internal: update frontmatter (#4806)

- refresh README, CONTRIBUTING
- remove stale references to graphql conf 2025 and 2026 (we can restore graphql conf 2026 banner when talks are published)

Author: yaacovCR

.github/CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -73,6 +73,42 @@ ensure your pull request matches the style guides, run `npm run prettier`.
 - Trailing commas,
 - Avd abbr wrds.
 
+## Documentation
+
+The documentation website is published from the `17.x.x` branch. Website source
+lives under `website/`, with general guides in `website/pages/docs` and upgrade
+guides in `website/pages/upgrade-guides`.
+
+The API reference pages are generated snapshots:
+
+- `website/pages/api-v16` is generated from a v16 source ref.
+- `website/pages/api-v17` is generated from a v17 source ref.
+
+Generate API docs from the website package:
+
+```bash
+cd website
+npm run generate:docs -- 16.x.x 17.x.x
+```
+
+The generator creates detached temporary git worktrees for the refs passed on
+the command line, infers the major version from each ref's `package.json`, and
+writes the corresponding `api-v*` output directory. Generated API docs are not
+published automatically at this time; PRs that change website API output must
+include the generated files.
+
+Because the generator reads refs through temporary worktrees, it does not read
+uncommitted changes from your current checkout. Passing `17.x.x` reads the
+committed tip of the `17.x.x` branch, not local changes in a checked-out
+worktree. If a PR changes v17 API source comments or exported TypeScript
+surfaces, commit those source changes first and generate v17 docs from a ref
+that includes them, for example:
+
+```bash
+cd website
+npm run generate:docs -- 16.x.x HEAD
+```
+
 ## Review and Merge Process
 
 - Pull requests are required to pass all tests and checks before they can be merged.
@@ -115,7 +151,7 @@ npm run release:prepare -- 17.x.x prerelease --preid rc
 When `--preid` is provided, the release script uses it as the npm publish tag.
 Without a prerelease preid, the publish tag is `latest`.
 
-Push `<my_release_branch>`, open a PR from `<my_release_branch>` to `17.x.x`, wait for CI to pass, merge the PR, and then approve the GitHub Actions release workflow. The workflow currently runs in dry-run mode for testing.
+Push `<my_release_branch>`, open a PR from `<my_release_branch>` to `17.x.x`, wait for CI to pass, merge the PR, and then approve the GitHub Actions release workflow.
 
 ## License
 

README.md

@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
-[![GraphQLConf 2025 Banner: September 08-10, Amsterdam. Hosted by the GraphQL Foundation](./assets/graphql-conf-2025.png)](https://graphql.org/conf/2025/?utm_source=github&utm_medium=graphql_js&utm_campaign=readme)
-
 # GraphQL.js
 
 The JavaScript reference implementation for GraphQL, a query language for APIs created by Facebook.
 
 [![npm version](https://badge.fury.io/js/graphql.svg)](https://badge.fury.io/js/graphql)
-[![Build Status](https://github.com/graphql/graphql-js/workflows/CI/badge.svg?branch=main)](https://github.com/graphql/graphql-js/actions?query=branch%3Amain)
+[![Build Status](https://github.com/graphql/graphql-js/workflows/CI/badge.svg?branch=17.x.x)](https://github.com/graphql/graphql-js/actions?query=branch%3A17.x.x)
 
 See more complete documentation at https://graphql.org/ and
 https://graphql.org/graphql-js/.
@@ -111,7 +109,7 @@ graphql({ schema, source }).then((result) => {
 ## Want to ride the bleeding edge?
 
 The `npm` branch in this repository is automatically maintained to be the last
-commit to `main` to pass all tests, in the same form found on npm. It is
+commit to `17.x.x` to pass all tests, in the same form found on npm. It is
 recommended to use builds deployed to npm for many reasons, but if you want to use
 the latest not-yet-released version of graphql-js, you can do so by depending
 directly on this branch:
@@ -139,7 +137,7 @@ in files with the `.js` extension and the ESModule build within `.mjs` files.
 
 We actively welcome pull requests. Learn how to [contribute](./.github/CONTRIBUTING.md).
 
-This repository is managed by EasyCLA. Project participants must sign the free ([GraphQL Specification Membership agreement](https://preview-spec-membership.graphql.org) before making a contribution. You only need to do this one time, and it can be signed by [individual contributors](http://individual-spec-membership.graphql.org/) or their [employers](http://corporate-spec-membership.graphql.org/).
+This repository is managed by EasyCLA. Project participants must sign the free [GraphQL Specification Membership agreement](https://preview-spec-membership.graphql.org) before making a contribution. You only need to do this one time, and it can be signed by [individual contributors](http://individual-spec-membership.graphql.org/) or their [employers](http://corporate-spec-membership.graphql.org/).
 
 To initiate the signature process please open a PR against this repo. The EasyCLA bot will block the merge if we still need a membership agreement from you.
 

assets/graphql-conf-2025.png

@@ -213,30 +213,9 @@ const cfg: DocsThemeConfig = {
       </>
     );
   },
-  banner: {
-    content: (
-      <>
-        🎉{' '}
-        <NextLink
-          href="https://graphql.org/conf/2026/"
-          className="underline after:content-['_→'] after:font-sans"
-        >
-          Explore GraphQLConf 2026
-        </NextLink>{' '}
-        • May 19-21 • Fremont, CA •{' '}
-        <NextLink
-          href="https://graphql.org/conf/2026/schedule/"
-          className="underline after:content-['_→'] after:font-sans"
-        >
-          View the schedule
-        </NextLink>
-      </>
-    ),
-    key: 'graphqlconf-2026',
-  },
   logo: graphQLLogo,
   docsRepositoryBase:
-    'https://github.com/graphql/graphql-js/tree/16.x.x/website',
+    'https://github.com/graphql/graphql-js/tree/17.x.x/website',
   color: {
     hue: 319,
   },