dotCMS / dotCMS/core

[TASK] Remove legacy release workflows after replacement validation

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  • #34707 by @spbolton — closed without merging
dotCMS : Build stale Team : Enablement
Dominant language
Java
Stars
970
Forks
486
Avg merge
3d 33m
Merged PRs (30d)
170

Description

Description

Clean up and remove deprecated legacy release workflows after the new modular workflows (cicd_6-release.yml, cicd_7-release-java-variant.yml, cicd_8-manual-deploy.yml) have been fully tested and validated in production.

This is a follow-up to #34637 which introduced the replacement workflows with parallel Java variant build support and manual deployment capabilities.

Current State

Deprecated workflows with usage data:

  • legacy-release_maven-release-process.yml - Last used Jan 30, 2026 (replaced by cicd_6-release.yml)
  • legacy-release_publish-dotcms-docker-image.yml - Used TODAY Feb 16, 2026 (replaced by cicd_8-manual-deploy.yml)
  • legacy-release_comp_maven-build-docker-image.yml - Internal component (dependency of other legacy workflows)

Unused workflows safe for immediate deletion:

  • legacy-release_release-trigger.yml - Last used May 26, 2025 (9 months ago)
  • legacy-release_publish-docker-image-on-release.yml - Never used
  • legacy-release_release-candidate.yml - Never used

Acceptance Criteria

Phase 1: Immediate Cleanup (Week 1)

  • Delete legacy-release_release-trigger.yml (9 months unused)
  • Delete legacy-release_publish-docker-image-on-release.yml (never used)
  • Delete legacy-release_release-candidate.yml (never used)
  • Verify no external systems depend on these workflows

Phase 2: Validate New Manual Deploy (2 weeks)

  • Team uses cicd_8-manual-deploy.yml for feature branch testing
  • Verify safety checks work correctly (version pattern detection)
  • Validate artifact namespace separation (Maven suffix)
  • Confirm GitHub deployment environment grouping works as expected
  • No critical issues reported

Phase 3: Deprecate Manual Deploy Legacy (After validation)

  • Delete legacy-release_publish-dotcms-docker-image.yml
  • Update team documentation with new workflow usage

Phase 4: Validate New Release Process (After 2+ production releases)

  • Confirm cicd_6-release.yml works for standard releases
  • Verify cicd_7-release-java-variant.yml works for parallel Java builds
  • Monitor for any issues or gaps in functionality

Phase 5: Final Cleanup (After validation complete)

  • Delete legacy-release_maven-release-process.yml
  • Delete legacy-release_comp_maven-build-docker-image.yml
  • Remove deprecation notices from remaining workflows
  • Update release documentation

Priority

Medium

Additional Context

Related Issues:

  • #34637 - Added parallel Java variant builds and manual deploy workflow

Migration Resources:

  • Deprecation notices added to all legacy workflows
  • New workflows use modular CI/CD phases for consistency
  • Safety checks prevent artifact collision in manual deployments

Timeline Estimates:

  • Phase 1 (immediate): Week of Feb 16, 2026
  • Phase 2 (validation): Feb 16 - Mar 1, 2026 (2 weeks)
  • Phase 3 (manual deploy cleanup): Mar 1, 2026
  • Phase 4 (release validation): After 2+ production releases (Mar-Apr 2026)
  • Phase 5 (final cleanup): Apr 2026

Team Communication:

  • Notify team about new cicd_8-manual-deploy.yml workflow
  • Document differences from legacy workflow (environment vs version inputs)
  • Provide migration examples for common use cases

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Review the listed legacy workflows alongside cicd_6-release.yml, cicd_7-release-java-variant.yml, and cicd_8-manual-deploy.yml, then check the related issue #34637 and linked pull request #34707. Start with the Phase 1 deletion candidates and verify external dependencies before cleanup; done means validated replacement workflows, updated documentation, and removal of all approved legacy workflows.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
github-actions
Domain
ci-cd, devops
Issue type
Refactor
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
30/100

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