ntd pr release notes (#1673)

Author: NotTheDr01ds

blog/2024-12-24-nushell_0_101_0.md

@@ -14,20 +14,41 @@ excerpt: Today, we're releasing version 0.101.0 of Nu. This release adds...
 
 <!-- TODO: write this excerpt -->
 
-Today, we're releasing version 0.101.0 of Nu. This release adds...
+Today, we're releasing version 0.101.0 of Nu. This release adds a simplified startup configuration, ...
 
 # Where to get it
 
-Nu 0.101.0 is available as [pre-built binaries](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/releases/tag/0.101.0) or from [crates.io](https://crates.io/crates/nu). If you have Rust installed you can install it using `cargo install nu`.
+Nushell 0.101.0 is available as [pre-built binaries](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/releases/tag/0.101.0) or from [crates.io](https://crates.io/crates/nu). If you have Rust installed, you can also install it using `cargo install nu`.
 
-As part of this release, we also publish a set of optional plugins you can install and use with Nu. To install, use `cargo install nu_plugin_<plugin name>`.
+As part of this release, we also publish a set of optional [plugins](/book/plugins.md) you can install and use with Nushell.
 
 # Table of contents
 
 <!-- TODO: once all the content below is finished and committed, `use nu_scripts/make_release/release-note/notes.nu *` and run `write-toc $this_file`. -->
 
 # Highlights and themes of this release
 
+## Simplified Startup Configuration
+
+With [#14249](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/pull/14249), Nushell now always loads its internal `default_env.nu` before the user `env.nu` is loaded, then loads the internal `default_config.nu` before the user's `config.nu` is loaded. This allows for a simpler user-configuration experience. Details are in [this blog entry](https://www.nushell.sh/blog/2024-12-04-configuration_preview.html) along with an updated [Configuration Chapter](https://www.nushell.sh/book/configuration.html) which should go live sometime today.
+
+### Related Startup Config Changes
+
+- [#14345](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/pull/14345): Hooks fields are non-optional
+- [#14341](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/pull/14341): Hooks now default to an empty value of the proper type (e.g., `[]` or `{}`) when not otherwise specified. This means that you can always safely append or merge a new hook without first needing to check if it was a valid list/record.
+- [#14435](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/pull/14435): An `$env.config` is always created at startup, populated with default values, even when no configuration files are loaded.
+- [#14549](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/pull/14549): The `const` version of `NU_LIB_DIRS` is now populated by default instead of `$env.NU_LIB_DIRS`.
+- [#14553](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/pull/14553): The `const` version of `NU_PLUGIN_DIRS` is now populated by default instead of `$env.NU_PLUGIN_DIRS`.
+- [#14566](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/pull/14566): `ENV_CONVERSIONS` is now an empty record by default. The `PATH`/`Path` conversions are handled internally.
+- [#14579](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/pull/14579): More defaults are set in Rust. Also sets a default, empty `TRANSIENT_PROMPT_COMMAND_RIGHT` and `TRANSIENT_PROMPT_MULTILINE_INDICATOR`.
+
+### Breaking Startup Config Changes
+
+There may be (hopefully) minor breaking changes due to the startup configuration handling. Known possible issues include:
+
+- Cannot merge changes to default menus since their definitions are no longer in `config.nu` by default. Instead, the entire menu should be redefined.
+- Querying the `$env.NU_LIB_DIRS` will return an empty result by default. Query the constant `$NU_LIB_DIRS` instead.
+
 <!-- NOTE: if you wanna write a section about a breaking change, when it's a very important one,
     please add the following snippet to have a "warning" banner :)
     > see [an example](https://www.nushell.sh/blog/2023-09-19-nushell_0_85_0.html#pythonesque-operators-removal)
@@ -46,6 +67,10 @@ As part of this release, we also publish a set of optional plugins you can insta
 
 ## Additions
 
+### Duration/Date Arithmetic
+
+With [#14295](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/pull/14295), dates can now be added to durations. Previously only durations could be added to dates.
+
 ## Breaking changes
 
 ### `++` operator
@@ -105,6 +130,11 @@ The `cpu_usage` column outputted by `sys cpu` works by sampling the CPU over a 4
 
 In [#14019](https://github.com/nushell/nushell/pull/14019), the `split-by` command was deprecated. Instead, please use `group-by` with multiple groupers.
 
+### `date to-record` and `date to-table`
+
+- `date to-record` has been deprecated and will be removed in a future release. Please use `into record` in its place.
+- `date to-table` has been deprecated and will be removed in a future release. Please use `into record | transpose | transpose -r` in its place.
+
 ## Removals
 
 ## Bug fixes and other changes