Executive Summary:
SARAH’s upgrade is faster, more reliable, and easier to use. Replies are about 35 % quicker, a persistent Menu 📋 button keeps controls handy, and media downloads over HTTP/2 are smoother. The stack now runs python-telegram-bot 22.1 with encrypted persistence, strict type checking, and automated CI. End users see fewer errors and tone-aware replies. Developers get a modern, maintainable codebase ready for future growth.

SARAH Changelog

[Unreleased]

1 · End-User Highlights

  • Smarter and faster replies: topic detection, sentiment cues, improved caching.
  • More empathetic tone: wording adapts to user mood in real time.
  • Persistent menu: change language, switch modes, or get help without commands.
  • Quicker media: /image and GIF replies use HTTP/2.
  • Fewer hiccups: async backups and rate-limit rollback reduce “Try again later” errors.
  • Safer groups: spoofed names blocked, stored data passes stricter static analysis.
  • Faster first response: preload key packages to save about 15 %.
  • Reliable GIFs: bad links are skipped or retried automatically.
  • Interactive menus v2: multi-level inline keyboards for onboarding and admin tools.

2 · Developer Highlights

  • Built-in sentiment and theme engines with background processing that avoids event-loop blocking.
  • Repo reorg: flatter structure, absolute imports, clearer config and persistence layers.
  • PTB 22.1 features: HTTP/2 client, permanent menu button, topic-aware messages.
  • Unified encrypted persistence with automatic fallback when SQLite encryption is unavailable.
  • Improved app state: dynamic adapter, clean mypy run on Python 3.12+.
  • Optimised LLM pipeline with concurrency controls and safe rate-limit rollback.
  • Metrics batching: in-memory accumulator flushes periodically and on shutdown.
  • Entity helpers: underline, spoiler, mention, safe splitting, and concatenation utilities.
  • Task scheduler: APScheduler wrapper with SQLite job store.
  • Pre-commit shield: Ruff, Black, MyPy, Bandit chain; autofix locally, check-only in CI.
  • Granular typing: per-package strictness, tests whitelisted, pydantic stubs enabled.
  • CI/CD hardening: refined GitHub Actions, Python 3.12+, tuned cache.
  • Import map patch: legacy import shim keeps backward compatibility.
  • Coverage roadmap: targeting a lift from 62 % to 90 % on critical modules.

3 · Technical Log (condensed)

Added

  • Sentiment and theme analysis with async processing and similarity scoring.
  • Metrics flush loop with graceful shutdown hook.
  • Blueprint for persistent reply keyboard and command menu button.
  • Rewritten config and lint setups for consistency.
  • Markdown entity utilities for safe text formatting.
  • HTTP/2 client wrapper with proxy support.
  • Scheduler helper with cron and interval registration.
  • Dynamic persistence adapter with static typing.
  • Developer scripts and integration tests for lifespan, webhook, limiter rollback, and GIF handling.
  • SQLite init script that bootstraps encryption.

Changed

  • User input sanitation now off-loads HTML cleaning to a background thread.
  • Response pipeline combines theme and sentiment scoring with adaptive thresholds.
  • Thread safety improved by moving shared locks to async variants.
  • Caching unified on TTL caches with live reload.
  • Rate-limit guards roll back on failure to free quotas.
  • CI workflows target only supported Python versions and enforce final lint hook order.

Fixed

  • Multiple warnings and errors eliminated across sanitisation, lint, typing, HTTP clients, cache resets, and workflow syntax.

Removed

  • Legacy artefacts, obsolete utilities, and unused scaffolding.

4 · Potential Monetisation Pathways

Exploratory, subject to change.

Horizon Ideas
Short-term Telegram Stars, freemium limits, single-month premium
Mid-term Credit packs, premium modes, paid media, group premium
Long-term Enterprise tier, automatic boosts, referrals, ad share