mwsis · Oct 18, 2026 · Oct 10, 2026 · Oct 17, 2026 · Oct 17, 2026 · Oct 17, 2026
diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@
 	"C_Cpp.clang_format_style": "file",
 	"C_Cpp.default.cStandard": "c17",
 	"C_Cpp.default.cppStandard": "c++17",
+	"C_Cpp.default.defines": [
+		// "STLSOFT_DOCUMENTATION_SKIP_SECTION",
+	],
 	"C_Cpp.enhancedColorization": "enabled",
 	"C_Cpp.errorSquiggles": "enabled",
 	"C_Cpp.formatting": "clangFormat",

diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,6 +1,37 @@
 # STLSoft - CHANGES <!-- omit in toc -->
 
 
+## 1.11.1-rc9 - 18th October 2026
+
+* additions:
+  * Added `unixstl::system_traits<>::get_current_process_path()` and `winstl::system_traits<>::get_current_process_path()` (multibyte and wide), obtaining the current process image path with an optional basename path-separator out-parameter;
+  * Added `T_resizeableBuffer` overloads of `get_current_process_path()` on **unixstl** / **winstl** `system_traits` (query → `stlsoft::resizeable_buffer_resize()` → fill; `ppFile` only after the final fill; resize failure sets `ENOMEM` / `ERROR_OUTOFMEMORY` and leaves the buffer unchanged);
+  * **unixstl::filesystem_traits<wchar_t>** — implemented `find_last_path_name_separator()` / `find_next_path_name_separator()` and `is_path_rooted()` / `is_path_absolute()` / `is_path_UNC()` (NUL-terminated and counted), including Windows drive-letter and UNC classification;
+  * **unixstl::filesystem_traits<wchar_t>** — path-resolve, current-directory, and directory-enumeration members remain declared, pending one conversion policy for that group;
+  * **unixstl_C_get_home_directory_w()** (**unixstl/system/directory_functions.h**) — reads `HOME` via `getenv()` and converts with `mbstowcs()` (locale multibyte encoding); a short buffer keeps a NUL in the last slot and returns `cchBuffer - 1`, matching the narrow copy;
+  * **unixstl::system_traits<wchar_t>** — implemented `path_str_compare()` and `path_str_n_compare()` (on Windows, case-folded with `towupper()` and treating `/` and `\` as equivalent);
+  * **unixstl::system_traits<wchar_t>** — implemented `get_environment_variable()` (raw and resizeable-buffer) by converting the name with `wcstombs()`, reading it with `getenv()`, and converting the value with `mbstowcs()`; implemented the resizeable-buffer overload of `get_home_directory()`;
+  * **unixstl::system_traits<wchar_t>** — `load_library()` and `free_library()` stay declared together pending one conversion policy (`free_library()` no longer calls `dlclose()` alone); `expand_environment_strings()` remains declared;
+* testing:
+  * Component tests **test/component/unixstl/system/process_paths** (multibyte; multi-OS raw path oracle; resizeable-buffer overloads for `auto_buffer` / `vector`, `ppFile`, and resize-failure) and **test/component/winstl/system/process_paths** (multibyte and wide; `GetModuleFileName` oracle; same resizeable-buffer coverage);
+  * Unit tests **test.unit.unixstl.filesystem.filesystem_traits** cover wide separator finding and path classification, and agreement with the narrow specialisation;
+  * Unit tests **test.unit.unixstl.system.system_traits** cover wide `path_str_compare()` and `path_str_n_compare()`;
+  * Component tests **test.component.unixstl.system.system_traits** cover wide `get_home_directory()` and `get_environment_variable()` (probe, fixed buffer, and `std::vector` resizeable overload) via `platformstl::environment_variable_scope`;
+  * Resizeable-buffer cases shared with the resizeable-buffer line (`ensure_dir_end()` / `remove_dir_end()`, and the narrow resizeable `get_home_directory()` / `get_environment_variable()` overloads) remain empty pending that merge;
+  * **test.unit.versions** — aligned with **1.11.1-rc9** (**_STLSOFT_VER_1_11_1_RC9**);
+* docs:
+  * Normalised Doxygen `\pre` comments to bare boolean expressions (no outer parentheses; no trailing `;` / `.`);
+  * Prefer `nullptr` over `NULL` / prose in `\pre` text; optional-buffer forms use zero-length check first (`0 == n || nullptr != s`);
+  * Converted expressible prose preconditions (e.g. `!empty()`, `n <= size()`, `nullptr != p`) where applicable; retained soft COM / prior-init / exception-gated contracts as prose;
+* version:
+  * **test.unit.versions** — aligned with **1.11.1-rc9** (**_STLSOFT_VER_1_11_1_RC9**);
+  * **comstl** — **1.10.4** (**_COMSTL_VER_1_10_4**), with **STLSoft 1.11.1-rc9**;
+  * **inetstl** — **1.5.0 alpha 4** (**_INETSTL_VER_1_5_0_A04**), with **STLSoft 1.11.1-rc9**;
+  * **platformstl** — **1.10.0 beta 3** (**_PLATFORMSTL_VER_1_10_0_B03**), with **STLSoft 1.11.1-rc9**;
+  * **unixstl** — **1.8.6 beta 8** (**_UNIXSTL_VER_1_8_6_B08**), with **STLSoft 1.11.1-rc9**;
+  * **winstl** — **1.13.0 beta 5** (**_WINSTL_VER_1_13_0_B05**), with **STLSoft 1.11.1-rc9**;
+
+
 ## 1.11.1-rc8 - 10th October 2026
 
