Add 0.17.0 release notes

RELEASES.md

@@ -1,3 +1,143 @@
+# Version 0.17.0 (2025-12-17)
+
+This release marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Asterinas as we transition from "just a kernel" to a more complete, usable system. The headline of this release is the introduction of **Asterinas NixOS**, our first distribution that integrates the Asterinas kernel with the NixOS userspace, and enables real applications and services out of the box—including **XFCE**, **Podman**, and **systemd**. To support this growth, we are also strengthening our governance by establishing **the formal RFC (Request for Comments) process**, ensuring that major architectural decisions—starting with Asterinas NixOS itself—are designed transparently and collaboratively.
+
+On the architecture front, **RISC-V support** has improved dramatically, with support for SMP (Symmetric Multiprocessing), FPU (Floating-Point Unit), VirtIO, and the SiFive HiFive Unleashed QEMU machine type. The kernel has also expanded with a new **input subsystem** (supporting keyboards and mice) and initial support for **namespaces and cgroups**. For filesystem developers, the big news is the addition of an **FS event notification mechanism (`inotify`)**, a new **ioctl infrastructure**, and a new filesystem type, **ConfigFS**. Finally, we are introducing **`sctrace`**—a dedicated tool for tracing and debugging syscall compatibility—now published on [crates.io](https://crates.io/crates/sctrace).
+
+## Asterinas NixOS
+
+We have made the following key changes to Asterinas NixOS:
+
+* [Add NixOS as a distribution for Asterinas](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2621)
+* [Add the XFCE Nix module](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2670)
+* [Add the Podman Nix module](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2683)
+* [Enable systemd](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2687)
+* [Add Asterinas NixOS ISO installer](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2652)
+* [Add Cachix as a source for pre-built binaries](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2685)
+* [Add GitHub workflows to publish ISO images](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2743)
+
+## Asterinas Kernel
+
+We have made the following key changes to the Asterinas kernel:
+
+* CPU architectures:
+    * x86
+        * [Add TSM-based attestation support for TDX via ConfigFS](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2505)
+    * RISC-V
+        * [Implement arch-aware vDSO](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2319)
+        * [Add VirtIO support for RISC-V platforms](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2299)
+* Memory management
+    * [Support sealing memfd files](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2408)
+    * [Support executing memfd files and then `open("/proc/self/exe")`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2521)
+* Process management
+    * [Support `CLONE_PARENT` flag](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2447)
+    * [Support `execve` in multithreaded process](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2459)
+    * [Support `PR_SET`/`GET_SECUREBITS`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2551)
+    * [Fix some `kill`-related behavior](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2516)
+* IPC
+    * [Add `rt_sigtimedwait` syscall](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2705)
+    * [Enqueue ignored signals if the signals are blocked](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2503)
+    * [Refactor `NamedPipe` to correct its opening and blocking behaviors](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2434)
+    * [Support reopening anonymous pipes from `/proc`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2694)
+    * [Fix or clarify some futexes bugs](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2515)
+* File systems
+    * VFS
+        * [Add `inotify`-related syscalls](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2083)
+        * [Add new ioctl infrastructure](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2686)
+        * [Add `chmod` and `mkmod` macros](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2440)
+        * [Add `syncfs` syscall](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2682)
+        * [Add `fchmodat2` syscall](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2666)
+        * [Support mount bind with a file](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2418)
+        * [Support `MS_REMOUNT` flag](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2432)
+        * [Ensure that every `FileLike` is associated with a `dyn Inode`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2555)
+    * Devtmpfs
+        * [Add `/dev/full` device](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2439)
+        * [Support registering char devices](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2598)
+        * [Support registering block device (and their partitions)](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2560)
+    * Procfs
+        * Add [`/proc/cmdline`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2420), [`/proc/stat`, `/proc/uptime`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2370), [`/proc/version`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2679), [`/proc/[pid]/environ`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2371), [`/proc/[pid]/oom_score_adj`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2410), [`/proc/[pid]/cmdline`, `/proc/[pid]/mem`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2449), [`/proc/[pid]/mountinfo`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2399), [`/proc/[pid]/fdinfo`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2526), and [`/proc/[pid]/maps`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2725)
+        * [Support the sleeping and stopping states in `/proc/[pid]/stat`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2491)
+        * [Introduce `VmPrinter`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2414) and [refactor procfs with `VmPrinter`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2583)
+        * [Fix a lot of bugs in procfs](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2553)
+    * Ext2
+        * [Support Ext2 handling of FIFO and devices](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2658)
+        * [Fix Ext2 directory entry iteration](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2624)
+        * [Fix the behavior of syncing BlockGroup metadata in Ext2](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2611)
+        * [Fix some bugs in Ext2 superblock](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2675)
+    * Configfs
+        * [Add basic configfs implementation](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2186)
+* Sockets and networking
+    * [Support UNIX datagram sockets](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2412)
+    * [Add `sendmmsg` syscall](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2676)
+    * [Add `sethostname` and `setdomainname` syscalls](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2442)
+    * [Support `SO_BROADCAST` and `IP_RECVERR`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2572)
+* Namespace and cgroups
+    * [Add the namespace framework (along with `unshare` and `setns` syscalls)](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2312)
+    * [Add the mount namespace](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2379)
+    * [Support `/proc/[pid]/uid_map` and `/proc/[pid]/gid_map`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2454)
+    * [Implement controller framework for cgroup subsystem](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2282)
+    * [Enable process management for cgroups](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2160)
+* Devices
+    * Input devices
+        * [Add the input subsystem](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2364)
+        * [Map the I/O memory to the userspace](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2099)
+        * [Add the input devices `/dev/input/eventX`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2561)
+        * [Add the framebuffer device `/dev/fb0`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2216)
+        * [Add i8042 mouse](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2479)
+        * [Make i8042 initialization stable on real hardware](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2646) 
+    * TTY and PTY
+        * [Add `KDSETMODE`/`KDSKBMODE` ioctls](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2525)
+        * [Fix PTY closing behavior](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2550)
+        * [Make PTY master reads block if no PTY slave is open](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2581)
+        * [Make the semantics of TTY-related devices correct](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2566)
+        * [Support PTY packet mode](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2594)
+* System management
+    * [Add `reboot` syscall](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2552)
+    * [Make `reboot -f` work on real hardware](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2636)
+    * [Support `RUSAGE_CHILDREN` for `getrusage`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2438)
+* Misc
+    * [Upgrade to Rust 2024 edition and the 20251208 nightly toolchain](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2701)
+    * [Introduce the ASCII art of Asterinas logo in gradient colors](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2427)
+    * [Add stage support for `init_component` macro](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2415)
+    * [Add a new tool called Syscall Compatibility Tracer (`sctrace`)](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2456)
+
+## Asterinas OSTD & OSDK
+
+We have made the following key changes to OSTD and/or OSDK:
+
+* CPU architectures
+    * Common
+        * [Reorganize `ostd::arch::irq`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2504)
+    * x86
+        * [Better x86 CPU feature detection by rewriting all CPUID-related code](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2395)
+        * [Set `CR0.WP/NE/MP` explicitly to fix AP behavior](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2422)
+        * [Extend cache policies for the x86 Architecture](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2570)
+    * RISC-V
+        * [Add support for RISC-V PLIC](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2106)
+        * [Refactor RISC-V trap handling](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2318)
+        * [Add RISC-V FPU support](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2320)
+        * [Implement fallible memory operations on RISC-V platform](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2462)
+        * [Support bootup on SiFive HiFive Unleashed](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2481)
+        * [RISC-V SMP boot](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2368)
+        * [Full (<=32) RISC-V SMP support](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2547)
+* CPU
+    * [Extract `CpuId` into a dedicated sub-module](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2514)
+* Memory management
+    * [Make `UniqueFrame::repurpose` sound](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2441)
+* Interrupt handling
+    * [Refactor OSTD's `irq` module for improved clarity](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2429)
+* Misc
+    * [Move PCI bus out of OSTD](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2027)
+
+## Asterinas Book
+
+We have made the following key changes to the Book:
+
+* [Add the first RFC: "Establish the RFC process"](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2365)
+* [Add the second RFC: "Asterinas NixOS"](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2584)
+* [Add a new "Limitations on System Calls" section to the book](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2314)
+* [Add the Asterinas NixOS volume](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2750)
+
 # Version 0.16.0 (2025-08-04)
 
