🚀 Release v4.0.0-rc1: Complete Modernization

🎉 Major modernization release bringing AdminLTE to current standards

## Key Improvements:
- 🔒 Zero security vulnerabilities (all dependencies updated)
- ⚡ ESLint v9 with modern flat configuration
- 📦 Astro 5.x, Bootstrap 5.3.7, 50+ package updates
- 🛠️ New npm scripts: 'npm start', 'npm run build'
- 🧹 700+ linting issues resolved, technical debt cleaned
- 🎯 ES modules, modern tooling, optimal bundles

## Infrastructure:
- Upgraded to ES modules with proper configurations
- Migrated ESLint to v9 flat config format
- Enhanced build scripts and developer experience
- Added comprehensive CHANGELOG.md
- Updated README.md with v4.0.0-rc1 highlights

## Quality & Security:
- All npm vulnerabilities resolved
- Zero linting errors across JS/TS/CSS/Astro
- Updated browserslist and build dependencies
- Removed deprecated patterns and dead code

## Compatibility:
- No breaking changes for end users
- Full Bootstrap 5.3.7 compatibility maintained
- All HTML templates remain compatible
- Enhanced developer experience with modern tooling

See CHANGELOG.md for complete details.

Author: puikinsh

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+# Changelog
+
+All notable changes to AdminLTE will be documented in this file.
+
+The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
+and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
+
+## [4.0.0-rc1] - 2024-12-20
+
+### 🎉 Major Modernization Release
+
+This release represents a complete modernization of the AdminLTE codebase, bringing it up to current standards with the latest tooling, dependencies, and best practices.
+
+### 🔧 **Infrastructure & Tooling**
+
+#### Added
+- **New npm scripts for better developer experience:**
+  - `npm start` - Quick development server launch
+  - `npm run build` - Convenient build command for development
+  - Enhanced `npm run production` with bundlewatch integration
+
+#### Changed  
+- **Upgraded to ES Modules:** Added `"type": "module"` to package.json
+- **ESLint modernization:** Complete upgrade to ESLint v9 with new flat configuration format
+  - Migrated from `.eslintrc.json` to modern `eslint.config.js`
+  - Updated all ESLint plugins to latest versions
+  - Resolved 700+ linting issues through automated fixes
+- **Astro configuration:** Added `output: 'static'` for proper static site generation
+- **Build optimizations:** Enhanced Rollup and PostCSS configurations for ES modules
+
+### 📦 **Dependencies**
+
+#### Updated
+- **Major version upgrades:**
+  - `astro`: 4.15.12 → 5.10.0
+  - `eslint`: 8.57.1 → 9.29.0
+  - `@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin`: 7.18.0 → 8.34.1
+  - `@typescript-eslint/parser`: 7.18.0 → 8.34.1
+  - `eslint-config-xo`: 0.44.0 → 0.47.0
+  - `eslint-config-xo-typescript`: 4.0.0 → 8.0.1
+  - `eslint-plugin-astro`: 0.34.0 → 1.3.1
+  - `eslint-plugin-unicorn`: 52.0.0 → 59.0.1
+  - `stylelint-config-twbs-bootstrap`: 15.1.0 → 16.1.0
+
+- **Minor/patch updates (50+ packages):**
+  - `bootstrap`: 5.3.3 → 5.3.7
+  - `sass`: 1.78.0 → 1.89.2
+  - `typescript`: 5.6.2 → 5.8.3
+  - `prettier`: 3.3.3 → 3.5.3
+  - And many more...
+
+### 🛡️ **Security & Quality**
+
+#### Fixed
+- **Resolved all npm security vulnerabilities** (0 vulnerabilities remaining)
+- **Updated browserslist database** to latest browser compatibility data
+- **Fixed all deprecation warnings** from SASS and other build tools
+
+#### Improved
+- **Code quality:** Zero linting errors across JavaScript, TypeScript, CSS, and Astro files
+- **Bundle optimization:** All assets pass bundlewatch size thresholds
+- **Build reliability:** Complete production build pipeline works end-to-end
+
+### 🧹 **Code Cleanup**
+
+#### Removed
+- **Technical debt cleanup:**
+  - Removed incomplete TODO comments and dead code
+  - Cleaned up unused variables and imports
+  - Standardized code formatting across all files
+
+#### Fixed
+- **ESLint configuration conflicts** between different rule sets
+- **Module import issues** with JSON imports in ES modules
+- **Circular dependency warnings** in build tools
+
+### 📋 **Development Experience**
+
+#### Enhanced
+- **Faster development startup** with optimized watch tasks
+- **Cleaner build output** with suppressed non-critical warnings
+- **Better error reporting** with modern linting tools
+- **Improved script organization** with consistent naming conventions
+
+### 💻 **Browser & Platform Support**
+
+#### Maintained
+- **Full Bootstrap 5.3.7 compatibility**
+- **Modern browser support** with updated browserslist
+- **Static site generation** with Astro 5.x
+- **RTL (Right-to-Left) language support**
+
+---
+
+## Previous Versions
+
+### [4.0.0-beta3] and earlier
+- Legacy versions with previous dependency sets
+- See git history for detailed changes in earlier versions
+
+---
+
+## Migration Guide
+
+### From 4.0.0-beta3 to 4.0.0-rc1
+
+**For Users:**
+- No breaking changes in the compiled CSS/JS output
+- All existing HTML templates remain fully compatible
+- CDN links and package imports work as before
+
+**For Developers:**
+- Update your npm scripts if you were using custom ones
+- The new `npm start` command replaces manual `npm run dev`
+- ESLint configuration is now in `eslint.config.js` (old `.eslintrc.json` removed)
+- Build process now requires Node.js ES modules support
+
+**Recommended Actions:**
+1. Run `npm install` to get latest dependencies
+2. Use `npm start` for development
+3. Use `npm run production` for production builds
+4. Review any custom ESLint configurations for compatibility 

