release: prepare ExcelAlchemy 2.2.5

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -107,6 +107,13 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           uv run pytest --cov=excelalchemy --cov-report=term-missing:skip-covered --cov-report=xml:coverage.xml --junitxml=pytest.xml tests
 
+      - name: Run smoke scripts
+        if: matrix.python-version == '3.14'
+        run: |
+          uv run python scripts/smoke_package.py
+          uv run python scripts/smoke_examples.py
+          uv run python scripts/generate_example_output_assets.py
+
       - name: Upload coverage artifact
         if: always() && matrix.python-version == '3.14'
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7

.github/workflows/python-publish.yml

@@ -58,13 +58,17 @@ jobs:
           uv pip install --python .pkg-smoke-wheel/bin/python dist/*.whl
           .pkg-smoke-wheel/bin/python -c "import excelalchemy; print(excelalchemy.__version__)"
           .pkg-smoke-wheel/bin/python scripts/smoke_package.py
+          .pkg-smoke-wheel/bin/python scripts/smoke_examples.py
+          .pkg-smoke-wheel/bin/python scripts/generate_example_output_assets.py
 
       - name: Smoke test source distribution installation
         run: |
           uv venv .pkg-smoke-sdist --python 3.14
           uv pip install --python .pkg-smoke-sdist/bin/python dist/*.tar.gz
           .pkg-smoke-sdist/bin/python -c "import excelalchemy; print(excelalchemy.__version__)"
           .pkg-smoke-sdist/bin/python scripts/smoke_package.py
+          .pkg-smoke-sdist/bin/python scripts/smoke_examples.py
+          .pkg-smoke-sdist/bin/python scripts/generate_example_output_assets.py
 
       - name: Set artifact metadata
         id: artifact-meta

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -4,7 +4,83 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 The format is inspired by Keep a Changelog and versioned according to PEP 440.
 
-## [2.2.3] - Unreleased
+## [2.2.5] - 2026-04-04
+
+This release continues the stable 2.x line with error UX polish, clearer
+documentation boundaries, stronger examples and smoke coverage, and continued
+typing cleanup across the runtime path.
+
+### Added
+
+- Added `CellErrorMap` and `RowIssueMap` as richer workbook-facing error access
+  containers while preserving 2.x dict-like compatibility
+- Added `docs/getting-started.md` to give new users one clear entry point for
+  installation, schema declaration, workflow setup, and backend configuration
+- Added `docs/examples-showcase.md` and example-output assets so examples can
+  be browsed as a lightweight showcase instead of only as source code
+- Added more business-oriented examples, including employee import,
+  create-or-update import, export workflow, selection-heavy forms, and
+  date/range field workflows
+- Added stronger smoke scripts and release checks for installed packages,
+  repository examples, and generated example-output assets
+
+### Changed
+
+- Polished error UX so row and cell issues are easier to inspect through
+  dedicated result-map helpers such as `at(...)`, `messages_at(...)`,
+  `messages_for_row(...)`, and `flatten()`
+- Unified exception boundaries around `ProgrammaticError`, `ConfigError`,
+  `ExcelCellError`, and `ExcelRowError`, including structured `to_dict()`
+  output and clearer equality semantics
+- Normalized common validation messages into more natural, workbook-facing
+  English such as `This field is required`
+- Clarified `FieldMetaInfo` as a compatibility facade over layered metadata
+  objects and moved more internal consumers and codecs onto `declared`,
+  `runtime`, `presentation`, and `constraints`
+- Continued shrinking typing gray areas outside `metadata.py` and
+  `helper/pydantic.py` by removing or consolidating low-value `cast(...)`
+  usage where concrete runtime behavior was already clear
+- Strengthened documentation boundaries by cross-linking getting-started,
+  public API, migrations, examples, showcase, and PyPI-facing README content
+- Expanded `examples/README.md` into a recommended reading order with expected
+  outputs and captured example artifacts
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Restored explicit `ProgrammaticError` handling for unsupported
+  `Annotated[..., Field(...), ExcelMeta(...)]` declarations that use native
+  Python types instead of `ExcelFieldCodec` subclasses
+- Tightened codec resolution in the Pydantic adapter so unsupported
+  declarations fail at the codec resolution boundary instead of being treated
+  as valid runtime metadata
+- Added regression coverage for the unsupported-annotation path and for error
+  message quality in the Pydantic adapter
+
+### Compatibility Notes
+
+- No public import or export workflow API was removed in this release
+- Valid `ExcelFieldCodec` and `CompositeExcelFieldCodec` declarations continue
+  to work unchanged
+- Unsupported native annotations with `ExcelMeta(...)` now fail early with the
+  intended `ProgrammaticError`
+- `storage=...` remains the recommended 2.x backend configuration path, while
+  legacy built-in Minio fields continue to exist only as compatibility surface
+- `FieldMeta(...)` and `ExcelMeta(...)` remain the stable public metadata entry
+  points while internal metadata continues to consolidate behind them
+
+### Release Summary
+
+- import failures are easier to inspect and present through richer error maps
+- validation messages are more consistent, more natural, and better suited for
+  workbook feedback
+- examples now read more like real integration guides and are protected by
+  direct smoke coverage
+- getting-started, public API, migrations, examples, and showcase docs now
+  form a clearer documentation path
+- runtime typing boundaries are a little tighter without sacrificing
+  readability or 2.x compatibility
+
+## [2.2.3] - Unpublished draft history
 
