release: v0.40.1 [skip ci]

DEVX-127: fix: fall back to CI token when reviewer self-approval is rejected
chore: update badge URLs to commit a22225af [skip ci]
2026-07-12 16:34:45 +00:00 · 2026-07-12 16:33:53 +00:00 · 2026-07-12 01:53:50 +00:00 · 2026-07-12 01:52:40 +00:00 · 2026-07-11 23:09:11 +00:00 · 2026-07-11 23:08:23 +00:00
37 changed files with 2381 additions and 595 deletions
@@ -10,9 +10,11 @@ name: Build Images
 #   to PyPI, so the image always has the latest released version.
 # - Manually via workflow_dispatch
 #
+# Consolidated into 2 jobs (from 3):
+#   build-and-push (includes release-commit detection) ──→ cleanup
+#
 # The workflow builds 3 tier images in sequence:
 #   ci-base → ci-quality → ci-full
-#
 # Each tier builds FROM the previous one, so they must be built in order.
 # After pushing, a cleanup job removes old versions (keeps last 2 + latest).

@@ -28,9 +30,9 @@ concurrency:
  cancel-in-progress: false

 jobs:
-  detect-type:
+  build-and-push:
    runs-on: docker
-    timeout-minutes: 5
+    timeout-minutes: 30
    outputs:
      is-release: ${{ steps.check.outputs.is-release }}
    steps:
@@ -40,7 +42,7 @@ jobs:
      - name: Set up environment
        env:
          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-        run: make setup-ci
+        run: make setup-release
      - name: Check if this is a release commit
        id: check
        env:
@@ -48,25 +50,12 @@ jobs:
        run: |
          . .venv/bin/activate
          python3 -m devx.ci.detect_release_commit
-
-  build-and-push:
-    needs: [detect-type]
-    if: >-
-      needs.detect-type.outputs.is-release == 'false' && (
-        github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' ||
-        (github.event_name == 'workflow_run' && github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success')
-      )
-    runs-on: docker
-    timeout-minutes: 30
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-      - name: Set up environment
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-        run: make setup-release
      - name: Docker registry login
+        if: >-
+          steps.check.outputs.is-release == 'false' && (
+            github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' ||
+            (github.event_name == 'workflow_run' && github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success')
+          )
        env:
          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
          CI_GITEA_USERNAME: ${{ vars.CI_GITEA_USERNAME }}
@@ -78,6 +67,11 @@ jobs:
          if [ -z "$_TOKEN" ]; then echo "Gitea API token not set — skipping Docker login"; exit 1; fi
          echo "$_TOKEN" | docker login git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi -u "$CI_GITEA_USERNAME" --password-stdin
      - name: Build and push tier images
+        if: >-
+          steps.check.outputs.is-release == 'false' && (
+            github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' ||
+            (github.event_name == 'workflow_run' && github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success')
+          )
        env:
          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
          CI_GITEA_USERNAME: ${{ vars.CI_GITEA_USERNAME }}
@@ -123,7 +117,7 @@ jobs:

  cleanup:
    needs: [build-and-push]
-    if: always() && needs.build-and-push.result == 'success'
+    if: always() && needs.build-and-push.result == 'success' && needs.build-and-push.outputs.is-release == 'false'
    runs-on: docker
    timeout-minutes: 10
    steps:
@@ -5,20 +5,35 @@ on:
    types: [opened, synchronize]
  workflow_dispatch:

