chore: v0.5.0 release hardening

.github/workflows/squad-preview.yml

@@ -17,6 +17,15 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version: 22
 
+      - name: Validate version consistency
+        run: |
+          VERSION=$(node -e "console.log(require('./package.json').version)")
+          if ! grep -q "## \[$VERSION\]" CHANGELOG.md 2>/dev/null; then
+            echo "::error::Version $VERSION not found in CHANGELOG.md — update CHANGELOG.md before release"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "✅ Version $VERSION validated in CHANGELOG.md"
+
       - name: Run tests
         run: node --test test/*.test.js
 

.github/workflows/squad-release.yml

@@ -22,6 +22,15 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run tests
         run: node --test test/*.test.js
 
+      - name: Validate version consistency
+        run: |
+          VERSION=$(node -e "console.log(require('./package.json').version)")
+          if ! grep -q "## \[$VERSION\]" CHANGELOG.md 2>/dev/null; then
+            echo "::error::Version $VERSION not found in CHANGELOG.md — update CHANGELOG.md before release"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "✅ Version $VERSION validated in CHANGELOG.md"
+
       - name: Read version from package.json
         id: version
         run: |

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,17 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [0.5.0] — Unreleased
+
+### Added
+
+- **`.ai-team/` renamed to `.squad/`** — Full directory rename with backward-compatible migration utilities for existing installations
+- **Decision lifecycle management** — Archival and versioning support for design decisions across the agent lifecycle
+- **Identity layer** — New `wisdom.md` and `now.md` files for agent context and temporal awareness
+- **ISO 8601 UTC timestamps** — Standardized timestamp format throughout (decision dates, agent updates, metadata)
+- **Cold-path extraction** — Refactored `squad.agent.md` to separate active decision paths from historical logic
+- **Skills export/import verification** — Enhanced import/export validation and documentation for agent skill extension
+- **Email scrubbing** — Automatic email removal during migration to prevent accidental PII commits
+
 ## [0.4.2] — 2026-02-20
 
