From e38807be5bb5f9c81e2211adf3e9defe6ff6aed1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Matt Martz <matt@sivel.net>
Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2025 17:00:11 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] New release v2.18.8rc1 (#85619)

---
 changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst              | 24 +++++++++++++++++
 changelogs/changelog.yaml                   | 29 +++++++++++++++++++++
 changelogs/fragments/2.18.8rc1_summary.yaml |  3 +++
 lib/ansible/release.py                      |  2 +-
 4 files changed, 57 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
 create mode 100644 changelogs/fragments/2.18.8rc1_summary.yaml

diff --git a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst
index 26138f058ca..a9b9cce9605 100644
--- a/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst
+++ b/changelogs/CHANGELOG-v2.18.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,30 @@ ansible-core 2.18 "Fool in the Rain" Release Notes
 
 .. contents:: Topics
 
+v2.18.8rc1
+==========
+
+Release Summary
+---------------
+
+| Release Date: 2025-08-04
+| `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.18/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.18.html>`__
+
+Minor Changes
+-------------
+
+- ansible-test - Improve formatting of generated coverage config file.
+- ansible-test - Replace remote FreeBSD 13.3 with 13.5.
+- ansible-test - Use OS packages to satisfy controller requirements on FreeBSD 13.5 during managed instance bootstrapping.
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+- ansible-test - Always exclude the ``tests/output/`` directory from a collection's code coverage. (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/84244)
+- ansible-test - Limit package install retries during managed remote instance bootstrapping.
+- ansible-test - Use a consistent coverage config for all collection testing.
+- plugins config, get_option_and_origin now correctly displays the value and origin of the option.
+
 v2.18.7
 =======
 
diff --git a/changelogs/changelog.yaml b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
index 65d8ebf57ff..268d9a1fdec 100644
--- a/changelogs/changelog.yaml
+++ b/changelogs/changelog.yaml
@@ -909,3 +909,32 @@ releases:
     - pull_changed_fix.yml
     - user_passphrase.yml
     release_date: '2025-07-08'
+  2.18.8rc1:
+    changes:
+      bugfixes:
+      - ansible-test - Always exclude the ``tests/output/`` directory from a collection's
+        code coverage. (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/84244)
+      - ansible-test - Limit package install retries during managed remote instance
+        bootstrapping.
+      - ansible-test - Use a consistent coverage config for all collection testing.
+      - plugins config, get_option_and_origin now correctly displays the value and
+        origin of the option.
+      minor_changes:
+      - ansible-test - Improve formatting of generated coverage config file.
+      - ansible-test - Replace remote FreeBSD 13.3 with 13.5.
+      - ansible-test - Use OS packages to satisfy controller requirements on FreeBSD
+        13.5 during managed instance bootstrapping.
+      release_summary: '| Release Date: 2025-08-04
+
+        | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.18/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.18.html>`__
+
+        '
+    codename: Fool in the Rain
+    fragments:
+    - 2.18.8rc1_summary.yaml
+    - ansible-test-bootstrap-retry.yml
+    - ansible-test-coverage-config.yml
+    - ansible-test-freebsd-bootstrap.yml
+    - ansible-test-remotes.yml
+    - plugins_fix_origin.yml
+    release_date: '2025-08-04'
diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/2.18.8rc1_summary.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/2.18.8rc1_summary.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..76f9274b21a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/2.18.8rc1_summary.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+release_summary: |
+   | Release Date: 2025-08-04
+   | `Porting Guide <https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.18/porting_guides/porting_guide_core_2.18.html>`__
diff --git a/lib/ansible/release.py b/lib/ansible/release.py
index fd7c3e84bac..be485508895 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/release.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/release.py
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-__version__ = '2.18.7.post0'
+__version__ = '2.18.8rc1'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
 __codename__ = "Fool in the Rain"