@@ -43,15 +43,31 @@ jobs:
           echo "Commits since last release:"
           echo "$commits"
 
+          # Release ONLY when a commit subject since the last tag carries a release-worthy
+          # conventional prefix. docs/chore/ci/refactor/test/style/build/perf land WITHOUT
+          # cutting a release. A mixed push (docs + a real fix) still releases: the scan
+          # matches any release-worthy commit in the range regardless of the others.
+          # [skip ci] (guarded on the job) remains an optional belt-and-suspenders override.
           bump="patch"
-          if echo "$commits" | grep -qiE "^(feat|feature)(\(.+\))?!:|BREAKING CHANGE"; then
-            bump="major"
+          release="false"
+          if [ -z "$last_tag" ]; then
+            # Initial release: no prior tag -> cut the first release at the current VERSION.
+            release="true"
+          elif echo "$commits" | grep -qiE "^(feat|feature|fix)(\(.+\))?!:|BREAKING[ -]CHANGE"; then
+            bump="major"; release="true"
           elif echo "$commits" | grep -qiE "^(feat|feature)(\(.+\))?:"; then
-            bump="minor"
+            bump="minor"; release="true"
+          elif echo "$commits" | grep -qiE "^fix(\(.+\))?:"; then
+            bump="patch"; release="true"
           fi
 
           echo "bump=$bump" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-          echo "Bump type: $bump"
+          echo "release=$release" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          if [ "$release" = "true" ]; then
+            echo "Release decision: RELEASE (bump=$bump)"
+          else
+            echo "Release decision: SKIP - no feat:/fix:/feat!: commit since ${last_tag:-<none>}; docs/chore/ci do not cut a release"
+          fi
 
       - name: Compute new version
         id: new
@@ -92,22 +108,22 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
       - name: Update VERSION file
-        if: steps.check.outputs.skip == 'false'
+        if: steps.check.outputs.skip == 'false' && steps.bump.outputs.release == 'true'
         env:
           NEW_VERSION: ${{ steps.new.outputs.version }}
         run: |
           echo "$NEW_VERSION" > VERSION
 
       - name: Sync release docs
-        if: steps.check.outputs.skip == 'false'
+        if: steps.check.outputs.skip == 'false' && steps.bump.outputs.release == 'true'
         uses: TMHSDigital/Developer-Tools-Directory/.github/actions/release-doc-sync@v1
         with:
           plugin-version: ${{ steps.new.outputs.version }}
           previous-version: ${{ steps.current.outputs.version }}
           meta-repo-ref: v1.15.1
 
       - name: Commit version bump
-        if: steps.check.outputs.skip == 'false'
+        if: steps.check.outputs.skip == 'false' && steps.bump.outputs.release == 'true'
         run: |
           git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
           git config user.email "41898282+github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
@@ -120,7 +136,7 @@ jobs:
           fi
 
       - name: Create and push tag
-        if: steps.check.outputs.skip == 'false'
+        if: steps.check.outputs.skip == 'false' && steps.bump.outputs.release == 'true'
         run: |
           new_version="${{ steps.new.outputs.version }}"
           IFS='.' read -r major minor _patch <<< "$new_version"
@@ -134,7 +150,7 @@ jobs:
           git push origin "v$major.$minor" --force
 
       - name: Create GitHub Release
-        if: steps.check.outputs.skip == 'false'
+        if: steps.check.outputs.skip == 'false' && steps.bump.outputs.release == 'true'
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         run: |
 
@@ -46,12 +46,16 @@ Blender-Developer-Tools/
 ## Branching and commit model
 
 - Single `main` branch. No develop or release branches.
-- Conventional commits drive the auto-release workflow:
+- Conventional commits drive the auto-release workflow. It scans the commit subjects since
+  the last tag and releases only when at least one is release-worthy:
   - `feat:` triggers a minor bump
   - `fix:` triggers a patch bump
-  - `feat!:` or `BREAKING CHANGE` triggers a major bump
-  - Other types (`chore:`, `docs:`, etc.) skip the release path entirely
-    when only those non-content paths change.
+  - `feat!:` / `fix!:` / `BREAKING CHANGE` triggers a major bump
+  - Other types (`chore:`, `docs:`, `ci:`, `refactor:`, etc.) do **not** cut a release: the
+    workflow runs, decides there is nothing to release, and exits without a tag or version
+    bump. A mixed push still releases if any commit in range is a `feat:`/`fix:`.
+  - `[skip ci]` in the head commit still bypasses the workflow entirely. With the commit-type
+    gate above it is now an optional override, not a requirement for non-release commits.
 - Commit messages should describe the why, not the what.
 
 ## Blender version targeting
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ The drift-check workflow enforces these on every push and PR.
 
 1. **Update docs** if you change skill or rule lists, content counts, or versioning (`README.md`, `CLAUDE.md`, `ROADMAP.md` as appropriate). The release workflow rewrites `CHANGELOG.md`, `CLAUDE.md` `**Version:**` line, and `ROADMAP.md` `**Current:**` line automatically when a `feat:` or `fix:` commit lands on `main`, so only edit those files for content beyond the version markers.
 2. **Open a PR** against `main` with a clear title and summary of changes.
-3. **Use Conventional Commits** for the PR title (and ideally the merge commit). Prefixes: `feat:` (minor bump), `fix:` (patch bump), `feat!:` or `BREAKING CHANGE` (major bump), `chore:` / `docs:` / `refactor:` (no release).
+3. **Use Conventional Commits** for the PR title (and the squash-merge subject, which is what the release workflow scans). Prefixes: `feat:` (minor bump), `fix:` (patch bump), `feat!:` / `fix!:` / `BREAKING CHANGE` (major bump), `chore:` / `docs:` / `ci:` / `refactor:` (no release — the workflow runs and exits without tagging). A mixed range still releases if any commit since the last tag is a `feat:`/`fix:`. `[skip ci]` remains an optional override and is no longer required to avoid a release for non-release commits.
 4. **Respond to review** feedback; CI must pass before merge.
 
 ## Developer Certificate of Origin and Inbound License Grant