feat: prepare release 0.8.0 with comprehensive changelog (#997)

Major features in this release:
- Weekly dead code detection with automated GitHub reports
- Parallel BibTeX processing (2-4x performance improvement)
- Protocol-based architecture overhaul (removed ~350 lines)
- Custom list persistence with database storage
- Cross-validation generalization to single-backend scenarios
- High-level architecture documentation

Breaking changes:
- Algerian Ministry: RAR → ZIP migration
- Custom list commands: add-list → custom-list subcommands
- Backend architecture: removed UpdateSourceRegistry/DataUpdater

This release represents 378 commits of comprehensive improvements
since v0.7.0, focusing on code quality, performance, and
architectural enhancements.

Co-authored-by: florath-ai-assistant[bot] <Andreas.Florath@telekom.de>

Author: coding-ai-assistant[bot]

CITATION.cff

@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ authors:
     orcid: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6471-7372
 repository-code: "https://github.com/sustainet-guardian/aletheia-probe"
 license: MIT
-version: 0.7.0
-date-released: 2025-12-11
+version: 0.8.0
+date-released: 2026-01-08
 keywords:
   - predatory-journals
   - academic-integrity

docs/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,148 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [0.8.0] - 2026-01-08
+
+### Added
+
+#### 🚀 Major Features
+
+- **Dead Code Detection & Quality Improvements**: Implemented weekly automated dead code detection with proper exit codes (#996)
+  - GitHub Action integration creates detailed dead code reports every Saturday
+  - Revealed and fixed numerous code quality issues through automated detection
+  - Enhanced @code_is_used decorator system for flexible dead code management
+- **Parallel BibTeX Processing**: Implemented parallel execution for BibTeX files (#792)
+  - 2-4x performance improvement for large BibTeX file processing
+  - ThreadPoolExecutor-based architecture with configurable workers (default: 12)
+  - Smart thresholding with race condition prevention using WAL-mode SQLite
+- **Protocol-Based Architecture Overhaul**: Complete architectural refactoring implementing protocol-based backend design (#859)
+  - Eliminated dual-registry pattern (UpdateSourceRegistry + DataUpdater singletons)
+  - Reduced code complexity significantly (removed ~350 lines of redundant code)
+  - Introduced DataSyncCapable protocol for flexible backend sync capability
+  - Enhanced maintainability and testability with single source of truth: BackendRegistry
+- **Cross-Validation Generalization**: Extended cross-validation support to single-backend scenarios (#944)
+  - Moved cross-validation logic to generic orchestration framework for broader applicability
+  - Improved assessment accuracy across all backend types
+  - Enhanced publisher validation consistency
+- **High-Level Architecture Documentation**: Added comprehensive `ARCHITECTURE_OVERVIEW.md` document (#950)
+  - Documents core system components, data flow patterns, and design decisions
+  - Covers backend categorization and performance characteristics
+  - Provides essential onboarding resource for new developers
+- **Configuration Parameter Enhancement**: Added `--config` parameter support for flexible configuration management
+  - Enhanced command-line interface for better user experience
+  - Improved configuration flexibility and deployment options
+
+#### 🔄 Major Refactorings
+
+- **Custom List Complete Refactoring**: **BREAKING CHANGE** - Replaced 'add-list' with 'custom-list' command group (#978)
+  - Persistent custom list management with database storage
+  - Auto-registration system maintains lists between sessions
+  - New subcommands: `add`, `list`, `remove` for comprehensive management
+  - Fixed critical design flaw where registrations were lost between sessions
+
+### Changed
+
+#### ⚠️ Breaking Changes
+
+- **Algerian Ministry: RAR → ZIP Migration**: **BREAKING CHANGE** - Transitioned from RAR to ZIP archive format (#931)
+  - Improved compatibility and reduced external dependencies
+  - Enhanced reliability of data processing pipeline
+  - RAR archive support completely removed
+- **Backend Architecture Changes**: **BREAKING CHANGE** - Removed UpdateSourceRegistry and DataUpdater classes
+  - New DataSyncCapable protocol implementation required for custom backends
+  - Eliminated singleton patterns and global state
+
+#### 🛠️ Improvements & Optimizations
+
+- **Backend Standardization**: Systematic 4-phase backend pattern standardization
+  - Standardized backend error handling patterns across Phase 2 (#986)