+env:
+  PIP_BREAK_SYSTEM_PACKAGES: "1"
+  PYTHONPATH: src
+  CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
+  CI_GITEA_USERNAME: ${{ vars.CI_GITEA_USERNAME }}
+
 jobs:
-  quality:
+  # Single validation job that merges: quality, detect-changes,
+  # release-dry-run, pr-review, and pre-merge-check.
+  # Uses ci-full image (has git-cliff for release-dry-run).
+  # Saves ~4x checkout+setup overhead vs 5 separate jobs.
+  validate:
    runs-on: docker
-    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-quality:latest
-    timeout-minutes: 10
+    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-full:latest
+    timeout-minutes: 15
    defaults:
      run:
        shell: bash
+    outputs:
+      user-facing-changed: ${{ steps.detect.outputs.user-facing-changed }}
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
      - name: Set up environment
        env:
          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
        run: make setup-image
+      # --- quality steps ---
      - name: Lint all
        run: |
          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
@@ -29,14 +44,11 @@ jobs:
          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
          make pytest-cov
      - name: Check unit test speed
-        env:
-          PYTHONPATH: src
        run: |
          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
          python3 -m devx.tools.check_test_speed --max-seconds 6 --max-single-seconds 0.5
      - name: Documentation gate (coverage + stale refs + lint + version refs + prose)
        env:
-          PYTHONPATH: src
          DEVX_DOC_COVERAGE_STRICT: "1"
          DEVX_VALE_LEVEL: warning
        run: |
@@ -44,8 +56,6 @@ jobs:
          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
          make devx-docs-check
      - name: Translation completeness check
-        env:
-          PYTHONPATH: src
        run: |
          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
          python3 -m devx.ci.check_translations
@@ -66,97 +76,69 @@ jobs:
          else
            echo "act_runner not found — skipping workflow dry-run (static lint still passed)"
          fi
-
-  detect-changes:
-    runs-on: docker
-    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-base:latest
-    timeout-minutes: 10
-    defaults:
-      run:
-        shell: bash
-    outputs:
-      user-facing-changed: ${{ steps.detect.outputs.user-facing-changed }}
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-      - name: Set up environment
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-        run: make setup-image
+      # --- detect-changes step ---
      - name: Detect changed paths
        id: detect
-        env:
-          PYTHONPATH: src
        run: |
          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
          python3 -m devx.ci.classify_changes \
            --base "origin/master" \
            --head "${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha || github.sha }}" \
            --github-output
-
-  release-dry-run:
-    needs: [quality, detect-changes]
-    if: needs.detect-changes.outputs.user-facing-changed == 'true'
-    runs-on: docker
-    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-full:latest
-    timeout-minutes: 10
-    defaults:
-      run:
-        shell: bash
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-      - name: Set up environment
+      # --- validate-pr + pr-review steps (PR only) ---
+      - name: Validate auto-merge preconditions
+        if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-        run: make setup-image
+          VIKUNJA_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.VIKUNJA_TOKEN }}
+          DEVX_VIKUNJA_PROJECT_ID: "8"
+          HEAD_REF: ${{ github.head_ref }}
+          PR_TITLE: ${{ github.event.pull_request.title }}
+          REPOSITORY: ${{ github.repository }}
+          PR_NUMBER: ${{ github.event.number }}
+        run: |
+          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
+          python3 -m devx.ci.check_auto_merge_ready \
+            --branch "$HEAD_REF" \
+            --pr-title "$PR_TITLE" \
+            --repo "$REPOSITORY" \
+            --pr-number "$PR_NUMBER"
+      - name: Run automated PR review
+        if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
+        run: |
+          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
+          set -euo pipefail
+          python3 -m devx.ci.pr_review \
+            "${{ github.event.number }}" \
+            "${{ github.repository }}"
+      # --- release-dry-run step (conditional) ---
      - name: Release dry-run validation
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
+        if: steps.detect.outputs.user-facing-changed == 'true'
        run: |
          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
          python3 -m devx.ci.release --dry-run
-
-  pr-review:
-    if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
-    runs-on: docker
-    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-base:latest
-    timeout-minutes: 10
-    defaults:
-      run:
-        shell: bash
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - name: Set up environment
+      - name: Notify on failure
+        if: failure()
        env:
          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-        run: make setup-image
-      - name: Run automated PR review
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
        run: |
-          set -euo pipefail
          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
-          python3 -m devx.ci.pr_review \
-            "${{ github.event.number }}" \
-            "${{ github.repository }}"
+          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
+          python3 -m devx.ci.notify_failure \
+            --repo "${{ github.repository }}" \
+            --run-id "${{ github.run_id }}" \
+            --workflow "ci/validate" \
+            --commit "${{ github.sha }}" \
+            --auto-login

