~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Introduced the ``--json-output`` option to the `pio test <https://docs.platformio.org/en/latest/core/userguide/cmd_test.html>`__ command, enabling users to generate test results in the JSON format
* Upgraded the build engine to the latest version of SCons (4.7.0) to improve build performance, reliability, and compatibility with other tools and systems (`release notes <https://github.com/SCons/scons/releases/tag/4.7.0>`__)
* Broadened version support for the ``pyelftools`` dependency, enabling compatibility with lower versions and facilitating integration with a wider range of third-party tools (`issue 4834 <https://github.com/platformio/platformio-core/issues/4834>`_)
* Addressed an issue where passing a relative path (``--project-dir``) to the `pio project init <https://docs.platformio.org/en/latest/core/userguide/project/cmd_init.html>`__ command resulted in an error (`issue #4847 <https://github.com/platformio/platformio-core/issues/4847>`_)
* Enhanced |STATICCODEANALYSIS| to accommodate scenarios where custom ``src_dir`` or ``include_dir`` are located outside the project folder (`pull 4874 <https://github.com/platformio/platformio-core/pull/4874>`_)
* Corrected the validation of ``symlink://`` `package specifications <https://docs.platformio.org/en/latest/core/userguide/pkg/cmd_install.html#local-folder>`__ , resolving an issue that caused the package manager to repeatedly reinstall dependencies (`pull 4870 <https://github.com/platformio/platformio-core/pull/4870>`_)
* Resolved an issue related to the relative package path in the `pio pkg publish <https://docs.platformio.org/en/latest/core/userguide/pkg/cmd_publish.html>`__ command
* Resolved an issue where the |LDF| selected an incorrect library version (`issue 4860 <https://github.com/platformio/platformio-core/issues/4860>`_)
* Resolved an issue with the ``hexlify`` filter in the `device monitor <https://docs.platformio.org/en/latest/core/userguide/device/cmd_monitor.html>`__ command, ensuring proper representation of characters with Unicode code points higher than 127 (`issue #4732 <https://github.com/platformio/platformio-core/issues/4732>`_)