+  - Migrated backends to use confidence_utils Phase 3 (#987)
+  - Standardized backend patterns Phase 4 (#988)
+  - Enhanced error handling consistency across all backends
+- **Performance Optimizations**:
+  - Optimized ClientSession usage in Crossref backend (#891)
+  - Reduced concurrent backends limit from 999 to 15 for enhanced stability
+  - Fixed SQLite database lock conflicts during concurrent sync operations
+  - Enhanced caching strategies and timeout configurations
+- **Automatic Fallback Chain Infrastructure** (#989, #990, #991):
+  - Crossref backend: 60+ lines → 15 lines
+  - OpenAlex backend: 70+ lines → 25 lines
+  - RetractionWatch backend: 45+ lines → 20 lines
+  - Added async/sync method detection and enhanced exception handling
+
+### Fixed
+
+#### 🐛 Bug Fixes & Code Quality
+
+- **Deprecation Warning Resolution**: Fixed Python compatibility deprecation warnings (#763)
+  - Replaced deprecated `datetime.utcnow()` with timezone-aware `datetime.now(UTC)` (#761)
+  - Replaced deprecated SQLite3 datetime adapter with explicit ISO format conversion (#768)
+  - Enhanced future Python version compatibility
+- **Database & Performance Issues**:
+  - Proper closure of SQLite database connections (#758)
+  - Database lock conflict resolution during concurrent operations
+  - Enhanced cache schema with improved retraction statistics handling
+  - Added input validation to KeyValueCache methods
+- **Code Quality Enhancements** (118 refactoring commits):
+  - Eliminated magic strings/numbers with named constants across multiple modules
+  - Replaced magic strings in AlgerianMinistrySource (#966)
+  - Replaced magic numbers with EntryType enums in PDF parser (#961)
+  - Replaced magic numbers with RiskLevel enum in retraction_watch.py (#846)
+  - Enhanced type safety and documentation coverage
+- **Backend Error Handling**:
+  - Removed broad exception handling in multiple sources (#982, #946, #912)
+  - Improved exception specificity across CustomListSource, BeallsListSource, and PredatoryJournalsSource
+  - Standardized error handling patterns and improved logging
+
+#### 🎯 Assessment & Query Logic Improvements
+
+- **Cross-Validation & Publisher Logic**:
+  - Enabled cross-validation for single-backend scenarios (#944)
+  - Moved cross-validation logic to generic orchestration framework (#939)
+  - Improved publisher validation consistency (#938)
+  - Closed journal size classification gap for 50-99 DOI journals (#889)
+- **Data Source Improvements**:
+  - Replaced blocking file I/O with async operations in Algerian downloader (#949)
+  - Improved Kscien UI elements parsing accuracy (#774)
+  - Improved sync logging and skip reasons for backends (#985)
+  - Force config reload after backend registration in add-list command (#972)
+
+### Documentation & Testing
+
+#### 📝 Documentation Improvements (47 commits)
+
+- **Comprehensive Docstring Updates**:
+  - Added Google-style docstrings to example functions (#958)
+  - Added comprehensive docstrings for DOAJ backend complex methods (#867)
+  - Enhanced CLI module (#898), Cross validator module (#929), and Kscien helpers (#930)
+  - Enhanced updater utility functions (#910) and BeallsListSource (#942)
+- **Architecture & Standards**:
+  - Enhanced updater module documentation (#905) and updater/core.py (#914)
+  - Added testing scope standard to CODING_STANDARDS.md (#965)
+  - Documented regex pattern in JournalNameCleaner (#922)
+  - Updated database schema documentation
+
+#### 🧪 Testing Infrastructure Expansion (65 commits)
+
+- **Comprehensive Test Coverage Additions**:
+  - CustomListSource class (#980)
+  - KscienHijackedJournalsSource (#960) and KscienStandaloneJournalsSource (#956)
+  - PDF parser (#953) and ArchiveExtractor (#962)
+  - Crossref assessment logic (#894) and KscienPublishersBackend (#843)
+  - AlgerianMinistryBackend (#839) and PredatoryJournals backend (#831)
+- **Test Quality Improvements**:
+  - Removed tests for private methods to focus on public APIs
+  - Improved test assertion quality with exact value checks
+  - Enhanced test assertion quality across multiple test suites
+
+### Performance Metrics
+
+- **2-4x speedup** for large BibTeX file processing through parallel execution
+- **~350 lines** of redundant code eliminated through architectural improvements
+- **378 total commits** with comprehensive quality improvements since v0.7.0
+- **Enhanced stability** through reduced concurrent backend limits and improved error handling
+- **Significant complexity reduction** in core backend implementations
+
 ## [0.7.0] - 2025-12-11
 
