new: node-0.18.0 release note by gyrationtechs · Pull Request #489 · midnightntwrk/midnight-docs

gyrationtechs · 2025-12-19T21:16:02Z

Release note for Midnight node v0.18.0. The doc uses the new release note template.

Fixed minor broken link issues

vercel · 2025-12-19T21:16:07Z

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github-actions · 2025-12-19T21:21:03Z

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gilescope · 2025-12-20T22:30:54Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+
+#### Federated Authority Observation
+
+Introduces a federated approach to observing external blockchain data. The Federated Authority Observation pallet enables multiple authorities to observe and validate external chain data, ensuring decentralized verification of cross-chain events.


I'm not sure that's right. Maybe:

Suggested change

Introduces a federated approach to observing external blockchain data. The Federated Authority Observation pallet enables multiple authorities to observe and validate external chain data, ensuring decentralized verification of cross-chain events.

Introduces observability of the federation authorised to produce midnight blocks.

Thanks for the feedback. I've updated it based on your suggestions

gilescope

With a slight tweak looks good.

kmillikin

I read these as someone who doesn't know much about the node.

kmillikin · 2025-12-22T11:02:50Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+
+### High-level summary
+
+This release introduces the new tokenomics model with unshielded transactions and DUST-based fees. It comprehensively re-engineers the Midnight Generator into the Midnight Toolkit with expanded capabilities, and upgrades to Partner Chains v1.8.0. Breaking changes require chain reset and affect all Preview developers and stake pool operators.


I find markdown docs are easier to review if they have line breaks, because you can see what phrase a comment refers to. Because it's markdown, you can break anywhere you want. I tend to break at least every sentence, and sometimes more frequently (at clauses). It's not necessary to try to wrap text, though.

This release introduces the new tokenomics model with unshielded transactions and DUST-based fees.

This sounds like there are only unshielded transactions, which I don't think is true. I suggest structuring this around the difference due to this release. Maybe a bulleted list with () new unshielded transactions in addition to the previous shielded transactions and () DUST-based fees instead of (whatever it was before).

It comprehensively re-engineers the Midnight Generator into the Midnight Toolkit with expanded capabilities, and upgrades to Partner Chains v1.8.0.

I don't think a release can re-engineer anything, that's something that people do. This reads much better if it's something like "The Midnight Generator has been re-engineered into ...". I honestly don't know what is comprehensive about this, I'd stick to just the facts.

This sentence reads like Midnight Toolkit has two things: (1) expanded capabilities and (2) upgrades to Partner Chains v1.8.0. I think it's actually the Node that has been upgraded to Partner Chains v1.8.0. The second clause doesn't seem related to toolkit.

(I'm not sure that the audience of the release notes cares exactly about the "re-engineering" anyway. I think they care about (1) the name has changed and (2) it has new features.)

Breaking changes require chain reset and affect all Preview developers and stake pool operators.

This sounds like a statement about breaking changes in general, but I think it's intended to be about the specific breaking changes in this release. If so it's better to say "The breaking changes in this release require...".

I'm leery of "affect all Preview developers". I can imagine somebody might read through and conclude (correctly) that they are actually unaffected. I'd rather say "potentially affect all Preview developers" or some other way to avoid the absolute "all".

Very detailed feedback. I've updated the release note to address the points you mentioned.

kmillikin · 2025-12-22T11:04:06Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+- Run a node on Preview
+- Use the Midnight Generator (now Midnight Toolkit)
+- Operate stake pools or maintain infrastructure
+- Build DApps with shielded or unshielded transactions


DApp developers don't necessarily have to know about the node software at all. I believe that there are some other release notes that they will read to learn what they need to know (I don't think they will be in the habit of reading these.)

kmillikin · 2025-12-22T11:05:19Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+- Use the Midnight Generator (now Midnight Toolkit)
+- Operate stake pools or maintain infrastructure
+- Build DApps with shielded or unshielded transactions
+- Work with NIGHT token or contract deployment


Surely this is "the NIGHT token" or "NIGHT tokens"?

I think developers can deploy contracts without knowing anything about the node software at all.

Good catch. Updated!

kmillikin · 2025-12-22T11:06:43Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+### Summary of updates
+
+- Introduced unshielded transactions alongside existing shielded transactions
+- Implemented new DUST fee mechanism generated from NIGHT token


"NIGHT tokens" or "the NIGHT token"?

kmillikin · 2025-12-22T11:07:45Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+
+- Introduced unshielded transactions alongside existing shielded transactions
+- Implemented new DUST fee mechanism generated from NIGHT token
+- Re-engineered Midnight Generator into comprehensive Midnight Toolkit


I'm still confused about comprehensive. Before it described the re-engineering, now it describes the Toolkit. I'd probably just avoid it because I can't figure out what function it is intended to serve here.

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

kmillikin · 2025-12-22T11:16:25Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+
+The Midnight Generator has been comprehensively re-engineered into the Midnight Toolkit, a powerful command-line tool for developers. With the new toolkit, you can also:
+
+- Send Unshielded tokens


This list is not parallel. Some items are actions "send ...", "sync ...", "execute ..." and some are things "fee calculation", "support", "contract maintenance".

Good catch. Thanks

Also, all lists where at least one item is a complete sentence needs periods. Apply throughout.

kmillikin · 2025-12-22T11:20:08Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+
+#### Midnight Toolkit
+
+The Midnight Generator has been comprehensively re-engineered into the Midnight Toolkit, a powerful command-line tool for developers. With the new toolkit, you can also:


I feel like all these new features are the kind of thing that we should tell people how to do, either here or better by linking to the toolkit documentation (which we might have to write first). It's frustrating to read about all the new stuff without any idea how to achieve any of it.

