Release notes for 4.5.0

Author: aaltat

docs/PythonLibCore-4.5.0.rst

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+# Python Library Core 4.5.0
+
+
+`Python Library Core`_ is a generic component making it easier to create
+bigger `Robot Framework`_ test libraries. Python Library Core 4.5.0 is
+a new release with to refactor internal structure and bug fix to avoid
+maximum recursion depth exceeded error on getattr.
+
+All issues targeted for Python Library Core v4.5.0 can be found
+from the `issue tracker`_.
+
+If you have pip_ installed, just run
+
+::
+
+   pip install --upgrade robotframework-pythonlibcore
+
+to install the latest available release or use
+
+::
+
+   pip install pip install robotframework-pythonlibcore==4.5.0
+
+to install exactly this version. Alternatively you can download the source
+distribution from PyPI_ and install it manually.
+
+Python Library Core 4.5.0 was released on Friday January 16, 2026.
+It support Python versions 3.10+ and Robot Framework versions 6.1 and newer.
+
+.. _PythonLibCore: https://github.com/robotframework/PythonLibCore
+.. _Robot Framework: http://robotframework.org
+.. _pip: http://pip-installer.org
+.. _PyPI: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/robotframework-robotlibcore
+.. _issue tracker: https://github.com/robotframework/PythonLibCore/issues?q=milestone%3Av4.5.0
+
+
+## Most important enhancements
+
+Maximum Recursion Depth Exceeded on getattr ([#158](https://github.com/robotframework/PythonLibCore/issues/158))
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+If one attempts to get any attribute on a child class of HybridCore or DynamicCore before the initializer is called
+(so the attributes object has yet to be initialized) the custom getattr implementation on the class causes an
+infinite recursion. getattr is called on the attribute of the class then HybridCore attempts to evaluate if name
+in self.attributes: but attributes is undef because since attributes is undef, python calls getattr on self.attributes
+then HybridCore attempts to evaluate if name in self.attributes: but attributes is undef and so on.
+
+HybridCore should fall back to the standard implementation of getattr if self.attributes is undefined which would avoid this issue.
+
+Many thanks to Joe Rendleman for reporting this issue and providing a PR with a fix.
+
+robotlibcore.py placed right into root of site-packages/  ([#149](https://github.com/robotframework/PythonLibCore/issues/149))
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+To improve compatibility with various tools and IDEs, robotlibcore.py is now in own folder and package is refactored
+logical modules. This change should be transparent to end users as the package structure is unchanged.
+
+many thanks to Jani Mikkonen to reporting this issue and providing a PR with a fix.
+
+## Full list of fixes and enhancements
+
+| ID | Type | Priority | Summary |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| [#158](https://github.com/robotframework/PythonLibCore/issues/158) | bug | high | Maximum Recursion Depth Exceeded on getattr |
+| [#149](https://github.com/robotframework/PythonLibCore/issues/149) | enhancement | high | robotlibcore.py placed right into root of site-packages/  |
+
+Altogether 2 issues. View on the [issue tracker](https://github.com/robotframework/PythonLibCore/issues?q=milestone%3Av4.5.0).