 ### Added

docs/JOSS/README.md

@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ Once all requirements are met:
 1. Go to https://joss.theoj.org/papers/new
 2. Fill in the submission form:
    - **Repository URL**: https://github.com/sustainet-guardian/aletheia-probe
-   - **Version**: v0.7.0 (or latest release)
+   - **Version**: v0.8.0 (or latest release)
    - **Archive DOI**: Your Zenodo DOI
    - **Editor suggestions**: (optional) Editors with expertise in research software, scientific publishing, or bibliometrics
 3. Submit the form

docs/research-applications.md

@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ In flowchart:
 > "Records excluded: Predatory journal (n=10)"
 
 In methods:
-> "Source quality validation: All references were validated using Aletheia-Probe v0.7.0 to identify potential predatory journals. The tool cross-references journals against DOAJ, Beall's List historical archives, Kscien databases, and publication pattern analysis from OpenAlex and Crossref. Journals flagged as predatory with confidence ≥0.75 were excluded (n=7). Journals with confidence 0.50-0.75 underwent independent review by two authors (n=12), resulting in 3 additional exclusions. This process ensures the review dataset comprises publications from legitimate scholarly venues."
+> "Source quality validation: All references were validated using Aletheia-Probe v0.8.0 to identify potential predatory journals. The tool cross-references journals against DOAJ, Beall's List historical archives, Kscien databases, and publication pattern analysis from OpenAlex and Crossref. Journals flagged as predatory with confidence ≥0.75 were excluded (n=7). Journals with confidence 0.50-0.75 underwent independent review by two authors (n=12), resulting in 3 additional exclusions. This process ensures the review dataset comprises publications from legitimate scholarly venues."
 
 ### Scientometric Studies
 
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ research-project/
 
 Include in methods or supplementary materials:
 
-1. **Tool version**: Aletheia-Probe version (e.g., v0.7.0)
+1. **Tool version**: Aletheia-Probe version (e.g., v0.8.0)
 2. **Assessment date**: When assessments were performed
 3. **Data sync date**: When local caches were last synchronized
 4. **Enabled backends**: Which data sources were queried
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ Include in methods or supplementary materials:
 
 **Example methodology text:**
 
-> "Journal classification employed Aletheia-Probe v0.7.0 (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17788487) executed on 2025-12-15. Local data sources (DOAJ, Beall's List, Kscien databases) were synchronized on 2025-12-10. External APIs (OpenAlex, Crossref) were queried on 2025-12-15, with all responses cached and preserved in supplementary data files. The complete assessment output, including all backend responses and confidence scores, is archived in the supplementary materials (validation-results.json). The configuration file specifying enabled backends and thresholds is also provided for full methodological transparency."
+> "Journal classification employed Aletheia-Probe v0.8.0 (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17788487) executed on 2025-12-15. Local data sources (DOAJ, Beall's List, Kscien databases) were synchronized on 2025-12-10. External APIs (OpenAlex, Crossref) were queried on 2025-12-15, with all responses cached and preserved in supplementary data files. The complete assessment output, including all backend responses and confidence scores, is archived in the supplementary materials (validation-results.json). The configuration file specifying enabled backends and thresholds is also provided for full methodological transparency."
 
 **Trade-offs**
 

pyproject.toml

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "aletheia-probe"
-version = "0.7.0"
+version = "0.8.0"
 description = "Automated tool for assessing predatory journals using multiple backend sources"
 readme = "README.md"
 license = {file = "LICENSE"}