  auto-merge:
-    # Auto-merge runs after all CI checks pass. It reads the task ID
+    # Auto-merge runs after validate passes. It reads the task ID
    # from the branch name, validates the PR title, and squash-merges.
-    # Uses always() so it runs even when detect-changes skips (no user-facing changes).
-    needs: [quality, detect-changes, pr-review, release-dry-run]
+    needs: [validate]
    if: >-
      always() &&
      github.event_name == 'pull_request' &&
-      needs.quality.result == 'success' &&
-      needs.pr-review.result == 'success' &&
-      (needs.release-dry-run.result == 'success' || needs.release-dry-run.result == 'skipped')
+      needs.validate.result == 'success'
    runs-on: docker
    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-base:latest
    timeout-minutes: 10
@@ -175,9 +157,9 @@ jobs:
      - name: Post approval review
        env:
          REVIEWER_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.REVIEWER_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
+          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
          PR_NUMBER: ${{ github.event.number }}
          REPOSITORY: ${{ github.repository }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
        run: |
          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
          python3 -m devx.ci.pr_review \
@@ -186,13 +168,12 @@ jobs:
            --event APPROVE \
            --checklist-confirmed \
            --checklist-categories 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 \
-            --body "Auto-approved: all CI checks passed (quality, pr-review, release-dry-run)."
+            --body "Auto-approved: all CI checks passed (validate job)."
      - name: Squash merge with task ID
        env:
          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
          VIKUNJA_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.VIKUNJA_TOKEN }}
          DEVX_VIKUNJA_PROJECT_ID: "8"
-          PYTHONPATH: src
          HEAD_REF: ${{ github.head_ref }}
          PR_TITLE: ${{ github.event.pull_request.title }}
          REPOSITORY: ${{ github.repository }}
@@ -1,39 +1,39 @@
 name: Post-merge

-# Runs on every push to master. A single workflow with conditional jobs
-# for release, publish, wiki sync, badges, and Vikunja task updates.
+# Runs on every push to master (after CI workflow merges a PR).
+# Consolidated into 2 jobs (from 7) to reduce runner overhead:
+#   detect-and-configure ──→ release-and-maintain
 #
-# Job dependency graph:
+# Job 1: detect release commit, validate commit msg, configure repo
+#        (branch protection, labels).
+# Job 2: release + publish + sync-wiki + vikunja + badges.
+#        Individual steps are conditional on job 1 outputs.
 #
-#   detect-type ──┬── validate-commit-msg (skip if release commit)
-#                 ├── release (skip if release commit)
-#                 │   └── publish (needs release — builds & publishes to PyPI)
-#                 ├── badges (needs release — ALWAYS runs, waits for release
-#                 │           so version badge picks up new __version__)
-#                 ├── configure-repo (independent — skip if release commit)
-#                 ├── sync-wiki (skip if release commit — runs for ALL merges)
-#                 └── vikunja (skip if release commit — runs for ALL merges)
-#
-# sync-wiki and vikunja run for ALL non-release commits, not just when
-# release succeeds. This ensures the wiki and task tracker are updated
-# even for infrastructure-only changes (docs, CI config, etc.).
-#
-# The badges job uses `if: always()` and needs `release` so it waits for
-# the release job to complete (whether it ran or was skipped). This ensures
-# the version badge always reflects the latest __version__ on master.
-# Badges run on every push to master, including release commits.
+# The badges step always runs (even on release commits) so version
+# badge picks up the new __version__. It runs last so it sees the
+# new version if release created one.
 #
 # When release creates a "release: vX.Y.Z" commit and tag, the publish
-# job (which depends on release) builds and publishes the package to the
-# Gitea PyPI registry. The release commit's post-merge run still updates
-# badges (version badge picks up the new version). Other jobs skip.
+# step builds and publishes the package to the Gitea PyPI registry.
+# The release commit's post-merge run still updates badges. Other
+# steps (sync-wiki, vikunja) skip on release commits.

