# Desktop app release process

This document outlines the release process for the Mattermost desktop app.

Desktop app releases follow a fixed schedule of 4 releases per year. Releases ship quarterly by the 16th of February, May, August, and November of each year.

A dot release will be prepared sooner if [Electron](https://github.com/electron/electron/releases) releases a security update, or if other urgent bugs are found.

Please refer to [the desktop app release playbook](https://community.mattermost.com/playbooks/playbooks/h3a39biacpnuim7ufmwiuuoxfo/outline) for the release checklist.

For the desktop app release build process, please refer to [this document](https://developers.mattermost.com/internal/desktop-release-process/).

## Release timeline

Note: T-minus counts are measured in "working days" (weekdays other than major holidays concurrent in US and Canada) prior to release day.

Every 3 months, the Desktop app release milestones follow the cloud/self-hosted release milestones to align all release testing cycles.

**Schedule for Desktop App releases**:

* Cut release branch at T-24. This is also the Feature Complete deadline.
* Cut RC-1 at T-19.
* Code Freeze at T-10.
  * [QA approval](https://community.mattermost.com/playbooks/playbooks/h798dt39mpbymb8z5uoiuf4hdo/outline) should be ready by T-8.
* Release Day at T-0.