---
title: "Release Notes"
description: "A running log of notable features and changes shipped to Beacon."
url: https://beacon-arodoni.vercel.app/release-notes
---

# Release Notes

## 2026-11-06

- Added a read-only REST API. Beacon now publishes every documentation page and
  the navigation as JSON files under `/api/v1/`, generated at build time, along
  with an OpenAPI description. See [REST API](https://beacon-arodoni.vercel.app/rest-api).

- Added generated API reference pages. Add an OpenAPI 3 file to `content/`, and
  Beacon builds a page for each endpoint with its parameters, responses, and
  code samples in cURL, JavaScript, and Python. See
  [Generate an API Reference](https://beacon-arodoni.vercel.app/openapi).

- Added a reference page for each [REST API](https://beacon-arodoni.vercel.app/rest-api) endpoint, listed in the
  sidebar by section with its HTTP method. Generated API reference endpoints now
  join a navigation group titled **API Reference** if your site has one. See
  [Generate an API Reference](https://beacon-arodoni.vercel.app/openapi#add-an-introduction-page).

- Added nested navigation items. Add a `children` array to an item in
  `content/nav.config.ts` to nest pages under it in the sidebar. See
  [Write Documentation Pages](https://beacon-arodoni.vercel.app/create-content#navigation).

## 2026-11-02

- Added Markdown mirrors. Beacon now publishes every documentation page as plain
  Markdown at the page URL plus `.md`, such as `/quickstart.md`, with
  `/index.md` for the home page. The mirrors convert components like
  `Callout` and `Steps` to standard Markdown and make links absolute.
  `/llms.txt` now links to the Markdown versions.

## 2026-10-15

- Added support for your own product logo. Add an image file named `logo` to
  the `content/` folder, such as `content/logo.svg`, to show it in the top bar
  in place of the Beacon logo. Add `content/logo-dark.*` to show a different
  logo in dark mode. See
  [Author Documentation Pages](https://beacon-arodoni.vercel.app/create-content#add-your-product-logo).

- Added `Image` and `Video` components for adding images and videos to documentation
  pages. Put the files in `content/media/` and insert them with
  `<Image src="..." alt="..." />` or `<Video src="..." title="..." />`, with an
  optional caption. Markdown image syntax works with `content/media/` files
  too. See [Authoring Components](https://beacon-arodoni.vercel.app/format#images-and-videos).

## 2026-10-14

- Added custom documentation variables. Define your own variables as names and string
  values in `content/variables.json`, and use them in pages the same way as the
  built-in `productName` and `projectName` variables. To show a variable name
  as literal text, put a backslash in front of it. See
  [Authoring Components](https://beacon-arodoni.vercel.app/format#add-your-own-variables).

- Added `Steps` and `Step` components (`src/components/docs/Steps.tsx`) for
  numbered procedures in documentation content. Each step shows a numbered badge, a
  title, and a connecting line to the next step, and numbers itself
  automatically. They're registered as global MDX components, so any `.mdx`
  file can use `<Steps>` and `<Step title="...">` without an import statement.
  See [Authoring Components](https://beacon-arodoni.vercel.app/format).

## 2026-10-13

- Added a `NEXT_PUBLIC_PRODUCT_NAME` environment variable for the name of the
  product your documentation describes. It sets the top bar, page titles, and the
  `productName` documentation variable, and falls back to `MyProduct` if unset. See
  [Deploy](https://beacon-arodoni.vercel.app/deploy).

- Added an `.env.example` file that lists the environment variables you can
  set. It doesn't include keys, secrets, or tokens.

## 2026-08-12

- Added the `Callout` component (`src/components/docs/Callout.tsx`) for note,
  tip, important, and warning admonitions in documentation content. It's registered as a
  global MDX component, so any `.mdx` file can use `<Callout
  type="warning">...</Callout>` directly without an import statement.

## 2026-08-05

- Added a GitHub webhook that triggers when a PR merges into `main` touching
  `content/docs/**/*.mdx` or `content/nav.config.ts`. It checks whether other
  documentation pages are now stale and writes suggestions to Vercel Blob storage for
  manual review. See [Check for Drift](https://beacon-arodoni.vercel.app/doc-updates) for details.