` ---
**Author:** ![LiberalArtist](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/liberalartist/32/151_2.png) [@LiberalArtist](https://racket.discourse.group/u/LiberalArtist)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2022, 5:04am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/3 "2022-04-11T05:04:26Z")
> [@jbclements](#): > > ```scheme > The release process for v8.5 has begun: release checkpoints have > been created for all packages in the main distribution, and release > branches have been created when necessary. > > ``` While trying to build a pre-release, I noticed that most Git repositories for packages in the main distribution do not have `release` branches (not even stale ones). It isn't a big problem, but it would be convenient to be able to find the commits that are going to be in the release (before the release is finished and the commits are tagged e.g. `v8.5`). These are the repositories that don't seem to have `release` branches: - [https://github.com/racket/2d](https://github.com/racket/2d) - [https://github.com/racket/algol60](https://github.com/racket/algol60) - [https://github.com/racket/cext-lib](https://github.com/racket/cext-lib) - [https://github.com/racket/class-iop](https://github.com/racket/class-iop) - [https://github.com/racket/compatibility](https://github.com/racket/compatibility) - [https://github.com/racket/contract-profile](https://github.com/racket/contract-profile) - [https://github.com/racket/data](https://github.com/racket/data) - [https://github.com/racket/datalog](https://github.com/racket/datalog) - [https://github.com/racket/db](https://github.com/racket/db) - [https://github.com/racket/deinprogramm](https://github.com/racket/deinprogramm) - [https://github.com/racket/distributed-places](https://github.com/racket/distributed-places) - [https://github.com/racket/draw](https://github.com/racket/draw) - [https://github.com/racket/ds-store](https://github.com/racket/ds-store) - [https://github.com/racket/eli-tester](https://github.com/racket/eli-tester) - [https://github.com/racket/eopl](https://github.com/racket/eopl) - [https://github.com/racket/errortrace](https://github.com/racket/errortrace) - [https://github.com/racket/expeditor](https://github.com/racket/expeditor) - [https://github.com/racket/frtime](https://github.com/racket/frtime) - [https://github.com/racket/future-visualizer](https://github.com/racket/future-visualizer) - [https://github.com/racket/games](https://github.com/racket/games) - [https://github.com/racket/gui](https://github.com/racket/gui) - [https://github.com/racket/gui-pkg-manager](https://github.com/racket/gui-pkg-manager) - [https://github.com/racket/htdp](https://github.com/racket/htdp) - [https://github.com/racket/html](https://github.com/racket/html) - [https://github.com/racket/icons](https://github.com/racket/icons) - [https://github.com/racket/images](https://github.com/racket/images) - [https://github.com/racket/lazy](https://github.com/racket/lazy) - [https://github.com/racket/macro-debugger](https://github.com/racket/macro-debugger) - [https://github.com/racket/main-distribution](https://github.com/racket/main-distribution) - [https://github.com/racket/make](https://github.com/racket/make) - [https://github.com/racket/math](https://github.com/racket/math) - [https://github.com/racket/mysterx](https://github.com/racket/mysterx) - [https://github.com/racket/mzcom](https://github.com/racket/mzcom) - [https://github.com/racket/mzscheme](https://github.com/racket/mzscheme) - [https://github.com/RenaissanceBug/racket-cookies](https://github.com/RenaissanceBug/racket-cookies) - [https://github.com/stamourv/optimization-coach](https://github.com/stamourv/optimization-coach) - [https://github.com/racket/option-contract](https://github.com/racket/option-contract) - [https://github.com/racket/parser-tools](https://github.com/racket/parser-tools) - [https://github.com/racket/pconvert](https://github.com/racket/pconvert) - [https://github.com/racket/pict](https://github.com/racket/pict) - [https://github.com/racket/pict-snip](https://github.com/racket/pict-snip) - [https://github.com/racket/picturing-programs](https://github.com/racket/picturing-programs) - [https://github.com/racket/plai](https://github.com/racket/plai) - [https://github.com/racket/planet](https://github.com/racket/planet) - [https://github.com/racket/plot](https://github.com/racket/plot) - [https://github.com/racket/preprocessor](https://github.com/racket/preprocessor) - [https://github.com/racket/profile](https://github.com/racket/profile) - [https://github.com/Metaxal/quickscript](https://github.com/Metaxal/quickscript) - [https://github.com/racket/r5rs](https://github.com/racket/r5rs) - [https://github.com/racket/r6rs](https://github.com/racket/r6rs) - [https://github.com/jeapostrophe/racket-cheat](https://github.com/jeapostrophe/racket-cheat) - [https://github.com/racket/racklog](https://github.com/racket/racklog) - [https://github.com/racket/rackunit](https://github.com/racket/rackunit) - [https://github.com/racket/readline](https://github.com/racket/readline) - [https://github.com/racket/realm](https://github.com/racket/realm) - [https://github.com/racket/redex](https://github.com/racket/redex) - [https://github.com/racket/sasl](https://github.com/racket/sasl) - [https://github.com/racket/scheme-lib](https://github.com/racket/scheme-lib) - [https://github.com/racket/scribble](https://github.com/racket/scribble) - [https://github.com/racket/serialize-cstruct-lib](https://github.com/racket/serialize-cstruct-lib) - [https://github.com/racket/sgl](https://github.com/racket/sgl) - [https://github.com/racket/shell-completion](https://github.com/racket/shell-completion) - [https://github.com/racket/simple-tree-text-markup](https://github.com/racket/simple-tree-text-markup) - [https://github.com/racket/slatex](https://github.com/racket/slatex) - [https://github.com/racket/slideshow](https://github.com/racket/slideshow) - [https://github.com/racket/snip](https://github.com/racket/snip) - [https://github.com/racket/typed-racket](https://github.com/racket/typed-racket) - [https://github.com/racket/srfi](https://github.com/racket/srfi) - [https://github.com/racket/string-constants](https://github.com/racket/string-constants) - [https://github.com/racket/swindle](https://github.com/racket/swindle) - [https://github.com/racket/syntax-color](https://github.com/racket/syntax-color) - [https://github.com/racket/trace](https://github.com/racket/trace) - [https://github.com/racket/unix-socket](https://github.com/racket/unix-socket) - [https://github.com/racket/web-server](https://github.com/racket/web-server) - [https://github.com/racket/wxme](https://github.com/racket/wxme) - [https://github.com/racket/xrepl](https://github.com/racket/xrepl) ---
