docs: add v3.38.0 release notes (#475)

Co-authored-by: Roo Code <roomote@roocode.com>

Author: hannesrudolph

docs/features/experimental/custom-tools.md

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ---
-description: Define TypeScript/JavaScript tools that extend Roo's capabilities beyond built-in tools, enabling project-specific workflows and team standardization.
+description: Define TypeScript/JavaScript tools that extend Roo's capabilities beyond built-in tools, with npm dependency support and per-tool environment variables.
 keywords:
   - experimental features
   - custom tools
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ keywords:
   - tool extension
   - defineCustomTool
   - workflow automation
+  - npm dependencies
+  - environment variables
 image: /img/social-share.jpg
 ---
 # Custom Tools
@@ -82,12 +84,95 @@ Tools from both directories are loaded. Tools with the same name in `.roo/tools/
 
 ---
 
+## Using npm Dependencies
+
+Custom tools can use npm packages. Install dependencies in the same folder as your tool, and imports will resolve normally.
+
+```bash
+# From your tool directory
+cd .roo/tools/
+npm init -y
+npm install axios lodash
+```
+
+Then import in your tool:
+
+```typescript
+import { parametersSchema as z, defineCustomTool } from "@roo-code/types"
+import axios from "axios"
+
+export default defineCustomTool({
+  name: "fetch_api",
+  description: "Fetch data from an API endpoint",
+  parameters: z.object({
+    url: z.string().describe("API endpoint URL"),
+  }),
+  async execute({ url }) {
+    const response = await axios.get(url)
+    return JSON.stringify(response.data, null, 2)
+  }
+})
+```
+
+---
+
+## Per-Tool Environment Variables
+
+Tools automatically load a `.env` file from the same folder. This lets you store API keys and secrets without hardcoding them.
+
+**Setup:**
+
+1. Create a `.env` file next to your tool:
+   ```
+   .roo/tools/
+   ├── my-tool.ts
+   ├── .env          # Loaded automatically
+   └── package.json
+   ```
+
+2. Add your secrets:
+   ```bash
+   # .roo/tools/.env
+   SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL=https://hooks.slack.com/services/XXX
+   API_SECRET=your-secret-key
+   ```
+
+3. Access them via `process.env`:
+   ```typescript
+   import { parametersSchema as z, defineCustomTool } from "@roo-code/types"
+
+   export default defineCustomTool({
+     name: "notify_slack",
+     description: "Send a notification to Slack",
+     parameters: z.object({
+       message: z.string().describe("Message to send"),
+     }),
+     async execute({ message }) {
+       const webhookUrl = process.env.SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL
+       if (!webhookUrl) {
+         return "Error: SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL not set in .env"
+       }
+       
+       const response = await fetch(webhookUrl, {
+         method: "POST",
+         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+         body: JSON.stringify({ text: message }),
+       })
+       
+       return response.ok ? "Message sent" : `Failed: ${response.status}`
+     }
+   })
+   ```
+
+**Security:** Ensure your `.env` file is ignored by version control to keep secrets safe.
+
+---
+
 ## Limits
 
 - **No approval prompts**: Tools are auto-approved when the feature is enabled—security trade-off for convenience
 - **String-only results**: Tools must return strings (Roo's protocol constraint)
 - **No interactive input**: Tools can't prompt the user mid-execution
-- **No npm packages**: Tools are transpiled in isolation; use Node.js built-ins only
 - **Cache invalidation**: Tool updates may require reloading the window
 
 **vs. MCP:** [MCP](/features/mcp/overview) is for external services (search, APIs). Custom tools are for in-repo logic you control directly. MCP is more extensible; custom tools are lighter weight for project-specific actions.

docs/features/slash-commands.mdx

@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ Please perform a thorough security review of the selected code:
 **Frontmatter Fields:**
 - **`description`**: Appears in the command menu to help users understand the command's purpose
 - **`argument-hint`**: (Optional) Provides a hint about expected arguments when using the command. See [Argument Hints](#argument-hints) for detailed information
+- **`mode`**: (Optional) Mode slug to switch to before running the command (e.g., `code`, `architect`). Roo switches to this mode first, then executes the command content in that mode's context
 
