# Version Management System

This project implements an automated version management system for C applications with auto-incrementing build numbers.

## Overview

The version management system consists of:
- **Semantic versioning** (Major.Minor.Patch) in `VERSION` file
- **Auto-incrementing build numbers** in `.build_number` file
- **Generated version header** (`version.h`) with all version info
- **Build-time integration** via `scripts/generate_version.sh`

## Files

### Core Files
- `VERSION` - Contains semantic version (e.g., "1.0.0")
- `.build_number` - Contains current build number (auto-incremented)
- `scripts/generate_version.sh` - Version generation script
- `version.h` - Generated header (auto-created, do not edit)

### Integration Files
- `build.sh` - Modified to call version generation
- `.gitignore` - Excludes generated `version.h`

## Usage

### Building
Every time you run `./build.sh`, the build number automatically increments:

```bash
./build.sh  # Build #1
./build.sh  # Build #2
./build.sh  # Build #3
```

### Version Display
The application shows version information in multiple ways:

**Command Line:**
```bash
./build/c_nostr --version
./build/c_nostr -v
```

**Interactive Mode:**
- ASCII art title with version
- Header shows: `NOSTR TERMINAL v1.0.0 (Build #3, 2025-07-21)`

### Updating Semantic Version
To update the major/minor/patch version:

```bash
echo "1.1.0" > VERSION
```

The next build will be `v1.1.0 (Build #4)`.

## Generated Macros

The `version.h` file contains these macros:

```c
#define VERSION_MAJOR 1
#define VERSION_MINOR 0
#define VERSION_PATCH 0
#define VERSION_BUILD 3
#define VERSION_STRING "1.0.0"
#define VERSION_FULL "1.0.0.3"
#define BUILD_NUMBER 3
#define BUILD_DATE "2025-07-21"
#define BUILD_TIME "14:53:32"
#define BUILD_TIMESTAMP "2025-07-21 14:53:32"
#define GIT_HASH ""
#define GIT_BRANCH ""
#define VERSION_DISPLAY "v1.0.0 (Build #3)"
#define VERSION_FULL_DISPLAY "v1.0.0 (Build #3, 2025-07-21)"
```

## Integration in Code

Include the version header:
```c
#include "version.h"
```

Use version macros:
```c
printf("NOSTR TERMINAL %s\n", VERSION_FULL_DISPLAY);
printf("Built: %s\n", BUILD_TIMESTAMP);
```

## Best Practices

1. **Never edit `version.h`** - it's auto-generated
2. **Commit `.build_number`** - tracks build history
3. **Update `VERSION` manually** - for semantic version changes
4. **Build increments automatically** - no manual intervention needed

## Version History

Build numbers are persistent and increment across sessions:
- Build #1: Initial implementation
- Build #2: First rebuild test
- Build #3: Added --version flag
- Build #4: Next build...

## ASCII Art Integration

The version system integrates with the ASCII art title display:

```
███    ██          ██████  ███████         ████████ ███████ ██████  
████   ██         ██    ██ ██                 ██    ██      ██   ██ 
██ ██  ██         ██    ██ ███████            ██    █████   ██████  
██  ██ ██         ██    ██      ██            ██    ██      ██   ██ 
██   ████ ███████  ██████  ███████ ███████    ██    ███████ ██   ██ 

NOSTR TERMINAL v1.0.0 (Build #3, 2025-07-21) - user_abc123
================================================================
```

This provides a professional, branded experience with clear version identification.