Background

Version 2.7.1 was released on 17th January 1997, and is a fair illustration of the development process used by Ben Harrison - release early, release often - with this release coming just a week after 2.7.0. It incorporated more internal code cleanup, bugfixes from the first release, and (obviously) more bugs caused by the rewriting work. 2.7.4 was the first version Ben considered a "stable beta" rather than just beta.

Changelist [*1]

• Rewrote the "term.c" code to be more efficient, and generic
• Improved the "cannot make cursor invisible" case for "curses"
• Rewrote the "torch-lite" code (improved efficiency, plus color)
• Rewrote the "room lighting" code to fix some ancient bugs.
• Fixed a typo in "ego_names" (affected "backbiting" and "morgul")
• Fixed the "unstacking" code to prevent "weight gain"
• Fixed the "stacking" code to allow "arrows of fire"
• Rewrote the "treasure drop recall" code (again)
• Fixed the "no experience for new spells" bug
• Fixed the "really slow regeneration" bug
• Added some stuff to "signals.c" to make it compile
• Made the "floating recall window" generic, and disable-able
• Prepared for the "floating choices window" to be added later
• Added some "visual options" like "hilite player" and "torch lite"
• Improved/Fixed the "item creator" in "wizard.c"
• Added options to prevent being "disturbed" by distant monsters
• Split "spells.c" back into "spells1.c" and "spells2.c".
• Let "tables.c" and "variables.c" absorb "player.c"
• Removed the "stat damage" code from fire/cold/etc.
• Improved "artifact" code, fixed the "Artifact 'Ringil'" message
• Made "your armor is damaged" block "your skin is damaged"
• Note that now "your armor resists!" will protect you from damage
• Simplified the "aware"/"known" conditions for objects.
• Note that buying an item from the store fully identifies it.
• Fixed a "bug" where "genocide" can be listed before other spells.
• Taught rods to "auto-restack" as they recharge. Kind of annoying.
• Removed more chunks of the code, some obsolete, some broken.
• Indented extra pieces of "wrapped" messages (untested).
• Converted more spells to "project()" hooks, fixed "beams of lite"
• Removed "The kobold is hit." message during "call light".
• Taught "trappers" and such to "look" like whatever they are on.
• Took "random.c" out of the Makefile for Unix.
• Cleaned up some "compiler" problems.

[*1]:The changelist has been pieced together from newsgroup postings around the time of release - it is unlikely to be complete and may not be accurate.