docs: rc update and fix

Co-authored-by: Copilot <copilot@github.com>

Author: mkumar73

docs/developer_guide/release.md

@@ -15,28 +15,33 @@ The document outlines the steps to build and release the `deeptab` package. At t
   'edgeLabelBackground': '#f9fafb'
 }}}%%
 flowchart TD
-    A[Create release/vX.Y.Z branch]:::setup --> B[Bump version]:::setup
-    B --> C[Update CHANGELOG.md]:::setup
-    C --> D[Commit & push branch]:::setup
-    D --> E[Open PR: release/vX.Y.Z → main]:::pr
-    E --> F{Review & approve}:::decision
-    F --> G[Merge PR into main]:::pr
-    G --> H[git checkout main && git pull]:::git
-    H --> I{Release type?}:::decision
-    I -->|RC| J["git tag vX.Y.ZrcN\ngit push origin vX.Y.ZrcN"]:::git
-    I -->|Stable| K["git tag vX.Y.Z\ngit push origin vX.Y.Z"]:::git
-    J --> L[CI: publish-testpypi.yml]:::ci
-    K --> M[CI: publish-pypi.yml]:::ci
-    L --> N[TestPyPI + GitHub pre-release]:::rc
-    M --> O[PyPI + GitHub Release]:::stable
-
-    classDef setup  fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#3b82f6,color:#1e3a5f
-    classDef pr     fill:#ede9fe,stroke:#8b5cf6,color:#3b0764
+    A[Create release/vX.Y.Z branch]:::setup --> B{Release type?}:::decision
+    B -->|RC| RC1[Bump version e.g. 1.7.0rc1]:::setup
+    B -->|Stable| ST1[Bump version e.g. 1.7.0]:::setup
+    RC1 --> RC2[Update CHANGELOG.md]:::setup
+    RC2 --> RC3[Commit & push branch]:::setup
+    RC3 --> RC4["git tag vX.Y.ZrcN\ngit push origin vX.Y.ZrcN"]:::git
+    RC4 --> RC5[CI: publish-testpypi.yml]:::ci
+    RC5 --> RC6[TestPyPI + GitHub pre-release]:::rc
+    RC6 -->|Issues found| RC1
+    RC6 -->|RC approved| ST1
+    ST1 --> ST2[Update CHANGELOG.md]:::setup
+    ST2 --> ST3[Commit & push branch]:::setup
+    ST3 --> ST4[Open PR: release/vX.Y.Z → main]:::pr
+    ST4 --> ST5{Review & approve}:::decision
+    ST5 --> ST6[Merge PR into main]:::pr
+    ST6 --> ST7[git checkout main && git pull]:::git
+    ST7 --> ST8["git tag vX.Y.Z\ngit push origin vX.Y.Z"]:::git
+    ST8 --> ST9[CI: publish-pypi.yml]:::ci
+    ST9 --> ST10[PyPI + GitHub Release]:::stable
+
+    classDef setup   fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#3b82f6,color:#1e3a5f
+    classDef pr      fill:#ede9fe,stroke:#8b5cf6,color:#3b0764
     classDef decision fill:#fef9c3,stroke:#ca8a04,color:#713f12
-    classDef git    fill:#f0fdf4,stroke:#22c55e,color:#14532d
-    classDef ci     fill:#fff7ed,stroke:#f97316,color:#7c2d12
-    classDef rc     fill:#fdf4ff,stroke:#d946ef,color:#701a75
-    classDef stable fill:#ecfdf5,stroke:#10b981,color:#064e3b
+    classDef git     fill:#f0fdf4,stroke:#22c55e,color:#14532d
+    classDef ci      fill:#fff7ed,stroke:#f97316,color:#7c2d12
+    classDef rc      fill:#fdf4ff,stroke:#d946ef,color:#701a75
+    classDef stable  fill:#ecfdf5,stroke:#10b981,color:#064e3b
 ```
 
 ## 1. Test documentation
@@ -86,37 +91,44 @@ git commit -m "bump: version 1.6.1 → 1.7.0rc1"
 
 The version number follows the format `major.minor.patch` for stable, or `major.minor.patchrcN` for release candidates.
 
-## 3. Release PR
+## 3. Tag and publish a release candidate
+
+RC tags are pushed **directly from the release branch** — no PR to `main` required.
+
+```bash
+git tag -a vX.Y.ZrcN -m "Release candidate vX.Y.ZrcN"
+git push origin vX.Y.ZrcN
+```
+
+This triggers `publish-testpypi.yml`, which publishes to **TestPyPI** and creates a GitHub pre-release.
+
+If issues are found, fix them on the release branch, bump to the next RC (`rcN+1`), and repeat.
+
+## 4. Release PR (stable only)
+
+Once all RCs are approved, open a PR from `release/vX.Y.Z` to `main`:
 
-- Open a PR from `release/vX.Y.Z` to `main`
 - After review and approval, merge the PR
 - **Merging to `main` does NOT trigger a PyPI release**
 
 > **Promoting a model from experimental to stable?** Verify the [Model Promotion Policy](model_promotion_policy.md) checklist is complete before merging a release PR that includes a promotion.
 
-## 4. Create and push the Git tag
+## 5. Create and push the stable tag
 
-After the release PR is merged, the maintainer creates the release tag:
+After the release PR is merged:
 
 ```bash
 git checkout main && git pull
 git tag -a vX.Y.Z -m "Release vX.Y.Z"
 git push origin vX.Y.Z
 ```
 
-For a release candidate:
-
-```bash
-git tag -a vX.Y.Zrc1 -m "Release candidate vX.Y.Zrc1"
-git push origin vX.Y.Zrc1
-```
-
-## 5. Publish package to PyPI
+## 6. Publish package to PyPI
 
 The tag push automatically triggers the appropriate workflow in GitHub Actions:
 
 - Stable tag (`vX.Y.Z`) → `publish-pypi.yml` → publishes to **PyPI** + creates GitHub Release
-- RC tag (`vX.Y.Zrc1`) → `publish-testpypi.yml` → publishes to **TestPyPI** + creates GitHub pre-release
+- RC tag (`vX.Y.ZrcN`) → `publish-testpypi.yml` → publishes to **TestPyPI** + creates GitHub pre-release
 
 Both workflows:
 
@@ -127,6 +139,6 @@ Both workflows:
 
 > **Note:** A `pypi-publish` GitHub Environment (for stable) and `testpypi-publish` environment (for RCs) must be configured with tag-based deployment protection rules.
 
-## 6. GitHub Release
+## 7. GitHub Release
 
 The GitHub Release is created automatically by the publish workflow. Verify the release notes are correct and add any manual context if needed.