ci(release): release on every merge to main with semantic-release

.distignore

@@ -14,3 +14,7 @@ CHANGELOG.md
 CONTRIBUTING.md
 README.md
 .wp-env.json
+package.json
+package-lock.json
+.releaserc.json
+scripts

.github/pull_request_template.md

@@ -34,6 +34,6 @@ Fixes #
 
 ## Checklist
 
-- [ ] `CHANGELOG.md` has a line under `[Unreleased]`
+- [ ] The title is a conventional commit (it becomes the squash commit and the changelog line); a breaking change has a `!` and a `BREAKING CHANGE:` paragraph above
 - [ ] README and `readme.txt` updated for any changed setting, event, or hook
-- [ ] Commit messages follow conventional commits
+- [ ] `CHANGELOG.md` and the version are untouched; the release on merge writes them

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -1,26 +1,38 @@
 name: Release
 
+# Every push to main is a release candidate. semantic-release reads the
+# conventional commits since the last tag, and when one warrants a release it
+# writes the version into linkforty.php and readme.txt, prepends CHANGELOG.md,
+# builds the zip, commits `chore(release): x.y.z [skip ci]`, tags vX.Y.Z and
+# publishes a GitHub release with the zip attached. Configuration:
+# .releaserc.json; version writer: scripts/set-version.sh.
+
 on:
   push:
-    tags:
-      - 'v*'
+    branches:
+      - main
 
 concurrency:
   group: release
   cancel-in-progress: false
 
 jobs:
   release:
-    name: Build and publish the plugin zip
+    name: Release
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: github.repository == 'LinkForty/wordpress-plugin'
+    if: github.repository == 'LinkForty/wordpress-plugin' && github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
     timeout-minutes: 15
 
     permissions:
-      contents: write
+      contents: write # release commit, tag, GitHub release
+      issues: write # comments on issues a release fixes
+      pull-requests: write # comments on released pull requests
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0 # semantic-release needs every tag and commit
+          persist-credentials: false
 
       - uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
         with:
@@ -34,49 +46,14 @@ jobs:
 
       - run: composer phpcs
 
-      - name: Tag matches the plugin version
-        id: version
-        run: |
-          set -e
-          tag="${GITHUB_REF_NAME#v}"
-          header=$(grep -E '^\s*\*\s*Version:' linkforty.php | awk '{print $NF}')
-          stable=$(grep -E '^Stable tag:' readme.txt | awk '{print $NF}')
-          echo "tag=$tag header=$header stable=$stable"
-          test "$tag" = "$header"
-          test "$tag" = "$stable"
-          grep -q "## \[$tag\]" CHANGELOG.md
-          echo "version=$tag" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-          if [[ "$tag" == 0.* || "$tag" == *-* ]]; then
-            echo "prerelease=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-          else
-            echo "prerelease=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-          fi
-
-      - name: Build the zip
-        run: |
-          set -e
-          composer build
-          mv build/linkforty.zip "build/linkforty-${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}.zip"
-          unzip -l "build/linkforty-${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}.zip"
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: '22'
+          cache: 'npm'
 
-      - name: Release notes from the changelog
-        run: |
-          set -e
-          awk -v v="${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}" '
-            $0 ~ "^## \\[" v "\\]" { on = 1; next }
-            on && /^## \[/ { exit }
-            on { print }
-          ' CHANGELOG.md | sed -e :a -e '/^\n*$/{$d;N;ba' -e '}' > build/notes.md
-          printf '\n\nInstall: upload the zip under Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, then follow the [setup guide](https://docs.linkforty.com/sdks/wordpress).\n' >> build/notes.md
-          cat build/notes.md
+      - run: npm ci
 
-      - name: Create the GitHub release
+      - name: Release
         env:
-          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-        run: |
-          set -e
-          args=(--title "v${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}" --notes-file build/notes.md --verify-tag)
-          if [ "${{ steps.version.outputs.prerelease }}" = "true" ]; then
-            args+=(--prerelease)
-          fi
-          gh release create "$GITHUB_REF_NAME" "build/linkforty-${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}.zip" "${args[@]}"
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: npx semantic-release

