synesissoftware · synesissoftware · Sep 7, 2026
diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,7 +1,19 @@
-# **recls** Changes <!-- omit in toc -->
+# recls - Changes <!-- omit in toc -->
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (release candidate 3) - 3rd August 2026
+## 1.10.0-rc4 - 10th September 2026
+
+* Canonicalised CMake exclusion variables from reserved `CMAKE_NO_*` (`CMAKE_NO_B64`, `CMAKE_NO_PANTHEIOS`, `CMAKE_NO_SHWILD`) to canonical `NO_*` in **CMakeLists.txt** and **prepare_cmake.sh**;
+* Added backwards-compatibility mappings with obsolete-variable warnings for legacy `CMAKE_NO_*` in **CMakeLists.txt**;
+* Added `RECLS_VER_1_10_0_RC_2`, `RECLS_VER_1_10_0_RC_3`, and `RECLS_VER_1_10_0_RC_4` version definitions, updated `RECLS_VER_AB` to `0xC4`, and provided legacy `RECLS_VER_ALPHABETA` and `RECLS_VER_REVISION` compatibility aliases in **include/recls/recls.h**;
+* Standardised top-level headings across C and C++ example companion documentation files (**examples/c/*.md**, **examples/cpp/*.md**);
+* Fixed title heading typo in **examples/c/example_c_2.md**;
+* Added **example_cpp_4** entry to **EXAMPLES.md**;
+* Corrected step numbering, script name, and cross-references in **INSTALL.md**;
+* Cleaned up formatting and indentation in **src/incl.winstl.h** and scratch test sources;
+
+
+## 1.10.0-rc3 - 3rd August 2026
 
 * Added modular GitHub Actions CI (**ci.yml** / **ci-cell.yml**) with install-smoke coverage;
 * Removed **HISTORY.md** (content merged into **CHANGES.md**);
@@ -12,14 +24,14 @@
 * Project boilerplate updates (**.gitattributes**, **.vimrc**, **.vscode/settings.json**);
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (release candidate 2) - 30th June 2025
+## 1.10.0-rc2 - 30th June 2025
 
 * Added `recls::device()`, `recls::directory()`, `recls::file()`, and `recls::socket()` stat-like functions, that attempt to obtain a file-system entry and then filter (or throw) for specific file type;
 * Added **libver** scratch-test;
 * Fixed boilerplate, wherein various 1.10.0-xxx releases were erroneously tagged 1.10.1-xxx;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (release candidate 1) - 6th May 2025
+## 1.10.0-rc1 - 6th May 2025
 
 * Added `RECLS_F_NO_BREAK_INFINITE_LOOPS` search flag and (initial) supporting logic, which cures the macOS infinite-loop problem;
 * Added `RECLS_REMDIR_F_REMOVE_SOCKETS` flag and supporting logic in `Recls_RemoveDirectory()`;
@@ -55,7 +67,7 @@
 * Sorting of **TODO.md** in readiness for 1.11 work streams;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (beta 6) - 30th April 2025
+## 1.10.0-beta6 - 30th April 2025
 
 * Added support for searching for/stat()-ing devices: `RECLS_F_DEVICES`, `RECLS_RC_ENTRY_IS_DEVICE`, **example_c_10** (which searches for devices), `recls::cpp::entry#is_device()`;
 * Ensuring full support across operating systems for `RECLS_F_STOP_ON_ACCESS_FAILURE`, including adding **test.scratch.ignore_inaccessible_nodes**;
@@ -70,12 +82,12 @@
 * Various tidyings and consistency fixes;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (beta 5) - 22nd April 2025
+## 1.10.0-beta5 - 22nd April 2025
 
 * Added support for searching for/stat()-ing sockets: `RECLS_F_SOCKETS`, `RECLS_RC_ENTRY_IS_FILE`, `RECLS_RC_ENTRY_IS_SOCKET`;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (beta 4) - 17th April 2025
+## 1.10.0-beta4 - 17th April 2025
 
 * Added `Recls_GetFileSizeGibiBytes()`, `Recls_GetFileSizeKibiBytes()`, `Recls_GetFileSizeMebiBytes()`, `Recls_GetFileSizeTebiBytes()`;
 * Fixed calculations (from 1,024 factor to 1,000) for `Recls_GetFileSizeGigaBytes()`, `Recls_GetFileSizeKiloBytes()`, `Recls_GetFileSizeMegaBytes()`;
@@ -86,7 +98,7 @@
 * Removed all Visual C++ solution/project files;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (beta 3) - 17th April 2025
+## 1.10.0-beta3 - 17th April 2025
 
