Changes in version 1.0.0 (2026-04-28)                  

The definitive, original implementation of stochastic metafrontier
analysis for R is officially stable.

After rigorous development, extensive methodological testing, and
refinement for CRAN submission, smfa v1.0.0 provides a robust,
production-ready environment for productivity and performance
benchmarking across firms operating under different technologies. This
release establishes the standard for stochastic metafrontier analysis in
the R ecosystem.

Initial CRAN release

  - First public release of smfa.
  - Implements stochastic metafrontier analysis for productivity and
    performance benchmarking across firms operating under different
    technologies.
  - Supports three group-frontier types via 'sfaR':
      - Standard SFA (sfacross)
      - Latent class SFA (sfalcmcross)
      - Sample-selection-corrected SFA (sfaselectioncross)
  - Three metafrontier estimation methods:
      - Linear programming (LP) deterministic envelope
      - Quadratic programming (QP) deterministic envelope
      - Second-stage stochastic frontier (Huang et al. 2014; O'Donnell
        et al. 2008)
  - Full efficiency outputs via efficiencies(): group TE (JLMS and BC),
    metafrontier TE, and metatechnology ratios (MTR).
  - Five vignettes illustrating each major use case.