 on:
  push:
    branches: [master]

+concurrency:
+  group: post-merge-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+env:
+  PIP_BREAK_SYSTEM_PACKAGES: "1"
+  PYTHONPATH: src
+  CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
+  CI_GITEA_USERNAME: ${{ vars.CI_GITEA_USERNAME }}
+
 jobs:
-  detect-type:
+  detect-and-configure:
    runs-on: docker
    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-base:latest
    timeout-minutes: 10
@@ -42,184 +42,67 @@ jobs:
        shell: bash
    outputs:
      is-release: ${{ steps.check.outputs.is-release }}
+      is-automated: ${{ steps.check.outputs.is-automated }}
+      user-facing-changed: ${{ steps.detect.outputs.user-facing-changed }}
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
        with:
-          fetch-depth: 1
+          fetch-depth: 0
      - name: Set up environment
        env:
          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
        run: make setup-image
+      - name: Ensure branch protection and labels
+        env:
+          DEVX_REPO_NAME: devx
+          DEVX_REPO_OWNER: oblachno-oss
+          DEVX_STATUS_CHECKS: "CI / validate (pull_request)"
+        run: |
+          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
+          python3 -m devx.tools.configure_repo
      - name: Check if this is a release commit
        id: check
-        env:
-          PYTHONPATH: src
        run: |
          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
          python3 -m devx.ci.detect_release_commit
-
-  validate-commit-msg:
-    needs: [detect-type]
-    if: needs.detect-type.outputs.is-release == 'false'
-    runs-on: docker
-    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-base:latest
-    timeout-minutes: 5
-    defaults:
-      run:
-        shell: bash
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 1
-      - name: Set up environment
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-        run: make setup-image
      - name: Validate latest commit message
-        env:
-          PYTHONPATH: src
+        if: steps.check.outputs.is-automated == 'false'
        run: |
          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
          git log -1 --format=%B > commit-msg.txt
          python3 -m devx.ci.validate_commit_msg commit-msg.txt --branch master
          rm -f commit-msg.txt
+      - name: Detect changed paths
+        id: detect
+        if: steps.check.outputs.is-release == 'false'
+        run: |
+          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
+          python3 -m devx.ci.classify_changes \
+            --base "HEAD~1" \
+            --head "HEAD" \
+            --github-output
+      - name: Notify on failure
+        if: failure()
+        env:
+          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
+          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
+          python3 -m devx.ci.notify_failure \
+            --repo "${{ github.repository }}" \
+            --run-id "${{ github.run_id }}" \
+            --workflow "post-merge/detect-and-configure" \
+            --commit "${{ github.sha }}" \
+            --auto-login