**Author:** ![ryanc](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/ryanc/32/71_2.png) [@ryanc](https://racket.discourse.group/u/ryanc)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2022, 1:19pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/4 "2022-04-11T13:19:07Z")
Release branches are created by need. See the [release process overview](https://github.com/racket/racket/wiki/Release-process) for more details, including a command you can use to get the commit that the release build uses for a particular package: ```scheme raco pkg catalog-show --catalog https://raw.github.com/racket/release-catalog/master/release-catalog/ ``` For scripting, you should use the release catalog (URL above). For interactive purposes (eg, "will this bug fix be in the release?") you can use the [release repo status](http://pre-release.racket-lang.org/status/) page. ---
**Author:** ![LiberalArtist](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/liberalartist/32/151_2.png) [@LiberalArtist](https://racket.discourse.group/u/LiberalArtist)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2022, 4:05pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/5 "2022-04-11T16:05:20Z")
Oh, this is great! Somehow I hadn't noticed that wiki page before. ---
**Author:** ![jbclements](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/jbclements/32/11_2.png) [@jbclements](https://racket.discourse.group/u/jbclements)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2022, 5:38pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/6 "2022-04-11T17:38:11Z")
Also possibly relevant: the pre-release candidates are all available, at [https://pre-release.racket-lang.org/](https://pre-release.racket-lang.org/) I see that this URL doesn't occur in either of the messages that appear above ... but maybe that's appropriate, because it isn't usually until the 15th that anyone other than the package managers is expected to be running these. Not sure. What do y'all think? ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/robby/32/7_2.png) [@robby](https://racket.discourse.group/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2022, 11:51pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/7 "2022-04-11T23:51:51Z")
Publicizing that link seems good to me (not entirely sure I am following the context of the question precisely tho!) ---
**Author:** ![jbclements](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/jbclements/32/11_2.png) [@jbclements](https://racket.discourse.group/u/jbclements)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 11:03pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/8 "2022-04-19T23:03:24Z")
``` Testing for the v8.5 release (using the v8.4.900 release candidate build) Search for your name on the checklist page to find relevant items, either reply when you finish an item (please indicate which item/s is/are done), or check it off yourself on the checklist page. Also, if you have any commits that should have been picked, make sure that the changes are in. Be sure to finish your testing by the 22nd. Otherwise the release will move on without your input. The checklist page is at: https://github.com/racket/racket/wiki/Release-Checklist-8.5 Release candidates are at: https://pre-release.racket-lang.org Please use these installers (or source bundles) -- don't test from your own git clone (don't test the `master' branch by mistake!). To get the tests, you can do this: cd ...racket-root... ./bin/raco pkg install -i --auto main-distribution-test ``` ---
**Author:** ![jbclements](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/jbclements/32/11_2.png) [@jbclements](https://racket.discourse.group/u/jbclements)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2022, 4:50pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/9 "2022-04-27T16:50:09Z")
Here's a draft of the 8.5 release notes, let me know about additional items that should appear, items that are misleading or wrong, or things that are here but shouldn't appear: - Racket includes a new flag that automatically stores a compiled version of the code being run. - Error-message Realms allow languages to adapt and rewrite error messages to make sense in a particular context. - Nonprivileged users can control package installation scope using an "other-version" directory in the addon-dir. - Users of platforms without a native back-end can run Racket programs at acceptable speed using the improved pb implementation. - DrRacket's new 'Reopen Closed Tab' file menu item will open previously closed tabs. - Typed Racket has support for the `xml` library; use `typed/xml`. - Rackunit reports source locations for failed test cases in the Typed Racket language. - Plot has violin plots and improved box-and-whisker plots. - The release includes many other repairs and changes! ---
**Author:** ![timjervis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/45deac/32.png) [@timjervis](https://racket.discourse.group/u/timjervis)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2022, 5:44pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/10 "2022-04-27T17:44:30Z")
My edit was very modest and and I’d be happy to leave it as one of the “many other repairs and changes”, but in case it’s of interest, a potential note could be: > - Boxes are now supported alongside lists, vectors etc. in place-channel messages Best, Tim ---
