DO NOT MERGE: Preflight against c2pa-rs main

.github/workflows/test-c2pa-rs-source-build.yml

@@ -123,7 +123,10 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: c2pa-python
         env:
           C2PA_PREFLIGHT_RUN: "1"
-        run: python ./tests/test_unit_tests.py
+          C2PA_RS_PATH: ${{ github.workspace }}/c2pa-rs
+        run: |
+          python ./tests/test_unit_tests.py
+          python ./tests/test_unit_tests_threaded.py
 
   tests-windows:
     name: Unit tests (Windows, ${{ matrix.runs-on }})
@@ -205,4 +208,8 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: c2pa-python
         env:
           C2PA_PREFLIGHT_RUN: "1"
-        run: python .\tests\test_unit_tests.py
+          C2PA_RS_PATH: ${{ github.workspace }}\c2pa-rs
+        run: |
+          python .\tests\test_unit_tests.py
+          if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit $LASTEXITCODE }
+          python .\tests\test_unit_tests_threaded.py

c2pa-rs-preflight-ref.txt

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+main

docs/context-settings.md

@@ -10,15 +10,15 @@ The `Context` class encapsulates configuration for:
 - **Signer configuration**: Optional signer credentials stored in the `Context` for reuse.
 - **State isolation**: Each `Context` is independent, allowing different configurations to coexist in the same application.
 
-`Context` replaces the deprecated global `load_settings()` function with explicit, isolated configuration:
+`Context` replaces the removed thread-local `load_settings()` function with explicit, isolated configuration:
 
 - **Makes dependencies explicit**: Configuration is passed directly to `Reader` and `Builder`, not hidden in global state.
 - **Enables multiple configurations**: Run different configurations simultaneously (for example, one for development with test certificates, another for production with strict validation).
 - **Eliminates global state**: Each `Reader` and `Builder` gets its configuration from the `Context` you pass, avoiding subtle bugs from shared state.
 - **Simplifies testing**: Create isolated configurations for tests without worrying about cleanup or interference.
 
 > [!NOTE]
-> The deprecated `load_settings()` function still works for backward compatibility, but you are encouraged to migrate your code to use `Context`. See [Migrating from load_settings](#migrating-from-load_settings).
+> c2pa-rs 0.92 no longer supports thread-local settings, and `load_settings()` has been removed from these bindings. See [Migrating from load_settings](#migrating-from-load_settings).
 
 ## Quick start
 
@@ -754,15 +754,15 @@ assert isinstance(ctx, ContextProvider)  # True
 
 ## Migrating from load_settings
 
-The `load_settings()` function is deprecated. Replace it with `Settings` and `Context` APIs:
+The `load_settings()` function has been removed. Replace it with `Settings` and `Context` APIs, passing the context to every operation that needs the configuration:
 
 | Aspect | `load_settings` (legacy) | `Context` |
 |--------|--------------------------|-----------|
 | Scope | Global state | Per Reader/Builder, passed explicitly |
 | Multiple configs | Not supported | One context per configuration |
 | Testing | Shared global state | Isolated contexts per test |
 
-**Deprecated:**
+**Old approach (no longer supported):**
 
 ```py
 from c2pa import load_settings, Reader
@@ -774,10 +774,11 @@ reader = Reader("image.jpg")  # uses global settings
 **Current approach:**
 
 ```py
-from c2pa import Settings, Context, Reader
+from c2pa import Context, Reader
 
