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+# Release Process
+This document describes how to cut a `cri` plugin release.
+
+## Step 1: Update containerd vendor
+Update the version of containerd located in `containerd/cri/vendor.conf`
+to the latest version of containerd for the desired branch of containerd,
+and make sure all tests in CI pass https://k8s-testgrid.appspot.com/sig-node-containerd.
+## Step 2: Cut the release
+Draft and tag a new release in https://github.com/containerd/cri/releases.
+## Step 3: Update `cri` version in containerd
+Push a PR to `containerd/containerd` that updates the version of
+`containerd/cri` in `containerd/containerd/vendor.conf` to the newly
+tagged release created in Step 2.
+## Step 4: Iterate step 1 updating containerd vendor
+## Step 5: Publish release tarball for Kubernetes
+Publish the release tarball `cri-containerd-${CONTAINERD_VERSION}.${OS}-${ARCH}.tar.gz`
+```shell
+# Checkout `containerd/cri` to the newly released version.
+git checkout ${RELEASE_VERSION}
+
+# Publish the release tarball without cni.
+DEPLOY_BUCKET=cri-containerd-release make push TARBALL_PREFIX=cri-containerd VERSION=${CONTAINERD_VERSION}
+
+# Publish the release tarball with cni.
+DEPLOY_BUCKET=cri-containerd-release make push TARBALL_PREFIX=cri-containerd-cni INCLUDE_CNI=true VERSION=${CONTAINERD_VERSION}
+```
+## Step 6: Update release note with release tarball information