[isabelle-dev] Isabelle2009 release

[Makarius]

Dear Isabelle contributors,

something like 8 months after Isabelle2008, the next stable release is 
overdue.  In principle, we should have initiated the final pre-release 
stage of finishing existing things and getting the whole system into shape 
last December.

>From the traffic in the changelog in the last few weeks, I've got the 
impression that we are not really converging yet, so there will be another 
delay of several weeks until things have stabilized a bit more --- and the 
pipes of various people have been properly flushed. (This includes myself; 
still so many pending issues to be sorted out ...)

This additional time should be used for proper consolidation and finishing 
stuff.  Any new "feature" will hold up the release even more.


As already pointed out by Florian, the NEWS file needs more attention.  
The title says "history user-relevant changes", so anything new that is 
also user relevant should be entered there; if it is not user relevant, it 
is probably a condidate for deletion.

Concerning the CONTRIBUTORS file: if you are too shy to add yourself, you 
can also tell me and I will do it.


	Makarius