 * Fixes to `Recls_SqueezePath()`;
 * Wholesale improvements to examples (incl. **example_c_2** feedback, optional search-directory, memory-usage fix);
@@ -95,14 +107,14 @@
 * Updated dependency requirements;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (beta 2) - 23rd February 2025
+## 1.10.0-beta2 - 23rd February 2025
 
 * GCC compatibility;
 **test.scratch.with_pantheios**: removed need for function pointer cast;
 * Boilerplate and tidying;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (beta 1) - 23rd February 2025
+## 1.10.0-beta1 - 23rd February 2025
 
 * Added `Recls_IsEntrySocket()` API function and `recls::entry#is_socket()`;
 * Renamed API functions `Recls_IsFile*()` => `Recls_IsEntry*()`, and added backwards-compatible functions;
@@ -111,22 +123,22 @@
 * Updated dependency requirements;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (alpha 9) - 23rd October 2024
+## 1.10.0-alpha9 - 23rd October 2024
 
 * Fleshed out **INSTALL.md**;
 * CMake build script consistency and minor fixes;
 * Updated dependency requirements (now depends on 0.25+ of **xTests**);
 * Project boilerplate / settings / ignores improvements;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (alpha 8) - 18th October 2024
+## 1.10.0-alpha8 - 18th October 2024
 
 * CMake / GCC / MinGW compatibility improvements;
 * Tightening up CMake constructs;
 * Visual C++ (19xx+) compatibility;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (alpha 7) - 17th October 2024
+## 1.10.0-alpha7 - 17th October 2024
 
 * Ensuring all **recls/cpp/*.hpp** files are self-sufficient;
 * MinGW compatibility;
@@ -139,21 +151,21 @@
 * Updated compatibility with **xTests** latest;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (alpha 6) - 10th July 2024
+## 1.10.0-alpha6 - 10th July 2024
 
 * Visual C++ 17 (2022) compatibility;
 * CMake Windows compatibility;
 * GCC compatibility improvements;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (alpha 5) - 4th January 2024
+## 1.10.0-alpha5 - 4th January 2024
 
 * Initial CMake support (building and installation; verified on macOS);
 * Renamed project boilerplate `.txt` files to `.md` (Markdown);
 * Project boilerplate updates;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (alpha 3) - 29th March 2021
+## 1.10.0-alpha3 - 29th March 2021
 
 * search-relative-path now contains trailing slash for directories when RECLS_F_MARK_DIRS specified;
 * VC++ 15, 16 compatibility;
@@ -165,7 +177,7 @@
 * various fixes and refactorings;
 
 
-## 1.10.0 (alpha 1) - 4th January 2021
+## 1.10.0-alpha1 - 4th January 2021
 
 * improved flexibility in treatment of search-directory and patterns;
 * significant refactoring, simplification, removal of dead code;
@@ -233,7 +245,7 @@
 * NOTE: depends on STLSoft 1.9.121;
 
 
-## 1.9.1 (alpha 8) - 4th June 2012
+## 1.9.1-alpha8 - 4th June 2012
 
 * changed entry field volumeSerialNumber to deviceId;
 * added entry field volumeSerialNumber (and search flag RECLS_F_NODE_INDEX);
@@ -245,7 +257,7 @@
 * NOTE: depends on STLSoft 1.9.113;
 
 
-## 1.9.1 (alpha 7) - 30th November 2011
+## 1.9.1-alpha7 - 30th November 2011
 
 * added numLinks member to recls_entryinfo_t;
 * added member numRelativeDirectoryParts to recls_entryinfo_t;
@@ -270,7 +282,7 @@
 * NOTE: depends on STLSoft 1.9.111;
 
 
-## 1.9.1 (alpha 6) - 18th October 2010
+## 1.9.1-alpha6 - 18th October 2010
 
 * recls::entry: added get_file_size() method, ~ deprecated size() method;
 * recls::recls_exception: added 'patterns' property;
@@ -281,7 +293,7 @@
 * NOTE: depends on STLSoft 1.9.101;
 
 
-## 1.9.1 (alpha 5) - 7th June 2010
+## 1.9.1-alpha5 - 7th June 2010
 
 * added comparison operators for recls::cpp::entry;
 * added subscript operator to recls::cpp::root_sequence;
@@ -293,7 +305,7 @@
 * NOTE: depends on STLSoft 1.9.98;
 
