#179 feat: add stable-only latest package policy

 Support string-based `Package.Latest` policies with `never`, `stable`, and
 `always`, while keeping legacy boolean values temporarily compatible.

 - make `stable` publish `latest` only for stable versions
 - keep `always` behavior for stable and preview packages
 - map legacy booleans to `always`/`never` with TODO markers for major-version removal
 - update schema, tests, examples, and docs to use the new policy model
 - deprecate boolean `Package.Latest` values in CHANGELOG

Author: stiwicourage

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -12,8 +12,14 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Changed
 
+- `Package.Latest` now supports policy values: `"never"`, `"stable"`, and `"always"`.
+  - `"stable"` keeps the floating `latest` alias pinned to stable package versions.
+  - Legacy boolean values still work for now and map to `"always"` / `"never"` for backward compatibility.
+
 ### Deprecated
 
+- Boolean `Package.Latest` values are deprecated and will be removed in the next major version.
+
 ### Removed
 
 ### Fixed
@@ -74,9 +80,8 @@ Keep stable `Update-NovaModuleVersion` / `% nova bump` releases on the SemVer ma
 ### Deprecated
 
 - `Invoke-NovaRelease` parameters that differ from `Publish-NovaModule` and `% nova release` such as `-Local`,
-  `-Repository`,
-  `-ModuleDirectoryPath`, and `-ApiKey` are now the primary PowerShell release parameters, while `-PublishOption` is
-  deprecated.
+  `-Repository`, `-ModuleDirectoryPath`, and `-ApiKey` are now the primary PowerShell release parameters, while 
+  `-PublishOption` is deprecated and will be removed in the next major version.
 
 ### Fixed
 
@@ -385,4 +390,3 @@ Keep stable `Update-NovaModuleVersion` / `% nova bump` releases on the SemVer ma
 [0.0.6]: https://github.com/stiwicourage/NovaModuleTools/compare/Version_0.0.5...Version_0.0.6
 [0.0.5]: https://github.com/stiwicourage/NovaModuleTools/compare/Version_0.0.4...Version_0.0.5
 [0.0.4]: https://github.com/stiwicourage/NovaModuleTools/compare/Version_0.0.3...Version_0.0.4
-

README.md

@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ Use this `project.json` shape when you want to control the package types and out
     "PackageFileName": "AgentInstaller",
     "AddVersionToFileName": true,
     "Types": ["NuGet", "Zip"],
-    "Latest": true,
+    "Latest": "stable",
     "OutputDirectory": {
       "Path": "artifacts/packages",
       "Clean": true
@@ -326,14 +326,16 @@ Use this `project.json` shape when you want to control the package types and out
 - `Types` is optional. When it is missing, empty, or null, Nova defaults to `NuGet` and creates a `.nupkg`.
 - Supported `Types` values are `NuGet`, `Zip`, `.nupkg`, and `.zip`, and matching is case-insensitive.
 - Use `Types = ["Zip"]` when you only want a `.zip`, or `Types = ["NuGet", "Zip"]` when you want both files.
-- `Latest` is optional and defaults to `false`. When set to `true`, Nova also creates a companion `*.latest.*`
-  artifact for each selected package type, such as `NovaModuleTools.latest.nupkg` next to the normal versioned file.
+- `Latest` is optional and defaults to `"never"`.
+- Set `Latest` to `"stable"` when only stable versions should also create companion `*.latest.*` artifacts.
+- Set `Latest` to `"always"` when both stable and preview versions should also create companion `*.latest.*` artifacts.
+- Set `Latest` to `"never"` when you only want versioned package files.
 - `PackageFileName` lets you override the base artifact name.
 - `AddVersionToFileName` defaults to `false`. When set to `true`, Nova appends `.<Version>` from `project.json` to the
   configured `PackageFileName`, so `AgentInstaller` becomes `AgentInstaller.2.3.4` before the package
   extension is applied.
-- When both `AddVersionToFileName` and `Latest` are enabled, the companion artifact substitutes that appended version
-  suffix with `.latest`, such as `AgentInstaller.latest.nupkg`.
+- When `AddVersionToFileName` is enabled and `Latest` is `"stable"` or `"always"`, the companion artifact substitutes
+  the appended version suffix with `.latest`, such as `AgentInstaller.latest.nupkg`.
 - `Path` selects where the package artifact(s) are written.
 - `Clean` defaults to `true` and removes that output directory before a new package is created.
 - Set `Clean` to `false` when you want to keep existing files in the package output directory.