 ---
 
@@ -192,6 +193,25 @@ This will display as `/api-endpoint <endpoint-name> <http-method>` in the comman
 
 ## Examples and Use Cases
 
+**Mode-Targeting Commands**
+
+Use the `mode` field to ensure a command runs in a specific mode context:
+
+```yaml
+---
+description: Analyze architecture and propose improvements
+mode: architect
+---
+
+Review the current system architecture and suggest improvements for:
+- Scalability bottlenecks
+- Component coupling
+- Security boundaries
+- Data flow optimization
+```
+
+When you run this command, Roo switches to Architect mode first, then processes the command content with Architect's role definition and tool restrictions.
+
 **Development Workflows**
 
 **API Endpoint Generator**

docs/providers/openrouter.md

@@ -47,12 +47,6 @@ For the complete, up-to-date model list with pricing and capabilities, see [Open
 
 ---
 
-## Supported Transforms
-
-OpenRouter provides an [optional "middle-out" message transform](https://openrouter.ai/docs/features/message-transforms) to help with prompts that exceed the maximum context size of a model. You can enable it by checking the "Compress prompts and message chains to the context size" box.
-
----
-
 ## Tips and Notes
 
 * **Model Selection:** OpenRouter offers a wide range of models. Experiment to find the best one for your needs.

docs/update-notes/index.md

@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ If you want to live on the edge and try things out before it's released, we have
 
 ---
 
+### Version 3.38
+
+*   [3.38.0](/update-notes/v3.38.0) (2025-12-27)
+
+---
+
 ### Version 3.37
 
 *   [3.37](/update-notes/v3.37) (2025-12-22)

docs/update-notes/v3.38.0.mdx

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+---
+description: Adds Agent Skills, improves slash command behavior, and streamlines providers and file reading.
+keywords:
+  - roo code 3.38.0
+  - new features
+  - bug fixes
+image: /img/v3.38.0/v3.38.0.png
+---
+
+# Roo Code 3.38.0 Release Notes (2025-12-27)
+
+This release adds Agent Skills, improves slash command behavior, and streamlines providers and file reading.
+
+<img src="/img/v3.38.0/v3.38.0.png" alt="Roo Code v3.38.0 Release" width="600" />
+
+## Agent Skills
+
+Roo now supports Agent Skills, which are portable skill folders containing instructions, scripts, and resources that the agent can discover and load on demand. This lets you package repeatable workflows and domain knowledge once and reuse them across projects to make results more consistent and reliable. ([#10335](https://github.com/RooCodeInc/Roo-Code/pull/10335)):
+
+> **📚 Documentation**: See [Skills](/features/skills) for setup and usage.
+
+## QOL Improvements
+
+* Slash commands can declare a target mode in their front matter, so triggering a command can switch Roo to the right mode first ([#10344](https://github.com/RooCodeInc/Roo-Code/pull/10344)).
+* Removes the legacy “simple read file” tool path so file reading consistently uses the standard `read_file` tool ([#10254](https://github.com/RooCodeInc/Roo-Code/pull/10254)).
+
+## Bug Fixes
+
+* Fixes an issue where some Claude Sonnet 4.5 requests could fail with HTTP 400 errors after context condensing ([#10359](https://github.com/RooCodeInc/Roo-Code/pull/10359)).
+
+## Misc Improvements
+
+* Custom tools can import npm packages, and can load secrets from a same-folder `.env` file ([#10336](https://github.com/RooCodeInc/Roo-Code/pull/10336)).
+
+## Provider Updates
+
+* Removes the “OpenRouter Transforms” setting and stops sending the `transforms` parameter on OpenRouter requests ([#10341](https://github.com/RooCodeInc/Roo-Code/pull/10341)).

sidebars.ts

@@ -172,6 +172,13 @@ const sidebars: SidebarsConfig = {
           label: 'Extension Release Notes',
           items: [
             'update-notes/index',
+            {
+              type: 'category',
+              label: '3.38',
+              items: [
+                { type: 'doc', id: 'update-notes/v3.38.0', label: '3.38.0' },
+              ],
+            },
             {
               type: 'category',
               label: '3.37',