 * additions:

diff --git a/Doxyfile b/Doxyfile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 PROJECT_NAME           = "STLSoft"
 PROJECT_BRIEF          = "Robust, lightweight, cross-platform, template software"
-PROJECT_NUMBER         = 1.11.1-rc8
+PROJECT_NUMBER         = 1.11.1-rc9
 
 # Overridden at generation time by generate_doxygen.sh (respects
 # SIS_CMAKE_BUILD_DIR).

diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
@@ -23,17 +23,17 @@ There are three options for installing **STLSoft**, depending on how you obtain
 
 If you obtain the latest release as an archive from the [**STLSoft** GitHub Releases](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft/releases) page (legacy archives may also still appear on [SourceForge](https://sourceforge.net/projects/stlsoft/)):
 
-1. Download the latest distribution, e.g. [**STLSoft-1.11.1-rc8.zip**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft/archive/refs/tags/1.11.1-rc8.zip);
+1. Download the latest distribution, e.g. [**STLSoft-1.11.1-rc9.zip**](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft/archive/refs/tags/1.11.1-rc9.zip);
 
 2. Unzip it to a directory of your choice, as in:
 
 ```bash
 $ mkdir -p ~/open-source
 $ cd ~/open-source
-$ unzip STLSoft-1.11.1-rc8.zip
+$ unzip STLSoft-1.11.1-rc9.zip
 ```
 
-3. Define an environment variable `STLSOFT`, whose value is the directory in which you unzipped it, e.g. `STLSOFT=~/open-source/STLSoft-1.11.1-rc8`, and then specify `$(STLSOFT)/include` (**UNIX**) or `%STLSOFT%\include` (**Windows**) in your project files and makefiles;
+3. Define an environment variable `STLSOFT`, whose value is the directory in which you unzipped it, e.g. `STLSOFT=~/open-source/STLSoft-1.11.1-rc9`, and then specify `$(STLSOFT)/include` (**UNIX**) or `%STLSOFT%\include` (**Windows**) in your project files and makefiles;
 
 
 ### Cloning project, using environment variables
@@ -100,16 +100,16 @@ $ sudo cmake --install ${SIS_CMAKE_BUILD_DIR:-./_build} --config Release
 Unless you are certain that your projects, and all the projects upon which they depend, all use **STLSoft** via **CMake** then it is recommended that you define an `STLSOFT` environment variable.
 
 For example, if you're using **UNIX** and you install to
-**/usr/local/stlsoft/STLSoft-1.11.1-rc8**
+**/usr/local/stlsoft/STLSoft-1.11.1-rc9**
 then you should set the environment variable `STLSOFT` to
-**/usr/local/stlsoft/STLSoft-1.11.1-rc8**
-in which case the file `stlsoft/stlsoft.h`, for example, will be located in `/usr/local/stlsoft/STLSoft-1.11.1-rc8/include/stlsoft/stlsoft.h`.
+**/usr/local/stlsoft/STLSoft-1.11.1-rc9**
+in which case the file `stlsoft/stlsoft.h`, for example, will be located in `/usr/local/stlsoft/STLSoft-1.11.1-rc9/include/stlsoft/stlsoft.h`.
 
