- README: update status date to 2026-03-30, version to v1.8.9-preview,
add container builds line, update current focus to code quality
- CHANGELOG: move v1.8.1 entries to their own section, add v1.8.2-v1.8.9
unreleased section covering architecture (GameHandler decomposition,
Docker cross-compilation), bug fixes (7 UB/overflow/safety fixes),
and code quality (30+ constants, 55+ comments, 8 DRY extractions)
- docs/status.md: update last-updated date to 2026-03-30
CONTRIBUTING.md: code style, PR process, architecture pointers, packet
handler pattern, key files for new contributors.
CHANGELOG.md: grouped changes since v1.8.1-preview into Performance,
Bug Fixes, Features, Security, and Code Quality sections.
Chat parser: use stack-allocated std::array<char, 256> for typical chat
messages instead of heap-allocated std::string. Only falls back to heap
for messages > 256 bytes. Reduces allocator pressure on high-frequency
chat packet handling.
- Expand README.md with complete feature list (quests, vendors, combat, spells, inventory, etc.)
- Update Controls section with comprehensive keybindings organized by category
- Rewrite docs/quickstart.md from "TODO" state to reflect all working features
- Enhance docs/architecture.md with detailed system descriptions and current capabilities
- Add CHANGELOG.md documenting 50+ recent commits grouped by feature area
- Add FEATURES.md with 100+ documented features across 8 major categories
- Update technical details with architecture, networking, and asset loading info
