Release v0.2.6

Author: Neiko2002

RELEASE_NOTES.md

@@ -1,5 +1,42 @@
 # Release Notes
 
+## deglib v0.2.6
+
+### Overview
+deglib v0.2.6 adds a second search strategy alongside the existing relative-epsilon search: **`ef` fixed-pool search**, now selectable through a single `eps_or_ef` query parameter. The new `ef` mode supports candidate filtering and a distance-computation budget. `Searcher::optimize()` gained K-Means entry-point selection and prefetch auto-tuning, and a set of graph-layout and SIMD improvements makes both build and search faster.
+
+---
+
+### 🚀 Key Features & Improvements
+
+#### `ef` Fixed-Pool Search (new)
+* **Second exploration strategy:** In addition to the existing relative-epsilon (`eps`) search, queries can now run a fixed candidate-pool (`ef`) best-first search.
+* **Single `eps_or_ef` parameter:** One argument selects the mode — values $\ge 1.0$ are treated as a fixed pool size (`ef`), values $< 1.0$ run the relative-epsilon search. Applies to the C++ `Searcher` and the Python bindings.
+* **Candidate filtering:** `ef` search accepts a filter predicate; filtered candidates guide exploration but never occupy the result set, so the search radius is not prematurely collapsed.
+* **Distance-computation budget:** `ef` search can cap the number of distance evaluations per query (`max_distance_computation_count`) for predictable worst-case latency.
+
+#### Searcher Tuning (`Searcher::optimize()`)
+* **K-Means entry points:** Clusters graph features to pick better search entry points, improving recall at a given effort.
+* **Prefetch auto-tuning:** Automatically tunes memory-prefetch parameters for the target machine.
+
+#### Performance
+* **Faster distance kernels:** Vectorized SIMD tail handling across the FP32/FP16/Int8/UInt8 distance headers, plus feature and neighbor prefetching during graph traversal.
+* **Cache-friendly graph layout:** `ReadOnlyGraph` now stores features in a contiguous, aligned layout.
+
+---
+
+### ⚠️ Breaking Changes & Migration Guide
+
+* **`Searcher` search parameter:** `search()` / `search_batch()` (C++ and Python) now take `eps_or_ef` in place of `eps`. Existing relative-epsilon callers keep the same behavior by passing a value $< 1.0$.
+* **Graph creation & loading API:** `create_empty`, `create_dynamic_empty`, and `create_random_graph` moved to the `deglib` namespace, and `create_builder` / `load_readonly_graph` / `load_dynamic_graph` / `load_mutable_graph` are exposed from `deglib.h`. Update call sites to the new locations.
+* **EVP quantization:** `EvpQuantizer` is now a stateful object shared by database and queries; the `quantize_evp_*` free functions were removed. Use the quantizer instance directly.
+
+---
+
+### 🛠️ Bug Fixes
+
+* **Dynamic graph deletions:** Removing vertices from `SizeBoundedGraph` now keeps internal indices contiguous (swap-with-last compaction), fixing sliding-window graph extensions and `ReadOnlyGraph` serialization after deletions.
+
 ## deglib v0.2.5
 
 ### Overview

python/setup.py

@@ -39,23 +39,40 @@ def get_version(rel_path):
         raise RuntimeError("Unable to find version string.")
 
 
+def copy_cpp_sources(src: str = os.path.join("..", "cpp"), dst: str = "lib") -> None:
+    """Copies the sibling ../cpp C++ sources into lib/ so standalone/containerized builds find them."""
+    ignore_dirs = shutil.ignore_patterns("external", "cmake-build*", "build", "benchmark", ".venv", ".git*")
+    if os.path.exists(src):
+        if os.path.exists(dst):
+            shutil.rmtree(dst, ignore_errors=True)
+        print(f"[setup.py] Copying {src} -> {dst}")
+        shutil.copytree(src, dst, dirs_exist_ok=True, ignore=ignore_dirs)
+        print("[setup.py] Files copied successfully.")
+    elif not os.path.exists(dst) or not any(Path(dst).iterdir()):
+        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Source directory '{src}' does not exist and '{dst}' is not populated.")
+
+
+class CopyBuildFiles(Command):
+    """Populates lib/ from ../cpp before cibuildwheel ships only python/ into build containers."""
+
+    description = "Copy the C++ sources from ../cpp into lib/"
+    user_options = []
+
+    def initialize_options(self):
+        pass
+
+    def finalize_options(self):
+        pass
+
+    def run(self):
+        copy_cpp_sources()
+
+
 class CopySDist(sdist_class):
     """Packages the C++ sources into lib/ when creating a standalone source distribution (PyPI sdist)."""
 
     def run(self):
-        ignore_dirs = shutil.ignore_patterns("external", "cmake-build*", "build", "benchmark", ".venv", ".git*")
-        src = os.path.join("..", "cpp")
-        dst = "lib"
-
-        if os.path.exists(src):
-            if os.path.exists(dst):
-                shutil.rmtree(dst, ignore_errors=True)
-            print(f"[setup.py] Packaging: Copying {src} -> {dst}")
-            shutil.copytree(src, dst, dirs_exist_ok=True, ignore=ignore_dirs)
-            print("[setup.py] Files copied successfully.")
-        elif not os.path.exists(dst) or not any(Path(dst).iterdir()):
-            raise FileNotFoundError(f"Source directory '{src}' does not exist and '{dst}' is not populated.")
-
+        copy_cpp_sources()
         super().run()
 
 
@@ -195,6 +212,7 @@ def build_extension(self, ext: CMakeExtension) -> None:
     version=get_version(os.path.join("src", "deglib", "__init__.py")),
     ext_modules=[CMakeExtension("deglib_cpp")],
     cmdclass={
+        "copy_build_files": CopyBuildFiles,
         "sdist": CopySDist,
         "build_ext": CMakeBuild,
     },

python/src/deglib/__init__.py

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 )
 from .distances import FloatSpace, Metric
 
-__version__ = "0.2.5"
+__version__ = "0.2.6"
 
 __all__ = [
     "DynamicExplorationGraph",