HERD in NWBFile schema

core/nwb.file.yaml

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ groups:
   attributes:
   - name: nwb_version
     dtype: text
-    value: "2.9.0"
+    value: "2.10.0-alpha"
     doc: File version string. Use semantic versioning, e.g. 1.2.1. This will be the
       name of the format with trailing major, minor and patch numbers.
   datasets:
@@ -268,6 +268,10 @@ groups:
         date made, injection location, volume, etc.
       quantity: '?'
     groups:
+    - name: external_resources
+      neurodata_type_inc: HERD
+      doc: This is the HERD structure for this specific NWBFile, storing the mapped external resources.
+      quantity: "?"
     - neurodata_type_inc: LabMetaData
       doc: Place-holder than can be extended so that lab-specific meta-data can be
         placed in /general.

core/nwb.namespace.yaml

@@ -57,4 +57,4 @@ namespaces:
   - doc: This source module contains neurodata_type for retinotopy data.
     source: nwb.retinotopy.yaml
     title: Retinotopy
-  version: "2.9.0"
+  version: "2.10.0-alpha"

docs/format/source/conf.py

@@ -83,9 +83,9 @@ def setup(app):
 # built documents.
 #
 # The short X.Y version.
-version = '2.9.0'
+version = '2.10.0'
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
-release = '2.9.0'
+release = '2.10.0-alpha'
 
 # The language for content autogenerated by Sphinx. Refer to documentation
 # for a list of supported languages.

docs/format/source/format_release_notes.rst

@@ -3,21 +3,28 @@
 Release Notes
 =============
 
+2.10.0 (Upcoming)
+---------------------
+
+Major changes
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+- Added support for an optional ``HERD`` object at ``/general/external_resources``.
+
 2.9.0 (June 26, 2025)
 ---------------------
 
 Major changes
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
-- Deprecated ``Device.model_number``, ``Device.model_name``, ``Device.manufacturer``. Use 
-  ``Device.model`` link and new ``DeviceModel`` neurodata type instead. The old ``Device.model_name`` 
+- Deprecated ``Device.model_number``, ``Device.model_name``, ``Device.manufacturer``. Use
+  ``Device.model`` link and new ``DeviceModel`` neurodata type instead. The old ``Device.model_name``
   corresponds to the new ``DeviceModel.name``. (#608)
 - Added ``DeviceModel`` neurodata type to represent the model of a device instead of a specific instance of a device.
   This deduplicates information when a session involves multiple instances of the same device model, and it helps
   combine data across sessions and experiments when the model is the same.
   See https://github.com/NeurodataWithoutBorders/nwb-schema/issues/607 for details. (#608)
-- Added ``BaseImage`` and ``ExternalImage`` as new neurodata types. The first so both ``Image`` and ``ExternalImage`` 
+- Added ``BaseImage`` and ``ExternalImage`` as new neurodata types. The first so both ``Image`` and ``ExternalImage``
   can inherit from it. The second to store external images (#604, #623, #627)
-- Changed ``NWBFile.electrodes`` from a generic ``DynamicTable`` with added columns to a new ``ElectrodesTable`` 
+- Changed ``NWBFile.electrodes`` from a generic ``DynamicTable`` with added columns to a new ``ElectrodesTable``
   neurodata type that extends ``DynamicTable`` with added columns. (#539, #624)
 - Changed ``DecompositionSeries.bands`` from a generic ``DynamicTable`` with added columns to a new ``FrequencyBandsTable``
   neurodata type that extends ``DynamicTable`` with added columns. (#610)