v0.98.4 (2nd re-release) Code style overhaul and bugfixes

This version features code style improvements which hopefully lay the base for further developments.
Some minor bugs were fixed, and the documentation has been worked on.

This second (and hopefully last) re-release of v0.98.4 only includes improvements to the deployment process. It is functionally identical with the withdrawn previous release.

Thx to all contributors!