220 release blog post

Author: knolleary

_posts/2022-01-27-version-2-2-released.md

@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+---
+layout: blog
+title: Version 2.2 released
+author: nick
+---
+
+Node-RED 2.2 is now available to [install](https://npmjs.org/package/node-red). If upgrading, please read the [upgrade instructions](http://nodered.org/docs/getting-started/upgrading.html).
+
+The [Change Log](https://github.com/node-red/node-red/blob/3a69af9034a6f3a59f35c17aa16e018807a38e93/CHANGELOG.md) has the full list of changes in this release, but here are the highlights.
+
+---
+
+<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vAS3gK2Wans" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
+
+---
+
+- [Highlights](#highlights)
+  - [Search History](#search-history)
+  - [Aligning nodes](#aligning-nodes)
+  - [Detaching nodes](#detaching-nodes)
+  - [Selecting multiple wires](#selecting-multiple-wires)
+  - [Slicing wires](#slicing-wires)
+  - [Subflow Output labels](#subflow-output-labels)
+  - [Predefined Environment Variables](#predefined-environment-variables)
+  - [Node Paths](#node-paths)
+- [Node Updates](#node-updates)
+- [What's next?](#whats-next)
+
+## Highlights
+
+
+### Search History
+
+The main search dialog now keeps a history of your searches. This makes it easy
+to repeatedly search for the same thing.
+
+![](/blog/content/images/2022/01/search-history.png)
+
+
+### Aligning nodes
+
+With snap-to-grid enabled, nodes with hidden labels (for example, link nodes) can
+now be aligned on either their left or right edge. This will make it easier to
+get everything to line up in the workspace
+
+![](/blog/content/images/2022/01/align-nodes.png)
+
+### Detaching nodes
+
+You can now delete a node from the middle of a flow and have the wiring automatically
+repair itself in the background.
+
+![](/blog/content/images/2022/01/delete-reconnect.gif)
+
+This is done by holding the Ctrl (or Cmd) key when you press delete.
+
+You can also detach a node from the flow *without* deleting it:
+
+![](/blog/content/images/2022/01/detach-node.gif)
+
+We haven't assigned a default shortcut for that, but you can assign one yourself
+in the Keyboard pane of the Settings dialog. The action is called `core:detach-selected-nodes`.
+
+### Selecting multiple wires
+
+You can also select multiple wires by ctrl-clicking on them.
+
+When you select multiple nodes, we also highlight any wires between them. This can make it easier to follow a flow once you have selected it.
+
+![](/blog/content/images/2022/01/select-wires.png)
+
+
+### Slicing wires
+
+We've added the ability to remove wires by slicing through them. You do this by holding the ctrl (or cmd) key, then dragging the mouse with the right-hand button pressed:
+
+![](/blog/content/images/2022/01/slice-wires.gif)
+
+### Subflow Output labels
+
+If you have set output labels for a subflow template (via the Appearance tab of its
+edit dialog), the editor will now display those labels whilst you are editing
+the subflow template.
+
+![](/blog/content/images/2022/01/subflow-labels.png)
+
+### Predefined Environment Variables
+
+We have added a number of predefined Environment Variables that provide access to
+information about the node, group and flow at the point they are evaluated.
+
+ - `NR_NODE_ID` - the ID of the node
+ - `NR_NODE_NAME` - the Name of the node
+ - `NR_NODE_PATH` - the Path of the node - this is a new concept that we'll explain below.
+ - `NR_GROUP_ID` - the ID of the containing group
+ - `NR_GROUP_NAME` - the Name of the containing group
+ - `NR_FLOW_ID` - the ID of the flow the node is on
+ - `NR_FLOW_NAME` - the Name of the flow the node is on
+
+The guide for using Environment Variables in your flow is available [here](https://nodered.org/docs/user-guide/environment-variables).
+
+For example, in a Function node, you can do:
+
+```
+const functionName = env.get("NR_NODE_NAME")
+const flowName = env.get("NR_FLOW_NAME")
+msg.payload = `I was sent by Function '${functionName}', on flow '${flowName}'`
+return msg
+```
+
+### Node Paths
+
+This is a new internal property of Nodes we've added that helps identify where
+exactly any node is within the overall flows.
+
+The following may sound a bit abstract, and it's something most users can skip over.
+But it can be useful when creating your own subflow modules with custom logging
+messages inside.
+
+If a `NodeA` is on `Flow1`, it will have a `path` of `Flow1/NodeA`.
+
+That isn't very interesting, but it gets more interesting when dealing with subflows
+and, in particular, nested subflows.
+
+When we create an instance of a subflow, all of the nodes in the subflow are given
+randonly generated ids. If that node logs an error, you see the generated ID, not the
+'true' id as appears in the editor. It gets harder when you have nested subflows
+because you need to be able to identify which instance of the node, in which instance
+of the subflow to go looking for.
+
+The `path` property can solve that by providing the ids of the top-level flow and
+each subflow instance to identify exactly where the node is.
+
+
+This property is exposed in the following ways:
+ - For node authors, it is available as `this._path` on the node object.
+ - Inside the Function node, it is exposed as `node.path`.
+ - It is also available as the environment variable `NR_NODE_PATH` when evaluated
+   by a node.
+
+
+## Node Updates
+
+ - The JSON node will now attempt to parse Buffer objects if they contain a valid string
+ - The TCP Client nodes support TLS connections
+ - The WebSocket client node now lets you specify a sub-protocol to connect with
+
+## What's next?
+
+Next on the [release plan](/about/releases/) is Node-RED 3.0, scheduled for the end of April.
+
+This coincides with Node.js 12 reaching its end of life.
+
+As ever, if there are any particular features you're interested in, now is a great time to jump into the [forum](https://discourse.nodered.org) to share your feedback.