.releaserc.json

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+{
+  "branches": ["main"],
+  "tagFormat": "v${version}",
+  "plugins": [
+    [
+      "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer",
+      {
+        "preset": "conventionalcommits",
+        "releaseRules": [
+          { "type": "feat", "release": "minor" },
+          { "type": "fix", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "perf", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "revert", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "docs", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "refactor", "release": "patch" },
+          { "type": "chore", "release": false },
+          { "type": "test", "release": false },
+          { "type": "build", "release": false },
+          { "type": "ci", "release": false },
+          { "breaking": true, "release": "minor" }
+        ]
+      }
+    ],
+    [
+      "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator",
+      {
+        "preset": "conventionalcommits",
+        "presetConfig": {
+          "types": [
+            { "type": "feat", "section": "Features" },
+            { "type": "fix", "section": "Bug Fixes" },
+            { "type": "perf", "section": "Performance Improvements" },
+            { "type": "revert", "section": "Reverts" },
+            { "type": "docs", "section": "Documentation" },
+            { "type": "refactor", "section": "Code Refactoring" },
+            { "type": "test", "section": "Tests", "hidden": true },
+            { "type": "build", "section": "Build System", "hidden": true },
+            { "type": "ci", "section": "CI/CD", "hidden": true }
+          ]
+        }
+      }
+    ],
+    [
+      "@semantic-release/changelog",
+      {
+        "changelogFile": "CHANGELOG.md",
+        "changelogTitle": "# Changelog"
+      }
+    ],
+    [
+      "@semantic-release/exec",
+      {
+        "prepareCmd": "scripts/set-version.sh ${nextRelease.version} && composer build && mv build/linkforty.zip build/linkforty-${nextRelease.version}.zip"
+      }
+    ],
+    [
+      "@semantic-release/git",
+      {
+        "assets": ["linkforty.php", "readme.txt", "CHANGELOG.md"],
+        "message": "chore(release): ${nextRelease.version} [skip ci]\n\n${nextRelease.notes}"
+      }
+    ],
+    [
+      "@semantic-release/github",
+      {
+        "assets": [{ "path": "build/linkforty-*.zip", "label": "Plugin zip (upload under Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin)" }],
+        "failComment": false,
+        "failTitle": false
+      }
+    ]
+  ]
+}

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 # Changelog
 
-All notable changes to this plugin are documented here. The format follows
-[Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/).
-
-## [Unreleased]
+## [0.2.0] - 2026-10-16
 
 ### Fixed
 - WooCommerce purchases record their revenue: the order total is sent as

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ Enhancement suggestions are tracked as GitHub issues. Include the use case, the
 2. Make your change, following the standards below
 3. Run `composer lint` and `composer phpcs`
 4. Test on a real WordPress site (see [Testing](#testing))
-5. Add a line under `[Unreleased]` in `CHANGELOG.md`
-6. Open a pull request using the template
+5. Open a pull request using the template, with a [conventional commit](#commit-messages) title. Don't edit `CHANGELOG.md` or the version; the release on merge writes both
 
 ## Development Setup
 
@@ -76,7 +75,7 @@ linkforty/
 │   └── class-linkforty-woocommerce.php   # purchase, begin_checkout, add_to_cart
 ├── assets/js/linkforty-woocommerce.js    # Browser-side add-to-cart listener
 ├── readme.txt                            # WordPress.org readme
-└── .github/workflows/                    # CI and the tag-driven release
+└── .github/workflows/                    # CI and the release on every merge to main
 ```
 
 ## Coding Standards
@@ -150,7 +149,9 @@ Follow conventional commits:
 type(scope): description
 ```
 
