Improved changelog v2.5

CHANGES/v2.5.md

@@ -94,13 +94,32 @@ Changes from version 2.4 which are relevant for developers:
   in the core parts of the code have been eliminated.
 - Exceptions cannot be disabled (`--disable-cxx-exceptions` option has been removed from `./configure`).
 - Every exception thrown in PLUMED now also writes its message on PLUMED log.
+- Runtime loader in `Plumed.c` now works also when linked without `-rdynamic` (that is, 
+  its names are not exported). Notice that all the combinations are expected to
+  work, that is: `Plumed.c` from <=2.4 or >=2.5 combined with libplumedKernel
+  from <=2.4 or >=2.5. In order to achieve this the following changes are implemented:
+  - libplumedKernel does not depend anymore on `Plumed.c`. This allows loading it even
+    in cases where names in the loader are not visible. The relevant function needed
+    to be compatible with `Plumed.c` <=2.4 are found using `dlsym`.
+  - `Plumed.c` does not need anymore libplumedKernel to register itself, but rather
+    searches the relevant functions using `dlsym`. In addition, if it is not able to
+    load `libplumedKernel` since the latter is <=2.4 and needs `Plumed.c` to be visible,
+    it just uses as a fallback `libplumed`, which should load properly.
+- In addition to the capability mentioned above, the MD-code interface has been significantly
+  improved and allows for:
+  - Translation of exception (allowing to mix PLUMED and an MD-code linked against a different C++ library).
+  - Possibility to choose the path to the PLUMED kernel while instantiating a Plumed object.
+  See the developer documentation for more information.
 - The installation layout of shared libraries has been modified. In particular,
   both `libplumed.so` and `plumed` links to `libplumedKernel.so`.
   This reduces considerably the size of the installed package. In addition, it allows
   using two-level namespace on OSX. Notice that this implies that on Linux one should
   always set the `LD_LIBRARY_PATH` flag to have a working executable.
+- A smaller number of header files is installed. In particular, all the files that were historically generated in subdirectories
+  (such as `plumed/core/tools/Vector.h', just including `plumed/tools/Vector.h`) are not installed and the related include
+  statements are fixed. This makes the installed package smaller.
 - List of preferred compilers (used when `CXX` or `CC` are not set) has been changed. On OSX, `./configure` will try `clang++/clang` as first choices.
-- Added `--enable-static-archive` to `./configure` to build a `libplumed.a` static library.
+- Added `--enable-static-archive` to `./configure` to build a `libplumed.a` static library (yes by default).
 - Stop setting `DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH` in `sourceme.sh` and in modulefile. Notice that as of PLUMED v2.3.3
   it should not be needed.
 - Coverage scan is not anymore contained in developer manual. It can be found in a separate repository
@@ -109,21 +128,9 @@ Changes from version 2.4 which are relevant for developers:
 - It is not possible anymore to use `make install prefix=/path`. Prefix can only be changed during `./configure` (see \issue{332}).
 - Exception class has been rewritten to allow more extensive messages. Now also function name is shown.
 - On linux, library is linked with `-Bsymbolic`.
-- A small number of header files is installed
 - When launching `plumed`, flags `--no-mpi` and `--mpi` can appear multiple times. The last appearence is the effective one.
 - Internal blas and lapack libraries updated to gromacs 2018.
 - Choosing `./configure --prefix=$PWD` does not lead anymore to deletion of all header files.
-- Runtime loader in `Plumed.c` now works also when linked without `-rdynamic` (that is, 
-  its names are not exported). Notice that all the combinations are expected to
-  work, that is: `Plumed.c` from <=2.4 or >=2.5 combined with libplumedKernel
-  from <=2.4 or >=2.5. In order to achieve this the following changes are implemented:
-  - libplumedKernel does not depend anymore on `Plumed.c`. This allows loading it even
-    in cases where names in the loader are not visible. The relevant function needed
-    to be compatible with `Plumed.c` <=2.4 are found using `dlsym`.
-  - `Plumed.c` does not need anymore libplumedKernel to register itself, but rather
-    searches the relevant functions using `dlsym`. In addition, if it is not able to
-    load `libplumedKernel` since the latter is <=2.4 and needs `Plumed.c` to be visible,
-    it just uses as a fallback `libplumed`, which should load properly.
 - A copy of `plumed-runtime` is installed in `prefix/lib/plumed` and can be used for testing.
 - Absolute/relative soname/install_name can be configured on linux/OSX. This feature is only
   for testing, the default choice is the typical one used on the respective operating system.