 This release continues the stable 2.x line with a focused validation fix in
 the Pydantic adapter layer.
@@ -94,7 +170,7 @@ clearer public API guidance, and better release-time smoke coverage.
 - release publishing now includes stronger smoke coverage for installed
   packages
 
-## [2.2.1] - Unreleased
+## [2.2.1] - 2026-04-03
 
 This release continues the stable 2.x line with deeper metadata layering,
 stronger internal immutability, and tighter type boundaries around the

MIGRATIONS.md

@@ -29,6 +29,16 @@ If your application is still pinned to Pydantic v1, upgrade that dependency befo
 - Storage is now modeled as the `ExcelStorage` protocol
 - The built-in Minio backend is still available, but as an optional extra
 
+### The 2.x recommendation in one sentence
+
+For all new 2.x application code, prefer:
+
+```python
+storage=...
+```
+
+Treat the older built-in Minio fields as compatibility-only API surface.
+
 ### New install patterns
 
 Base install:
@@ -59,7 +69,14 @@ config = ExporterConfig.for_storage(
 
 ### Legacy compatibility
 
-The older `minio=..., bucket_name=..., url_expires=...` configuration style is still accepted for compatibility, but it is no longer the preferred shape of the API and now emits a deprecation warning in the 2.x line.
+The older `minio=..., bucket_name=..., url_expires=...` configuration style is
+still accepted for compatibility, but:
+
+- it is not the recommended 2.x path
+- it emits a deprecation warning
+- it should be treated as a migration bridge rather than a long-term API choice
+
+If you are writing new code in the 2.x line, use `storage=...` instead.
 
 ### Recommended importer constructors
 
@@ -84,6 +101,15 @@ config = ImporterConfig.for_create_or_update(
 )
 ```
 
+### Examples and docs
+
+If you want concrete examples of the recommended 2.x API shape, see:
+
+- [`docs/getting-started.md`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/getting-started.md)
+- [`docs/public-api.md`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/public-api.md)
+- [`examples/README.md`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/examples/README.md)
+- [`docs/examples-showcase.md`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/examples-showcase.md)
+
 ## pandas
 
 - ExcelAlchemy no longer uses or installs `pandas` at runtime

README-pypi.md

@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ ExcelAlchemy turns Pydantic models into typed workbook contracts:
 - render workbook-facing output in `zh-CN` or `en`
 - keep storage pluggable through `ExcelStorage`
 
-[GitHub Repository](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy) · [Full README](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/README.md) · [Architecture](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/architecture.md) · [Migration Notes](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/MIGRATIONS.md)
+The current stable release is `2.2.5`, which continues the 2.x line with richer import-failure feedback, clearer documentation entry points, stronger examples, and stronger smoke coverage.
+
+[GitHub Repository](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy) · [Full README](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/README.md) · [Getting Started](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/getting-started.md) · [Examples Showcase](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/examples-showcase.md) · [Architecture](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/architecture.md) · [Migration Notes](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/MIGRATIONS.md)
 
 ## Screenshots
 
@@ -75,6 +77,45 @@ alchemy = ExcelAlchemy(ImporterConfig(Importer, locale='en'))
 template = alchemy.download_template_artifact(filename='people-template.xlsx')
 ```
 
