Release 2.8.0

[IAlibay]

We want to do a new release of MDAnalysis.

The target date is the 20th of October 2024.

TODOs:

• Complete remaining issues on the v2.8.0 milestone
• Declare a code freeze
• Complete the changelog
• Carry out release procedure
• Start v2.9.0

[IAlibay]

Most of the remaining tasks here are related to the guessers interface - if there's anything left please raise it here, but please make sure it can be completed in the next week.

[fiona-naughton]

I'm tentatively adding encore deprecation (#4274); since we're going the route of just adding deprecation warnings I should be able to get that up shortly, so assuming no hiccups and if someone is able to throw eyes over that would hopefully be done for the 20th.

[orbeckst]

As communicated in discord, we need to fix API breakage due to the guessers (see #4748 for a summary) before we can release 2.8.0.

[orbeckst]

@IAlibay could you please update this issue with information about extending the feature freeze or any other information for how to move forward? Just so that we have a central place to send people to. Thanks.

[IAlibay]

@IAlibay could you please update this issue with information about extending the feature freeze or any other information for how to move forward? Just so that we have a central place to send people to. Thanks.

@orbeckst we need to fix the things from #4748 and then try to do a release. Unfortunately weekdays are super hectic for me, especially Monday->Wednesday.

My initial take is "we'll need to make it a prolonged feature freeze", since I won't be able to sit down for a whole day to do a release, but I want to discuss this at the business meeting on Thursday.

Roughly I'm thinking I can start the release ~ Thursday (if we can merge everything by then), and then I'll ltry to spend some time over the weekend to try to finish it, probably aiming to unfreeze ~ Monday if everything goes well.

[orbeckst]

Thanks @IAlibay !