-  release:
-    needs: [detect-type]
-    if: needs.detect-type.outputs.is-release == 'false'
+  release-and-maintain:
+    needs: [detect-and-configure]
+    if: always() && needs.detect-and-configure.result == 'success'
    runs-on: docker
    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-full:latest
    timeout-minutes: 15
-    defaults:
-      run:
-        shell: bash
    outputs:
      tag: ${{ steps.release-tag.outputs.tag }}
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          token: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-      - name: Set up environment
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-        run: make setup-image
-      - name: Configure git
-        run: |
-          git config user.name "devx-ci-bot"
-          git config user.email "devx-ci-bot@oblachno.fyi"
-      - name: Run release
-        id: release-tag
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
-        run: |
-          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
-          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
-          python3 -m devx.ci.release
-      - name: Notify on failure
-        if: failure()
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
-        run: |
-          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
-          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
-          python3 -m devx.ci.notify_failure \
-            --repo "${{ github.repository }}" \
-            --run-id "${{ github.run_id }}" \
-            --workflow "post-merge/release" \
-            --commit "${{ github.sha }}" \
-            --auto-login
-
-  publish:
-    needs: [release]
-    if: needs.release.outputs.tag != ''
-    runs-on: docker
-    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-full:latest
-    timeout-minutes: 10
-    defaults:
-      run:
-        shell: bash
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          ref: ${{ needs.release.outputs.tag }}
-      - name: Set up environment
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-        run: make setup-image EXTRAS=release
-      - name: Build and publish release
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
-        run: |
-          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
-          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
-          python3 -m devx.ci.publish "${{ needs.release.outputs.tag }}" "${{ github.repository }}" --auto-login
-      - name: Notify on failure
-        if: failure()
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
-        run: |
-          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
-          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
-          python3 -m devx.ci.notify_failure \
-            --repo "${{ github.repository }}" \
-            --run-id "${{ github.run_id }}" \
-            --workflow "post-merge/publish" \
-            --commit "${{ github.sha }}" \
-            --auto-login
-
-  sync-wiki:
-    needs: [detect-type]
-    if: needs.detect-type.outputs.is-release == 'false'
-    runs-on: docker
-    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-base:latest
-    timeout-minutes: 15
-    concurrency:
-      group: sync-wiki-${{ github.repository }}
-      cancel-in-progress: false
-    defaults:
-      run:
-        shell: bash
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-      - name: Set up environment
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-        run: make setup-image
-      - name: Sync documentation to wiki
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
-        run: |
-          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
-          python3 -m devx.ci.sync_wiki --repo "${{ github.repository }}" --verify
-      - name: Notify on failure
-        if: failure()
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
-        run: |
-          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
-          python3 -m devx.ci.notify_failure \
-            --repo "${{ github.repository }}" \
-            --run-id "${{ github.run_id }}" \
-            --workflow "post-merge/sync-wiki" \
-            --commit "${{ github.sha }}" \
-            --auto-login
-
-  badges:
-    needs: [detect-type, release]
-    if: always()
-    runs-on: docker
-    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-quality:latest
-    timeout-minutes: 10
    defaults:
      run:
        shell: bash
@@ -229,108 +112,72 @@ jobs:
          fetch-depth: 0
          ref: master
          token: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-      - name: Fetch latest master
-        run: |
-          git fetch origin master
-          git reset --hard origin/master
      - name: Set up environment
        env:
          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-        run: make setup-image
+        run: make setup-image EXTRAS=release
+      - name: Configure git
+        run: |
+          git config user.name "devx-ci-bot"
+          git config user.email "devx-ci-bot@oblachno.fyi"
+      # --- release + publish (only if user-facing changes, not a release commit) ---
+      - name: Run release
+        id: release-tag
