| name | version-governance |
| description | Use when a user proposes changes that may require patch, minor, or major version changes, release notes, changelog updates, or version confirmation. |
Version Governance
Use this skill when a change is release-visible and needs release classification, version selection, release notes, or confirmation. Do not use it to name or unblock drafting a spec.
Default Rule
Use semantic versioning:
- Patch: typo fixes, copy edits, docs-only refinements, small bug fixes, dependency patch updates, non-behavioral cleanup.
- Minor: backward-compatible features, new optional workflows, new templates, new docs sections, non-breaking config additions.
- Major: breaking changes, removed behavior, renamed public commands, incompatible schema/API changes, governance model changes.
Workflow
- Confirm that the change is release-visible; otherwise stop without version ceremony.
- Detect current version from package metadata, plugin manifests, the release changelog, or release tags.
- Classify the requested change as patch, minor, or major.
- Explain the reason in one sentence.
- Propose the exact next version.
- Ask the user to confirm the version before release work or public changelog updates.
- After confirmation, update the manifest/package metadata and
CHANGELOG.md.
Examples
0.1.0 plus copy-only docs fix -> 0.1.1.0.1.0 plus a new migration skill -> 0.2.0.0.2.3 plus a changed governance file layout that breaks old repos -> 1.0.0 or next major.
Rules
- Do not silently publish a version bump.
- Do not block spec drafting or couple a spec file name to the proposed release version.
- If multiple changes differ in severity, use the highest required bump.
- If the repo already has versioning rules, use them unless the user asks to adopt OpenArc defaults.
- Optionally record release impact in an existing relevant spec or plan. The release manifest, release changelog, and tags remain authoritative; do not create or rename a spec or plan solely to record a version decision.