+## Example Outputs
+
+These fixed outputs are generated from the repository examples by
+[`scripts/generate_example_output_assets.py`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/scripts/generate_example_output_assets.py).
+
+Import workflow:
+
+```text
+Employee import workflow completed
+Result: SUCCESS
+Success rows: 1
+Failed rows: 0
+Result workbook URL: None
+Created rows: 1
+Uploaded artifacts: []
+```
+
+Export workflow:
+
+```text
+Export workflow completed
+Artifact filename: employees-export.xlsx
+Artifact bytes: 6893
+Upload URL: memory://employees-export-upload.xlsx
+Uploaded objects: ['employees-export-upload.xlsx']
+```
+
+Full captured outputs:
+
+- [employee-import-workflow.txt](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/employee-import-workflow.txt)
+- [create-or-update-import.txt](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/create-or-update-import.txt)
+- [export-workflow.txt](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/export-workflow.txt)
+- [date-and-range-fields.txt](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/date-and-range-fields.txt)
+- [selection-fields.txt](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/selection-fields.txt)
+
+For a single GitHub page that combines screenshots, representative workflows,
+and captured outputs, see the
+[Examples Showcase](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/examples-showcase.md).
+
 ## Why ExcelAlchemy
 
 - Pydantic v2-based schema extraction and validation

README.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 ![Lint](https://img.shields.io/badge/lint-ruff-D7FF64)
 ![Typing](https://img.shields.io/badge/typing-pyright-2C6BED)
 
-[中文 README](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/README_cn.md) · [About](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/ABOUT.md) · [Architecture](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/architecture.md) · [Public API](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/public-api.md) · [Locale Policy](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/locale.md) · [Changelog](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md) · [Migration Notes](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/MIGRATIONS.md)
+[中文 README](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/README_cn.md) · [About](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/ABOUT.md) · [Getting Started](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/getting-started.md) · [Architecture](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/architecture.md) · [Examples Showcase](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/examples-showcase.md) · [Public API](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/public-api.md) · [Locale Policy](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/locale.md) · [Changelog](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md) · [Migration Notes](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/MIGRATIONS.md)
 
 ExcelAlchemy is a schema-driven Python library for Excel import and export workflows.
 It turns Pydantic models into typed workbook contracts: generate templates, validate uploads, map failures back to rows
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ This repository is also a design artifact.
 It documents a series of deliberate engineering choices: `src/` layout, Pydantic v2 migration, pandas removal,
 pluggable storage, `uv`-based workflows, and locale-aware workbook output.
 
-The current stable release is `2.2.0`, which continues the ExcelAlchemy 2.x line with a lighter import facade, clearer config ergonomics, and a more explicit protocol-first storage story.
+The current stable release is `2.2.5`, which continues the ExcelAlchemy 2.x line with richer import-failure feedback, clearer getting-started and public-API guidance, stronger real-world examples, and stronger release smoke coverage.
 
 ## At a Glance
 
@@ -191,6 +191,47 @@ Practical examples live in the repository:
 If you want the recommended reading order, start with
 [`examples/README.md`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/examples/README.md).
 
