[docs] Adding release notes for the 5.1 major release

Author: mickhawkins

data/versions.json

@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@
                     "name": "5.1.0",
                     "releaseDate": "6 October 2025",
                     "version": 2025100600,
-                    "upgradePath": "https://docs.moodle.org/501/en/Upgrading",
-                    "releaseNoteUrl": false
+                    "upgradePath": "https://docs.moodle.org/501/en/Upgrading"
                 }
             ]
         },

general/releases.md

@@ -90,6 +90,17 @@ Minor releases dates differ slightly from release to release depending on the ti
 
 :::
 
+## Moodle 5.1
+
+<ReleaseTable releaseName="5.1" />
+
+:::info
+
+Bug fixes for general core bugs in 5.1.x will end 5 October 2026 (12 months).<br/>
+Bug fixes for security issues in 5.1.x will end April 2027 (18 months).
+
+:::
+
 ## Moodle 5.0
 
 <ReleaseTable releaseName="5.0" />

general/releases/5.1.md

@@ -13,15 +13,21 @@ import { ReleaseNoteIntro } from '@site/src/components/ReleaseInformation';
 <ReleaseNoteIntro releaseName={frontMatter.moodleVersion} />
 
 :::warning Important 5.1 upgrade notice
-The directory structure of Moodle files has changed in 5.1.
-A new **"public"** folder has been introduced to contain all web accessible files.
-Configuration and other sensitive files are now stored outside this folder for better security.
+After upgrading to Moodle 5.1, some administrators may find that their site no longer loads correctly and instead shows directory listings or error messages.
+
+This usually occurs because Moodle 5.1 introduces a new **"/public"** directory. Your web server now needs to be configured so that its document root points to this /public directory, rather than the main Moodle folder.
+
+Moodle 5.1 also includes a new **Routing Engine**, which improves how requests are handled and enables cleaner URLs. While routing is strongly recommended, **it is not compulsory**. A compatibility layer is included to maintain backwards compatibility.
+
+**Important note about plugins:**
+
+After the upgrade, plugins previously installed will still be in their original locations above the /public folder. To have them function correctly, they will need to be manually moved into the appropriate location within the /public directory.
+
+For detailed instructions and configuration examples, please refer to our [upgrading guide](https://docs.moodle.org/501/en/Upgrading#Code_directories_restructure) for configuring your webserver, and our [routing page](https://docs.moodle.org/501/en/Configuring_the_Router). These pages contain all of the information about these topics.
 
-You will need to reconfigure your web server to accommodate this change as part of the upgrade process.
-Please review the configuration information, see [Code Restructure - Moodle Developer Resources](/docs/5.1/guides/restructure) prior to beginning the upgrade process 5.1.
 :::
 
-If you are upgrading from a previous version, please see [Upgrading](https://docs.moodle.org/en/Upgrading) in the user docs.
+If you are upgrading from a previous version, please see [Upgrading](https://docs.moodle.org/501/en/Upgrading) in the user docs.
 