-ctx = Context.from_dict({"builder": {"thumbnail": {"enabled": False}}})
-reader = Reader("image.jpg", context=ctx)
+with Context.from_dict({"builder": {"thumbnail": {"enabled": False}}}) as ctx:
+    with Reader("image.jpg", context=ctx) as reader:
+        print(reader.json())
 ```
 
 ## See also

docs/intents.md

@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ You can set the intent on a `Builder` instance by:
 - [Using Context](#using-context)
 - [Using `set_intent` on the `Builder`](#using-set_intent-on-the-builder)
 
-Don't set the intent using the deprecated `load_settings()` function. For existing code, see [Context and settings - Migrating from load_settings](context-settings.md#migrating-from-load_settings).
+The thread-local `load_settings()` function has been removed. For existing code, see [Context and settings - Migrating from load_settings](context-settings.md#migrating-from-load_settings).
 
 ### Using Context
 
@@ -114,11 +114,7 @@ flowchart TD
     Check --> |No| CheckCtx{Was a Context with
     builder.intent provided?}
     CheckCtx --> |Yes| UseCtx["Use Context intent"]
-    CheckCtx --> |No| CheckGlobal{Was load_settings called
-    with builder.intent?}
-    CheckGlobal --> |Yes| UseGlobal["Use global intent
-    (deprecated)"]
-    CheckGlobal --> |No| NoIntent["No intent set.
+    CheckCtx --> |No| NoIntent["No intent set.
     Caller must define actions
     manually in manifest JSON."]
 ```
@@ -173,8 +169,7 @@ The `Builder` intent controls what the `Builder` does with the source stream (so
 ```mermaid
 flowchart TD
     Intent["Intent
-    (via Context, set_intent,
-    or load_settings)"] --> Q{Intent type?}
+    (via Context or set_intent)"] --> Q{Intent type?}
     Q --> |CREATE| CreateFlow["No parent allowed
     Source stream is new content"]
     Q --> |EDIT or UPDATE| EditFlow{Was a parentOf ingredient

docs/release-notes.md

@@ -1,5 +1,26 @@
 # Release notes
 
+## Unreleased: c2pa-rs 0.92 preflight (DO NOT MERGE)
+
+This branch tests the upcoming native SDK, not a published Python release.
+The normal native release pin is unchanged.
+
+### Breaking changes
+
+Removed `load_settings()`: c2pa-rs 0.92 removes thread-local settings.
+Create a `Context` with `Settings` (or `Context.from_dict` / `from_json`)
+and pass it explicitly to every `Reader` and `Builder` that needs that
+configuration. Constructors without a context continue to use SDK defaults.
+See [Migrating from load_settings](context-settings.md#migrating-from-load_settings).
+
+Reader and Builder constructors now use the current context-based C APIs.
+Native strings, manifests, and signatures are released through `c2pa_free`.
+`format_embeddable()` retains its `(size, bytes)` result using a temporary
+default-context builder. For custom settings or format-specific builder state,
+use `Builder.compose_manifest(format, manifest_bytes)` on a live builder.
+Signing closes the builder, so use a separate builder for composition after
+`sign()`.
+
 ## Version 0.33.0
 
 ### Breaking changes

docs/usage.md

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ manifest_json = json.dumps({
 
 ## Settings, Context, and ContextProvider
 
-The `Settings` and `Context` classes provide per-instance configuration for `Reader` and `Builder` operations, replacing the global `load_settings()` function, which is now deprecated.
+The `Settings` and `Context` classes provide per-instance configuration for `Reader` and `Builder` operations, replacing the removed thread-local `load_settings()` function.
 
 See [Context and settings](context-settings.md) for details.
 
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ The built-in `Context` class is the standard `ContextProvider` implementation. C
 
 ### Migrating from load_settings
 
-The `load_settings()` function is deprecated. Replace it with `Settings` and `Context`. See [Migrating from load_settings](context-settings.md#migrating-from-load_settings) for details.
+The `load_settings()` function has been removed for c2pa-rs 0.92 compatibility. Replace it with `Settings` and `Context`. See [Migrating from load_settings](context-settings.md#migrating-from-load_settings) for details.
 
 ## File-based operation
 

src/c2pa/__init__.py

@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@
     Context,
     ContextBuilder,
     ContextProvider,
-    sdk_version,
-    load_settings
+    sdk_version
 )  # NOQA
 
 # Re-export C2paError and its subclasses
@@ -50,6 +49,5 @@
     'Context',
     'ContextBuilder',
     'ContextProvider',
-    'sdk_version',
-    'load_settings'
+    'sdk_version'
 ]