From eb435b46bd904f80369e150cbb233d606024c01c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Mike McCready <66998419+MikeMcC399@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2026 09:33:59 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] docs: add release availability information

---
 README.md | 20 ++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 20 insertions(+)

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2db9bbce4..cd5f0533b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ The official Node.js docker image, made with love by the node community.
   - [`node:bookworm`](#nodebookworm)
   - [`node:trixie`](#nodetrixie)
   - [`node:slim`](#nodeslim)
+- [Release Availability](#release-availability)
 - [License](#license)
 - [Supported Docker versions](#supported-docker-versions)
 - [Supported Node.js versions](#supported-nodejs-versions)
@@ -227,6 +228,25 @@ in an environment where *only* the Node.js image will be deployed and you have
 space constraints, we highly recommend using the default image of this
 repository.
 
+## Release Availability
+
+This repo automatically triggers a process to build new `node` images when Node.js releases
+become available. The build processes can take several hours to complete.
+
+Images may initially appear on [Docker Hub](https://hub.docker.com/_/node)
+with incomplete or missing OS/ARCH listings as the build process first publishes a tag
+and then backfills each architecture when ready.
+During this time, if you try to pull the image, you may see an error
+message "no matching manifest". In this case, check back later.
+(See [Docker Library FAQs](https://github.com/docker-library/faq#an-images-source-changed-in-git-now-what)
+for a detailed description of the complex build process.)
+
+For Node.js security releases, Debian-based `node` images may be published in advance
+of Alpine-based images. To build an Alpine-based `node` image requires
+a `musl` build. This may not initially be ready at Node.js release time.
+When processing non-security Node.js releases, the build process will wait for
+the `musl` build before proceeding with Debian- and Alpine-based images.
+
 ## License
 
 [License information](https://github.com/nodejs/node/blob/main/LICENSE) for