Update readme, add release process, reformat to markdown
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+Apache Directory Project
+========================
+
+This repository contains the Maven parent POM and some shared resources of
+the [Apache Directory project](https://directory.apache.org/).
+
+
+Release Process
+---------------
+
+(See also <https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/DIRxDEV/Top+Level+Pom+Management+Policy>)
+
+### Prepare the POM
+
+ mvn release:prepare -DdryRun=true
+
+### Deploy a snapshot
+
+ mvn deploy
+
+This is useful to verify your settings in ~/.m2/settings.xml (Nexus password and GPG key)
+
+### Prepare the release
+
+ mvn release:clean
+ mvn release:prepare
+
+When asked for the SCM release tag please remove the project prefix, the version number is enough.
+
+This creates a tag here: <https://gitbox.apache.org/repos/asf?p=directory-project.git>
+
+### Stage the release
+
+ mvn release:perform
+
+This deploys the POM to a staging repository. Go to <https://repository.apache.org/index.html#stagingRepositories> and close the staging repository.
+
+### Inform dev list
+
+Inform the dev list to publish (release) this POM. After a 4 hour grace period the POM can be released, therefore go to <https://repository.apache.org/index.html#stagingRepositories> and release the staging repository.
+
diff --git a/README.txt b/README.txt
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-This is the trunk for all directory projects.
-
-Branches
---------
-
- o Take a look at the README.txt in the branches folder under the
- directory svn repo base.
-
-Releases
---------
-
- o Tagged releases are contained under the releases folder under
- directory svn repo base. Take a look at the README.txt file
- there for more info.
-
-========================================================================
-This distribution includes cryptographic software. The country in
- which you currently reside may have restrictions on the import,
- possession, use, and/or re-export to another country, of
- encryption software. BEFORE using any encryption software, please
- check your country's laws, regulations and policies concerning the
- import, possession, or use, and re-export of encryption software, to
- see if this is permitted. See <http://www.wassenaar.org/> for more
- information.
-
- The U.S. Government Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and
- Security (BIS), has classified this software as Export Commodity
- Control Number (ECCN) 5D002.C.1, which includes information security
- software using or performing cryptographic functions with asymmetric
- algorithms. The form and manner of this Apache Software Foundation
- distribution makes it eligible for export under the License Exception
- ENC Technology Software Unrestricted (TSU) exception (see the BIS
- Export Administration Regulations, Section 740.13) for both object
- code and source code.
-
- The following provides more details on the included cryptographic
- software:
-
- http://www.bouncycastle.org/
-