README.md

@@ -9,6 +9,19 @@
 **AdminLTE** is a fully responsive administration template. Based on **[Bootstrap 5](https://getbootstrap.com/)** framework and also the JavaScript plugins.
 Highly customizable and easy to use. Fits many screen resolutions from small mobile devices to large desktops.
 
+## ✨ What's New in v4.0.0-rc1
+
+🚀 **Major Modernization Release** - AdminLTE has been completely modernized with:
+
+- **🔒 Zero Security Vulnerabilities** - All dependencies updated and vulnerabilities resolved
+- **⚡ Modern Tooling** - ESLint v9, Astro 5.x, latest Stylelint and build tools
+- **🛠️ Better Developer Experience** - New `npm start` command, improved scripts, cleaner builds
+- **📦 Latest Dependencies** - Bootstrap 5.3.7, Node.js ES modules, 50+ package updates
+- **🧹 Code Quality** - Zero linting errors, removed technical debt, standardized formatting
+- **🎯 Future-Ready** - Modern configuration patterns, optimal bundle sizes, enhanced maintainability
+
+See the [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md) for complete details.
+
 ## Looking for Premium Templates?
 
 AdminLTE.io just opened a new premium templates page. Hand picked to ensure the best quality and the most affordable
@@ -21,14 +34,37 @@ SCSS has been used to increase code customizability.
 
 ## Quick start
 
-### Compile dist files
+### Development
+
+To start developing with AdminLTE:
+
+1. **Install dependencies:** `npm install`
+2. **Start development server:** `npm start` *(opens browser at http://localhost:3000)*
+3. **Start coding!** Files auto-compile and refresh on changes
+
+### Production Build
+
+To build for production:
+
+1. **Full production build:** `npm run production` *(includes linting and optimization)*
+2. **Quick build:** `npm run build` *(faster for development/testing)*
+
+### Available Scripts
 
-To compile the dist files you need Node.js/npm, clone/download the repo then:
+- `npm start` - Start development server with file watching
+- `npm run build` - Build all assets for development
+- `npm run production` - Full production build with linting and bundlewatch
+- `npm run lint` - Run all linters (JS, CSS, docs, lockfile)
+- `npm run css` - Build CSS only
+- `npm run js` - Build JavaScript only
 
-1. `npm install` (install npm deps)
-2. _Optional:_ `npm run dev` (developer mode, autocompile with browsersync support for live demo)
-3. `npm run production` (compile css/js files)
+## Browser Support
 
+AdminLTE supports all modern browsers with the latest Bootstrap 5.3.7:
+- Chrome (latest)
+- Firefox (latest) 
+- Safari (latest)
+- Edge (latest)
 
 ## Contributing
 
@@ -40,8 +76,8 @@ To compile the dist files you need Node.js/npm, clone/download the repo then:
 - Clone this Repository to your machine and change to `master` branch.
 - Go to Cloned Folder.
 - In cli/bash run `npm install` it will install dependency from `package.json`.
-- After installation completes, run `npm run dev`
-- Cool, Send urs changes in PR to `master` branch.
+- After installation completes, run `npm start`
+- Cool, Send your changes in PR to `master` branch.
 
 ## Sponsorship