Next version
The mythical next version of NetHack is also known as Net Hackem Forever. There is no information available to suggest when it will be released, other than "When it's ready."
Version number
Possibilities are 3.4.4, 3.5.0, 4.0.0, or something else.
3.4.4 seems unlikely, unless a major security hole is discovered, in which case it may be released with only the bugfixes marked "fixed" (lowercase f) on the NetHack bugs page.
An increase in major version number to 4.0.0 also seems unlikely, as the last major bump was 17 years ago, since when many, many major features have been added. Such an increase doesn't fit in with the DevTeam's observed pattern of extremely conservative behaviour.
"Something else" is a possibility, but again would be uncharacteristic.
This leaves 3.5.0 as the likely next version number.
New features
Only one new feature is known for certain: an upcoming version will implement a #tip command.
News of this feature was leaked in July 2003 by Pat Rankin in this RGRN post:
This capability has already been implemented for NetHack version $(NEXT),
for some value of $(NEXT) greater than 3.4.2. (At present the command is
named #tip rather #dump, but that could conceivably change if your patch
actually makes an impact. It has handling for containers on the floor as
well as in inventory, for cursed bags of holding, bags of tricks, altars,
levitation, and for one or two other things you'll probably overlook. ;-)
Its primary purpose is to provide a means of getting things out of
containers when your hands are stuck to weapons and/or shield, but it
will work at any time unless you're too heavily encumbered.
Rumors that Pat has since been executed by the other DevTeam members for this rare breach of secrecy are unconfirmed.
If the next version is a major release (i.e. not 3.4.4), it is very likely to break savefile compatibility, as every previous major release has done so. This can not be known for certain until the release date.
Careful perusal of the official CVS repository, particularly doc/buglist and the revision logs for various files gives some insight into the DevTeam's operation during what appears to be the development of 3.3.0. Some of the bugs and proposed features in the buglist have yet to appear in an official release.
Next version pool
In the Wikihack:Next version pool, you can guess the date on which the DevTeam will release the next version.
External links
- NetHack 3.4.3: Known bugs — What will be fixed in the next version