-Types: `feat`, `fix`, `docs`, `refactor`, `test`, `chore`. Scopes that fit this plugin: `pixel`, `woocommerce`, `settings`, `events`, `release`.
+Types: `feat`, `fix`, `docs`, `refactor`, `perf`, `test`, `chore`, `ci`, `build`. Scopes that fit this plugin: `pixel`, `woocommerce`, `settings`, `events`, `release`.
+
+Pull requests are squash-merged, so **the pull request title is the commit message** that decides the next version and becomes its changelog line. Write it for a store owner reading the release notes. A breaking change gets a `!` after the type or scope (`fix(woocommerce)!: …`) and a `BREAKING CHANGE:` paragraph in the pull request description saying what to change.
 
 ```
 fix(woocommerce): report pending orders once they move to processing
@@ -162,7 +163,7 @@ docs(readme): document the purchase properties
 
 - [ ] `composer lint` and `composer phpcs` pass
 - [ ] Tested on a real site; the relevant checklist rows are in the PR description
-- [ ] `CHANGELOG.md` has a line under `[Unreleased]`
+- [ ] The pull request title is a conventional commit; breaking changes have a `!` and a `BREAKING CHANGE:` note
 - [ ] README and `readme.txt` updated if you changed a setting, an event, or a hook
 - [ ] No new event names or renamed properties without discussion in an issue first
 
@@ -172,13 +173,24 @@ A maintainer reviews every pull request. Expect questions about attribution and
 
 ## Versioning and Releases
 
-Maintainers cut releases. The plugin follows [semantic versioning](https://semver.org/):
+Every merge to `main` can release. The release workflow runs [semantic-release](https://semantic-release.gitbook.io/), which reads the conventional commits since the last tag and picks the version:
+
+| Commits since the last release | Release |
+|---|---|
+| Only `chore`, `test`, `ci`, `build` | None |
+| Any `fix`, `docs`, `refactor`, `perf`, `revert` | Patch |
+| Any `feat` | Minor |
+| Any breaking change (`!` or `BREAKING CHANGE:`) | Minor while the plugin is below 1.0, major from 1.0 on |
+
+What counts as a feature or a breaking change:
 
 - **Patch** for fixes
 - **Minor** for new settings, hooks, events, or properties
-- **Major** for a renamed or removed event, property, setting, or hook
+- **Breaking** for a renamed or removed event, property, setting, or hook
+
+When it releases, the workflow writes the version into `linkforty.php` (header and constant) and `readme.txt` (`Stable tag`) with `scripts/set-version.sh`, prepends the release notes to `CHANGELOG.md`, builds the zip, commits `chore(release): x.y.z [skip ci]`, tags `vx.y.z`, and publishes a GitHub release with the zip attached. Nobody edits those files by hand.
 
-To release, the version is bumped in `linkforty.php` (header and constant), `readme.txt` (`Stable tag`) and `CHANGELOG.md` (the `[Unreleased]` section becomes the new version), then a matching tag such as `v0.2.0` is pushed. The release workflow lints, builds the zip, and attaches it to a GitHub release with the changelog section as notes. Versions below 1.0 are marked pre-release.
+Below 1.0, a breaking change bumps the minor version, as [semantic versioning allows for 0.x](https://semver.org/#spec-item-4). At 1.0, change the `"breaking": true` rule in `.releaserc.json` from `minor` to `major`.
 
 ## Security
 

linkforty.php

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  * Plugin Name:          LinkForty
  * Plugin URI:           https://docs.linkforty.com/sdks/wordpress
  * Description:          Web analytics and conversion tracking for LinkForty links. Adds the LinkForty web pixel to every page and reports WooCommerce purchases as conversions attributed to the link that drove the visit.
- * Version:              0.1.0
+ * Version:              0.2.0
  * Requires at least:    6.3
  * Requires PHP:         7.4
  * Author:               LinkForty
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 defined( 'ABSPATH' ) || exit;
 
-define( 'LINKFORTY_VERSION', '0.1.0' );
+define( 'LINKFORTY_VERSION', '0.2.0' );
 define( 'LINKFORTY_PLUGIN_FILE', __FILE__ );
 define( 'LINKFORTY_PLUGIN_DIR', plugin_dir_path( __FILE__ ) );
 define( 'LINKFORTY_PLUGIN_URL', plugin_dir_url( __FILE__ ) );