it is to drop it. That is not very user friendly and a bit more effort is
expected, but no promises are made.
+C API Changes
+----------------
+
+* Stability Guarantees: The C API is, in general, a "best effort" for stability.
+ This means that we make every attempt to keep the C API stable, but that
+ stability will be limited by the abstractness of the interface and the
+ stability of the C++ API that it wraps. In practice, this means that things
+ like "create debug info" or "create this type of instruction" are likely to be
+ less stable than "take this IR file and JIT it for my current machine".
+
+* Release stability: We won't break the C API on the release branch with patches
+ that go on that branch, with the exception that we will fix an unintentional
+ C API break that will keep the release consistent with both the previous and
+ next release.
+
+* Testing: Patches to the C API are expected to come with tests just like any
+ other patch.
+
+* Including new things into the API: If an LLVM subcomponent has a C API already
+ included, then expanding that C API is acceptable. Adding C API for
+ subcomponents that don't currently have one needs to be discussed on the
+ mailing list for design and maintainability feedback prior to implementation.
+
+* Documentation: Any changes to the C API are required to be documented in the
+ release notes so that it's clear to external users who do not follow the
+ project how the C API is changing and evolving.
+
.. _copyright-license-patents:
Copyright, License, and Patents