Release checklist

Read the release plan before release work and update its status and validation evidence as the release proceeds.

1. Keep pyproject.toml and substack/__init__.py on the previous version while implementing code, tests, workflows, and documentation.
2. Run poetry install --all-extras.
3. Run poetry run pytest -q -m "not live" --strict-markers.
4. Run poetry run pytest -q with live opt-ins unset and confirm all live tests are skipped.

5. With configured maintainer credentials, run:

   RUN_SUBSTACK_E2E=1 poetry run pytest -q -m live
   RUN_SUBSTACK_CLI_E2E=1 poetry run pytest -q -m live tests/substack/test_cli_end_to_end.py
   

6. Update pyproject.toml, substack.__version__, CHANGELOG.md, and the release page to the target version.
7. From a clean checkout, run poetry check, poetry build, and poetry run python -m twine check dist/*.
8. Install the wheel in fresh base and [mcp] virtual environments, run pip check, verify all five console entry points, and import the base and MCP modules.
9. Push only after CI passes. Create vX.Y.Z from that exact commit; the publish workflow rejects a tag that differs from either package version.
10. After publishing, install python-substack==X.Y.Z from PyPI in a clean environment and repeat the smoke checks before announcing.

Live tests create disposable drafts and must never publish. Confirm cleanup in the publication after each run. If an artifact is defective, yank it rather than attempting to replace the same version.