### Release to Manufacturing (RTM) / Release to Marketing This is the stage where the software is considered ready for delivery, also known as "going gold." In the context of physical products, it's the point where the software is sent off to be put onto physical media (like DVDs) for distribution. For software that's distributed digitally, RTM represents the version of the software that's ready for release. However, at this stage, the software may not yet be available to the general public. There might be a delay between RTM and GA, during which final preparations for the software's launch (like marketing activities or setting up distribution channels) are completed.