docs/NovaModuleTools/en-US/Deploy-NovaPackage.md

@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ Uploads only the matching `.zip` artifacts for the current project.
 ### EXAMPLE 5
 
 ```powershell
-PS> Deploy-NovaPackage -PackagePath @('artifacts/packages/NovaModuleTools.2.0.0-preview6.zip', 'artifacts/packages/NovaModuleTools.latest.zip') -Url 'https://packages.example/raw/releases/'
+PS> Deploy-NovaPackage -PackagePath @('artifacts/packages/NovaModuleTools.2.0.0.zip', 'artifacts/packages/NovaModuleTools.latest.zip') -Url 'https://packages.example/raw/releases/'
 ```
 
 Uploads the explicitly selected package files instead of discovering them from the configured package output directory.

docs/NovaModuleTools/en-US/New-NovaModulePackage.md

@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Use this `project.json` shape when you want to control package types and the pac
       "NuGet",
       "Zip"
     ],
-    "Latest": true,
+    "Latest": "stable",
     "OutputDirectory": {
       "Path": "artifacts/packages",
       "Clean": true
@@ -62,16 +62,22 @@ a `.nupkg` file.
 
 Supported `Package.Types` values are `NuGet`, `Zip`, `.nupkg`, and `.zip`, and matching is case-insensitive.
 
-`Package.Latest` is optional and defaults to `false`. When set to `true`, `New-NovaModulePackage` also writes a
-companion `*.latest.*` artifact for each selected package type while keeping the normal versioned file.
+`Package.Latest` is optional and defaults to `"never"`.
+
+Set `Package.Latest` to `"stable"` when only stable versions should also write companion `*.latest.*` artifacts.
+
+Set `Package.Latest` to `"always"` when both stable and preview versions should also write companion `*.latest.*`
+artifacts.
+
+Set `Package.Latest` to `"never"` when only the versioned package file(s) should be written.
 
 `Package.PackageFileName` lets you override the base package file name.
 
 `Package.AddVersionToFileName` defaults to `false`. When you set it to `true`, Nova appends `.<Version>` from
 `project.json` to the configured `Package.PackageFileName` before the package extension is applied.
 
-When both `Package.AddVersionToFileName` and `Package.Latest` are enabled, `New-NovaModulePackage` replaces that
-appended version suffix with `.latest` for the companion artifact.
+When `Package.AddVersionToFileName` is enabled and `Package.Latest` is `"stable"` or `"always"`, `New-NovaModulePackage`
+replaces that appended version suffix with `.latest` for the companion artifact.
 
