Release post for 1.9.0

_releases/2023-07-11-1.9.0-released.md

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+---
+title: Crystal 1.9.0 is released!
+version: 1.9.0
+summary:
+thumbnail: +
+author: straight-shoota
+---
+
+We are delivering a new Crystal release with several bugfixes and improvements.
+
+Pre-built packages are available on [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/releases/tag/1.9.0)
+and our official distribution channels.
+See [crystal-lang.org/install](https://crystal-lang.org/install/) for
+installation instructions.
+
+## Stats
+
+This release includes [XXX changes since 1.8.2](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pulls?q=is%3Apr+milestone%3A1.9.0)
+by XX contributors. We thank all the contributors for all the effort put into
+improving the language! ❤️
+
+## Changes
+
+Below we list the most remarkable changes in the language, compiler and stdlib.
+For more details, visit the [changelog](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/releases/tag/1.9.0).
+
+### Breaking: Big number comparisons with floats
+
+Comparison of Big number types against floats were fixed to respect special
+values such as `NAN`. As a result, the implementation of the comparison operator
+`#<=>` between `Big*` (`BigDecimal`, `BigFloat`, `BigInt`, `BigRational`) and
+`Float` (`Float32`, `Float64`) number types is now nilable.
+When invoking these comparisons, `Nil` values must be handled explicitly.
+
+### Windows
+
+The compiler and standard library take a big step improving Windows support.
+Only few outstanding issues remain and we expect them to be resolved in the
+following months.
+
+Most notable features are a GUI installer (available in the [release artifacts](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/releases/tag/1.9.0))
+and dynamic linking of DLLs (currently available via compiler flag
+`-Dpreview_dll`).
+
+More details and additional features are listed in a separate post about
+[Windows support in Crystal 1.9](/2023/07/06/windows-support-1.9.md).
+
+### Language
+
+There are two new macros in the language:
+
+* `ASTNode#warning` is similar to `#raise` but only creats a warning ([#13262](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/13262)).
+* `::print` is similar to `::puts` but without the trailing newline ([#13336](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/13336)).
+
+### Standard library
+
+Default interrupt handlers are now in place to trigger `at_exit` handlers
+in case of process is interrupted ([#13568](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/13568)).
+
+Instead of a single boolean parameter, file matching behaviour of `Dir.glob`
+is controlled by `File::MatchOptions` with portable options ([#13550](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/13550)).
+
+The stdlib spec suite makes good use of the spec helper `assert_prints` and it's
+now available for user specs as well ([#13599](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/13599)).
+
+There's a new method `Regex#match!` whith a non-nilable return type
+(`Regex::MatchData`) which is helpful if the regex is expected to match.
+`regex.match!(x)` is a convenient replacement for `regex.match(x).not_nil!` ([#13285](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/13285)).
+
+All methods accepting a `Regex` for matching now also have a parameter for
+`Regex::MatchOptions` ([#13353](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/13353)).
+
+### Compiler
+
+A new compiler command `crystal clear_cache` offers a convenient way to clean
+the compiler cache ([#13553](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/13553)).
+
+This release adds support for LLVM 16 ([#13181](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/13181)).
+
+The docs generator now features dark mode ([#13512](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/13512))
+and improved support for small viewports ([#13515](https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/13515)).
+
+### Deprecations
+
+* `Dir.[]` with `match_hidden` parameter: Use the overload with a `match`
+  parameter instead.
+* `Dir.glob` with `match_hidden` parameter: Use the overload with a `match`
+  parameter instead.
+* `LLVM::Module#write_bitcode_with_summary_to_file`: ThinLTO is no longer
+  supported; use `#write_bitcode_to_file` instead.
+* `LLVM::FunctionPassManager`: The legacy pass manager was removed in LLVM 17.
+  Use `LLVM::PassBuilderOptions` instead.
+* `LLVM::FunctionPassManager::Runner`: The legacy pass manager was removed in
+  LLVM 17. Use `LLVM::PassBuilderOptions` instead.
+* `LLVM::Module#new_function_pass_manager`: The legacy pass manager was removed
+  in LLVM 17. Use `LLVM::PassBuilderOptions` instead.
+* `LLVM::ModulePassManager`: The legacy pass manager was removed in LLVM 17.
+  Use `LLVM::PassBuilderOptions` instead.
+* `LLVM::PassManagerBuilder`: The legacy pass manager was removed in LLVM 17.
+  Use `LLVM::PassBuilderOptions` instead.
+* `LLVM::PassRegistry`: The legacy pass manager was removed in LLVM 17. Use
+  `LLVM::PassBuilderOptions` instead.