Everything that can be reasonbly automated in the release process should be automated. Updating `NEWS` can't be automated, nor can picking a new version number, but everything else can be. If we can avoid an MR review cycle, that'd be great for speeding tthings up. `debian/changelog` changes during release process, when the Debian package is built in Lars's Ick instance. The git testament output further lists extra files `debian/debhelper-build-stamp` and `debian/subplot/` which should be added to `.gitignore`.