I think it'll be best suited as a separate doc we can link to. I'll make a note of it and share with the team.

Agreed, @gyrationtechs. The release notes are just a list of changes. The actual instructions belong in linked documentation.

Feel free to link to the toolkit's documentation: https://github.com/midnightntwrk/midnight-node/blob/main/util/toolkit/README.md

That's a great idea. Thank you @gilescope

kmillikin · 2025-12-22T11:22:43Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+
+#### Federated Authority Observation
+
+Introduces a federated approach to observing external blockchain data. The Federated Authority Observation pallet enables multiple authorities to observe and validate external chain data, ensuring decentralized verification of cross-chain events.


I don't have any idea what any of this means. What's an authority? What's external chain data? How do they validate it? Is verification different from validation? What are cross-chain events?

If we're asking people like DApp developers to read this, we have to tell them enough to know whether this is something that they care about or not.

I updated this section to use a more straightforward explanation provided another reviewer.

kmillikin · 2025-12-22T11:23:13Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+
+#### State forking for ephemeral environments
+
+Enables snapshot and restore capabilities for node state. This allows developers to create ephemeral test environments that can be quickly spun up from specific chain states.


How? Can we give a short description or link to the documentation?

I'm not entirely sure. But this is another candidate for a potential new doc we can link to. I'll make a note of this also and get clairfication from the team.

This capability is only available to internal developers at the moment. Should we consider not publishing it yet?

@justinfrevert Do you mean this specific feature or the entire new features mentioned in this release note?

DianaHackmamba · 2025-12-22T19:21:45Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+
+#### Midnight Toolkit
+
+The Midnight Generator has been comprehensively re-engineered into the Midnight Toolkit, a powerful command-line tool for developers. With the new toolkit, you can also:


Agreed, @gyrationtechs. The release notes are just a list of changes. The actual instructions belong in linked documentation.

DianaHackmamba · 2025-12-22T19:22:18Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+
+The Midnight Generator has been comprehensively re-engineered into the Midnight Toolkit, a powerful command-line tool for developers. With the new toolkit, you can also:
+
+- Send Unshielded tokens


Also, all lists where at least one item is a complete sentence needs periods. Apply throughout.

DianaHackmamba · 2025-12-22T19:22:52Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+
+Sessions reduced from 2 hours (1200 slots) to 30 minutes (300 slots).
+
+**Required Updates:**


Colon should be outside of bold. Apply throughout.

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

DianaHackmamba · 2025-12-22T19:23:46Z

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

+
+#### NetworkId type change
+
+**What changed:** `NetworkId` changed from `enum` to `String` type


Missing periods on lots of lines.

docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

Co-authored-by: DianaHackmamba <diana@hackmamba.io> Signed-off-by: David Ozokoye <davidozokoye@gmail.com>

CLAassistant · 2026-02-05T18:52:39Z

All committers have signed the CLA.

new: node-0.18.0 release note

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gyrationtechs requested review from a team as code owners December 19, 2025 21:16

gyrationtechs requested a review from DianaHackmamba December 19, 2025 21:17

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gilescope reviewed Dec 20, 2025

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kmillikin reviewed Dec 22, 2025

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fix: addressing review feedback

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gyrationtechs and others added 2 commits December 22, 2025 20:27

Update docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

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Co-authored-by: DianaHackmamba <diana@hackmamba.io> Signed-off-by: David Ozokoye <davidozokoye@gmail.com>

Update docs/relnotes/node/node-0-18-0.mdx

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Co-authored-by: DianaHackmamba <diana@hackmamba.io> Signed-off-by: David Ozokoye <davidozokoye@gmail.com>

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gyrationtechs added 2 commits December 22, 2025 21:11

fix: missing periods and bolded text consistency

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fix: missing periods on some sentences

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gyrationtechs requested a review from DianaHackmamba December 22, 2025 20:15

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fix: heading structure and added link to toolkit usage

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		#### Federated Authority Observation

		Introduces a federated approach to observing external blockchain data. The Federated Authority Observation pallet enables multiple authorities to observe and validate external chain data, ensuring decentralized verification of cross-chain events.

	Introduces a federated approach to observing external blockchain data. The Federated Authority Observation pallet enables multiple authorities to observe and validate external chain data, ensuring decentralized verification of cross-chain events.
	Introduces observability of the federation authorised to produce midnight blocks.


		### High-level summary

		This release introduces the new tokenomics model with unshielded transactions and DUST-based fees. It comprehensively re-engineers the Midnight Generator into the Midnight Toolkit with expanded capabilities, and upgrades to Partner Chains v1.8.0. Breaking changes require chain reset and affect all Preview developers and stake pool operators.


		The Midnight Generator has been comprehensively re-engineered into the Midnight Toolkit, a powerful command-line tool for developers. With the new toolkit, you can also:

		- Send Unshielded tokens


		#### Midnight Toolkit

		The Midnight Generator has been comprehensively re-engineered into the Midnight Toolkit, a powerful command-line tool for developers. With the new toolkit, you can also:


		#### State forking for ephemeral environments

		Enables snapshot and restore capabilities for node state. This allows developers to create ephemeral test environments that can be quickly spun up from specific chain states.


		Sessions reduced from 2 hours (1200 slots) to 30 minutes (300 slots).

		Required Updates:


		#### NetworkId type change

		What changed: `NetworkId` changed from `enum` to `String` type

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