+        if: needs.detect-and-configure.outputs.is-release == 'false' && needs.detect-and-configure.outputs.user-facing-changed == 'true'
+        env:
+          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
+          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
+          python3 -m devx.ci.release
+      - name: Build and publish release
+        if: steps.release-tag.outputs.tag != ''
+        env:
+          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
+          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
+          git fetch --tags
+          git checkout "${{ steps.release-tag.outputs.tag }}"
+          python3 -m devx.ci.publish "${{ steps.release-tag.outputs.tag }}" "${{ github.repository }}" --auto-login
+      # --- sync-wiki + vikunja (skip on automated/release commits) ---
+      - name: Sync documentation to wiki
+        if: needs.detect-and-configure.outputs.is-automated == 'false'
+        env:
+          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
+          python3 -m devx.ci.sync_wiki --repo "${{ github.repository }}" --verify
+      - name: Update Vikunja task
+        if: needs.detect-and-configure.outputs.is-automated == 'false'
+        env:
+          VIKUNJA_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.VIKUNJA_TOKEN }}
+          DEVX_VIKUNJA_PROJECT_ID: "8"
+        run: |
+          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
+          python3 -m devx.ci.post_merge --git-sha "${{ github.sha }}"
+      # --- badges (always run — even on release commits) ---
      - name: Generate and push badges
        env:
          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
          PRE_COMMIT_ALLOW_NO_CONFIG: "1"
        run: |
          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
+          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
+          # Fetch latest master to pick up any release commit that was pushed
+          git fetch origin master
+          git reset --hard origin/master
          python3 -m devx.ci.push_badges
      - name: Notify on failure
        if: failure()
        env:
          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
-        run: |
-          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
-          python3 -m devx.ci.notify_failure \
-            --repo "${{ github.repository }}" \
-            --run-id "${{ github.run_id }}" \
-            --workflow "post-merge/badges" \
-            --commit "${{ github.sha }}" \
-            --auto-login
-
-  vikunja:
-    needs: [detect-type]
-    if: needs.detect-type.outputs.is-release == 'false'
-    runs-on: docker
-    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-base:latest
-    timeout-minutes: 10
-    defaults:
-      run:
-        shell: bash
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-      - name: Set up environment
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-        run: make setup-image
-      - name: Update Vikunja task
-        env:
-          VIKUNJA_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.VIKUNJA_TOKEN }}
-          DEVX_VIKUNJA_PROJECT_ID: "8"
-          PYTHONPATH: src
        run: |
          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
-          python3 -m devx.ci.post_merge --git-sha "${{ github.sha }}"
-      - name: Notify on failure
-        if: failure()
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
-        run: |
          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
          python3 -m devx.ci.notify_failure \
            --repo "${{ github.repository }}" \
            --run-id "${{ github.run_id }}" \
-            --workflow "post-merge/vikunja" \
-            --commit "${{ github.sha }}" \
-            --auto-login
-
-  configure-repo:
-    needs: [detect-type]
-    if: needs.detect-type.outputs.is-release == 'false'
-    runs-on: docker
-    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-base:latest
-    timeout-minutes: 10
-    defaults:
-      run:
-        shell: bash
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - name: Set up environment
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-        run: make setup-image
-      - name: Ensure branch protection and labels
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
-          DEVX_REPO_NAME: devx
-          DEVX_REPO_OWNER: oblachno-oss
-        run: |
-          . .venv/bin/activate 2>/dev/null || true
-          python3 -m devx.tools.configure_repo
-      - name: Notify on failure
-        if: failure()
-        env:
-          CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN }}
-          PYTHONPATH: src
-        run: |
-          export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
-          python3 -m devx.ci.notify_failure \
-            --repo "${{ github.repository }}" \
-            --run-id "${{ github.run_id }}" \
-            --workflow "post-merge/configure-repo" \
+            --workflow "post-merge/release-and-maintain" \
            --commit "${{ github.sha }}" \
            --auto-login
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ Workflow YAML files (`.gitea/workflows/*.yml`) are verified with two tools:

