Update NEWS, site and attach dev 9000 indicator

Author: stefvanbuuren

DESCRIPTION

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Package: mice
 Type: Package
-Version: 3.17.3
+Version: 3.18.0.9000
 Title: Multivariate Imputation by Chained Equations
 Date: 2025-3-28
 Authors@R: c(person("Stef", "van Buuren", role = c("aut","cre"),

NEWS.md

@@ -1,17 +1,24 @@
-## New Feature: Parallel Imputation (Experimental)
-  - The `mice()` function now supports parallel execution of imputations via the new `parallel = TRUE` argument. When enabled, imputation chains are distributed across available CPU cores using the `future` and `future.apply` frameworks. Parallel imputation may significantly reduce runtime, especially for large datasets and many imputations (`m`).
-  - To activate parallel execution:
-
-```{r}
-library(future)
-plan(multisession)  # or multisession, multicore, cluster, etc.
-imp <- mice(data, m = 5, maxit = 5, parallel = TRUE)
+# mice 3.18.0.9000
+
+> **Experimental release**: Native support for parallel imputation.
+
+- The `mice()` function now supports parallel execution of imputations via the new `parallel = TRUE` argument. When enabled, instead of sequentially calculating `m` imputations at a given iteration, the `m` chains are distributed across available CPU cores using the `future` and `future.apply` frameworks. 
+- Parallel imputation may significantly reduce runtime, especially for large datasets and many imputations (`m`), but does not pay-off for small datasets or few imputations. 
+- Parallel execution is implemented only in the `mice()` function, and does not affect the `mice.impute.*()` functions.
+
+- To activate parallel execution:
+
+```
+library(mice)
+imp <- mice(data, parallel = TRUE)
 ```
 
-  - The default is `parallel = FALSE` for backward compatibility.
-	- A new parallel argument was added to `sampler()` for internal control.
-	-	`printFlag = TRUE` prints iteration and imputation number only in sequential mode; parallel mode reports timing per iteration.
-  - Note: Users must install the `future` and `future.apply` packages and explicitly choose a parallel backend (e.g., `plan(multisession)`).
+- The default is `parallel = FALSE` for backward compatibility.
+- The argument `n.core` specifies the number of CPU cores to use. If `n.core` is not specified (default) the actual number of cores used is calculated as minimum(number of available cores - 1, number of imputations).
+-	`printFlag = TRUE` prints iteration and imputation number only in sequential mode; parallel mode reports timing per iteration.
+- Note: `mice()` will automatically select a parallel backend (default is `multisession`). To override, users may manually call `plan(...)` before running `mice()`. 
+- The `future` and `future.apply` packages must be installed to run parallel imputation. If not installed, `mice()` will throw an error and suggest installing the packages.
+- The wrappers `parlmice()` and `futuremice()` are still functional, but now throw a warning that they will be deprecated in the future. Users are encouraged to use the new `parallel` argument in `mice()` instead.
 
 # mice 3.17.3
 

_pkgdown.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 title: mice
 url: https://amices.org/mice/
+development:
+  mode: auto
 template:
   bootstrap: 5
   params:
@@ -126,6 +128,7 @@ reference:
   - norm.draw
   - .norm.draw
   - .pmm.match
+  - record.event
 - title: Multivariate amputation
   desc: |
     Amputation is the inverse of imputation, starting with a complete dataset, and creating missing data pattern according to the posited missing data mechanism. Amputation is useful for simulation studies.
@@ -178,4 +181,5 @@ articles:
   contents:
   - overview
   - oldfriends
+  - developer-notes-complete