# News

- Version 3.1 (May 2023):

  - A method `exterior_to_link` for going from a link exterior to a link diagram taken from Dunfield-Obeidin-Rudd.

  - Covers now computed by the stand-alone low_index module, which uses multiple processor cores and is typically much faster than the old code. In some cases, it is dramatically faster than even GAP or Magma.

  - Added geodesics to the `inside_view`.

  - Added drilling any simple geodesic with `drill_word` and `drill_words`, not just those that are `combinatorially simple`.

  - Added ignore_orientation flag to `triangulation_isosig`.

  - Added include_words flag to `length_spectrum` for getting the word corresponding to a geodesic which can be given to `drill_word`.

  - Support for Python 3.11 and SageMath 10.0.

  - Modernized styling of the documentation.

- Version 3.0.3 (December 2021):

  - Runs natively on Macs with Apple Silicon processors (M1, M2, and variants).

- Version 3.0.2 (November 2021):

  - Support for SageMath 9.4 and 9.5, Python 3.10, and macOS Monterey.

- Version 3.0 (April 2021): New features include:

  - Incorporates Zoltán Szabó’s program for computing Knot Floer homology, see `knot_floer_homology`. This can compute the Seifert genus of a 25 crossing knot in mere seconds!

  - Topological slice obstructions of Herald-Kirk-Livingston, see `slice_obstruction_HKL`.

  - Faster “local” algorithm for `jones_polynomial`.

  - Cohomology fractals added to `inside_view`.

  - Convention changes: Sign of knot signature (now positive knots have negative signatures), choice of braid generators (now positive generators give positive crossings).

  - Updates to methods `cusp_translations`, `cusp_areas`, `short_slopes`. Also `Link` now accepts DT codes.

  - Support for SageMath 9.3, Python 3.9, and macOS Big Sur.

  - macOS app now code-signed and notarized.

  - SnapPy now requires Python 3.6 or newer.

- Version 2.8 (June 2020): New features include:

  - Raytraced interior views of a hyperbolic 3-manifold via the `inside_view` method, see also images and demo video.

  - Verified computations: Several new features:

    - Complex volume (and thus the Chern-Simons invariant) for both cusped and closed manifolds, see `complex_volume`.

    - Disjoint cusp neighborhoods by the method `cusp_areas` which uses `cusp_area_matrix`.

    - Cusp shapes (see `cusp_info`).

    - Finding all `short_slopes` in disjoint embedded cusp neighborhoods.

  - The census `HTLinkExteriors` has been extended to 15 crossing knots (contributed by Malik Obeidin).

  - The census `CensusKnots` has been extended to triangulations with 9 ideal tetrahedra.

  - Support for SageMath 9.0 and macOS Catalina.

  - Development moved to GitHub.

- Version 2.7 (July 2019): New features include:

  - Python 3 is now recommended over Python 2 on all platforms; the default Mac and Windows apps use Python 3 rather than Python 2. The only difference most users will notice is that one must type `print(blah)` instead of `print blah`.

  - Verified computations: performance improvements by switching to the Krawczyk test.

  - Support for SageMath 8.8.

  - Installation instructions extensively updated.

  - GUI improvements, especially on macOS. These include improved support for dark mode and tabs on macOS Mojave and preliminary support for macOS Catalina.

- Version 2.6.1 (August 2018): New features include:

  - Support for SageMath 8.3, Python 3.7, and macOS Mojave.

  - Computing ideals defining SL(2, C) character varieties. Contributed by Jean-Philippe Burelle, based on this paper.

  - Many bug fixes.

- Version 2.6 (Nov 2017): New features include:

  - Support for macOS High Sierra, SageMath 8.1, and Windows systems using non-Latin alphabets.

  - Many bug fixes, including improved Python 3 support.

- Version 2.5 (Feb 2017): New features include:

  - Rigorous computation of hyperbolic volume.

  - STL export of Dirichlet domains for 3D printing, contributed by Jose Sanchez.

  - Support for Python 3, SageMath 7.5, 7.6, and 8.0, and many more versions of Python on Windows.

  - Much improved infrastructure for testing and distributing SnapPy.

- Version 2.4 (May 2016): New features include:

  - Added census of Platonic manifolds.

  - Rigorous computation of cusp translations.

  - Added decorations to triangulation isomorphism signatures for encoding peripheral curves.

  - Faster verification of non-tetrahedral canonical cell decompositions.

  - Improvements to the link and planar diagram component, mostly contributed by Malik Obeidin, include:

    - Bar-Natan’s super-fast tangle-based algorithm for computing the Alexander polynomial.

    - Can now compute the Seifert matrix and express a link as a braid closure.

    - Conversion to/from SageMath links and braids.

    - Many under-the-hood improvements.

  - New Windows installer.

- Version 2.3 (March 2015): New features include:

  - Major improvements to the link and planar diagram component, including link simplification, random links, and better documentation.

  - Basic support for spun normal surfaces.

  - New extra features when used inside of Sage:

    - HIKMOT-style rigorous verification of hyperbolic structures, contributed by Matthias Goerner.

    - Many basic knot/link invariants, contributed by Robert Lipschitz and Jennet Dickinson.

    - Sage-specific functions are now more easily accessible as methods of Manifold and better documented.

    - Improved number field recognition, thanks to Matthias.

  - Better compatibility with OS X Yosemite and Windows 8.1.

  - Development changes:

    - Major source code reorganization/cleanup.

    - Source code repository moved to Bitbucket.

    - Python modules now hosted on PyPI, simplifying installation.

- Version 2.2 (June 2014): Includes Ben Burton’s census of orientable cusped manifolds with 9 tetrahedra.

- Version 2.1 (February 2014): New high-precision manifolds (ManifoldHP) which compute hyperbolic structures (and everything related) in quad-double (212 bit) precision.

- Version 2.0 (September 2013): Many new features, including:

  - A manifold browser window for easily examining a particular manifold.

  - Many improvements to the link editor, including

    - A smoothed view mode with image export to EPS/PDF/SVG/TikZ.

    - Producing a fully editable link from combinatorial data like a DT code.

  - Splitting manifolds along surfaces of non-negative euler characteristic.

  - Generalizing the ptolemy obstruction class to allow computation of PGL(3,C)-representations and improving usability of the ptolemy module.

  - CensusKnots now includes knot exteriors with 8 tetrahedra.

- Version 1.8 (May 2013) improves handling of DT codes and adds the HTLinkExteriors census, which provides identification for knots and links up to 14 crossings.

- Version 1.7 (November 2012) incorporates the ptolemy module for studying representations of 3-manifold groups into pSL(N, C).

- Version 1.6 (August 2012) includes a new way to make links and some support for arbitrary precision calculation.

- Version 1.5 (February 2012) includes much improved manifold censuses.

- Version 1.4 (December 2011) uses the current release of IPython, which has been completely rewritten.

- Version 1.3.10 (July 2011) incorporates Twister.

- Version 1.3 (February 2011) has a completely redesigned cusp horoball viewer and many bug fixes!

- Version 1.2 (December 2010).

- Version 1.1 (February 2010).

- Version 1.0 (August 2009) Initial version.