 Both run via `make workflow-check` and are part of `make lint-all`.
 The pre-commit hook runs actionlint automatically when workflow files change.
-The CI `quality` job runs `make setup-quality` then `make lint-all`.
+The CI `validate` job runs `make setup-image` then `make lint-all`.
 CI also runs a best-effort `make workflow-dryrun` step (skipped if act_runner is not installed in the CI Docker image).

 ## Architecture
@@ -88,7 +88,9 @@ src/devx/
 │   ├── integration_guard.py # Run pytest with cross-runner fail-fast
 │   ├── check_translations.py  # Translation completeness check
 │   ├── doc_coverage.py  # Documentation coverage check
-│   └── lint_docs.py  # Documentation linter (structure, links, headings, code blocks, orphans)
+│   ├── lint_docs.py  # Documentation linter (structure, links, headings, code blocks, orphans)
+│   ├── validate_deploy_ref.py  # Validate git tag for deployments (--github-output)
+│   └── record_deployed_tag.py  # Record deployed tag to Gitea repo variable
 ├── tools/               # Developer tooling modules (run locally or by CI)
 │   ├── setup.py         # Environment setup (venv, deps, hooks)
 │   ├── install_tools.py # Install actionlint, git-cliff, act_runner, tea, hadolint, vale
@@ -113,6 +115,16 @@ src/devx/
 │   ├── pre_push_check.py    # Validate Vikunja task existence before push
 │   └── _shared.py           # Shared tool utilities
 ├── opentofu.py          # OpenTofu output helpers (get_tofu_output, get_tofu_vm_ip, get_tofu_vm_field)
+├── utils/               # Shared utilities (reusable across projects)
+│   ├── api.py            # API response helpers (is_truthy, is_falsy)
+│   ├── ssh.py            # SSH exec + wait_for_ssh (pure-Python socket check)
+│   ├── crypto.py         # Secret generation (shell-safe passwords)
+│   ├── vault.py          # Ansible vault encrypt/decrypt helpers
+│   ├── network.py        # HTTP connectivity check + wait_for_ssh
+│   ├── confirm.py        # Typed confirmation validation for destructive ops
+│   ├── json_registry.py  # File-locked JSON registry for local state
+│   ├── step_tracker.py   # Multi-step operation tracking with reports
+│   └── logging.py        # XDG-compliant logging configuration
 └── molecule/            # Optional molecule testing helpers (for Ansible projects)
    ├── discover_runners.py    # Dynamic Gitea runner discovery
    ├── distribute_molecule.py # Distribute molecule scenarios across runners (LPT scheduling, --roles-root for multi-role)
@@ -136,18 +148,24 @@ Every change to master goes through this workflow. No exceptions.
 ### Branch Protection (Required Gitea Settings)

 Branch protection and labels are automatically configured by
-`python -m devx.tools.configure_repo`, which runs as a `configure-repo` job in
-the post-merge workflow on every push to master.
+`python -m devx.tools.configure_repo`, which runs as a step in the
+`detect-and-configure` job in the post-merge workflow on every push to master.

 The following rules are enforced for `master`:
 - **Require pull request**: No direct pushes to master
 - **Require approval review**: At least 1 `APPROVE` review before merge
- **Require status checks**: CI quality must pass
+- **Require status checks**: CI validate must pass
 - **Block force pushes**: No history rewriting on master

