Version bump for 2.19.0 Release.

Centralize release version in root VERSION file.

VERSION

@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.18.3
+2.19.0

changelog.rst

@@ -1,6 +1,20 @@
 ZoiteChat ChangeLog
 =================
 
+2.19.0 (2026-07-28)
+-------------------
+
+- Added Python 3.8 compatibility for older Windows releases.
+- Added on-demand SASL password prompts, including renewed prompts after reconnecting.
+- Corrected NickServ authentication to use the decrypted password for the active network.
+- Made system theme matching the default and polished GTK3 theme integration.
+- Applied more settings changes immediately, reducing the need to restart ZoiteChat.
+- Added descriptive tooltips to the color picker choices and refined default text-event colors.
+- Stabilized channel tree font handling across palette and theme updates.
+- Corrected the chat scrollbar increment used by its arrow buttons.
+- Improved Windows URL launching through the native shell.
+- Restored expected minimize behavior when clicking ZoiteChat on the Windows taskbar.
+
 2.18.3 (2026-06-29)
 -------------------
 

data/misc/net.zoite.Zoitechat.appdata.xml.in

@@ -29,6 +29,22 @@
     <id>zoitechat.desktop</id>
   </provides>
 <releases>
+<release date="2026-07-28" version="2.19.0">
+  <description>
+    <ul>
+      <li>Added Python 3.8 compatibility for older Windows releases.</li>
+      <li>Added on-demand SASL password prompts, including renewed prompts after reconnecting.</li>
+      <li>Corrected NickServ authentication to use the decrypted password for the active network.</li>
+      <li>Made system theme matching the default and polished GTK3 theme integration.</li>
+      <li>Applied more settings changes immediately, reducing the need to restart ZoiteChat.</li>
+      <li>Added descriptive tooltips to the color picker choices and refined default text-event colors.</li>
+      <li>Stabilized channel tree font handling across palette and theme updates.</li>
+      <li>Corrected the chat scrollbar increment used by its arrow buttons.</li>
+      <li>Improved Windows URL launching through the native shell.</li>
+      <li>Restored expected minimize behavior when clicking ZoiteChat on the Windows taskbar.</li>
+    </ul>
+  </description>
+</release>
 <release date="2026-06-29" version="2.18.3">
   <description>
     <ul>