 `Package.OutputDirectory.Clean` defaults to `true`, which deletes the configured package output directory before a new
 package is created. Set it to `false` when you want to keep existing files in that directory.
@@ -113,8 +119,8 @@ package output directory.
 PS> New-NovaModulePackage
 ```
 
-When `Package.Latest` is `true`, the command keeps the normal versioned package file and also writes a companion latest
-file such as `NovaModuleTools.latest.nupkg`.
+When `Package.Latest` is `"stable"` and the project version is stable, the command keeps the normal versioned package
+file and also writes a companion latest file such as `NovaModuleTools.latest.nupkg`.
 
 ### EXAMPLE 5
 

docs/packaging-and-delivery.html

@@ -198,14 +198,14 @@ <h3>Common examples</h3>
                 <pre><code>{
   "Package": {
     "Types": ["NuGet", "Zip"],
-    "Latest": true,
+    "Latest": "stable",
     "OutputDirectory": {
       "Path": "artifacts/packages",
       "Clean": true
     }
   }
 }</code></pre>
-                <p>This creates both formats and also adds <code>latest</code> aliases, such as:</p>
+                <p>This creates both formats and, for stable versions, also adds <code>latest</code> aliases, such as:</p>
                 <pre><code>MyModule.2.0.0.nupkg
 MyModule.latest.nupkg
 MyModule.2.0.0.zip

docs/project-json-reference.html

@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ <h2>Complete example</h2>
   "Package": {
     "Id": "NovaExampleModule",
     "Types": ["NuGet", "Zip"],
-    "Latest": true,
+    "Latest": "stable",
     "OutputDirectory": {
       "Path": "artifacts/packages",
       "Clean": true
@@ -396,10 +396,9 @@ <h3>Package creation settings</h3>
                         </tr>
                         <tr>
                             <td><code>Latest</code></td>
-                            <td><code>false</code></td>
-                            <td>Whether to create companion <code>latest</code> artifacts for each selected type.</td>
-                            <td>When <code>true</code>, Nova keeps the normal versioned artifact and adds a second file
-                                such as <code>MyModule.latest.nupkg</code>.
+                            <td><code>"never"</code></td>
+                            <td>Controls whether Nova creates companion <code>latest</code> artifacts for each selected type.</td>
+                            <td>Use <code>"stable"</code> to update <code>latest</code> only for stable versions, <code>"always"</code> for both stable and preview versions, or <code>"never"</code> to disable the floating alias.
                             </td>
                         </tr>
                         <tr>
@@ -650,15 +649,15 @@ <h3>Create both NuGet and Zip artifacts, plus latest aliases</h3>
                 <pre><code>{
   "Package": {
     "Types": ["NuGet", "Zip"],
-    "Latest": true,
+    "Latest": "stable",
     "OutputDirectory": {
       "Path": "artifacts/packages",
       "Clean": true
     }
   }
 }</code></pre>
-                <p>This creates four files when both package types are selected: versioned and <code>latest</code>
-                    variants for each format.</p>
+                <p>This creates four files for stable versions when both package types are selected: versioned and
+                    <code>latest</code> variants for each format.</p>
 
                 <h3>Use named raw repositories with shared defaults</h3>
                 <pre><code>{

docs/troubleshooting.html

@@ -285,10 +285,10 @@ <h2>Raw upload auth does not work</h2>
                 <h2>Package output contains both versioned and <code>latest</code> artifacts</h2>
                 <p><strong>Likely cause:</strong> <code>Package.Latest</code> is enabled.</p>
                 <p><strong>Fix:</strong> if you only want versioned files, remove the setting or set it to
-                    <code>false</code>.</p>
+                    <code>"never"</code>.</p>
                 <pre><code>{
   "Package": {
-    "Latest": false
+    "Latest": "never"
   }
 }</code></pre>
                 <p><strong>Success looks like:</strong> the next package run creates only the normal versioned

src/private/package/GetNovaPackageMetadataList.ps1

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ function Get-NovaPackageMetadataList {
     )
 
     $packageTypeList = @(Get-NovaConfiguredPackageTypeList -PackageSettings $ProjectInfo.Package)
-    $includeLatest = Test-NovaPackageLatestEnabled -PackageSettings $ProjectInfo.Package
+    $includeLatest = Test-NovaPackageLatestEnabled -PackageSettings $ProjectInfo.Package -Version $ProjectInfo.Version
 
     return @(
