diff --git a/Documentation/RelNotes/1.7.9.txt b/Documentation/RelNotes/1.7.9.txt
index 1c548d9..79397eb 100644
--- a/Documentation/RelNotes/1.7.9.txt
+++ b/Documentation/RelNotes/1.7.9.txt
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@
  * "git commit" detects and rejects an attempt to stuff NUL byte in
    the commit log message.
 
+ * "git commit" learned "-S" to GPG-sign the commit; this can be shown
+   with the "--show-signature" option to "git log".
+
  * fsck and prune are relatively lengthy operations that still go
    silent while making the end-user wait. They learned to give progress
    output like other slow operations.
@@ -64,6 +67,10 @@
    signed tag is recorded in the resulting merge commit for later
    auditing.
 
+ * "git log" learned "--show-signature" option to show the signed tag
+   that was merged that is embedded in the merge commit. It also can
+   show the signature made on the commit with "git commit -S".
+
  * "git branch --edit-description" can be used to add descriptive text
    to explain what a topic branch is about.
 
diff --git a/GIT-VERSION-GEN b/GIT-VERSION-GEN
index e18a30a..4e83354 100755
--- a/GIT-VERSION-GEN
+++ b/GIT-VERSION-GEN
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
 GVF=GIT-VERSION-FILE
-DEF_VER=v1.7.8.GIT
+DEF_VER=v1.7.9-rc0
 
 LF='
 '