 Conversely, if you're using **Windows** and you install to
-**C:\3pty\STLSoft\STLSoft-1.11.1-rc8**
+**C:\3pty\STLSoft\STLSoft-1.11.1-rc9**
 then you should set the environment variable `STLSOFT` to
-**C:\3pty\STLSoft\STLSoft-1.11.1-rc8**
-in which case the file `stlsoft/stlsoft.h`, for example, will be located in `C:\3pty\STLSoft\STLSoft-1.11.1-rc8\include\stlsoft\stlsoft.h`.
+**C:\3pty\STLSoft\STLSoft-1.11.1-rc9**
+in which case the file `stlsoft/stlsoft.h`, for example, will be located in `C:\3pty\STLSoft\STLSoft-1.11.1-rc9\include\stlsoft\stlsoft.h`.
 
 The makefiles / project files of several other open-source projects expect this symbol, including:
 

diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 | Date                | News Item                           | Details |
 | ------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ------- |
+| 18th October 2026   | Release of [STLSoft 1.11.1-rc9](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft/releases/tag/1.11.1-rc9) | `get_current_process_path()` (+ resizeable-buffer overloads) on **unixstl** / **winstl** `system_traits` with component tests; zero-first optional buffers; **unixstl** `wchar_t` path classification and separators; `path_str_*`; wide `get_home_directory()` and `get_environment_variable()`; `\pre` normalised to bare exprs with `nullptr`; subproject version bumps |
 | 10th October 2026   | Release of [STLSoft 1.11.1-rc8](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft/releases/tag/1.11.1-rc8) | environment_variable_strtoll()`; `unixstl::filesystem_traits<>::rewind_dir()`; `class_type` and `getenv_s()` empty-variable fixes; component tests; `cmake --build` helper scripts; **run_all_component_tests.sh** / **run_all_automated_tests.sh**; **generate_doxygen.sh**; Linguist classification |
 | 30th September 2026 | Release of [STLSoft 1.11.1-rc7](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft/releases/tag/1.11.1-rc7) | counted NULs; `wchar_t` `string_begins_with`; bit intrinsics; `write_binary()`; `file_lines` mmap (~10–20× vs `fgetc`); compare and allocator units; MinGW static runtime; short test directories; nested **test/performance** |
 | 21st September 2026 | Release of [STLSoft 1.11.1-rc6](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft/releases/tag/1.11.1-rc6) | ACE/ATL/MFC CI; Clang/macOS `stricmp` aliases |

diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
   - [1.11.9](#1119)
   - [1.11.10](#11110)
   - [1.11.11](#11111)
+  - [1.11.12](#11112)
+  - [Cross-publish to STLSoft-1.11](#cross-publish-to-stlsoft-111)
 - [1.12](#112)
 - [Requires clarification by project maintainers](#requires-clarification-by-project-maintainers)
 - [Abandoned](#abandoned)
@@ -34,6 +36,14 @@
 * [ ] Remove **WTL**;
 * [ ] Resolve finally the structure and semantics of the top-level execution scripts (**run_all_unit_tests.sh**, **run_all_scratch_tests.sh**, **run_all_examples.sh**, **execute_performance_tests.sh**, and Windows `.cmd` counterparts) on all platforms — discovery globs, execute-bit / artifact restore, zero-match failure, verbosity, and CI wiring;
 * [ ] bring in some essential unit-tests from interal repo;
+* [ ] Being the CONCEPTS documentation:
+  * [ ] auto-buffer;
+  * [ ] resizeable-buffer;
+  * [ ] string-access-shims;
+  * [ ] Null Object (variable);
+  * [ ] Externals (esp. not introducing sub-project's headers proper);
+  * [ ] Conformance: Structural, Semantic, Intersecting;
+  * [ ] ...
 
