[VOL-5009] - Update release notes

config.mk
makefiles/*
-----------
  o Refresh library makefiles from https://github.com/opencord/onf-make.
  o More lint targets added with exclusions in config.mk

makefiles/virtualenv.mk
patches/lib/python3.10/site-packages/robot/utils/normalizing.py/patch
patches/lib/python3.10/site-packages/robot/utils/robottypes3.py/patch
patches/python_310_migration.sh
---------------------------------------------------------------------
  o Continue normalizing virtualenv install directory.
  o Update patches to modify .venv VS vst_venv [, vdoc_venv, vfoo_venv, vbar_venv, ...)
  o virtualenv.mk now defines named targets for patching-up-to 3.10 installs.

release_notes/voltha_2.12.rst
-----------------------------
  o Update version string info.
  o Onos component table condensed and populated with versioned urls.
  o voltha components table is a WIP.

howto/release/repositories/
---------------------------
  o Begin capturing repo-specific activities for release.
  o Silly having to figure this out each release cycle.
  o Automation and release helper scripts can be found here:
    - https://github.com/joey-onf/voltha-release

sphinx_conf/exclude_patterns.py
-------------------------------
  o Roach squashing exercise, external repos pulled in as git-submodules.
  o New repository files appear as problems when running 'make reload'
  o Exclude files to squelch messages.

Change-Id: I7adf7b84498511f5cde1e43ad304f9e33283241e
diff --git a/sphinx_conf/exclude_patterns.py b/sphinx_conf/exclude_patterns.py
index 82bf7c7..3c5fade 100644
--- a/sphinx_conf/exclude_patterns.py
+++ b/sphinx_conf/exclude_patterns.py
@@ -27,6 +27,54 @@
     'CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md',
     '*/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md',
 
+    # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # WARNING: Roach squashing exercise ahead.
+    # External repos are sub-modules, sphinx will complain when new files added.
+    # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Why are repos pulled in:
+    #   - external linkage/direct viewing of the truth ?
+    #   - generated content, documentation links       ?
+    # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Roach squash: filter files individually as they are added or found (make lint)
+    # Simple answer: bulk exclude by subdir to catch all variants.
+    # Unknown: will the subdir exclusion break doc generation or navigation ?
+    # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # 'device-management-interface/README.md',
+
+    # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Jump through hoops for this one:
+    #   o openolt/ is an external repo
+    #   o lint reported a problem with URL aliases ./BUILDING and .SECURITY
+    #   o Cannot exclude by existing or literal path so resort to wildcard
+    # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    'openolt/README.md',
+    #   [SECURITY.md](./SECURITY.md)
+    #   [BUILDING guide](BUILDING.md)
+
+    'openolt/olt-sw-upgrade/README.md',
+    'voltha-helm-charts/makefiles/',
+    # 'voltha-helm-charts/makefiles/README.md',
+    'voltha-helm-charts/makefiles/README.md',
+    #
+    'voltha-openonu-adapter-go/templates/README.md',
+    # 'device-management-interface/docs/RpcGuidelines.md',
+    'voltha-system-tests/patches/*',
+    'voltha-system-tests/scripts/flog/',
+    #
+    'voltha-system-tests/etc/README.md',
+    'voltha-system-tests/scripts/README.md',
+    #
+    'voltctl/MULTIPLE_STACKS.md',
+    'voltha-system-tests/tests/data/onos-files/README.md',
+    'voltha-openonu-adapter-go/docs/ONU_Upgrade_Notes.md',
+
+    # WARNING: toctree contains reference to excluded document
+    # 'openolt/README.md',
+    # 'voltha-openonu-adapter-go/README.md',
+    'repos/openolt/BUILDING.md',
+    'repos/openolt/SECURITY.md',
+
     # Ignore all:
     'makefiles',
     '__pycache__',
@@ -36,10 +84,11 @@
 
     # Revisit: one directory pattern is sufficient.
     # makefiles/virtualenv.mk normalizes all of this
-    '**/doc_venv', 
+    '**/doc_venv',
     '**/venv_docs',
     '**/virtualenv',
     '**/vst_venv',
+    '**/venv_cord',
 ]
 
 # [EOF]