add release helper

tools/release_helper.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,35 b''
+# Simple tool to help for release
+# when releasing with bash, simplei source it to get asked questions. 
+
+echo -n PREV_RELEASE:
+read PREV_RELEASE
+echo -n MILESTONE:
+read MILESTONE
+echo -n VERSION:
+read VERSION
+echo -n branch:
+read branch
+
+echo "updating what's new with informations from docs/source/whatsnew/pr"
+python tools/update_whatsnew.py
+
+echo "here are all the authors that contributed to this release:"
+git log --format="%aN <%aE>" $PREV_RELEASE... | sort -u -f
+
+echo "If you see any duplicates cancel (Ctrl-C), then edit .mailmap" Press enter to continue
+read
+
+echo "generating stats"
+python tools/github_stats.py --milestone $MILESTONE > stats.rst
+
+echo "stats.rst files generated. Please merge it with the right file (github-stats-X.rst)"
+echo "press enter to continue."
+read
+
+echo "Cleaning repository"
+git clean -xfdi
+
+echo "please update version number in IPython/core/release.py"
+
+echo "Press enter to continue"
+read

docs/source/coredev/index.rst

@@ -58,6 +58,9 b' During the release process, you might need the extra following dependencies:'
 
 Make sure you have all the required dependencies to run the tests as well.
 
+You can try to ``source tools/release_helper.sh`` when releasing via bash, it 
+should guide you through most of the process.
+
 
 1. Set Environment variables
 ----------------------------