release

name	release
description	Create GitHub releases for this project or similar GitHub repositories. Use when the user asks to release the current master/main branch, create a version tag, publish a GitHub Release, write release notes, check release workflow status, or follow the repository's release process.

Release

Workflow

1. Confirm the target branch, version, and tag style.

   • Prefer the current branch only when the user explicitly asks for it. For this repository, releases are cut from master.
   • Inspect existing tags with git tag --sort=-version:refname and git ls-remote --tags origin.
   • Match the existing tag format. This repository uses plain versions such as 1.5.5, not v1.5.5.

2. Verify local and remote state.

   • Run git status --short; do not release from a dirty worktree unless the user explicitly approves.
   • Run git rev-parse HEAD and git ls-remote origin refs/heads/<branch>; confirm the requested release target matches the remote branch tip.
   • If local is behind or differs from remote, stop and ask the user how to proceed.

3. Review changes since the previous release.

   • Identify the previous tag from existing releases/tags.
   • Use git log --oneline <previous-tag>..HEAD.
   • Inspect meaningful commits with git show --stat or git show --name-only as needed.
   • Prefer release notes based on actual changes over generated notes alone.

4. Write curated release notes.

   • Do not rely only on --generate-notes when the user expects readable Changes.
   • Match the established format used by older releases such as 1.5.3:

## Changes

- **Short change title** - Concrete user-facing or operational impact
- **Another change title** - Concrete impact

• Keep bullets concise, accurate, and grounded in commits.
• Include only notable changes; avoid noisy internal churn unless it affects users or operations.

5. Create the GitHub Release.

   • Verify the tag/release does not already exist with gh release view <version>.
   • Use gh release create <version> --target <branch> --title <version> --notes-file <file> when writing notes from a temp file.
   • If a release already exists, ask before editing, deleting, or recreating it.

6. Confirm creation and report deployment status policy.

   • Verify the release with gh release view <version> --json tagName,name,url,targetCommitish.
   • Verify the tag points at the intended commit with git ls-remote --tags origin refs/tags/<version>.
   • If the repository triggers deployment or publish workflows, check that they started with gh run list.
   • Do not wait for deploy/publish completion by default. Tell the user the workflow has started and ask whether they want you to wait or inspect progress.

Safety

• Release commands affect shared GitHub state. Use exact version and branch names from the user or repository history.
• Do not invent release notes from memory. Read commits and existing release style first.
• Do not create a different tag prefix than existing releases without asking.
• Do not wait on long-running deployment workflows unless the user asks you to monitor them.