Release 4.2.0

[PatelUtkarsh]

Summary

Prepares the 4.2.0 release off develop. Version bumped in stream.php, Plugin::VERSION, and readme.txt Stable tag; changelog Unreleased promoted to 4.2.0 with notable items added.

Highlights since 4.1.2

New Features

• Expose Stream abilities via the WordPress MCP Adapter (XWPENG-13, Register Stream operations as WordPress Abilities #1859).

Bug Fixes

• Migrate auto-purge to Action Scheduler with batched deletion to fix unbounded stream / stream_meta growth (XWPENG-28, Migrate auto-purge to Action Scheduler with batched deletion #1882).
• Terminal orphan reaper at the end of every auto-purge chain.
• Skip Action Scheduler "is running?" probes on front-end pageloads: settings field definitions no longer issue AS queries on every pageview (Two as_has_scheduled_action() queries on every pageload (front-end included) #1884, Skip async deletion AS query outside admin #1885).

Enhancements

• Clean Orphaned Meta link under Settings → Advanced.
• Recurring Action Scheduler action replaces the legacy wp_stream_auto_purge WP-Cron event; run history visible under Tools → Scheduled Actions.
• Small-table fast path via wp_stream_is_large_records_table filter.

Development

• HTTPS in local dev env via mkcert + Apache SSL vhost.
• Playwright E2E job added to CI; specs hardened.
• Node.js v24, jQuery v4, dev deps migrated from WPackagist to WP Packages.
• Wide dependency refresh (composer, phpunit, playwright, wp scripts, axios, etc.).

Pre-merge checklist

• CI green on this branch (lint + PHPUnit single + multisite + Playwright E2E).
• npm run build produces clean build/ output.
• Update changelog date from TBD → final release date before tagging v4.2.0.
• Cut v4.2.0-rc.1 as a GitHub pre-release targeting release/v4.2.0 and verify WP.org dry-run + ZIP asset.
• Smoke-test the RC ZIP on a clean WP install (single + multisite).

Release flow (per contributing.md)

1. Merge this PR into develop (or skip the PR — branch alone is enough to cut RCs).
2. Cut pre-release v4.2.0-rc.N from release/v4.2.0; fix issues on this branch and repeat.
3. When ready, cut release v4.2.0 from this branch.
4. Merge release/v4.2.0 → master, then master → develop.

Notes

• readme.txt previously had 4.1.2 - February 19, 2026; preserved as-is.
• Changelog date is TBD pending the actual release day.
• Skip async deletion AS query outside admin #1885 was merged into develop after this branch was first cut and has been merged forward via 7614437d + a8fcd0ec.