fix: Modified github workflows for release and remove check-branch workflow

.github/workflows/back-merge-pr.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+# Opens a PR from master → development after changes land on master (back-merge).
+#
+# Org/repo Settings → Actions → General → Workflow permissions: read and write
+# (so GITHUB_TOKEN can create pull requests). Or use a PAT in secret GH_TOKEN.
+
+name: Back-merge master to development
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: [master]
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  pull-requests: write
+
+jobs:
+  open-back-merge-pr:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Open back-merge PR if needed
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          git fetch origin development master
+
+          MASTER_SHA=$(git rev-parse origin/master)
+          DEV_SHA=$(git rev-parse origin/development)
+
+          if [ "$MASTER_SHA" = "$DEV_SHA" ]; then
+            echo "master and development are at the same commit; nothing to back-merge."
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          EXISTING=$(gh pr list --repo "${{ github.repository }}" \
+            --base development \
+            --head master \
+            --state open \
+            --json number \
+            --jq 'length')
+
+          if [ "$EXISTING" -gt 0 ]; then
+            echo "An open PR from master to development already exists; skipping."
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          gh pr create --repo "${{ github.repository }}" \
+            --base development \
+            --head master \
+            --title "chore: back-merge master into development" \
+            --body "Automated back-merge after changes landed on \`master\`. Review and merge to keep \`development\` in sync."
+
+          echo "Created back-merge PR master → development."

.github/workflows/check-version-bump.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+# Runs only when production code under src/ changes. Version must be > latest v* tag (not vs base branch).
+
+name: Check Version Bump
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+
+jobs:
+  check-version-bump:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+      - name: Validate version and changelog updates
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+
+          VERSION_FILE="package.json"
+          CHANGELOG_FILE="CHANGELOG.md"
+          BASE_SHA="${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}"
+          HEAD_SHA="${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}"
+
+          mapfile -t CHANGED_FILES < <(git diff --name-only "$BASE_SHA" "$HEAD_SHA")
+          if [ "${#CHANGED_FILES[@]}" -eq 0 ]; then
+            echo "No changed files detected."
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          is_production_source_change() {
+            local f="$1"
+            [[ "$f" == src/* ]]
+          }
+
+          has_source_changes=false
+          for file in "${CHANGED_FILES[@]}"; do
+            if is_production_source_change "$file"; then
+              has_source_changes=true
+              break
+            fi
+          done
+
+          if [ "$has_source_changes" = false ]; then
+            echo "Skipping: no src/ production code changes."
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          changed_file() {
+            local target="$1"
+            for file in "${CHANGED_FILES[@]}"; do
+              if [ "$file" = "$target" ]; then
+                return 0
+              fi
+            done
+            return 1
+          }
+
+          changed_file "$VERSION_FILE" || { echo "Version bump required in $VERSION_FILE."; exit 1; }
+          changed_file "$CHANGELOG_FILE" || { echo "Matching changelog update required in $CHANGELOG_FILE."; exit 1; }
+
+          head_version=$(node -e "console.log(require('./package.json').version)")
+          CHANGELOG_HEAD=$(sed -nE 's/^## v?([^[:space:]]+).*/\1/p' "$CHANGELOG_FILE" | head -1)
+
+          [ -n "$CHANGELOG_HEAD" ] || { echo "::error::Could not find a top changelog heading like '## vX.Y.Z' in $CHANGELOG_FILE."; exit 1; }
+          [ "$CHANGELOG_HEAD" = "$head_version" ] || { echo "::error::$CHANGELOG_FILE top version ($CHANGELOG_HEAD) does not match project version ($head_version)."; exit 1; }
+
+          latest_tag=$(git tag --list 'v*' --sort=-version:refname | sed -n '1p')
+          latest_version="${latest_tag#v}"
+          [ -n "$latest_version" ] || latest_version="0.0.0"
+
+          version_gt() {
+            python3 -c 'import sys;v=lambda s:[int(x) if x.isdigit() else 0 for x in (s.strip().lstrip("v").split("-",1)[0].split("+",1)[0].split(".")+["0","0","0"])[:3]];print("true" if v(sys.argv[1])>v(sys.argv[2]) else "false")' "$1" "$2"
+          }
+
+          [ "$(version_gt "$head_version" "$latest_version")" = "true" ] || { echo "Version must be greater than latest tag version ($latest_version). Found $head_version."; exit 1; }

