🚀 Efficiency Improvement

• [python-package] do not copy column-major numpy arrays when predicting @jmoralez (#6751)
• [python-package] do not copy column-major numpy arrays when creating Dataset @jmoralez (#6721)

🐛 Bug Fixes

• [python-package] Separately check whether pyarrow and cffi are installed @mlondschien (#6785)
• [c++] Fixed Predictor lifecycle and trees initialization in Contrib mode @AndreyOrb (#6778)
• [python-package] Infer feature names from pyarrow.Table @mlondschien (#6781)
• [python-package] Fix inconsistency in predict() output shape for 1-tree models @RektPunk (#6753)
• [fix] resolve potential attack in linker connection building @shiyu1994 (#6752)
• [R-package] Avoid bashisms (non-POSIX code) in R-package/configure @smoser (#6746)
• [c++] fix parallel_tree_learner_split_info @moming39 (#6738)
• [c++] Fix dump_model() information for root node @neNasko1 (#6569)
• [cmake] [R-package] include R-for-macOS vendored libs dir in OpenMP search path (fixes #6628) @jameslamb (#6629)
• [R-package] only warn about early stopping and DART boosting being incompatible if early stopping was requested @serkor1 (#6619)
• [cmake] fixes static build for macos with OpenMP enabled (fixes #6601) @Mottl (#6600)

📖 Documentation

• [docs] update installation guide @StrikerRUS (#6696)
• [docs] add note about pyodide support @jameslamb (#6715)
• [docs] Remove only cpu note due to gpu support for linear trees @JAroyan (#6686)
• [docs] fix inaccurate comment for force_col_wise param with CUDA version @StrikerRUS (#6695)
• [docs] group logically external projects in README and add some new libraries @StrikerRUS (#6691)
• [docs] use consistent naming for R-package and Python-package across the repo @StrikerRUS (#6655)
• [docs] add supertree in README @pplonski (#6625)
• [docs] unify language and make small improvements in some param descriptions @StrikerRUS (#6618)
• [doc] Updates Rust bindings library link in README.md @Mottl (#6611)
• [R-package] [docs] update cran-comments for v4.5.0 release @jameslamb (#6578)
• [docs] add conda version badge @StrikerRUS (#6576)

