🔖 release v1.4.1

## 1.4.1

* [FIX] harden encoder traversal to an iterative implementation to avoid recursion-based crashes on very deep nested input
* [FIX] harden decode merge path (`Utils.merge`) with iterative traversal to prevent `RecursionError` on deep conflicting merges
* [FIX] update `EncodeOptions.max_depth` semantics: `None` is unbounded by this option; explicit limits are enforced directly
* [FIX] preserve legacy map-merge key collision semantics for mixed key types (`'1'` vs `1`) in iterative merge
* [CHORE] optimize deep encode performance by replacing per-frame side-channel chain scans with O(1) ancestry cycle state lookups
* [CHORE] add deep stack-safety regressions (depth 12_000) and cycle-state compatibility tests
* [CHORE] update encoding depth documentation

Author: techouse

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-## 1.4.1-wip
+## 1.4.1
 
 * [FIX] harden encoder traversal to an iterative implementation to avoid recursion-based crashes on very deep nested input
 * [FIX] harden decode merge path (`Utils.merge`) with iterative traversal to prevent `RecursionError` on deep conflicting merges

src/qs_codec/__init__.py

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 """
 
 # Package version (PEP 440). Bump in lockstep with distribution metadata.
-__version__ = "1.4.0"
+__version__ = "1.4.1"
 
 # Public API surface re-exported at the package root.
 __all__ = [