# Release, CI & merge-governance decisions (#303, #311, #314, #315, #335)

Why the merge/release process is enforced by hooks and CI gates rather than prose: the #303
methodology-hardening waves (state-derived merge-consent, API-contract CI gate, append-only
decisions log, review-verdict gate), formatting-as-you-touch + rebase discipline, the
auto-grant fix, migration rehearsal on a prod-DB copy, and release promotion. Rationale
relocated from the append-only `docs/decisions.md` at the v26.9.0 consolidation; operational
detail cross-links to `docs/ci-cd.md` and CLAUDE.md → Task Completion Protocol.

Issue trail: #303 (H4/H5 api-docs gate, H6 Done-when, H9 append-only (archived), H3 root-png
(active), H10 review-verdict), #311 (H11 formatting/rebase), #314 (merge-gate auto-grant), #315 (migration
rehearsal), #335 (release promotion). The whole hook program's throughline: make each process
rule a derivation/hook, not prose to remember (#303 methodology review).

## Contents

- **(archived 2026-07-21)** 2026-07-12 — decisions.md is append-only, enforced; root-screenshot guard (#303 H9/H3) — `docs.append-only-guard` is `status: superseded` by `docs.decision-lifecycle` (see `docs/decisions.md`); relocated to [`archive/release-ci-governance.md`](archive/release-ci-governance.md#2026-07-12--decisionsmd-is-append-only-enforced-root-screenshot-guard-303-h9h3) (heading kept identical to the pre-split original so the lifecycle validator's relocation check matches it by heading). The bundled companion root-screenshot guard (H3) was split out into its own active record, below.

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## Records formerly in this file

Each record below moved to its own file under `records/` (ersatztv#610); the rationale is
unchanged. Resolve by **key** — that is the stable identity. A date-based pointer from
another doc or an old issue comment should land here and then follow the link.

- 2026-07-12 — Blocking CI gate for API-contract artifacts (#303 H4/H5) — [`release.api-contract-ci-gate`](records/release/api-contract-ci-gate.md)
- 2026-07-12 — Formatting-as-you-touch, enforced; rebase-not-merge for PR branches (#311 H11 + format CI) — [`release.format-as-you-touch-rebase`](records/release/format-as-you-touch-rebase.md)
- 2026-07-12 — Merge-consent derived from state via a `## Done-when` issue checklist (#303 H6) — [`release.done-when-merge-consent`](records/release/done-when-merge-consent.md)
- 2026-07-12 — Merge-consent gate auto-grants when satisfied (no redundant prompt); state IS the consent (#314) — [`release.merge-consent-autogrant`](records/release/merge-consent-autogrant.md)
- 2026-07-12 — Release path rehearses migrations on a prod-DB copy before promoting (#315) — [`release.migration-rehearsal-prodcopy`](records/release/migration-rehearsal-prodcopy.md)
- 2026-07-12 — Review-verdict merge-gate: latest commit must be reviewed (#303 H10) — [`release.review-verdict-gate`](records/release/review-verdict-gate.md)
- 2026-07-12 — Root-screenshot guard: pre-commit refuses root-level *.png (#303 H3) — [`ci.root-screenshot-guard`](records/ci/root-screenshot-guard.md)
- 2026-07-13 — Release promotion: floating `:prod`, exact-image scan before manual deploy (#335) — [`release.promotion-floating-prod`](records/release/promotion-floating-prod.md)
