backend-infra-engineer: finalize v0.5.0 branding

CMakeLists.txt

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ elseif(DEFINED YAZE_VERSION_OVERRIDE)
      set(YAZE_VERSION ${YAZE_VERSION_OVERRIDE})
 else()
     set(YAZE_VERSION "0.5.0")
-    set(YAZE_VERSION_SUFFIX "-alpha")
+    set(YAZE_VERSION_SUFFIX "")
 endif()
 
 if(APPLE)

README.md

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ A cross-platform Zelda 3 ROM editor with a modern C++ GUI, Asar 65816 assembler
 - **Modular AI stack**: Toggle agent UI (`YAZE_BUILD_AGENT_UI`), remote automation/gRPC (`YAZE_ENABLE_REMOTE_AUTOMATION`), and AI runtimes (`YAZE_ENABLE_AI_RUNTIME`) per preset.
 
 ## Project Status
-`0.5.0-alpha` builds are in active development, focusing on the new Music Editor, Web Assembly port, and SDL3 migration. See [`docs/public/release-notes.md`](docs/public/release-notes.md) for details.
+v0.5.0 is the current release. New to YAZE? Start with a clean, legally obtained ALttP (USA) ROM and the Quick Start steps below. See [`docs/public/release-notes.md`](docs/public/release-notes.md) for details.
 
 ## Quick Start
 

docs/public/reference/changelog.md

@@ -1,5 +1,24 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 0.5.0 (December 2025)
+
+### Graphics & Palette Reliability
+- Fixed palette conversion and Tile16 tint regressions.
+- Corrected palette slicing for graphics sheets and indexed → SNES planar conversion.
+- Stabilized overworld palette/tilemap saves and render service GameData loading.
+
+### Editor UX & Tools
+- Refined dashboard/editor selection layouts and card text rendering.
+- Moved layout designer into a lab target for safer experimentation.
+- Hardened CLI/API room loading and Asar patch handling.
+
+### Platform, Build, and Tests
+- Added iOS platform scaffolding (experimental) plus build helper scripts.
+- Simplified nightly workflow, refreshed toolchain/dependency wiring, and standardized build dirs.
+- Added role-based ROM selection/availability gating and stabilized rendering/benchmark tests.
+
+---
+
 ## 0.4.1 (December 2025)
 
 ### Overworld Editor Fixes

docs/public/release-notes.md

@@ -1,27 +1,32 @@
 # Release Notes
 
-## v0.5.0-alpha (In Development)
+## v0.5.0 (Released December 2025)
 
-**Type:** Major Feature & Architecture Update
+**Type:** Platform Expansion & Stability
-**Date:** TBD
+**Date:** 2025-12-28
 
-### 🎵 New Music Editor
+### 🧩 Graphics & Palette Accuracy
-The highly anticipated SPC Music Editor is now available!
+- Fixed palette conversion and Tile16 tint regressions.
-- **Tracker View:** Edit music patterns with a familiar tracker interface.
+- Corrected palette slicing for graphics sheets and indexed → SNES planar conversion.
-- **Piano Roll:** Visualize and edit notes with velocity and duration control.
+- Stabilized overworld palette/tilemap saves and render service GameData loads.
-- **Preview:** Real-time N-SPC audio preview with authentic ADSR envelopes.
-- **Instruments:** Manage instruments and samples directly.
 
-### 🕸️ Web App Improvements (WASM)
+### 🧭 Editor UX & Reliability
-- **Experimental Web Port:** Run YAZE directly in your browser.
+- Refined dashboard/editor selection layouts and card rendering.
-- **UI Refresh:** New panelized layout with VSCode-style terminal and problems view.
+- Moved the layout designer into a lab target for safer experimentation.
-- **Usability:** Improved error handling for missing features (Emulator).
+- Hardened room loading APIs and added room count reporting for C API consumers.
-- **Security:** Hardened `SharedArrayBuffer` support with `coi-serviceworker`.
 
-### 🏗️ Architecture & CI
+### 🤖 Automation & AI
-- **Windows CI:** Fixed environment setup for `clang-cl` builds (MSVC dev cmd).
+- Refactored gRPC agent services and editor wiring.
-- **Code Quality:** Consolidated CI workflows.
+- Hardened CLI patch handling and tool output formatting.
-- **SDL3 Prep:** Groundwork for the upcoming migration to SDL3.
+
+### 📦 Platform & Build
+- Added iOS platform scaffolding (experimental).
+- Added build helper scripts and simplified nightly workflow.
+- Refreshed toolchain/dependency wiring and standardized build directory policy.
+
+### 🧪 Testing
+- Added role-based ROM selection and ROM-availability gating.
+- Stabilized rendering/benchmark tests and aligned integration expectations.
 
 ---
 

src/app/editor/ui/welcome_screen.cc

@@ -657,6 +657,12 @@ void WelcomeScreen::DrawHeader() {
 
 void WelcomeScreen::DrawQuickActions() {
   ImGui::TextColored(kSpiritOrange, ICON_MD_BOLT " Quick Actions");
+  const ImVec4 text_secondary = gui::GetTextSecondaryVec4();
+  ImGui::PushStyleColor(ImGuiCol_Text, text_secondary);
+  ImGui::TextWrapped(
+      "New here? Start with Open ROM or New Project. Use a clean, legally "
+      "obtained ALttP (USA) ROM to get going.");
+  ImGui::PopStyleColor();
   ImGui::Spacing();
 
   float button_width = ImGui::GetContentRegionAvail().x;
@@ -699,7 +705,8 @@ void WelcomeScreen::DrawQuickActions() {
     // Handled by callback
   }
   if (ImGui::IsItemHovered()) {
-    ImGui::SetTooltip(ICON_MD_INFO " Open an existing ALTTP ROM file");
+    ImGui::SetTooltip(
+        ICON_MD_INFO " Open a clean, legally obtained ALttP (USA) ROM file");
   }
 
   ImGui::Spacing();
@@ -710,7 +717,7 @@ void WelcomeScreen::DrawQuickActions() {
     // Handled by callback
   }
   if (ImGui::IsItemHovered()) {
-    ImGui::SetTooltip(ICON_MD_INFO " Create a new ROM hacking project");
+    ImGui::SetTooltip(ICON_MD_INFO " Create a new project from a ROM and template");
   }
 
   ImGui::Spacing();
@@ -721,7 +728,8 @@ void WelcomeScreen::DrawQuickActions() {
     // Handled by callback
   }
   if (ImGui::IsItemHovered()) {
-    ImGui::SetTooltip(ICON_MD_INFO " Open AI Agent for natural language ROM editing");
+    ImGui::SetTooltip(
+        ICON_MD_INFO " Ask the AI agent to guide edits in natural language");
   }
 }
 
@@ -742,7 +750,8 @@ void WelcomeScreen::DrawRecentProjects() {
     ImGui::SetCursorPosX(cursor.x);
 
     ImGui::TextWrapped(
-        "No recent projects yet.\nOpen a ROM to begin your adventure!");
+        "No recent projects yet.\nOpen a ROM or start a new project to begin "
+        "your adventure!");
     ImGui::PopStyleColor();
     return;
   }
@@ -1083,6 +1092,7 @@ void WelcomeScreen::DrawTipsSection() {
   // Static tip (or could rotate based on session start time rather than
   // animation)
   const char* tips[] = {
+      "New here? Open a ROM first, then save a copy before editing",
       "Press Ctrl+Shift+P to open the command palette",
       "Use z3ed agent for AI-powered ROM editing (Ctrl+Shift+A)",
       "Enable ZSCustomOverworld in Debug menu for expanded features",