# Release Preflight

> Pre-checks, version consistency, and deployment discipline.

- Skill: `fabioc-aloha/release-preflight-2` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add fabioc-aloha/release-preflight-2`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/fabioc-aloha/release-preflight-2/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: fabioc-aloha (https://skillmd.com/u/fabioc-aloha)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/fabioc-aloha/release-preflight-2

---


# Release Preflight Skill

> Pre-checks, version consistency, and deployment discipline.

## The Golden Rule

> **NEVER publish without running the preflight checklist.**

## Quick Start

```bash
# Full preflight check
node scripts/release-preflight.cjs

# With packaging test
node scripts/release-preflight.cjs

# Skip time-consuming tests
node scripts/release-preflight.cjs
```

## Version Locations (Must Stay Synchronized)

| #   | Location                                                     | Field               | Example                   |
| --- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------------- |
| 1   | `heir/platforms/vscode-extension/package.json` | `version`      | `"8.2.1"`                 |
| 2   | `heir/CHANGELOG.md`                            | Latest heading | `## [8.2.1] - 2026-04-22` |
| 3   | `BUILD-MANIFEST.json` (if present)             | `version`      | `"8.2.1"`                 |
| 4   | Git tag                                        | Tag name       | `v8.2.1`                  |

## Preflight Gates

| Gate | Check                          | Script Flag |
| ---- | ------------------------------ | ----------- |
| 0    | PAT configured                 | Always      |
| 1    | Version sync (all 7 locations) | Always      |
| 2    | VSIX exists                    | Always      |
| 3    | Git clean                      | Always      |
| 4    | Git tag available              | Always      |
| 5    | VSCE_PAT available             | Always      |
| 6    | Heir sync drift                | Always      |

## Full Release Workflow

```bash
# VS Code Extension release
node scripts/release-vscode.cjs

# M365 Agent release
node scripts/release-m365.cjs --validate
```

## Version Bump Only

```powershell
# 1. Bump
npm version patch --no-git-tag-version

# 2. Get version
$v = (Get-Content package.json | ConvertFrom-Json).version

# 3. Update CHANGELOG, commit, tag, push
git add -A; git commit -m "release: v$v"; git tag "v$v"; git push --tags
```

## Common Mistakes

| Mistake                        | Prevention                       |
| ------------------------------ | -------------------------------- |
| Published without version bump | Run preflight first              |
| CHANGELOG not updated          | Script checks this               |
| Forgot to push tags            | Script does this                 |
| Version mismatch               | Grep entire repo for old version |
| PAT 401 error                  | Refresh PAT before release       |

## Related Scripts

| Script                                        | Purpose                                |
| --------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `scripts/release-preflight.cjs`               | Pre-release validation                 |
| `scripts/release-vscode.cjs`                  | Full VS Code release                   |
| `scripts/release-m365.cjs`                    | M365 agent packaging                   |

## Triggers

- "release", "publish", "deploy"
- "preflight", "pre-release check"
- "version bump", "version sync"

---

_Scripts: `scripts/release-preflight.cjs`, `scripts/release-vscode.cjs`_