# Release Branches

Release branches have a name of `release-MAJOR.MINOR`. Essential Istio repositories are branched from master roughly 4
weeks prior to a new release. The `istio/istio.io` repository does not get branched until the release is ready
for publication.

This document outlines getting in new features after a new branch has been cut and the process for getting a PR
merged in before and after the first public release.

# Feature Freeze

controller as the CLI command `istioctl install` running in a loop in a pod in the cluster and using the config
from the in-cluster IstioOperator custom resource (CR).
There are two major differences:

1. The controller does not accept any dynamic user config through flags. All user interaction is through the
IstioOperator CR.

`Generators` get as input the `Proxy` (a representation of the current client), the current `PushContext` snapshot, and a list of config updates that caused the change.