Release version 1.8.1

[lorenzwalthert]

Closes #1044.
Prepare for release:

• devtools::check_win_devel()
• Polish NEWS
• add tidy thanks.
• If new failures, update email.yml then revdepcheck::revdep_email_maintainers()
• update cran-comments.md
• run urlchecker::url_check("path/to/pkg")

Perform release:

• Create RC branch (for bigger releases)
• Bump version (in DESCRIPTION and NEWS)
• devtools::submit_cran()
• Approve email

Wait for CRAN...

• Tag release
• [] Merge RC back to master branch
• Bump dev version
• update CRAN speed change monitor PR.We have a new CRAN release coming up 🥳 See NEWS.md for new features.

[codecov-commenter]

Codecov Report

Merging #1053 (76d2358) into main (bf6524d) will not change coverage.
The diff coverage is n/a.

❗ Current head 76d2358 differs from pull request most recent head c2e0d9a. Consider uploading reports for the commit c2e0d9a to get more accurate results

@@           Coverage Diff           @@
##             main    #1053   +/-   ##
=======================================
  Coverage   91.05%   91.05%           
=======================================
  Files          46       46           
  Lines        2682     2682           
=======================================
  Hits         2442     2442           
  Misses        240      240           

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[github-actions]

This is how benchmark results would change (along with a 95% confidence interval in relative change) if 8b2b6e6 is merged into main:

•   :ballot_box_with_check:cache_applying: 26.5ms -> 26.6ms [-0.51%, +1.33%]
•   :ballot_box_with_check:cache_recording: 821ms -> 822ms [-0.58%, +0.65%]
•   :ballot_box_with_check:without_cache: 2.07s -> 2.07s [-0.45%, +0.4%]

Further explanation regarding interpretation and methodology can be found in the documentation.

[lorenzwalthert]

@IndrajeetPatil all checks green. Are we good to go?

[IndrajeetPatil]

LGTM for submission, @lorenzwalthert! Thanks.

[lorenzwalthert]

Submitted. Let's see.