Proposal: Release Apache GeaFlow 0.8.0(Incubating)

Proposal: Release Apache GeaFlow 0.8.0(Incubating)

Since the last official release (`v0.7.0`), the Apache GeaFlow(Incubating) community has made substantial progress in extending graph AI capabilities, enhancing ISO-GQL standard compliance, and improving runtime stability. This release candidate brings significant advancements in vector storage, graph algorithms, and enterprise-grade connectors.

This issue serves as a discussion thread for:
- Finalizing the set of features and fixes to include
- Confirming readiness of pending PRs for inclusion
- Drafting the release notes
- Agreeing on the release timeline

---

## ✅ Merged PRs Summary (Since v0.7.0)

Below is a categorized list of all PRs that have been **merged** and are eligible for inclusion in `v0.8.0`. Contributors are credited accordingly.

### 🔧 Build & Infrastructure
- **#649** - Add GHA condition for CI optimization – @yuluo-yx
- **#648** - Standardize editor configs for cross-platform development – @yuluo-yx
- **#714** - Upgrade LZ4 version to 1.9.0 – @qingwen220
- **#718** - Bump LZ4 Java from 1.9.0 to 1.10.1 – @dependabot[bot]
- **#720** - Use classifier for artifact management – @yazong

### 📚 Documentation & Governance
- **#641** - Update governance and code of conduct for ASF compliance – @mingcheng
- **#643** - Add security policy – @mingcheng
- **#684** - Update README with contact and star sections – @mingcheng
- **#721** - Update source download URL – @accevolve
- **#746** - Update repository references from tugraph-family to apache – @SYaoJun

### 🛠️ Core Runtime & Engine
- **#630** - Extract vertex/edge projector rules for optimization – @hey-money
- **#633** - Fix data loss after failover – @chzhoo
- **#687** - Add try-with-resources for ProcessLoggerManager – @vamossagar12
- **#725** - Fix memory management in `mmap_ipc.cpp` – @wr-web
- **#744** - Refactor encoder: extract varint constants – @SYaoJun
- **#750** - Improve error handling in `searchVectorIndex` – @SYaoJun
- **#774** - Add runtime checks for graph accessors – @SYaoJun

### 🔌 Connectors & Storage
- **#662** - Add Paimon stream source support – @ChaomingZhangCN
- **#666** - Write data into ODPS with dynamic partition – @ChaomingZhangCN
- **#653** - Add Neo4j and Elasticsearch connectors – @yuluo-yx
- **#637** - Support vector store infrastructure – @tanghaodong25
- **#778** - Exclude lucene-core from Elasticsearch client dependency – @SYaoJun

### 🧠 AI & Graph Analytics
- **#650** - Add Jaccard similarity algorithm – @kitalkuyo-gita, @undertaker86001
- **#640** - Support clustering coefficient algorithm – @kitalkuyo-gita
- **#670** - Implement LPA (Label Propagation) and CC (Connected Components) algorithms – @ChaomingZhangCN
- **#689** - Support Louvain community detection algorithm – @kitalkuyo-gita
- **#728** - Add Lucene & Embedding-Based Search Operators – @Leomrlin
- **#729** - Support graph consolidate algorithm for AI – @Leomrlin
- **#737** - Add CASTS for GeaFlow reasoning ability – @Appointat

### 📈 SQL / GQL / DSL Enhancements
- **#675** - Implement ISO-GQL source/target predicate functions – @SeasonPilot
- **#702** - Add ISO-GQL `PROPERTY_EXISTS` predicate – @SeasonPilot
- **#735** - Implement ISO-GQL `SAME` predicate for element identity comparison – @SeasonPilot

### 🔨 Code Quality & Refactoring
- **#667** - Remove useless methods and translate comments to Chinese – @yuluo-yx
- **#647** - Delete unnecessary files – @yuluo-yx
- **#719** - Optimize hard-coded cluster constants – @Mukvin
- **#748** - Fix typos in log messages and comments – @SYaoJun
- **#752** - Update RocksdbClient to use `getDeclaredConstructor` – @SYaoJun
- **#754** - Fix raw type usage: replace `Collections.EMPTY_LIST` – @SYaoJun
- **#760** - Handle null and empty inputs in average methods – @SYaoJun
- **#770** - Define `BYTES_PER_KB` constant for consistent conversion – @SYaoJun

---

## 📝 Draft Release Notes v0.8.0(Incubating)

> Apache GeaFlow v0.8.0(Incubating) represents a major leap forward in graph intelligence capabilities, bringing enterprise-grade AI features, expanded ISO-GQL compliance, and enhanced storage connectivity.

### Highlights
- 🤖 **AI-Native Graph Analytics**: Introduced vector store support, Lucene-based embedding search, and reasoning capabilities via CASTS operators. Added graph consolidate algorithms for AI workflows.
- 🧮 **Advanced Graph Algorithms**: Expanded algorithm library with Jaccard similarity, clustering coefficient, Louvain community detection, Label Propagation (LPA), and Connected Components (CC).
- 🌐 **ISO-GQL Compliance**: Full implementation of ISO-GQL standard predicates including `SOURCE`/`TARGET`, `PROPERTY_EXISTS`, and `SAME` for element identity comparison.
- 🔗 **Enterprise Connectors**: Added Neo4j and Elasticsearch connectors, ODPS dynamic partition writing, and Paimon streaming source support.
- 🛡️ **Stability & Performance**: Fixed critical data loss issues after failover, optimized memory management in native components, and improved error handling across vector and graph accessors.
- 🏗️ **Developer Experience**: Standardized cross-platform development configs, upgraded LZ4 compression, and improved code quality with comprehensive refactoring.

### Contributors
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this release:

@hey-money, @mingcheng, @yuluo-yx, @chzhoo, @kitalkuyo-gita, @undertaker86001, @ChaomingZhangCN, @vamossagar12, @accevolve, @Mukvin, @yazong, @tanghaodong25, @SeasonPilot, @wr-web, @Leomrlin, @Appointat, @SYaoJun, @qingwen220

Let's aim for a high-quality release that demonstrates Apache GeaFlow(Incubating)'s commitment to innovation in graph computing and AI integration!

---

## Next Steps

1. Please review the above summary and comment with:
- Any missing PRs or corrections
- Interest in championing this release
- Concerns about pending PRs or critical blockers
2. Once consensus is reached, we can proceed with:
- Creating the release branch
- Voting on the release candidate
- Publishing artifacts to Maven Central and Apache Dist area

Thanks all! Looking forward to shipping `v0.8.0(Incubating)` 🚀

---

*Note: This proposal covers development from the `v0.7.0` tag through March 2026.*

Review the merged PR summary, the draft v0.8.0 release notes, and the listed next steps in this issue. Confirm whether any PRs or blockers are missing, help establish consensus and a release champion, and consider the work done when the release branch, vote, and publication steps can proceed.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.