release-health-gates

name	release-health-gates
description	Standardizes release approvals with GitHub-aware checklists and deployment gates. Use before releasing to production to verify all gates pass.
alwaysApply	false
category	governance
tags	["release","github","readiness","quality","governance"]
dependencies	[]
tools	[]
provides	{"governance":["release-gates","rollout-scorecards"],"reporting":["deployment-comment","qa-handshake"]}
usage_patterns	["release-train","hotfix-review","stakeholder-briefing"]
complexity	intermediate
model_hint	standard
estimated_tokens	700
progressive_loading	true
modules	["modules/quality-signals.md","modules/deployment-readiness.md"]

Release Health Gates

When NOT To Use

• Measuring delivery performance (use minister:dora-metrics)
• PR-level quality gates before merge (use sanctum:pr-prep)

Purpose

Standardize release approvals by expressing gates as GitHub-aware checklists. Ensure code, docs, comms, and observability items are green before deployment.

Gate Categories

1. Scope & Risk – Are all blocking issues closed or deferred with owners?
2. Quality Signals – Are required checks, tests, and soak times satisfied?
3. Comms & Docs – Are docs merged and release notes posted?
4. Operations – Are runbooks, oncall sign-off, and rollback plans ready?

Workflow

1. Load skill to access gate modules.
2. Attach Release Gate section to deployment PR.
3. Use tracker data to auto-fill blockers and highlight overdue tasks.
4. Update comment as gates turn green; require approvals for any waivers.

Outputs

• Release Gate markdown snippet (embed in PR/issue).
• QA Handshake summary referencing GitHub Checks.
• Rollout scorecard that persists in tracker data for retros.

Exit Criteria

• All release gates evaluated and documented.
• Any blocking gates have waiver approvals recorded.
• Deployment PR contains embedded Release Gate snippet.
• Rollout scorecard saved for post-release retrospective.