 
 ### 1.11.2
@@ -43,6 +53,11 @@ Dedicated increment: **test analysis and coverage only** — no other product ch
 * [ ] Existing test consistency (deep analysis);
 * [ ] Complete coverage of currently tested components (improvement / completion);
 * [ ] Coverage of currently untested components;
+* [ ] All precondition enforcements => \pre;
+* [ ] All \pre => precondition enforcements;
+* [ ] Remove **WTL**;
+* [ ] Resolve finally the structure and semantics of the top-level execution scripts (**run_all_unit_tests.sh**, **run_all_scratch_tests.sh**, **run_all_examples.sh**, **execute_performance_tests.sh**, and Windows `.cmd` counterparts) on all platforms — discovery globs, execute-bit / artifact restore, zero-match failure, verbosity, and CI wiring;
+* [ ] bring in some essential unit-tests from interal repo;
 
 
 ### 1.11.3
@@ -78,7 +93,7 @@ Dedicated increment: **test analysis and coverage only** — no other product ch
 
 ### 1.11.8
 
-* [ ] Move **include/stlsoft/util/string/**`*printf.h` into **api/internal** and deprecate the old headers;
+* [ ] Move **include/stlsoft/util/string/**\***printf.h** into **api/internal** and deprecate the old headers;
 
 
 ### 1.11.9
@@ -96,6 +111,33 @@ Dedicated increment: **test analysis and coverage only** — no other product ch
 * [ ] Doxygen build (**Doxyfile**, **generate_doxygen.sh**) and deeper API documentation — see also [**KNOWN_ISSUES.md**](./KNOWN_ISSUES.md);
 
 
+### 1.11.12
+
+Normalise C API (and related C-facing) identifier prefixes. **House rule**
+(documented in **c-cpp-standards** → *STLSoft C API identifier prefixes*):
+
+* **Functions**, **types**, and **enumerators** — lowercase `<subproject>_C_`;
+* **Macros** — ALL_UPPERCASE (including the project key);
+* Do not introduce mixed forms such as `WinSTL_C_` / `STLSoft_C_`;
+* When renaming, retain older public names (deprecated wrappers or
+  documentation-hidden `#define` aliases) until at least **STLSoft 1.13**.
+
+* [x] ~~~Establish and document the rule (see **c-cpp-standards**)~~~ - ✅;
+* [x] ~~~Rename `STLSoft_C_string_copy*` / `STLSoft_C_string_copy_with_nul*` → `stlsoft_C_*` in **include/stlsoft/string/copy_functions.h** and all call sites (deprecated wrappers retained until at least **1.13**)~~~ - ✅;
+* [x] ~~~Rename `WinSTL_C_FileInformation_*` → `winstl_C_*` in **include/winstl/filesystem/file_information_functions.h** and call sites (deprecated wrappers retained until at least **1.13**)~~~ - ✅;
+* [x] ~~~Rename path-classify `PathType` enumerators: `WinSTL_C_PathType_*` → `winstl_C_PathType_*`, and `UNIXSTL_C_PathType_*` → `unixstl_C_PathType_*` (legacy names retained as documentation-hidden macros until at least **1.13**)~~~ - ✅;
+* [x] ~~~Rename path-classify impl macros `WINSTL_C_PATH_CLASSIFY_IMPL_*` / `UNIXSTL_C_PATH_CLASSIFY_IMPL_*` to lowercase~~~ - ❌ (ALL_UPPERCASE macros are house style; no rename);
+* [x] ~~~Decide policy for `STLSOFT_C_AUTO_BUFFER_*` / `STLSOFT_C_CAST`~~~ - ❌ (ALL_UPPERCASE is the house form; keep);
+* [ ] **1.13+**: consider removing deprecated mixed-case C API wrappers / enumerator aliases (`STLSoft_C_*`, `WinSTL_C_*`, `UNIXSTL_C_PathType_*`, and any later-deprecated forms) — not before;
+
+
+### Cross-publish to STLSoft-1.11
+
+When tip **1.11** is finally complete, cross-publish into the versioned line **[synesissoftware/STLSoft-1.11](https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft-1.11)** (not done for the interim VOLE / historical-consumer recognition work — that line was left unpushed on purpose).
+
+* [ ] Cross-publish the completed tip **1.11** tree into **STLSoft-1.11**, including the unknown-newer Visual C++ warn-not-error forward-warning from the **`prospective-msvc`** branch (and any related recognition / semi-freeze messaging needed for historical consumers);
+
+
 ## 1.12
 