+If you want a single page that combines screenshots, representative workflows,
+and captured outputs, see
+[`docs/examples-showcase.md`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/examples-showcase.md).
+
+Selected fixed outputs from the examples are generated by
+[`scripts/generate_example_output_assets.py`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/scripts/generate_example_output_assets.py).
+
+### Example Outputs
+
+Import workflow output:
+
+```text
+Employee import workflow completed
+Result: SUCCESS
+Success rows: 1
+Failed rows: 0
+Result workbook URL: None
+Created rows: 1
+Uploaded artifacts: []
+```
+
+Export workflow output:
+
+```text
+Export workflow completed
+Artifact filename: employees-export.xlsx
+Artifact bytes: 6893
+Upload URL: memory://employees-export-upload.xlsx
+Uploaded objects: ['employees-export-upload.xlsx']
+```
+
+Full captured outputs:
+
+- [`files/example-outputs/employee-import-workflow.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/employee-import-workflow.txt)
+- [`files/example-outputs/create-or-update-import.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/create-or-update-import.txt)
+- [`files/example-outputs/export-workflow.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/export-workflow.txt)
+- [`files/example-outputs/date-and-range-fields.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/date-and-range-fields.txt)
+- [`files/example-outputs/selection-fields.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/selection-fields.txt)
+- [`files/example-outputs/custom-storage.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/custom-storage.txt)
+- [`files/example-outputs/annotated-schema.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/annotated-schema.txt)
+
 ## Public API Boundaries
 
 If you want to know which modules are stable public entry points versus

README_cn.md

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 ExcelAlchemy 是一个面向 Excel 导入导出的 schema-first Python 库。
 它的核心思路不是“读写表格文件”，而是“把 Excel 当成一种带约束的业务契约”。
 
-当前稳定发布版本是 `2.2.0`，它在稳定的 ExcelAlchemy 2.x 线上继续推进了导入 facade 轻量化、更清晰的配置构造方式，以及更明确的 protocol-first storage 叙事。
+当前稳定发布版本是 `2.2.5`，它在稳定的 ExcelAlchemy 2.x 线上继续加强了导入失败反馈、更清晰的入门与 public API 文档、更贴近真实业务的示例，以及更强的 release smoke 验证。
 
 你用 Pydantic 模型定义结构，用 `FieldMeta` 定义 Excel 元数据，用显式的导入/导出流程去完成模板生成、数据校验、错误回写和后端集成。
 
@@ -120,6 +120,48 @@ pip install "ExcelAlchemy[minio]"
 如果你想按推荐顺序来阅读，建议先看
 [`examples/README.md`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/examples/README.md)。
 
+如果你想看一页汇总好的展示页，里面同时包含截图、代表性工作流和固定输出，
+可以直接看
+[`docs/examples-showcase.md`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/docs/examples-showcase.md)。
+
+这些固定输出素材由
+[`scripts/generate_example_output_assets.py`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/scripts/generate_example_output_assets.py)
+生成。
+
+### 示例输出
+
+导入工作流输出：
+
+```text
+Employee import workflow completed
+Result: SUCCESS
+Success rows: 1
+Failed rows: 0
+Result workbook URL: None
+Created rows: 1
+Uploaded artifacts: []
+```
+
+导出工作流输出：
+
+```text
+Export workflow completed
+Artifact filename: employees-export.xlsx
+Artifact bytes: 6893
+Upload URL: memory://employees-export-upload.xlsx
+Uploaded objects: ['employees-export-upload.xlsx']
+```
+
+完整输出：
+
+- [`files/example-outputs/employee-import-workflow.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/employee-import-workflow.txt)
+- [`files/example-outputs/create-or-update-import.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/create-or-update-import.txt)
+- [`files/example-outputs/export-workflow.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/export-workflow.txt)
+- [`files/example-outputs/date-and-range-fields.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/date-and-range-fields.txt)
+- [`files/example-outputs/selection-fields.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/selection-fields.txt)
+- [`files/example-outputs/custom-storage.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/custom-storage.txt)
+- [`files/example-outputs/annotated-schema.txt`](https://github.com/RayCarterLab/ExcelAlchemy/blob/main/files/example-outputs/annotated-schema.txt)
+
 ## 快速开始
 
 ```python