**Author:** ![jbclements](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/jbclements/32/11_2.png) [@jbclements](https://racket.discourse.group/u/jbclements)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/11 "2022-04-27T18:06:39Z")
Sounds good. Can you rewrite this without using the word "now" ? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LiberalArtist](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/liberalartist/32/151_2.png) [@LiberalArtist](https://racket.discourse.group/u/LiberalArtist)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2022, 6:20pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/12 "2022-04-27T18:20:11Z")
> [@jbclements](#): > > - Users of platforms without a native back-end can run Racket programs > at acceptable speed using the improved pb implementation. Does this change the recommendation from [cs: build failure on debian ppc64el · Issue #3773 · racket/racket · GitHub](https://github.com/racket/racket/issues/3773) that distribution packagers should use BC for platforms that CS does not support? I don't think I have all the context to propose a revised bullet, but I think of the (non)existence of a "native back-end" as a property of a Racket VM implementation, and I'm also not sure that "pb" is a term we should expect release-note readers to know. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/robby/32/7_2.png) [@robby](https://racket.discourse.group/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2022, 6:44pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/13 "2022-04-27T18:44:46Z")
> [@jbclements](#): > > Racket includes a new flag that automatically stores a compiled > version of the code being run Should this perhaps say "Racket's new --\ flag causes racket to automatically keep compiled files up to date, improving load times while developing code" or something like that? ---
**Author:** ![jbclements](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/jbclements/32/11_2.png) [@jbclements](https://racket.discourse.group/u/jbclements)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2022, 7:13pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/14 "2022-04-27T19:13:45Z")
How about - Racket's new `-y` flag automatically keeps compiled files up to date, reducing load times dramatically. ? ---
**Author:** ![timjervis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/45deac/32.png) [@timjervis](https://racket.discourse.group/u/timjervis)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2022, 8:29pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/15 "2022-04-27T20:29:47Z")
🙂 - although if the plan is to avoid references to time, perhaps “new” should be trimmed too? ---
**Author:** ![sschwarzer](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/sschwarzer/32/1940_2.png) [@sschwarzer](https://racket.discourse.group/u/sschwarzer)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2022, 9:08pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/16 "2022-04-27T21:08:18Z")
> [@jbclements](#): > > Racket includes a new flag that automatically stores a compiled > version of the code being run. I agree with @robby that the flag should be mentioned. Since `racket --help` lists quite a few flags, it might otherwise require some time to find out what the new option actually is called. > [@jbclements](#): > > Error-message Realms allow languages to adapt and rewrite error > messages to make sense in a particular context. What are error message realms? A search in the Racket documentation and a general web search didn't find anything related (for _realm_ and _racket error message realm_, respectively). If this feature is only indented for language _authors_ and you assume that they know what a realm is in this context, it's kind of ok for me, but it would be even better to use a term that can be looked up more easily. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sorawee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@sorawee](https://racket.discourse.group/u/sorawee)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2022, 9:29pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/17 "2022-04-27T21:29:55Z")
Re realm: since it’s a new addition, you won’t be able to look it up from the documentation _yet_. But it will be there once 8.5 is released. Meanwhile, you can take a look at the documentation of snapshot release: [https://plt.cs.northwestern.edu/pkg-build/doc/reference/exns.html#%28tech.\_realm%29](https://plt.cs.northwestern.edu/pkg-build/doc/reference/exns.html#%28tech._realm%29) ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/robby/32/7_2.png) [@robby](https://racket.discourse.group/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/18 "2022-04-27T22:50:27Z")
Maybe avoid "dramatically" (as it isn't always dramatic; especially if you have only one file that is changing) ---
**Author:** ![samth](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/samth/32/3_2.png) [@samth](https://racket.discourse.group/u/samth)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2022, 3:05am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/19 "2022-04-28T03:05:19Z")
Also there is the potential for significant compile time up front. ---
**Author:** ![samth](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/racket.discourse.group/samth/32/3_2.png) [@samth](https://racket.discourse.group/u/samth)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2022, 3:07am UTC](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841/20 "2022-04-28T03:07:00Z")
I agree that this entry needs to be explained more, and to point to the relevant documentation for using it. [Next page](https://racket.discourse.group/t/racket-v8-5-release-thread/841.md?page=2)