===========
This is the 1.0 release! The syntax and the semantics of the core language have
been stabilized and shouldn't evolve as much in the future.
- The core semantics of the language have been reworked and stabilized, in
particular (but not limited to) merging, types and contracts with the
implementation of RFC005
- The stdlib has been augmented with many new functions
- Parts of the syntax and some builtin symobls (types, stdlib functions, and so
on) have been improved and made consistent
- New features for the LSP, and in particular code completion
Breaking changes
----------------
- Various functions from the stdlib have been renamed for better discoverability,
and the stdlib got a lot of new additions. Please refer to the documentation
of the stdlib.
- String functions are now unicode-aware, and operate on the Unicode grapheme
cluster abstraction instead of the character abstraction (`string.length`,
`string.is_match`, etc.)
- The `switch` keyword has been replaced by `match`, and can now be used as a
standalone function (doesn't need to be applied right away)
- The `Num` and `Str` builtin types have been renamed to `Number` and `String` by yannham in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1164
- The `num` and `str` stdlib modules have been renamed to `number` and `string`
- The `builtin.typeof` function now returns `'Number`, `'String`, `'Function`
instead of respectively `'Num`, `'Str`, and `'Fun`
- The `builtin.is_num`, `builtin.is_str` and `builtin.to_str` functions have been
renamed to `is_number`, `is_string` and `to_string`
- The `string.to_num` and `string.from_num` functions have been renamed to
`to_number` and `from_number`
- All the stdlib modules `array`, `string`, `record`, etc. have been put
under a `std` namespace. They must now be accessed as `std.array`,
`std.string` and so on.
- RFC005 was implemented, which changes the semantics of contract annotations
and merging. See [the RFC
content](https://github.com/tweag/nickel/blob/master/rfcs/005-metadata-rework.md)
for more details. Most notably, metadata annotation (default values,
`optional`, documentation, etc.) can only appear next to a record field.
Contract and type annotations can still appear anywhere. Documentation can
still appear on let-bindings.
- Use static dictionary types for `record.fields` and `record.values` by matthew-healy in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1024
- Make type annotations to not propagate through merging by yannham in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1271
- Change to dictionary contracts and introduction of a separate dictionary contract (in addition to dictionary type):
- Fix dictionary contract semantics by vkleen in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1141
- Introduce dictionary contracts by yannham in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1272
- Stdlib `string.Stringingable` -> `string.Stringable` by vkleen in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1180
- Fix the type of `array.elem` by yannham in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1223
- Change the enum tag start delimiter from backtick to single-quote by vkleen in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1279
- `import` is now a statement, `import "foo.ncl" arg1 arg2` requires parenthesis now: `(import "foo.ncl") arg1 arg2`, see https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1293
Language features
-----------------
- Symbolic strings by matthew-healy in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/994
- [RFC005] Lazy propagation by yannham in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1086
- Non-exported record fields by vkleen in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1132
- Enrich label custom reporting data by yannham in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1152
- Use type annotations in record patterns during typechecking by matthew-healy in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1176
- Use arbitrary precision rationals as the underlying representation of numbers by yannham in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1182
- Allow equal arrays to be merged in order to make merge idempotent by yannham in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1229
- Use deterministic hashtables, making runtime errors and typechecking error deterministic by yannham in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1235
Stdlib
------
- Add a %trace% primop (and `std.trace` function) by vkleen in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1055
- Add `std.contract.Equal` contract to the stdlib by yannham in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1203
Tooling
-------
- Display meta information when providing completion in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/966
- LSP completion for import terms by ebresafegaga in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/993
- Fix LSP server not giving completion when a non-contract meta-information is present in a declaration by ebresafegaga in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/991
- Fix LSP not giving completion when an identifier is prefixed by a delimiting character by ebresafegaga in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1043
- Improve the "goto definition" feature of the LSP by making it work across multiple files by ebresafegaga in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1029
- Add --color option to the CLI by matthew-healy in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1033
- Make the "find references" feature of the LSP work across multiple files by ebresafegaga in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1037
- Add support for LSP completion using the surrounding context by ebresafegaga (context completion) in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1057
- Support completion for field names inside recursive records. by ebresafegaga in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1088
- Improve contract violation error reporting by ebresafegaga in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1139
- Add a JSON documentation export option by vkleen in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1209
- Add support for formatting capabilities to the LSP by ebresafegaga in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1216
Fixes
-----
- Do not panic on type path mismatch by yannham in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1028
- Fix multiline string interpolation when preceded by a `"` character by matthew-healy in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1023
- Improve the performance of `std.array.fold_left` and `std.array.fold_right` by vkleen in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1075
- Correctly type identifiers introduced in destructuring patterns by matthew-healy in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1099
- Always include fields with a value in `record.fields` by vkleen in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1225
- Make partially applied boolean operators work by vkleen in https://github.com/tweag/nickel/pull/1282