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ name: Unit-Test-CI
 
 on:
   push:
-    branches: [ master, staging, development ]
+    branches: [ master, development ]
   pull_request:
-    branches: [ master, staging, development ]
+    branches: [ master, development ]
 
 jobs:
   build-test:

.github/workflows/npm-publish.yml

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# This workflow will publish a package to GitHub Packages when a release is created
+# This workflow publishes packages when a GitHub Release is created for a version tag.
 # For more information see: https://help.github.com/actions/language-and-framework-guides/publishing-nodejs-packages
 
 name: Publish package to NPM repository
@@ -8,9 +8,12 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   publish-npm:
+    if: ${{ startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'v') && !github.event.release.draft }}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: '22.x'
@@ -20,9 +23,12 @@ jobs:
         env:
           NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
   publish-git:
+    if: ${{ startsWith(github.event.release.tag_name, 'v') && !github.event.release.draft }}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: '22.x'

AGENTS.md

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ npm run download-regions   # regions.json only (also run as part of prebuild)
 
 `npm test` runs **`pretest` → `npm run build`**, then Jest with coverage; outputs under **`reports/`**. Use **`npm run test:debug`** for Jest watch mode (`--runInBand`).
 
-**CI:** `.github/workflows/ci.yml` (unit tests / coverage on `development`, `staging`, `master`). Branch rules: `.github/workflows/check-branch.yml`. Publish: `.github/workflows/npm-publish.yml` (on GitHub release).
+**CI:** `.github/workflows/ci.yml` (unit tests / coverage on `development`, `master`). Publish: `.github/workflows/npm-publish.yml` (GitHub **Release** created for tag `v*`; draft releases are skipped). Back-merge automation: `.github/workflows/back-merge-pr.yml`.
 
 Install: `npm i @contentstack/utils` — see root **`README.md`** and **`package.json`** for the current version.
 

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Thank you for your interest in contributing to Contentstack Utils JavaScript. Th
 
 **All pull requests must be raised against the `development` branch.**
 
-Do not open PRs against `master` or `staging`. Create your feature or fix branch from `development`, and open your PR to merge into `development`. Maintainers will handle promotion to other branches after review.
+Feature/fix PRs should merge into `development`. Release PRs are raised by maintainers directly from `development` to `master`.
 
 ## Getting Started
 
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ Husky is used for Git hooks. Before each commit, the pre-commit hook runs. Ensur
    git rebase upstream/development
    ```
 
-2. **Open a Pull Request** against the **`development`** branch (not `master` or `staging`).
+2. **Open a Pull Request** against the **`development`** branch for feature/fix work. Maintainers handle release PRs from `development` to `master`.
 
 3. **Fill out the PR template** (if one exists) and provide:
    - A clear title and description of the change

skills/dev-workflow/SKILL.md

@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ description: Branches, CI, build/test/lint commands, git hooks, PR expectations,
 
 ### Branches and PRs
 
-- **CI** (`Unit-Test-CI`) runs on **push/PR** to `development`, `staging`, and `master` (`.github/workflows/ci.yml`).
-- **Branch check:** PRs **into `staging`** from a head branch other than **`development`** fail (`.github/workflows/check-branch.yml`). Prefer **`development`** as the integration branch when aligning with upstream.
+- **CI** (`Unit-Test-CI`) runs on **push/PR** to `development` and `master` (`.github/workflows/ci.yml`).
+- Feature/fix PRs should target **`development`**. Release PRs are raised directly from **`development`** to **`master`**.
 - Confirm target branch with maintainers if unsure.
 
 ### Commands
@@ -43,4 +43,4 @@ description: Branches, CI, build/test/lint commands, git hooks, PR expectations,
 
 - Version in **`package.json`** and **`CHANGELOG.md`**.
 - **`prepublishOnly`** runs **`npm test`**.
-- **npm / GitHub Packages:** `.github/workflows/npm-publish.yml` on **release `created`**; secrets `NPM_TOKEN`, `GIT_TOKEN` (maintainers).
+- **npm / GitHub Packages:** `.github/workflows/npm-publish.yml` on **`release: types: [created]`** for tag **`v*`** (draft releases skipped); secrets `NPM_TOKEN`, `GIT_TOKEN` (maintainers).