 ## Server requirements
 
@@ -84,3 +90,210 @@ Mobile:
 - Google Chrome
 
 For the best experience and optimum security, we recommend that you keep your browser up to date.
+
+## Major features
+
+### Directory restructure
+
+- [MDL-83424](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83424) - Restructure Moodle code directories
+- [MDL-85816](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85816) - Throw errors when wwwroot ends in /public
+
+### AI new features and improvements
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-85738](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85738) - Add user access controls at course and activity level
+- [MDL-83147](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83147) - Improve error messages in placements
+- [MDL-84345](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-84345) - New provider plugin - Deepseek
+- [MDL-84779](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-84779) - Recall action settings when changing models
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+### Activity chooser user experience improvements
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-85654](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85654) - Replace the activity chooser categories with purpose categories
+- [MDL-85598](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85598) - Add related activities to the activity chooser categories
+- [MDL-85597](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85597) - Change the way an activity is selected in the activity chooser
+- [MDL-86036](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-86036) - Add gradable information to the activity chooser panel
+- [MDL-85651](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85651) - Add a details panel to the activity chooser information
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+### New centralised course overview page
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-84641](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-84641) - Use human date format in all due date overview items
+- [MDL-86133](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-86133) - Standardise alignment in course activities overview page
+- [MDL-86020](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-86020) - Add "View" action button for Individual wikis in Activities overview page
+- [MDL-84762](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-84762) - Unify and improve activity overview buttons styles
+- [MDL-83900](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83900) - Migrate wiki activity index to course overview integration
+- [MDL-83899](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83899) - Migrate SCORM activity index to course overview integration
+- [MDL-83898](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83898) - Migrate quiz activity index to course overview integration
+- [MDL-83896](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83896) - Migrate lesson activity index to course overview integration
+- [MDL-83895](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83895) - Migrate H5P activity index to course overview integration
+- [MDL-83894](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83894) - Migrate glossary activity index to course overview integration
+- [MDL-83893](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83893) - Migrate forum activity index to course overview integration
+- [MDL-83891](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83891) - Migrate database activity index to course overview integration
+- [MDL-83890](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83890) - Migrate choice index to course overview integration
+- [MDL-83889](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83889) - Migrate BigBlueButton index to course overview integration
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+### TinyMCE text editor
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-85726](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85726) - TinyMCE Premium on-premise: Add HTTP API support (Premium on-premise plugin processing)
+- [MDL-85727](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85727) - TinyMCE Premium on-premise: Add single complete zip file support (on-premise editor)
+- [MDL-82943](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-82943) - Image & Media adding - styling uplift
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+### Report builder
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-86066](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-86066) - Allow report builder schedule types to be easily extended
+- [MDL-85120](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85120) - Allow for selection of time when filtering report date ranges
+- [MDL-85462](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85462) - User report entity filter for "Never accessed"
+- [MDL-84792](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-84792) - Course category report filter on course count
+- [MDL-85707](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85707) - Custom report source for forum discussions
+- [MDL-85706](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85706) - Custom report source for site messages
+- [MDL-86142](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-86142) - Course URL available in report builder
+- [MDL-85996](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85996) - Add default "Any value" state to report category filter
+- [MDL-85399](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85399) - Addition of hourly recurrence option in report builder schedules
+- [MDL-85344](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85344) - Report source groups add filter component
+- [MDL-85286](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85286) - Filter on schedule listing tab for enabled/disabled state
+- [MDL-85196](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85196) - Custom report filter by badge language
+- [MDL-82381](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-82381) - Allow group filtering in Activity completion report even when course group mode is not set
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+### Assignment
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-71749](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-71749) - Allow dragging and resizing of grading and PDF panels in the assignment grader
+- [MDL-85153](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85153) - Provide direct link to grading page(s) from gradebook for the assignment module
+- [MDL-84965](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-84965) - Modernise the HTML in assignment messages
+- [MDL-80056](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-80056) - Remove bulk options that don't make sense when no submission types are set
+- [MDL-86308](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-86308) - Log download of feedback files in assignment
+- [MDL-85162](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85162) - Support sorting by Identifier column
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+### Usability improvements
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-79918](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-79918) - Improve the "Hidden sections" setting so it is easier to understand
+- [MDL-83985](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83985) - Increase activity name field length to allow for multi-language content
+- [MDL-76022](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-76022) - Allow the choice of a group when manually enrolling a user
+- [MDL-84399](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-84399) - Search function in NextCloud repository
+- [MDL-71147](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-71147) - Manual enrolment should be able to set a start date
+- [MDL-85777](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85777) - Improve messaging experience for users who do not have permission to reply
+- [MDL-85497](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85497) - Add a confirmation prompt before resetting the dashboard to default
+- [MDL-84781](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-84781) - Single activity format: Sort activity types by name
+- [MDL-83519](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-83519) - Implement a basic URL shortener and add short URLs to assignment SMS notifications
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+## Other Highlights
+
+### Functional changes
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-85520](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85520) - Configurable numerical username prefix in communication providers
+- [MDL-85003](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85003) - Add more information in course request notification email
+- [MDL-85378](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85378) - Add option to export badge recipients list
+- [MDL-86210](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-86210) - Add permalink to the activity dropdown menu
+- [MDL-85772](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85772) - Configurable maximum file size default for announcement forums
+- [MDL-85660](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85660) - Disable Social course format by default
+- [MDL-85433](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85433) - Support Site menu activities block in Single Activity format
+- [MDL-84634](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-84634) - Course welcome message for manual enrolments - Course Start Date placeholder
+- [MDL-80556](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-80556) - Simplify the blocks by removing Section links
+- [MDL-80283](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-80283) - Display of resource of type URL should not be in a wide page, but in standard width, when not "Open", "In pop-up", or "Embed"
