docs(instructions): add release decision policy for batched changes#13
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Adds a 'Release decision policy' section to .github/instructions/project.instructions.md describing how to decide whether a batch of merged changes (typically Dependabot PRs) warrants proposing a version bump. Introduces per-client matrices (VS Code, VS 2026) classifying changes as release-worthy (Yes) or not (No) based on whether they actually reach the published VSIX, and codifies the agent workflow on a batch of merges (classify, recommend bump only when any 'Yes' row triggers, never edit version files without explicit developer confirmation).
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Summary
Adds a Release decision policy section to
.github/instructions/project.instructions.mdso agents (and humans) have a clear, written rule for deciding whether a batch of merged changes — typically a stack of Dependabot PRs — warrants proposing a version bump and a new release.What it adds
src/vscode/) — classifies each kind of change (TypeScript, runtimedependencies,engines.vscode, NLS strings, dev-dependencies, transitive lockfile bumps, docs / CI, …) as release-worthy (Yes) or not (No), and suggests the bump level.src/vs2026/) — same shape, accounting for which NuGet packages actually ship in the VSIX (runtimePackageReferencevsPrivateAssets="all"/ analyzers / build-only).Why
We currently get long-running Dependabot stacks (esbuild major bumps, transitive
shell-quote/form-data/undici/markdown-it/js-yamlsecurity alerts) plus occasional functional changes. Without an explicit policy, agents were inconsistent — sometimes proposing a release for a dev-only lockfile bump, sometimes skipping a real runtime dependency upgrade. The matrices make the decision deterministic and reviewable.Out of scope