Release Notes for JMRI 5.17.4 release
Date: MM DD, 2026
From: Release Pumpkin
Subject: Test Release 5.17.4 of JMRI/DecoderPro is available for download.
This is a draft release note only; the download links do not yet work
Notes:
This is a test release. Please
post a note
if you encounter any new or old bugs!
And please back up your JMRI files before installing this, in case you want to go
back to an earlier version.
This is the next in a series of 5.17.* test releases.
It requires at least Java 11 to work.
We recommend that you use Java 21 if possible.
(See our page on downloading Java)
We expect this series to result in the next JMRI production release in December 2026.
(See the tentative release schedule)
Some of the changes involved are quite extensive.
They may require a certain amount of experience before they are working well.
Therefore, this test release should be considered experimental.
We would appreciate your feedback on it.
JMRI is now only available under the
GNU General Public License. For more information, please
see our
copyright and licensing page.
Update From Older JMRI Versions
If you are currently using a version older than JMRI 5.0, please follow these instructions carefully:
- Is your current version older than JMRI 4.12?
If so, then update to JMRI 4.12 first, and ensure everything works correctly: check
start-up, check things you need to be working, and check the JMRI log as well) before doing anything else.
Store your configuration and panel files under a new name and use those from now on.
Then continue with step 2.
If you are currently using JMRI 4.7.3 or earlier on Linux or macOS (Windows doesn't need this),
then it's very important
that you update to JMRI 4.12 and
carrying out the migration process described in the JMRI 4.12 release note
before updating to any later release.
- Is your current version older than JMRI 4.20?
Then update to JMRI 4.20 first, and ensure that works correctly (check
start-up, check things you need to be working, and check the JMRI log as well) before doing anything else.
Save your preferences again.
Store your configuration and panel files under a new name, use those from now on, and go on to step 3.
- Is your current version older than JMRI 4.24?
Then update to JMRI 4.24 first, and ensure that works correctly (check
start-up, check things you need to be working, and check the JMRI log as well) before doing anything else.
Save your preferences again.
Store your configuration and panel files under a new name and use those from now on.
- Is your current version older than JMRI 5.0?
Then update to JMRI 5.0 first, and ensure that works correctly (check
start-up, check things you need to be working, and check the JMRI log as well) before doing anything else.
Save your preferences again.
Store your configuration and panel files under a new name and use those from now on.
- You can then install this release.
Following this multi-step order of updating via stable major releases safeguards you against possible migration issues
that can arise from skipping these versions.
New problems with this release
New warnings for this release:
- This version has an updated Windows launcher, which might
cause Windows to emit some security warnings until it's
been used enough times that Windows calms down.
-
Older warnings
See the
JMRI 5.16 release note
for more warnings predating the 5.17 development series,
including pointers to various migration issues.
These may be relevant to you if you're updating from an earlier version;
we strongly recommend you update to at least
JMRI 5.0
before installing this test release.
See
instructions above.
- Since JMRI 4.99.1
If you're using a Firefox web browser and opening JMRI
help files locally (not over the web), a Firefox bug
can sometimes cause it to enter a loop. There's a
workaround in
this JMRIusers post.
Download links:
During development leading to the actual release, you can find test download files on the
continuous integration build page.
These are development files, and might not be working at any particular time.
The
full list of included changes is available from our
GitHub code repository.
Hardware Support
Acela CTI
Anyma DMX512
Bachrus Speedo
CBUS
C/MRI
DCC++ and DCC-EX
DCC4pc
Direct
ESU
Hornby
Internal
IPOCSMR
JMRI Simple Server/JMRI Client
KPF-Zeller
Lenz XPressNet
LocoNet
Maple
Marklin CS2
MERG
MQTT
MRC
NCE
Oak Tree
- The "Make Sensor" and "Make Turnout" buttons in the configuration
panel used to require a non-empty description field to put a
user name on the Sensor/Turnout they'd create. Absent that, they
wouldn't appear. A description is no longer required; if one
is not present, the Sensor or Turnout will be created without
a user name.
Powerline
RFID
Raspberry PI
Roco z21/Z21
Secsi
SPROG
SRCP
TAMS
TMCC
Uhlenbrock Intellibox
Zimo
ZTC
New / Updated decoder definitions
AE Model
Arnold
Bachmann
BLI
BNM Hobbies
CT Elektronik
DCC Concepts
Digikeijs (Digirails)
Digitrax
Doehler & Haas
ESU
Hattoms
Hornby
Kuehn
LaisDCC
Lenz
MD Electronics
MGP
Mistral Train Models
MTH
MRC
NCE
Norsk Modelljernbane (NJM)
Piko decoders
Public Domain and DIY decoders
QSI
Rampino Elektronic
Rautenhaus
RR-CirKits
SoundTraxx
Tam Valley Depot
TAMS
TCS
Team Digital
Technologistic (train-O-matic)
Trix Modelleisenbahn
Uhlenbrock
Umelec
Viessmann
Wangrow
ZIMO
Miscellaneous
Control Panel Editor
Circuit Builder
Palette
CTC Tool
DecoderPro
Dispatcher
Dispatcher System
Internationalization
Layout Editor
- The default border for Memory Input Icons has been set to "no border" so that
users can configure whatever border they want. Previously, there was
always a "shadow line" border placed with the user-specified border.
- The popup menu for Memory Input Icons now lets you set the number of
columns that the GUI will display. Note that the fixed width
interacts with selection: If you select a wider fixed width,
blank areas will display on either side.
NX - Entry/Exit Tool
LccPro
Logix
LogixNG
Meters and MeterFrames
OperationsPro
Panel Editor
Permissions
Preferences
Resources
Roster
Routes
Scripting
Signals
Signal Systems
Signal Heads
Signal Masts
Signal Groups
Cab Signals
Simple Signal Logic
USS CTC Logic
Switchboard Editor
Throttle
Timetable
Tracker
Turnouts, Lights, Sensors and other elements
Warrants
Web Access
Web Server
- Some improvements to how the Memory Input icons are handled on panels:
- The padding on the end of the icon now agrees with what's
on the parent JMRI panel.
- The drop shadow on the web has been dropped to
make the appearance agree with the parent JMRI panel.
- The default border now agrees with the border on the
parent JMRI panel.
Where Used
WiThrottle Server
Virtual Sound Decoder
Z21 Server
Miscellaneous
- The "noverify" option has been removed from the JMRI program
launchers so that JMRI can use Java 27 and later.