 
-## 1.9.1 (alpha 4) - 4th April 2010
+## 1.9.1-alpha4 - 4th April 2010
 
 * fixed invalid calculation in stat();
 * fixed path-relativity defect;
@@ -303,15 +315,15 @@
 * NOTE: depends on STLSoft 1.9.97;
 
 
-## 1.9.1 (alpha 3) - 10th March 2010
+## 1.9.1-alpha3 - 10th March 2010
 
 * Added support for Visual C++ 10 (including makefiles and implicit linking);
 * NOTE: bundles shwild 0.9.19;
 * NOTE: bundles xTests 0.14.5;
 * NOTE: depends on STLSoft 1.9.96;
 
 
-## 1.9.1 (alpha 2) - 11th February 2010
+## 1.9.1-alpha2 - 11th February 2010
 
 * added VC++ 9 (Visual Studio 2008) solution/project files;
 * added Recls_GetFileSizeGigaBytes(), Recls_GetFileSizeMegaBytes(), Recls_GetFileSizeKiloBytes() API functions;
@@ -321,7 +333,7 @@
 * NOTE: C++ mapping also depends on STLSoft 1.10 alpha 13 (or later);
 
 
-## 1.9.1 (alpha 1) - 9th February 2010
+## 1.9.1-alpha1 - 9th February 2010
 
 * first release of recls 1.9;
 * merging 1.8's C++ and STL APIs into one: include <recls/recls.hpp> for new C++ API;

diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # Purpose:  Top-level CMake lists file for recls
 #
 # Created:  9th October 2019
-# Updated:  29th June 2025
+# Updated:  10th September 2026
 #
 # ######################################################################## #
 
@@ -166,11 +166,32 @@ if(DEFINED STLSOFT_INCLUDE_DIR)
 	include_directories(${STLSOFT_INCLUDE_DIR})
 endif()
 
+if(DEFINED CMAKE_NO_B64 AND NOT DEFINED NO_B64)
+
+	message(WARNING "variable 'CMAKE_NO_B64' is obsolete and will not be supported in a future version; use 'NO_B64' instead")
+
+	set(NO_B64 ${CMAKE_NO_B64})
+endif()
+
+if(DEFINED CMAKE_NO_PANTHEIOS AND NOT DEFINED NO_PANTHEIOS)
+
+	message(WARNING "variable 'CMAKE_NO_PANTHEIOS' is obsolete and will not be supported in a future version; use 'NO_PANTHEIOS' instead")
+
+	set(NO_PANTHEIOS ${CMAKE_NO_PANTHEIOS})
+endif()
+
+if(DEFINED CMAKE_NO_SHWILD AND NOT DEFINED NO_SHWILD)
+
+	message(WARNING "variable 'CMAKE_NO_SHWILD' is obsolete and will not be supported in a future version; use 'NO_SHWILD' instead")
+
+	set(NO_SHWILD ${CMAKE_NO_SHWILD})
+endif()
+
 
 # ############################
 # b64
 
-if(NOT (CMAKE_NO_B64))
+if(NOT NO_B64)
 
 	if(BUILD_TESTING)
 
@@ -193,7 +214,7 @@ endif()
 # ############################
 # Pantheios
 
-if(NOT (CMAKE_NO_PANTHEIOS))
+if(NOT NO_PANTHEIOS)
 
 	if(BUILD_TESTING)
 
@@ -212,7 +233,7 @@ endif()
 # ############################
 # shwild
 
-if(NOT (CMAKE_NO_SHWILD))
+if(NOT NO_SHWILD)
 
 	if(BUILD_TESTING)
 

diff --git a/EXAMPLES.md b/EXAMPLES.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 |**example_cpp_1**|C++|[examples/cpp/example_cpp_1/main.cpp](./examples/cpp/example_cpp_1/main.cpp)<br/>[examples/cpp/example_cpp_1.md](./examples/cpp/example_cpp_1.md)|Demonstrates recursive search for all files under a given directory including all appropriate failure handling.|
 |**example_cpp_2**|C++|[examples/cpp/example_cpp_2/main.cpp](./examples/cpp/example_cpp_2/main.cpp)<br/>[examples/cpp/example_cpp_2.md](./examples/cpp/example_cpp_2.md)|Demonstrates obtaining `stat()` of home directory using `recls::stat`, then recursive search under that of files matching a complex pattern|
 |**example_cpp_3**|C++|[examples/cpp/example_cpp_3/main.cpp](./examples/cpp/example_cpp_3/main.cpp)<br/>[examples/cpp/example_cpp_3.md](./examples/cpp/example_cpp_3.md)|Demonstrates use of `recls::stat()` on current directory or named path, optionally specifying a type filter (use `"--help"` for usage), showing various elements of the path in exploded form|
+|**example_cpp_4**|C++|[examples/cpp/example_cpp_4/main.cpp](./examples/cpp/example_cpp_4/main.cpp)<br/>[examples/cpp/example_cpp_4.md](./examples/cpp/example_cpp_4.md)|Demonstrates use of `Recls_RemoveDirectory()`, optionally including files and sockets.|
 