 From **1.12** onwards, every new component or feature must ship with an **example**, **unit tests**, and a **blog entry** on the new Website (website work is contemporaneous with 1.12). See **oss-library-modernisation** (STLSoft 1.12+ feature completeness).
@@ -126,10 +168,10 @@ From **1.12** onwards, every new component or feature must ship with an **exampl
 
 ## Abandoned
 
-* [-] ~~~custom radix in integer_to_string - abandoned for performance reasons, and obviated by new conversion functions (oct, dec, hex) in 1.10~~~ - ❌;
-* [-] ~~~SourceSafe-era “do not branch the whole monorepo” note~~~ - ❌ (obsolete under Git; superseded by assessing the separate 1.12 internal repository for inclusion);
-* [-] ~~~Manual C/C++ dialect compatibility matrix in **TODO.md**~~~ - ❌ (CI is the record of actively exercised builds; automated/semi-automated reporting deferred to **1.12**);
-* [-] ~~~Migrate/deprecate **include/stlsoft/std/**`*` in parallel with `*printf.h`~~~ - ❌ (cut);
+* [x] ~~~custom radix in integer_to_string - abandoned for performance reasons, and obviated by new conversion functions (oct, dec, hex) in 1.10~~~ - ❌;
+* [x] ~~~SourceSafe-era “do not branch the whole monorepo” note~~~ - ❌ (obsolete under Git; superseded by assessing the separate 1.12 internal repository for inclusion);
+* [x] ~~~Manual C/C++ dialect compatibility matrix in **TODO.md**~~~ - ❌ (CI is the record of actively exercised builds; automated/semi-automated reporting deferred to **1.12**);
+* [x] ~~~Migrate/deprecate **include/stlsoft/std/**`*` in parallel with `*printf.h`~~~ - ❌ (cut);
 
 
 <!-- ########################### end of file ########################### -->
diff --git a/include/acestl/reactor/custom_event_handler.hpp b/include/acestl/reactor/custom_event_handler.hpp
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@
  * Purpose: Event handler class for custom event notifications.
  *
  * Created: 1st October 2004
- * Updated: 21st March 2025
+ * Updated: 15th October 2026
  *
  * Home:    http://stlsoft.org/
  *
- * Copyright (c) 2019-2025, Matthew Wilson and Synesis Information Systems
+ * Copyright (c) 2019-2026, Matthew Wilson and Synesis Information Systems
  * Copyright (c) 2004-2019, Matthew Wilson and Synesis Software
  * All rights reserved.
  *
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
 # define ACESTL_VER_ACESTL_REACTOR_HPP_CUSTOM_EVENT_HANDLER_MAJOR       2
 # define ACESTL_VER_ACESTL_REACTOR_HPP_CUSTOM_EVENT_HANDLER_MINOR       1
 # define ACESTL_VER_ACESTL_REACTOR_HPP_CUSTOM_EVENT_HANDLER_REVISION    13
-# define ACESTL_VER_ACESTL_REACTOR_HPP_CUSTOM_EVENT_HANDLER_EDIT        47
+# define ACESTL_VER_ACESTL_REACTOR_HPP_CUSTOM_EVENT_HANDLER_EDIT        48
 #endif /* !STLSOFT_DOCUMENTATION_SKIP_SECTION */
 
 
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ class custom_event_handler
      *
      * \return \c nullptr on failure, the event id on success
      *
-     * \remarks The custom event can be cancelled via cancel_custom_event()
+     * \note The custom event can be cancelled via cancel_custom_event().
      *
      * \note Custom events are "one-shot". When the event delay elapses and the
      * handle_custom_event() callback is called, the event has been deregistered from
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ class custom_event_handler
      *
      * \return \c nullptr on failure, the event id on success
      *
-     * \remarks The custom event can be cancelled via cancel_custom_event()
+     * \note The custom event can be cancelled via cancel_custom_event().
      *
      * \note Custom events are "one-shot". When the event delay elapses and the
      * handle_custom_event() callback is called, the event has been deregistered from