 ### Fixed

docs/release-checklist.md

@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+# Release Checklist
+
+This document outlines the steps for preparing and shipping Squad releases. Follow the appropriate checklist based on the release type.
+
+## Pre-Release Steps (All Releases)
+
+- [ ] Ensure all PRs targeting the release branch are merged and reviewed
+- [ ] Pull latest `dev` branch: `git pull origin dev`
+- [ ] Run full test suite: `npm test`
+- [ ] All tests pass (53+ tests for current version)
+- [ ] Review CHANGELOG.md for accuracy and completeness
+- [ ] Verify package.json version matches intended release version
+
+## Patch Release (e.g., 0.4.2 → 0.4.3)
+
+**Purpose:** Bug fixes and patches with no new features or breaking changes.
+
+### Steps
+
+1. Create patch branch: `git checkout -b squad/patch-{version}`
+2. Update `package.json` version: increment patch number (e.g., 0.4.2 → 0.4.3)
+3. Add `CHANGELOG.md` entry with date:
+   ```markdown
+   ## [0.4.3] — YYYY-MM-DD
+
+   ### Fixed
+   - Description of fix
+   ```
+4. Commit: `git commit -m "chore: v0.4.3 patch release"`
+5. Push and create PR: `git push origin squad/patch-{version}`
+6. Get review and merge to `dev`
+7. Merge `dev` → `main`
+8. CI automatically creates GitHub release
+
+## Minor Release (e.g., 0.4.2 → 0.5.0)
+
+**Purpose:** New features with backward compatibility. Commonly used for feature cadence releases.
+
+### Steps
+
+1. Create release branch: `git checkout -b squad/{issue}-release-hardening`
+2. Update `package.json` version: increment minor number (e.g., 0.4.2 → 0.5.0)
+3. Update all affected workflow files and templates:
+   - `.github/workflows/squad-preview.yml`
+   - `.github/workflows/squad-release.yml`
+   - `templates/workflows/squad-preview.yml`
+   - `templates/workflows/squad-release.yml`
+4. Add `CHANGELOG.md` entry with new features:
+   ```markdown
+   ## [0.5.0] — Unreleased
+
+   ### Added
+   - Feature description
+   - Another feature
+   ```
+5. Test all changes locally and in CI
+6. Commit: `git commit -m "chore: v0.5.0 release hardening — version bump, CI validation, docs"`
+7. Push and create PR: `git push origin squad/{issue}-release-hardening`
+8. Get review and merge to `dev`
+9. Merge `dev` → `main`
+10. CI automatically creates GitHub release
+
+## Major Release (e.g., 0.4.2 → 1.0.0)
+
+**Purpose:** Breaking changes, significant refactors, or major feature releases.
+
+### Steps
+
+1. Create release branch: `git checkout -b squad/major-{version}-release`
+2. Update `package.json` version: increment major number (e.g., 0.4.2 → 1.0.0)
+3. Add migration guide if needed (breaking changes documentation)
+4. Update all affected files (same as minor release)
+5. Update `CHANGELOG.md` with detailed breaking changes section:
+   ```markdown
+   ## [1.0.0] — Unreleased
+
+   ### Breaking Changes
+   - Clear description of breaking change
+   - Migration guidance
+
+   ### Added
+   - New feature
+   ```
+6. Comprehensive testing and validation
+7. Commit and push with clear messaging
+8. Create PR with detailed description of breaking changes
+9. Get thorough review and merge to `dev`
+10. Merge `dev` → `main`
+11. CI automatically creates GitHub release
+
+## CI Validation Steps
+
+The following checks run automatically in CI (no manual action required):
+
+### In `squad-preview.yml` (Preview Branch)
+
+- Runs full test suite
+- Validates no `.ai-team/` or `.squad/` files are tracked
+- Validates package.json contains a version
+- **NEW:** Validates version consistency with CHANGELOG.md
+
+### In `squad-release.yml` (Main Branch)
+
+- Runs full test suite
+- Reads version from package.json
+- Checks if tag already exists (prevents duplicate releases)
+- **NEW:** Validates version consistency with CHANGELOG.md
+- Creates git tag (e.g., `v0.5.0`)
+- Creates GitHub Release with auto-generated notes
+- Verifies release was created successfully
+
+## Key Requirements
+
+- **CHANGELOG.md must have entry** for every release version (validated in CI)
+- **Version consistency** between `package.json` and CHANGELOG.md is enforced
+- **All tests must pass** before release can proceed
+- **No `.ai-team/` or `.squad/` files** on preview or main branches
+
+## References
+
+- [GitHub Actions Workflows](.github/workflows/)
+- [Package Configuration](package.json)
+- [Changelog](CHANGELOG.md)

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@bradygaster/create-squad",
-  "version": "0.4.2",
+  "version": "0.5.0",
   "description": "Add an AI agent team to any project",
   "bin": {
     "create-squad": "./index.js"

templates/workflows/squad-preview.yml

@@ -17,6 +17,15 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version: 22
 
+      - name: Validate version consistency
+        run: |
+          VERSION=$(node -e "console.log(require('./package.json').version)")
+          if ! grep -q "## \[$VERSION\]" CHANGELOG.md 2>/dev/null; then
+            echo "::error::Version $VERSION not found in CHANGELOG.md — update CHANGELOG.md before release"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "✅ Version $VERSION validated in CHANGELOG.md"
+
       - name: Run tests
         run: node --test test/*.test.js
 

templates/workflows/squad-release.yml

@@ -22,6 +22,15 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run tests
         run: node --test test/*.test.js
 
+      - name: Validate version consistency
+        run: |
+          VERSION=$(node -e "console.log(require('./package.json').version)")
+          if ! grep -q "## \[$VERSION\]" CHANGELOG.md 2>/dev/null; then
+            echo "::error::Version $VERSION not found in CHANGELOG.md — update CHANGELOG.md before release"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "✅ Version $VERSION validated in CHANGELOG.md"
+
       - name: Read version from package.json
         id: version
         run: |