     foreach ($packageType in $packageTypeList) {
@@ -42,24 +42,38 @@ function Get-NovaConfiguredPackageTypeList {
 function Test-NovaPackageLatestEnabled {
     [CmdletBinding()]
     param(
-        [AllowNull()]$PackageSettings
+        [AllowNull()]$PackageSettings,
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$Version
     )
 
-    if ($PackageSettings -is [System.Collections.IDictionary]) {
-        if ( $PackageSettings.Contains('Latest')) {
-            return [bool]$PackageSettings['Latest']
+    $latestPolicy = Get-NovaPackageLatestPolicy -PackageSettings $PackageSettings
+    switch ($latestPolicy) {
+        'always' {
+            return $true
+        }
+        'stable' {
+            return Test-NovaPackageVersionIsStable -Version $Version
+        }
+        default {
+            return $false
         }
-
-        return $false
     }
+}
 
-    if ($null -eq $PackageSettings) {
-        return $false
-    }
+function Get-NovaPackageLatestPolicy {
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    param(
+        [AllowNull()]$PackageSettings
+    )
 
-    if ($PackageSettings.PSObject.Properties.Name -contains 'Latest') {
-        return [bool]$PackageSettings.Latest
-    }
+    return ConvertTo-NovaPackageLatestPolicy -Value (Get-NovaPackageSettingValue -InputObject $PackageSettings -Name 'Latest')
+}
+
+function Test-NovaPackageVersionIsStable {
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$Version
+    )
 
-    return $false
+    return [string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace(([semver]$Version).PreReleaseLabel)
 }

src/private/shared/GetNovaResolvedProjectPackageSettings.ps1

@@ -17,16 +17,56 @@ function Get-NovaResolvedProjectPackageSettings {
     Set-NovaPackageSettingDefault -PackageSettings $packageSettings -Name 'FileNamePattern' -Value "$( $packageSettings['Id'] )*" -TreatWhitespaceAsMissing
     Set-NovaPackageSettingDefault -PackageSettings $packageSettings -Name 'Authors' -Value $ManifestSettings['Author']
     Set-NovaPackageSettingDefault -PackageSettings $packageSettings -Name 'Description' -Value $ProjectData['Description'] -TreatWhitespaceAsMissing
-    Set-NovaPackageSettingDefault -PackageSettings $packageSettings -Name 'Latest' -Value $false
+    Set-NovaPackageSettingDefault -PackageSettings $packageSettings -Name 'Latest' -Value 'never'
     Set-NovaPackageSettingDefault -PackageSettings $packageSettings -Name 'Repositories' -Value @()
     Set-NovaPackageSettingDefault -PackageSettings $packageSettings -Name 'Headers' -Value ([ordered]@{})
     Set-NovaPackageSettingDefault -PackageSettings $packageSettings -Name 'Auth' -Value ([ordered]@{})
 
-    $packageSettings['Latest'] = [bool]$packageSettings['Latest']
+    $packageSettings['Latest'] = ConvertTo-NovaPackageLatestPolicy -Value $packageSettings['Latest']
     $packageSettings['AddVersionToFileName'] = [bool]$packageSettings['AddVersionToFileName']
     $packageSettings['Repositories'] = @($packageSettings['Repositories'])
     $packageSettings['Headers'] = [ordered]@{} + $packageSettings['Headers']
     $packageSettings['Auth'] = [ordered]@{} + $packageSettings['Auth']
 
     return $packageSettings
 }
+
+function ConvertTo-NovaPackageLatestPolicy {
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    param(
+        [AllowNull()]$Value
+    )
+
+    if ($null -eq $Value) {
+        return 'never'
+    }
+
+    # TODO: Remove legacy boolean Package.Latest handling in the next major version.
+    if ($Value -is [bool]) {
+        if ($Value) {
+            return 'always'
+        }
+
+        return 'never'
+    }
+
+    $policy = "$Value".Trim()
+    if ([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($policy)) {
+        return 'never'
+    }
+
+    switch -Regex ($policy) {
+        '^(?i)never$' {
+            return 'never'
+        }
+        '^(?i)stable$' {
+            return 'stable'
+        }
+        '^(?i)always$' {
+            return 'always'
+        }
+        default {
+            Stop-NovaOperation -Message "Invalid project.json Package.Latest value: $Value. Use one of: 'never', 'stable', 'always'." -ErrorId 'Nova.Validation.InvalidPackageLatestPolicy' -Category InvalidData -TargetObject $Value
+        }
+    }
+}

src/resources/Schema-Build.json

@@ -76,7 +76,15 @@
             }
           },
           "Latest": {
-            "type": "boolean"
+            "anyOf": [
+              {
+                "type": "boolean"
+              },
+              {
+                "type": "string",
+                "enum": ["never", "stable", "always"]
+              }
+            ]
           },
           "OutputDirectory": {
             "anyOf": [