 
 <!-- ########################### end of file ########################### -->

diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
@@ -43,24 +43,23 @@ The primary choice for installation is by use of **CMake**.
    $ ./build_cmake.sh
    ```
 
-   (**NOTE**: if you provide the flag `--run-make` (=== `-m`) in step 3 then you do
+   (**NOTE**: if you provide the flag `--run-make` (=== `-m`) in step 2 then you do
    not need this step.)
 
 4. As a check, execute the built test program files via the
-   **build_run_all_unit_tests.sh** script, as in:
+   **run_all_unit_tests.sh** script, as in:
 
    ```bash
    $ ./run_all_unit_tests.sh
    ```
 
-6. Install the library on the host, via `cmake`, as in:
-
+5. Install the library on the host, via `cmake`, as in:
 
    ```bash
    $ sudo cmake --install ${SIS_CMAKE_BUILD_DIR:-./_build} --config Release
    ```
 
-7. Then to use the library, it is a simple matter as follows:
+6. Then to use the library, it is a simple matter as follows:
 
    1. Assuming a simplest possible program to verify the installation:
 
@@ -83,7 +82,7 @@ The primary choice for installation is by use of **CMake**.
 
    2. Compile your project against **recls**:
 
-      Due to the installation step (Step 6 above) there is no requirement
+      Due to the installation step (Step 5 above) there is no requirement
       for an explicit include directory for **recls**:
 
       ```bash
@@ -92,7 +91,7 @@ The primary choice for installation is by use of **CMake**.
 
    3. Link your project against **recls**:
 
-      Due to the installation step (Step 6 above) there is no requirement
+      Due to the installation step (Step 5 above) there is no requirement
       for an explicit library directory for **recls**:
 
       ```bash

diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 | Date                  | News Item                                                 |
 | --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
+| 10th September 2026   |   [recls 1.10.0 (release candidate 4)](https://github.com/synesissoftware/recls/releases/tag/1.10.0-rc4) released  |
 | 3rd August 2026       |   [recls 1.10.0 (release candidate 3)](https://github.com/synesissoftware/recls/releases/tag/1.10.0-rc3) released  |
 | 30th June 2025        |   recls 1.10.0 (release candidate 2) released             |
 | 6th May 2025          |   recls 1.10.0 (release candidate 1) released             |

diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 * [x] ~~~Remove plethora of old makefiles~~~ - ✅;
 * [-] ~~~Provide small number of more "intelligent" makefiles~~~ - ❌;
 * [ ] Bazel, Jam, SCons, etc. scripts;
+* [ ] Remove '--no-b64' flag and associated support (in **prepare_cmake.sh** and **CMakeLists.txt**), rendered redundant by recent improvements to **Pantheios**' CMake usage;
 
 
 <!-- ########################### end of file ########################### -->
diff --git a/examples/c/example_c_1.md b/examples/c/example_c_1.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# recls Example - **example_c_1**
+# recls - Example - **example_c_1**
 
 ## Summary
 

diff --git a/examples/c/example_c_10.md b/examples/c/example_c_10.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# recls Example - **example_c_10**
+# recls - Example - **example_c_10**
 
 ## Summary
 

diff --git a/examples/c/example_c_2.md b/examples/c/example_c_2.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# recls Example - **example_c_1**
+# recls - Example - **example_c_2**
 
 ## Summary
 

diff --git a/examples/c/example_c_3.md b/examples/c/example_c_3.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# recls Example - **example_c_3**
+# recls - Example - **example_c_3**
 
 ## Summary
 

diff --git a/examples/c/example_c_4.md b/examples/c/example_c_4.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# recls Example - **example_c_4**
+# recls - Example - **example_c_4**
 
 ## Summary
 

diff --git a/examples/c/example_c_5.md b/examples/c/example_c_5.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# recls Example - **example_c_5**
+# recls - Example - **example_c_5**
 
 ## Summary
 

diff --git a/examples/c/example_c_6.md b/examples/c/example_c_6.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# recls Example - **example_c_6**
+# recls - Example - **example_c_6**
 
 ## Summary