feat: add redirect for vNext (#5132)

* feat: add a redirect for vNext

* docs: add a note so I don't forget to automate redirect URL modifications next release time

howtos/release-procedure.md

@@ -90,23 +90,31 @@ To create the new versions:
    },
    ```
 
-7. Create a PR containing only the first commit generated by the `./hacks/cutNewVersions.sh` script. This commit is very large, and will crash the browser of anyone trying to review it.
+7. Manipulate version-wide redirects properly in `.htaccess`.
+
+   - vNext should include a redirect from its numbered counterpart to /next.
+   - The new vCurrent should include a redirect from its numbered counterpart to /.
+   - The previous vCurrent should no longer include a redirect.
+
+   This is a good candidate for future automation.
+
+8. Create a PR containing only the first commit generated by the `./hacks/cutNewVersions.sh` script. This commit is very large, and will crash the browser of anyone trying to review it.
 
    Tip: Use the [GitHub CLI](https://cli.github.com/) to create this PR, to avoid crashing your own browser. Example:
 
    ```sh
    gh pr create --assignee @me --title "release(8.6): release version 8.6 (the big PR)"
    ```
 
-8. Create a second PR, into the first PR, with the rest of the changes. This PR will be much easier for users to review in the GitHub UI.
+9. Create a second PR, into the first PR, with the rest of the changes. This PR will be much easier for users to review in the GitHub UI.
 
    Tip: Use the [GitHub CLI](https://cli.github.com/) to create this PR also. Specify the `--base` option to target the first PR. Example:
 
    ```sh
    gh pr create --base "branch-name-of-the-first-PR" --assignee @me --title "release(8.6): release version 8.6 (the reviewable PR)"
    ```
 
-9. With successful build and approval, merge the second PR into the first. Then merge the first into `main`.
+10. With successful build and approval, merge the second PR into the first. Then merge the first into `main`.
 
 ### Release the new version
 

static/.htaccess

@@ -53,6 +53,10 @@ RewriteRule ^(.*\.(yaml|bpmn|xml|png|jpeg|jpg|yml|pdf|svg|graphqls|diff))/$ /$1
 # 2. Broad version (or unversioned) redirects
 ##################################################################################
 
+# Numbered aliases for vNext. These are temporary, until this version becomes current.
+RewriteRule ^docs/8.8/(.*)$ /docs/next/$1 [R=302,L]
+RewriteRule ^optimize/3.16.0/(.*)$ /optimize/next/$1 [R=302,L]
+
 # For linking from our apps - redirect URLs with the current version to URLs with no version
 RewriteRule ^docs/8.6/(.*)$ /docs/$1 [R=302,L]
 RewriteRule ^optimize/3.14.0/(.*)$ /optimize/$1 [R=302,L]