 This release introduces initial support for the **LoongArch CPU architecture**, a major milestone for the project. Version 0.16.0 also significantly expands our Linux ABI compatibility with the addition of **nine new system calls** such as `memfd_create` and `pidfd_open`.
@@ -48,7 +188,7 @@ We have made the following key changes to the Asterinas kernel:
     * [Introduce the system call tests from LTP](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2053)
     * [Use Nix to build initramfs](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2101)
 
-## OSTD & OSDK
+## Asterinas OSTD & OSDK
 
 We have made the following key changes to OSTD:
 
@@ -64,12 +204,12 @@ We have made the following key changes to OSTD:
     * LoongArch:
         * [Add the initial LoongArch support](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2260)
 * CPU:
-    * [Add support for dynamically‌-allocated CPU-local objects](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2036)
+    * [Add support for dynamicall-allocated CPU-local objects](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2036)
     * [Require `T: Send` for `CpuLocal<T, S>`](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2171)
 * Memory management:
     * [Adopt a two-phase locking scheme for page tables](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/1948)
 * Trap handling:
-    * [Create `IrqChip` abstraction](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2107)
+    * [Create `IrqChip` abstraction](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2107)
 * Task and scheduling:
     * [Rewrite the Rust doc of OSTD's scheduling module](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2284)
     * [Fix the race between enabling IRQs and halting CPU](https://github.com/asterinas/asterinas/pull/2052)