cut-stable-release

name

cut-stable-release

description

Cut a coco stable release from `master` or finalize a selected RC cutoff from an existing `release/X.Y.Z-rc` branch while `master` continues independently. Use when the user asks to create a stable `vX.Y.Z` release, preserve an RC's runtime source, finalize Changesets prerelease metadata, validate and build the release, commit and tag it, and push the source branch plus tag. Supports dry-run, preview, and rehearsal requests by stopping before push.

Cut Stable Release

Purpose

Run the local git-side workflow for a stable coco release. This skill prepares the stable release commit and tag only; npm publish happens later when a GitHub Release is created for the tag.

Use this for tags like v2.0.0. Use $cut-rc-release for RC tags like v2.0.0-rc.0.

Safety

• Work from a clean dedicated release worktree. If git status -sb shows local changes, stop.
• Do not run changeset publish and do not create a GitHub Release from this skill.
• Stable release tags must not contain .changeset/pre.json; the repo validator enforces this.
• For stable-from-RC releases, preserve the selected RC as the source cutoff. The stable commit may change only Changesets metadata, package manifests, and package changelogs.
• Keep master work that landed after the RC out of the stable tag. Back-merge the stable release metadata into master after the release cut.
• Treat dry run, dry-run, --dry-run, preview, or rehearsal as a request to create the local commit and tag but skip pushing.
• Networked git commands usually need escalation.

Choose The Path

• Direct stable release: start from master with pending changesets and no RC cycle.
• Final stable after RCs: start from the existing release/X.Y.Z-rc branch, require its HEAD to be the selected RC tag, then create one stable metadata commit directly on that cutoff. master may have advanced independently.

Direct Stable Workflow

1. Confirm the worktree is clean and on master:

   git status -sb
   git branch --show-current
   

2. Sync master:

   git fetch origin master --tags
   git pull --ff-only origin master
   

3. Confirm there are pending changesets:

   find .changeset -maxdepth 1 -type f -name '*.md' ! -name 'README.md' | sort
   

   If this is empty, stop rather than creating a no-op release.

4. Generate stable versions and changelogs:

   bunx changeset version
   

5. Continue at "Commit And Tag".

Stable From RC Workflow

1. Confirm the worktree is clean and on the RC branch:

   git status -sb
   git branch --show-current
   

   The branch should be release/X.Y.Z-rc.

2. Sync the branch and tags:

   RELEASE_BRANCH="$(git branch --show-current)"
   git fetch origin "$RELEASE_BRANCH" --tags
   git pull --ff-only origin "$RELEASE_BRANCH"
   

3. Select the RC cutoff at branch HEAD:

   RC_CUTOFF_TAG="$(git tag --points-at HEAD --list 'v*-rc.*' --sort=-v:refname | head -n 1)"
   test -n "$RC_CUTOFF_TAG"
   RC_CUTOFF_COMMIT="$(git rev-parse "$RC_CUTOFF_TAG^{commit}")"
   test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$RC_CUTOFF_COMMIT"
   

   Stop if the branch has commits after the selected RC. Runtime or repository changes after an RC require a new RC; they do not belong in the stable metadata commit.

4. Confirm .changeset/pre.json is present, then exit prerelease mode and generate stable versions:

   test -f .changeset/pre.json
   bunx changeset pre exit
   bunx changeset version
   

5. Continue at "Commit And Tag" with RELEASE_BRANCH, RC_CUTOFF_TAG, and RC_CUTOFF_COMMIT available in the shell.

Commit And Tag

1. Derive release metadata from the versioned files:

   eval "$(.agents/skills/cut-stable-release/scripts/derive-stable-release-metadata.sh)"
   printf '%s\n' "$NEW_PACKAGE_VERSION" "$NEW_RELEASE_TAG" "$COMMIT_MESSAGE"
   

   For stable-from-RC, confirm that the stable tag matches the RC line:

   [[ "$RC_CUTOFF_TAG" == "${NEW_RELEASE_TAG}-rc."* ]]
   

2. Validate the committed release state and build:

   env RELEASE_TAG="$NEW_RELEASE_TAG" RELEASE_PRERELEASE=false PRERELEASE_TAG=rc \
     bun scripts/check-release.ts
   bun install --frozen-lockfile
   bun run build
   

3. Review the diff before committing:

   git diff --name-only
   git diff --stat
   if [[ -n "${RC_CUTOFF_COMMIT:-}" ]]; then
     .agents/skills/cut-stable-release/scripts/check-stable-cutoff.sh \
       "$RC_CUTOFF_COMMIT"
   fi
   

   Expect only .changeset/, packages/*/package.json, and packages/*/CHANGELOG.md release-file changes. Stop if unrelated files changed.

4. Commit and tag:

   git add .changeset packages/*/package.json packages/*/CHANGELOG.md
   git commit -m "$COMMIT_MESSAGE"
   if [[ -n "${RC_CUTOFF_COMMIT:-}" ]]; then
     .agents/skills/cut-stable-release/scripts/check-stable-cutoff.sh \
        HEAD
   
   git tag 
   

Back-Merge After A Stable RC Release

The stable tag remains on the direct child of the selected RC cutoff. After the release branch and tag are pushed, merge the stable release commit back into current master through the repository's normal review or merge process. A normal merge commit is expected because master can contain post-cutoff work. This back-merge records stable versions and consumed changesets on master; it does not change the stable tag or add post-cutoff work to the release.

Treat the back-merge as a separate operation that requires its own user authorization. Do not perform it during a dry run.

Notes

• If validation fails, fix the release files before tagging. Do not bypass scripts/check-release.ts.
• For stable-from-RC, stop if the stable candidate is not a direct child of the selected RC or changes files outside the permitted release metadata paths.
• If runtime source must change, cut another RC before stable finalization.