docs(release): add v1.17.0 and 2026.8.0 notes across release tracks

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

release-notes.yml

@@ -55,6 +55,28 @@ releases:
         text: "Included upstream board, UI, power-saving, and platform fixes from MeshCore dev."
     breaking_changes: []
 
+  - track: companion-wifi
+    version: "1.17.0"
+    tag: "companion-wifi-v1.17.0"
+    date: "2026-08-09"
+    previous_version: "1.16.0"
+    summary: "Updates companion WiFi firmware to upstream MeshCore v1.17.0 with the new key-based settings format and interface manager."
+    changes:
+      - type: changed
+        area: upstream
+        text: "Updated the companion WiFi firmware base to upstream MeshCore v1.17.0."
+      - type: changed
+        area: prefs
+        text: "Moved saved node settings to upstream's new key-based `prefs.json` format; existing settings, including persisted Wi-Fi credentials, are migrated automatically on first boot."
+      - type: changed
+        area: wifi
+        text: "Adopted upstream's new interface manager so BLE, Wi-Fi, USB, and serial companion connections are handled uniformly, while keeping Wi-Fi credentials configurable at runtime."
+      - type: changed
+        area: board
+        text: "Included upstream board, radio, display, UI, and platform fixes from MeshCore dev, including new board support and LR2021 radio groundwork."
+    breaking_changes:
+      - "Saved settings move to the new `prefs.json` format on first boot; downgrading to earlier firmware afterwards reverts the device to the old (pre-migration) settings file."
+
   - track: repeater-bridge-espnow
     version: "1.15.0"
     tag: "repeater-bridge-espnow-v1.15.0"
@@ -88,6 +110,25 @@ releases:
         text: "Included upstream board, radio, UI, and platform fixes from MeshCore dev."
     breaking_changes: []
 
+  - track: repeater-bridge-espnow
+    version: "1.17.0"
+    tag: "repeater-bridge-espnow-v1.17.0"
+    date: "2026-08-09"
+    previous_version: "1.16.0"
+    summary: "Updates repeater ESP-NOW bridge firmware to upstream MeshCore v1.17.0 with the new key-based settings format."
+    changes:
+      - type: changed
+        area: upstream
+        text: "Updated the repeater ESP-NOW bridge firmware base to upstream MeshCore v1.17.0."
+      - type: changed
+        area: prefs
+        text: "Moved saved node settings to upstream's new key-based `prefs.json` format; existing settings, including bridge configuration, are migrated automatically on first boot."
+      - type: changed
+        area: board
+        text: "Included upstream board, radio, display, and platform fixes from MeshCore dev, including new board support and an external watchdog manager."
+    breaking_changes:
+      - "Saved settings move to the new `prefs.json` format on first boot; downgrading to earlier firmware afterwards reverts the device to the old (pre-migration) settings file."
+
   - track: observer-eastmesh
     version: "2026.5.1"
     tag: "observer-eastmesh-v2026.5.1"
@@ -299,6 +340,22 @@ releases:
     breaking_changes:
       - "The saved settings layout changed; devices upgrading from 2026.6.6 or earlier may need EastMesh-specific settings (such as fan control and bridge peer) and recently added radio settings reconfigured."
 
+  - track: observer-eastmesh
+    version: "2026.8.0"
+    tag: "observer-eastmesh-v2026.8.0"
+    date: "2026-08-09"
+    previous_version: "2026.7.0"
+    summary: "Updates Observer firmware to upstream MeshCore v1.17.0 with the new key-based settings format."
+    changes:
+      - type: changed
+        area: upstream
+        text: "Merged upstream MeshCore v1.17.0 including new board support, ethernet interface groundwork, LR2021 radio support, display and UI improvements, and platform fixes."
+      - type: changed
+        area: prefs
+        text: "Moved saved node settings to upstream's new key-based `prefs.json` format; existing settings, including EastMesh fan control and bridge peer configuration, are migrated automatically on first boot."
+    breaking_changes:
+      - "Saved settings move to the new `prefs.json` format on first boot; downgrading to earlier firmware afterwards reverts the device to the old (pre-migration) settings file."
+
   - track: observer-eastmesh-bridge-espnow
     version: "2026.5.1"
     tag: "observer-eastmesh-bridge-espnow-v2026.5.1"
@@ -509,3 +566,19 @@ releases:
         text: "Bumped CI build and docs workflows to Python 3.13."
     breaking_changes:
       - "The saved settings layout changed; devices upgrading from 2026.6.6 or earlier may need EastMesh-specific settings (such as fan control and bridge peer) and recently added radio settings reconfigured."
+
+  - track: observer-eastmesh-bridge-espnow
+    version: "2026.8.0"
+    tag: "observer-eastmesh-bridge-espnow-v2026.8.0"
+    date: "2026-08-09"
+    previous_version: "2026.7.0"
+    summary: "Updates Observer ESP-NOW bridge firmware to upstream MeshCore v1.17.0 with the new key-based settings format."
+    changes:
+      - type: changed
+        area: upstream
+        text: "Merged upstream MeshCore v1.17.0 including new board support, ethernet interface groundwork, LR2021 radio support, display and UI improvements, and platform fixes."
+      - type: changed
+        area: prefs
+        text: "Moved saved node settings to upstream's new key-based `prefs.json` format; existing settings, including EastMesh fan control and bridge peer configuration, are migrated automatically on first boot."
+    breaking_changes:
+      - "Saved settings move to the new `prefs.json` format on first boot; downgrading to earlier firmware afterwards reverts the device to the old (pre-migration) settings file."