docs: update Python and Robot Framework version requirements and deprecation notice

Author: d-biehl

README.md

@@ -55,13 +55,44 @@ With RobotCode, you can focus on building and testing your automation workflows
 
 ## Requirements
 
-- Python 3.8 or newer
-- Robot Framework 4.1 or newer
+### Python and Robot Framework Versions
+- Python 3.10 or newer
+- Robot Framework 5.0 or newer
 
 ### IDE Support
 
-- Visual Studio Code 1.86 or newer
-- PyCharm 2024.3.2 or newer or IntelliJ IDEA 2024.3.2 or newer
+- Visual Studio Code 1.99 or newer
+- PyCharm 2025.1 or newer or IntelliJ IDEA 2025.1 or newer
+
+### Deprecated Python and Robot Framework Versions
+
+**⚠️ DEPRECATION WARNING:**
+Support for Python 3.8, 3.9, and Robot Framework 4.1 is deprecated and will be removed in a future release. To ensure compatibility and benefit from ongoing improvements, please upgrade to Python 3.10 or later and Robot Framework 5.0 or later.
+
+**Python Version Requirements:**
+Although Robot Framework still supports Python 3.8 and 3.9, RobotCode requires Python 3.10 or newer due to its use of more modern libraries and features. Many key tools in the ecosystem—such as robocop and the Browser library—have already dropped support for Python 3.8, which is no longer maintained. Python 3.9 will reach end-of-life on October 5, 2025.
+
+**Robot Framework Version Requirements:**
+Robot Framework 4.1 is outdated. Given the regular release cadence of Robot Framework—typically two major versions per year—maintaining support for older versions introduces significant overhead. That effort is better spent on supporting current and upcoming features.
+
+**Compatibility and Limitations:**
+RobotCode currently remains compatible with Python 3.8+ and Robot Framework 4.1+, but with important limitations:
+	•	New features may not be available for older versions.
+	•	Development and testing efforts are focused on newer versions.
+
+**Why Python 3.10:**
+After Python 3.9 reaches end-of-life, RobotCode will start using Python 3.10+ features that are not backward-compatible. Python 3.10 introduces several important improvements, including:
+	•	Structural pattern matching
+	•	More informative error messages
+	•	Simplified type hints using the | operator
+	•	Performance enhancements
+
+These capabilities enable cleaner, more efficient code and improved developer experience.
+
+**Recommendation:**
+To get the most out of RobotCode, we recommend using:
+	•	Python 3.10 or newer
+	•	Robot Framework 5.0 or newer
 
 
 ## Getting Started

intellij-client/README.md

@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ With RobotCode, you can focus on building and testing your automation workflows
 
 ## Requirements
 
-- Python 3.8 or newer
-- Robot Framework 4.1 or newer
-- PyCharm 2024.3.2 or newer
+- Python 3.10 or newer
+- Robot Framework 5.0 or newer
+- PyCharm 2025.1 or newer
 
 ## Getting Started