🧰 Maintenance

• release v4.6.0 @jameslamb (#6796)
• [c++] update to fmt 11.1.2, fast_double_parser 0.8.0 @jameslamb (#6802)
• [ci] fix valgrind workflow @jameslamb (#6816)
• [ci] validate pyproject file by json schema @StrikerRUS (#6813)
• [ci] [python-package] update pre-commit hooks to latest versions @jameslamb (#6817)
• [ci]: Bump release-drafter/release-drafter from 6.0.0 to 6.1.0 in the ci-dependencies group @dependabot[bot] (#6810)
• [ci] fix errors about line length in yaml files (Part 4) @StrikerRUS (#6804)
• [ci] remove pandas before testing that LightGBM can be imported without extra deps @StrikerRUS (#6801)
• [ci] fix errors about comments indentation in yaml files (Part 3) @StrikerRUS (#6794)
• [ci] fix errors about indentation in yaml files (Part 2) @StrikerRUS (#6789)
• [ci] [python-package] build macOS x86_64 wheels on macOS 13 (Ventura) @jameslamb (#6669)
• [ci] add yaml files linter to pre-commit hook but skip some rules for now (Part 1) @StrikerRUS (#6763)
• [ci] lock inactive issues and PRs at different time @StrikerRUS (#6764)
• [ci][python-package] add testing for the shape of raw score predictions @StrikerRUS (#6765)
• [ci] pin more dependencies in Python 3.8 environment @jameslamb (#6771)
• [CUDA] remove src/treelearner/kernels @shiyu1994 (#6766)
• [python-package] stop relying on string concatenation / splitting for cv() eval results @jameslamb (#6761)
• [ci] Add Release Drafter workflow @StrikerRUS (#6754)
• [python-package] Rename cvfolds variable into cvbooster in engine.cv function @ClaudioSalvatoreArcidiacono (#6762)
• [python-package] simplify eval result printing @jameslamb (#6749)
• [ci] fix linkchecker job @jameslamb (#6757)
• [ci] remove Docker volumes during Azure cleanup @StrikerRUS (#6760)
• [ci] use Ruff linter instead of isort @StrikerRUS (#6755)
• [ci] set upper bound on dask @jmoralez (#6742)
• [c++] include wherever uint8_t is used @jameslamb (#6736)
• [python-package] simplify scikit-learn 1.6+ tags support @jameslamb (#6735)
• [ci] Introduce typos pre-commit hook @borchero (#6564)
• [ci] [python-package] [R-package] adapt to scikit-learn check_sample_weight_equivalence changes, stop testing against R 3.6 on Linux @jameslamb (#6733)
• [python-package][R-package] adapt to scikit-learn 1.6 testing changes, pin more packages in R 3.6 CI jobs @jameslamb (#6718)
• [ci] [R-package] re-enable 'rchk' checks @jameslamb (#6713)
• [ci] check PowerShell scripts with PSScriptAnalyzer (part 3) @StrikerRUS (#6710)
• [ci] check JavaScript code with biome tool @StrikerRUS (#6711)
• [ci] check PowerShell scripts with PSScriptAnalyzer (part 2) @StrikerRUS (#6709)
• [ci] check PowerShell scripts with PSScriptAnalyzer (part 1) @StrikerRUS (#6704)
• [ci] [R-package] remove code for 'rchk' checks @jameslamb (#6545)
• [ci] Fix version matching between RTD pages and R-package pages @StrikerRUS (#6673)
• [python-package] remove MSVS solution files from sdist @jameslamb (#6698)
• [ci] set MinimumVisualStudioVersion to MSVS 2015 @StrikerRUS (#6689)
• [ci] fix build of LightGBM with MSVS GUI @StrikerRUS (#6690)
• [cmake] group sanitizer options together @StrikerRUS (#6688)
• [ci] add shellcheck, use latest pre-commit hook versions @jameslamb (#6685)
• [ci] fix some shellcheck warnings in package-building scripts @vnherdeiro (#6641)
• [python-package] deprecate support for H2O 'datatable' @jameslamb (#6670)
• [ci] enable OpenMP support in cpp tests @StrikerRUS (#6676)
• [python-package] ignore scikit-learn 'check_sample_weight_equivalence' estimator check (fixes #6678) @jameslamb (#6679)
• [ci] fix shellcheck warnings in CI scripts @vnherdeiro (#6646)
• [ci] Restore MPI jobs on macOS @StrikerRUS (#6664)
• [ci] Update CUDA versions for CI @StrikerRUS (#6539)
• [ci] replace uses of 'mamba' with 'conda', use Python 12 for test-python-latest-job @jameslamb (#6663)
• [cmake] simplify SWIG config @StrikerRUS (#6648)
• [ci] [R-package] re-enable R-devel clang16 job (fixes #6607) @jameslamb (#6642)
• [cmake] remove unused variable @StrikerRUS (#6647)
• [ci] [python-package] temporarily stop testing against scikit-learn nightlies, load lib_lightgbm earlier @jameslamb (#6654)
• [ci] prevent C API tests from leaving files behind (fixes #6361) @jameslamb (#6637)
• [python-package] limit when num_boost_round warnings are emitted (fixes #6324) @jameslamb (#6579)
• [ci] prevent Python tests from leaving behind files @vnherdeiro (#6626)
• fix some shellcheck warnings @vnherdeiro (#6621)
• [ci] fix linux runners running out of disk space (fixed #6635) @jameslamb (#6636)
• [python-package] remove setup.cfg @jameslamb (#6624)
• [cmake] consolidate set_target_properties() calls @jameslamb (#6594)
• [ci] prevent train.binary.bin and lgb_train_data.bin files being left behind after testing @bili2002 (#6606)
• [ci] update some linting versions @jameslamb (#6598)
• [ci] skip R-devel clang16 job and use gcc-12 for macOS Python jobs @jameslamb (#6608)
• [python-package] update to scikit-build-core 0.10 @jameslamb (#6597)
• [ci] restore nuget artifact creation @StrikerRUS (#6593)
• [R-package] [cmake] simplify CMake-based R builds @jameslamb (#6591)
• [cmake] stop using file(GLOB) @jameslamb (#6588)
• [ci] prevent categorical.model and model.txt files being left behind after testing @neNasko1 (#6590)
• [ci] Always use latest SWIG version in Windows CI job @StrikerRUS (#6541)
• [ci] place all CI helpers under the .ci folder and use - instead of _ in their names @StrikerRUS (#6581)
• [ci] fix MSVC warning about builds in temp directory @StrikerRUS (#6573)
• bump development version to 4.5.0.99 @jameslamb (#6575)
• [ci] ask pip to always install local artifact but not download package from PyPI @StrikerRUS (#6574)