= Cobra 0.9.0 Release Notes =

2012-09-26

Below are highlights for this release. For even more details including every bug fix, browse the [http://cobra-language.com/trac/cobra/log/ revision log]. To get Cobra 0.9, visit [http://cobra-language.com/downloads/ Downloads].

Regarding Cobra 0.9.1, this is a minor patch release for Windows-only which enables installing Cobra on .NET 4.5.

== Language ==

 * Enabled multiple `test` sections in methods and properties.
 * Added new `try...catch...get` expression.
 * Added support for namespace doc strings.
 * Added unpacking the new Pair classes with assignments and for loops.
 * Throw an UnpackException for multi-target assignment (target1, target2 = source) if there is a mismatch in the number of source items and targets
 * Enhanced the treatment of `==` and `<>` between objects to fall back to a strongly type `.equals` method if a strongly typed `.compareTo` method is not available.
 * Added numeric literals like `45n` for number and `45d` for decimal. Previously, the `d` suffix required a decimal portion (`45.0d`) and there was no `n` suffix available.
 * Added recognition of the interfaces of primitive types such as `int` implementing `IComparable<of T>`.
 * Added proper support for `DllImport` also known as "P/Invoke".
 * Added local variable creation and type inference for `out` parameters in method calls.
 * New warnings
   * Do not use the identity operator "is" with an object literal. Use an equality operator such as "==" or "<>".
   * Cannot cast a string to a numeric type. Consider using "int.parse" or "int.tryParse". Use "@help int" for details.
 * Improved error checking and improved error messages.
 * Fixed various bugs.

== Library ==

 * Renamed "Cobra.Lang" to "Cobra.Core"
 * Added MultiList<of T> class.
 * Added Pair<of TA, TB> and Pair<of T> clasess.
 * Improved the default formatting of the `trace` statement (which is also configurable).
 * Added `CobraCore.operatingSystemDescription as String`.
 * Added extension methods:
   * interface IList
     * def addRange(items as System.Collections.IEnumerable)
   * interface IList<of T>
     * def addRange(items as IEnumerable<of T>)
     * def pop as T
   * class Stack<of T>: def clone as Stack<of T>
   * class String
     * def before(sep as String) as String
     * def after(sep as String) as String
     * def count(substring as String) as int
     * def limitLength(maxLength as int, suffix as String?) as String
     * def repeat(times as int) as String
     * def splitWords as List<of String>
 * Added `CobraCore.htmlDecode`, `.urlEncode` and `.urlDecode`.
 * Improved `CobraCore.findCobraExe` (changset:2473).
 * A Cobra.Compiler library is now always provided during installation.
 * Renamed "!CobraInfo" to "!CompileTimeInfo" and added `.date` and `.subversionRevision`.
 * Fixed various bugs.

== Command Line ==

 * Command line: -native-compiler: The absolute path to the native compiler is no longer required. A simple "csc.exe" or "dmcs" will suffice if it is in the system PATH.
 * Added -clr-platform option (like C#'s -platform option).
 * For "cobra -about", show the path that cobra.exe comes from.

== Learning ==

 * Added How To: Customize Object Equality.
 * Added Samples
   * Notepad for WPF
   * Gtk Source Editor
   * !HexDump
 * Kickstarted [wiki:Koans Cobra Koans].
 * Expanded the wiki.
 * Continued discussion and support in the forums.

== Other ==

 * Added support for .NET 4.0.
 * Improved the output of the @help directive.
 * Improved the installer in numerous ways.
 * Expanded the test suite.
 * Advanced the JVM back-end (could still use open source volunteers).
 * Bumped the Mono requirement from 2.4 to 2.6 based on a survey about VM versions.

== Credits ==

Cobra is a community-driven, open source project under the MIT license. Direct contributions came from, in order of magnitude:

 * CharlesEsterbrook
 * hopscc
 * todd.a
 * jaegs
 * johannes.krampf
 * maboiteaspam

Suggestions and bug reports came from, in alphabetical order):

agustech, blubb, BrendanSimon, callisto, creadak, DelphiGuy, drissel, dwilliamii, gissolved, hopscc, jaegs, jetimms, jonathandavid, melger, nerdzero, nevdelap, Obtuse, ObtuseAngle, RIGHT_THEN, terenced, todd.a, torial

Additional people contributed through testing and discussion.

== See Also ==

 * [http://cobra-language.com/downloads/ Downloads]
 * [http://cobra-language.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=585 Cobra 2010-04-02 Release Notes]
 * [wiki:ReleaseNotes_0.9.2 Cobra 0.9.2 Release Notes]
 * [http://cobra-language.com/docs/release-notes/ More Release Notes]
 * LanguageTopics
 * LibraryTopics