Jetty Release Checklist 12.1.8

**Jetty Versions:**
12.1.8

**Target Date:**
3 April 2026

**Tasks:**
- [x] Create the release(s) issue.
- [x] Update the target Jetty version(s) in the issue.
- [x] Update the target release date in the issue.
- [x] Link this issue to the target [GitHub Project(s)](https://github.com/jetty/jetty.project/projects).
- [x] Assign this issue to a "release manager".
- [x] Review [draft security advisories](https://github.com/jetty/jetty.project/security/advisories). Ensure that issues are created and assigned to GitHub Projects to capture any advisories that will be announced.
- [x] Update [GitHub Project(s)](https://github.com/jetty/jetty.project/projects)
- [x] Create new project for the next releases (not this release).
- [x] Ensure new project is public (not private)
- [x] Freeze the target [GitHub Project(s)](https://github.com/jetty/jetty.project/projects) by editing their names to "Jetty X.Y.Z FROZEN"
- [x] Review the issues/PRs assigned to the target [GitHub Project(s)](https://github.com/jetty/jetty.project/projects). Any tasks that are not-yet-started are moved to next releases.
- [x] Review dependabot status. [Manually](https://github.com/jetty/jetty.project/network/updates) run dependabot if needed and review resulting PRs for inclusion.
Such updates should only be included in the week before a release if there is a compelling security or stability reason to do so.
- [x] Wait 24 hours from last change to the issues/PRs included in FROZEN GitHub Project(s).
- [x] Verify target [project(s)](https://github.com/jetty/jetty.project/projects) are complete.
- [x] Assign issue to "build manager", who will stage the releases.
- [x] Create and use branches `release/` to perform version specific release work from.
- [x] Ensure `git fetch --tags` (as we potentially rewrite tag when re staging local tag can be out of sync and this command will fail and so fail the release script)
- [x] Ensure `VERSION.txt` additions for each release will be meaningful, descriptive, correct text.
- [x] Deploy 12 release with Java 22 to central.sonatype.com
- [x] Deploy 12 release to Nexus on CI system to help with testing of release (shows up on release-staging repo)
- [x] Push release branches `release/` to to https://github.com/jetty/jetty.project
- [x] Push release tags `jetty-` to https://github.com/jetty/jetty.project
- [x] Edit a draft release (for each Jetty release) in GitHub (https://github.com/jetty/jetty.project/releases). Content is generated with the "changelog tool".
- [x] Assign issue to "test manager", who will oversee the testing of the staged releases.
- [x] Update Webtide website with staged release
- [x] Test [CometD](https://github.com/cometd/cometd).
- [x] Test [Reactive HttpClient](https://github.com/jetty-project/jetty-reactive-httpclient).
- [x] Test [Load Generator](https://github.com/jetty-project/jetty-load-generator).
- [x] Test [Jetty Docker images](https://github.com/jetty/jetty.docker).
- [x] Test other [Jetty OSS integrations](https://jenkins.webtide.net/job/external_oss).
- [x] Check [TCK CI](https://jenkins.webtide.net/job/tck).
- [x] Test sponsored integrations.
- [x] Check CI for performance regressions.
- [ ] Assign issue back to "release manager".
- [ ] Collect release votes from committers.
- [ ] Push "Publish" button on central.sonatype.com to publish the release to Maven Central.
- [ ] Merge release branches back to main branches and delete release branches.
- [ ] Once release is on central.sonatype.com remove the release from CI nexus release-staging location.
- [ ] Verify release existence in Maven Central by triggering the Jenkins builds of CometD.
- [ ] Update Jetty versions on the website ( follow instructions in [jetty-website](https://github.com/jetty/jetty.website/blob/main/README.adoc) ).
- [ ] Update (or check) [Download](https://jetty.org/download.html) page is updated.
- [ ] Update (or check) documentation page(s) are updated.
- [ ] Publish GitHub Releases.
- [ ] Prepare release announcement for mailing lists.
- [ ] Send release announcement to mailing lists ([@jetty-announce](https://accounts.eclipse.org/mailing-list/jetty-announce), [@jetty-dev](https://accounts.eclipse.org/mailing-list/jetty-dev), and [@jetty-users](https://accounts.eclipse.org/mailing-list/jetty-users))
- [ ] Publish any [security advisories](https://github.com/jetty/jetty.project/security/advisories).
- [ ] Edit `VERSION.txt` to include any actual CVE number next to correspondent issue.
- [ ] Edit any issues for CVEs in github with their CVE number
- [x] Upgrade versions in SDKMAN. [Example PR](https://github.com/sdkman/sdkman-db-migrations/pull/711)
- [ ] Notify downstream maintainers.
- [ ] Eclipse p2 maintainer.
- [x] Docker maintainer.
- [ ] Jenkins maintainer.