> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ironoctopus.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Release a feature

> What releasing does, and how to release a feature.

Releasing adds a finished feature to your app's code. Iron Octopus merges the feature into your project's main branch, with a full record of what was asked for, built and checked.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Releasing doesn't deploy your app. It adds the feature to your project's code, ready for however you ship it.

## When a feature is ready

A feature is ready to release when every required acceptance criterion is met. It then shows under **Needs you** on Home as **Ready to release**.

## Release it

**1. Check the acceptance criteria**

Open the feature and read each acceptance criterion's verdict and evidence. By default, criteria are checked by review; the page says when a test or a running environment wasn't used.

**2. Click Release feature**

This records your approval of the release. Iron Octopus creates a pull request and merges the feature branch into your project's main branch.

**3. It's released**

While the merge runs, the feature shows as **Releasing**. When it finishes, the feature is **Released** and its record is read-only.

## If the release stops

If the merge can't finish, the feature shows **Releasing · needs attention**. Open it to see why, then click **Retry release**. The feature stays in Acceptance until the release succeeds, so nothing is half-released.

## After release

A released feature doesn't change. If you find a problem with it later, [report a defect](https://docs.ironoctopus.ai/fix/report-a-defect.md). The fix is a new feature, and the original stays exactly as it was released.

## Changing the rule

Approving the release is a built-in rule that's on by default. You can change it so features release on their own once every acceptance criterion is met. 


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