+- [MDL-84954](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-84954) - Add colours to activity icons in the Upcoming events and Timeline block
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+### For administrators
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-85518](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85518) - Admin search improvements: Improved results listing order
+- [MDL-78437](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-78437) - Extend Clean up ad-hoc task metadata logging and run it more frequently
+- [MDL-86065](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-86065) - Create mechanism for defining and re-using shared custom field categories
+- [MDL-86023](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-86023) - Task failures should always log a stack trace
+- [MDL-85392](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85392) - Site main menu block: Enable custom title and add course support
+- [MDL-85263](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85263) - CLI: show actual command in process name
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+### Performance
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-85846](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85846) - Make AJAX call for VideoJS cacheable
+- [MDL-77593](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-77593) - Improve performance of adding or removing members to communication room
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+## Security improvements
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-65027](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-65027) - Add CAPTCHA to forgot_password.php page
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+## For developers
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-79319](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-79319) - Theme layouts should inherit from parent theme
+- [MDL-85825](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85825) - Allow header elements to use hideIf()
+- [MDL-84948](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-84948) - Require language strings for plugin types be defined
+- [MDL-84071](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-84071) - Replace YUI with native JavaScript in gradebook single view report
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+### Web service additions and updates
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-86215](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-86215) - Create a web service to log course_module_instance_list_viewed
+- [MDL-85937](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85937) - Add a web service to log course overview viewed for the mobile app
+- [MDL-85509](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85509) - Add a web service to get the activity overview information for the mobile app
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+### Deprecations
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [MDL-31071](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-31071) - Deprecate file_encode_url function
+- [MDL-80455](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-80455) - Remove render_badge_collection() and render_badge_recipients()
+- [MDL-80327](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-80327) - Remove deprecated class callbacks from mod_quiz
+- [MDL-78375](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-78375) - Final deprecation of device related theme functions
+- [MDL-78091](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-78091) - Moodle 5.1 quiz final deprecations
+- [MDL-76612](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-76612) - Additional Moodle 5.1 quiz final deprecations
+- [MDL-77307](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-77307) - Final deprecation grader report and grade functions deprecated in Moodle 4.2 or earlier
+- [MDL-85284](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85284) - Deprecate course/changenumsections.php
+- [MDL-84291](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-84291) - Deprecate course max sections setting
+- [MDL-85436](https://moodle.atlassian.net/browse/MDL-85436) - Deprecate unused pix icons
+<!-- cspell:enable -->
+
+### Component API updates
+<!-- cspell:disable -->
+- [core](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/lib/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_admin](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/admin/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_ai](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/ai/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_auth](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/auth/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_badges](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/badges/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_block](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/blocks/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_comment](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/comment/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_course](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/course/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_courseformat](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/course/format/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_customfield](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/customfield/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_grades](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/grade/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_message](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/message/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_question](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/question/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_reportbuilder](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/reportbuilder/UPGRADING.md)
+- [core_user](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/user/UPGRADING.md)
+- [block_site_main_menu](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/blocks/site_main_menu/UPGRADING.md)
+- [format_social](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/course/format/social/UPGRADING.md)
+- [format_topics](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/course/format/topics/UPGRADING.md)
+- [format_weeks](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/course/format/weeks/UPGRADING.md)
+- [gradereport_grader](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/grade/report/grader/UPGRADING.md)
+- [gradereport_singleview](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/grade/report/singleview/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_assign](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/assign/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_bigbluebuttonbn](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/bigbluebuttonbn/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_book](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/book/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_choice](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/choice/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_data](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/data/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_feedback](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/feedback/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_folder](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/folder/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_forum](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/forum/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_glossary](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/glossary/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_h5pactivity](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/h5pactivity/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_imscp](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/imscp/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_label](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/label/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_lesson](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/lesson/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_page](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/page/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_qbank](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/qbank/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_quiz](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/quiz/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_resource](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/resource/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_scorm](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/scorm/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_url](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/url/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_wiki](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/wiki/UPGRADING.md)
+- [mod_workshop](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/mod/workshop/UPGRADING.md)
+- [qtype_multichoice](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/question/type/multichoice/UPGRADING.md)
+- [report_progress](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/report/progress/UPGRADING.md)
+- [theme](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/theme/UPGRADING.md)
+- [theme_boost](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/theme/boost/UPGRADING.md)
+- [tiny_premium](https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/v5.1.0/public/lib/editor/tiny/plugins/premium/UPGRADING.md)
+<!-- cspell:enable -->