Patch Release: Google-cloud-longrunning Dependency Update

Nov 13, 2025 by Alex Johnson 58 views

It looks like we need to address an issue stemming from our last release. New features were introduced in the longrunning crate, and several of our other crates depend on it. The problem? These dependent crates are still declaring the minimum version of longrunning as "1". This is less than ideal, as they aren't taking advantage of the updates and improvements we've made.

The Plan: A Patch Release to the Rescue

To resolve this, we're going to execute a patch release. This will involve updating the dependency requirements in our dependent crates to reflect the newer longrunning version. But first, let's dive into why this is important and the steps involved.

Why This Matters

Sticking with older dependency versions can lead to a few problems:

Missing out on new features: The most obvious downside. Our dependent crates can't utilize the shiny new functionalities we added to longrunning. This limits their capabilities and might force users to rely on older, less efficient workarounds.
Potential bug fixes: Newer versions often include bug fixes. By not updating, we're potentially exposing our users to issues that have already been resolved in longrunning.
Security vulnerabilities: While not always the case, older versions might have known security vulnerabilities that have been patched in newer releases. Keeping dependencies up-to-date is a crucial security practice.
Compatibility issues: As the ecosystem evolves, older versions might become incompatible with other libraries or tools. This can lead to frustrating integration problems for our users.

Steps Involved in the Patch Release

Identify Dependent Crates: The first step is to pinpoint all the crates that depend on google-cloud-longrunning. We'll need a comprehensive list to ensure we don't miss any.
Update Dependency Declarations: In each of these crates, we'll modify the Cargo.toml file to specify a minimum version requirement that includes the new features. This usually involves changing the dependency declaration from longrunning = "1" to something like longrunning = ">=1.x.y", where x.y is the version that includes the necessary features. We must also consider the impact to any downstream projects which depend on these crates.
Thorough Testing: After updating the dependencies, we'll need to run extensive tests to ensure that everything still works as expected. This includes unit tests, integration tests, and possibly even manual testing to cover different scenarios.
Release the Patch: Once we're confident that the changes are safe, we'll release a new patch version for each of the updated crates.
Consider Yanking: This is an optional step, but we might consider yanking the older versions of the crates. Yanking a version means that it's no longer available for download from crates.io. This prevents new users from accidentally using the older, problematic versions. However, we need to be careful when yanking, as it can break existing projects that rely on those specific versions. Yanking should only be done if the older versions are known to be significantly flawed. This should be well documented to communicate the reasoning behind the yanking for existing users of the crates affected.

Diving Deeper: The Technical Details

Let's break down some of the technical aspects of this process.

Understanding `Cargo.toml` and Semantic Versioning

The Cargo.toml file is the heart of every Rust crate. It contains metadata about the crate, including its dependencies. The dependency declarations in Cargo.toml use semantic versioning (semver) to specify which versions of a dependency are allowed. Semver is based on the format MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH.

MAJOR: Indicates incompatible API changes.
MINOR: Indicates new functionality added in a backwards-compatible manner.
PATCH: Indicates bug fixes that are backwards-compatible.

When specifying a dependency version, we can use various operators:

= or version: Specifies an exact version.
>: Specifies a version greater than.
<: Specifies a version less than.
>=: Specifies a version greater than or equal to.
<=: Specifies a version less than or equal to.
^: Allows changes up to the next major version (most commonly used).
~: Allows changes up to the next minor version.
*: Matches any version.

For our patch release, we'll likely use the >= operator to specify a minimum version that includes the new longrunning features.

Testing Strategies

Testing is paramount to ensure the patch release doesn't introduce any regressions. Here are some testing strategies we'll employ:

Unit Tests: These tests verify the functionality of individual functions and modules in our crates. They should cover the core logic that interacts with the longrunning crate.
Integration Tests: These tests verify the interaction between different parts of our crates, including the interaction with longrunning. They simulate real-world scenarios and ensure that the crates work together seamlessly.
End-to-End Tests: These tests validate the entire workflow of the application, including integration with external services and dependencies. They offer a comprehensive view of the application's behavior and help identify any potential issues that may arise in a production environment.
Manual Testing: In some cases, manual testing might be necessary to cover scenarios that are difficult to automate. This could involve testing specific edge cases or verifying the user experience.

The Yanking Decision: A Word of Caution

Yanking older versions can be a powerful tool, but it should be used with caution. Before yanking a version, we need to consider the following:

Impact on Existing Users: Yanking a version will break any projects that depend on that specific version. We need to assess how many users are affected and whether they have a viable upgrade path.
Severity of the Issue: Yanking is most appropriate when the older version has a significant flaw, such as a security vulnerability or a major bug that causes data corruption.
Communication: If we decide to yank a version, we need to communicate this clearly to our users, explaining the reasons for the yanking and providing instructions on how to upgrade to a newer version. This communication could include blog posts, release notes, and updates to the crate's documentation.

Addressing #3782 and Moving Forward

The existing pull request, #3782, updates the dependency in the main branch, which is a great start. This patch release will essentially backport those changes to a stable release, ensuring users who aren't on the bleeding edge can still benefit from the updated longrunning dependency.

Next Steps

Review and Merge #3782: Let's ensure #3782 is thoroughly reviewed and merged into the main branch.
Create a Branch for the Patch Release: We'll create a new branch specifically for the patch release (e.g., release-1.x.1).
Cherry-Pick Changes: We'll cherry-pick the relevant changes from #3782 into the release branch.
Run Tests: We'll run all the tests on the release branch to ensure everything is working as expected.
Release the Patch: We'll release the new patch version from the release branch.
Consider Yanking (if necessary): We'll evaluate whether yanking the older versions is appropriate based on the criteria mentioned above.

By following these steps, we can ensure that our users have access to the latest and greatest features and bug fixes in google-cloud-longrunning, while also minimizing the risk of introducing regressions.

This patch release is a crucial step in maintaining the health and stability of our crates. By keeping our dependencies up-to-date, we can provide a better experience for our users and ensure the long-term success of our projects.

Conclusion

In summary, creating a patch release to update the google-cloud-longrunning dependency in our crates is a necessary step to ensure our users benefit from the latest features and bug fixes. By carefully following the steps outlined above, including updating dependency declarations, thorough testing, and considering the implications of yanking older versions, we can execute a successful patch release that improves the overall quality and stability of our ecosystem. Remember to communicate effectively with our users throughout the process to minimize disruption and ensure a smooth transition to the updated dependencies.

Semantic Versioning 2.0.0