 ### 1. Create Vikunja Task
 Create a task in Vikunja to get a `DEVX-N` identifier.

+**IMPORTANT:** The task title must NOT include the `DEVX-N:` prefix.
+The `make create-pr` and `check_auto_merge_ready` commands automatically
+prepend `DEVX-N: ` to the Vikunja task title when forming the PR title.
+If the Vikunja task title already includes the prefix, the PR title will
+have a double prefix and auto-merge validation will fail.
+
 ### 2. Create Branch
 ```bash
 git checkout master && git pull
@@ -174,8 +192,9 @@ docs: update README

 ### 6. Review the PR

-**Automated review (CI `pr-review` job):** Every PR triggers an automated
-review via `python -m devx.ci.pr_review`. This job posts a review with
+**Automated review (CI `validate` job):** Every PR triggers an automated
+review via `python -m devx.ci.pr_review` as a step in the `validate` job.
+This posts a review with
 `COMMENT` (no issues) or `REQUEST_CHANGES` (issues found):

 - Architecture compliance (no subprocess in CLI, no hardcoded URLs)
@@ -198,7 +217,7 @@ Once all checklist items are verified and comments are addressed, approve
 the PR. Then add the `ready-to-merge` label. The auto-merge workflow will:
 1. **Validate** PR title format (`DEVX-N: <vikunja task title>`) and match against Vikunja task title
 2. **Check** that at least one substantive APPROVE review exists
-3. Wait for all CI checks to pass (including the `pr-review` job)
+3. Wait for all CI checks to pass (including the `validate` job)
 4. Squash-merge with title: `DEVX-N: <conventional commit message>`
 5. The post-merge workflow marks the Vikunja task as done
 6. The release workflow automatically versions, tags, and publishes
@@ -209,36 +228,27 @@ the PR. Then add the `ready-to-merge` label. The auto-merge workflow will:
 ### Automated Release Pipeline

 After a PR is merged to master, the **post-merge workflow**
-(`.gitea/workflows/post-merge.yml`) runs automatically:
+(`.gitea/workflows/post-merge.yml`) runs automatically. Consolidated
+into 2 jobs (from 7) to reduce runner overhead:

-1. **detect-type** — Checks if the commit is a regular merge or a
-   release commit (`release: vX.Y.Z`). All subsequent jobs skip for
-   release commits (except badges).
+1. **detect-and-configure** — Configures repo (branch protection, labels),
+   detects release commit, validates commit message. Outputs `is-release`
+   and `is-automated` for the next job.

-2. **release** — Runs `python -m devx.ci.release` which:
-   - Checks for user-facing changes via `python -m devx.ci.classify_changes`
-   - Uses **git-cliff** to calculate the next semver version from conventional commits
-   - Updates `__version__` in `src/devx/__init__.py` (single source of truth)
-   - Updates `CHANGELOG.md` with the new version section
-   - Runs `make lint-ruff` and `make pytest-cov` to verify the release is healthy
-   - Commits with `release: vX.Y.Z [skip ci]` prefix
-   - Creates an annotated tag `vX.Y.Z` on the release commit
-   - Pushes both the commit and tag to master
-
-3. **sync-wiki** — Syncs documentation to the Gitea wiki. Runs for ALL
-   non-release commits (not only when release succeeds), so docs-only
-   changes still update the wiki.
-
-4. **badges** — Generates and pushes quality badge SVGs to the `badges` branch.
-   Uses `if: always()` so it runs on every push, including release commits.
-
-5. **vikunja** — Marks the corresponding Vikunja task as done. Runs for ALL
-   non-release commits (not only when release succeeds), so infrastructure-only
-   changes still update the task tracker.
-
-6. **publish** — Runs after release succeeds (needs: release). Builds and
-   publishes the package to the Gitea PyPI registry. Gets the tag from the
-   release job's `tag` output (written via `GITHUB_OUTPUT`).
+2. **release-and-maintain** — Runs all post-merge maintenance as
+   conditional steps:
+   - **release** (if not a release commit) — Runs `python -m devx.ci.release`
+     which checks for user-facing changes via `classify_changes`, uses
+     git-cliff for semver, updates `__version__`, updates `CHANGELOG.md`,
+     runs lint+tests, commits with `release: vX.Y.Z [skip ci]`, creates
+     annotated tag, pushes to master.
+   - **publish** (if release created a tag) — Builds and publishes the
+     package to the Gitea PyPI registry. Checks out the release tag
+     within the same job.
+   - **sync-wiki** (if not automated) — Syncs documentation to the Gitea wiki.
+   - **vikunja** (if not automated) — Marks the corresponding Vikunja task as done.
+   - **badges** (always) — Generates and pushes quality badge SVGs to the
+     `badges` branch. Fetches latest master first to pick up release commits.

 ### Smart CI: User-Facing vs Workflow-Only Changes

@@ -344,12 +354,11 @@ dependency is skipped, even if the condition explicitly allows

 ```yaml
 auto-merge:
-  needs: [quality, detect-changes, pr-review, molecule-tests]
+  needs: [validate, molecule-tests]
  if: >-
    always() &&
    github.event_name == 'pull_request' &&
-    needs.quality.result == 'success' &&
-    needs.pr-review.result == 'success' &&
+    needs.validate.result == 'success' &&
    (needs.molecule-tests.result == 'success' || needs.molecule-tests.result == 'skipped')
 ```

@@ -487,9 +496,9 @@ to eliminate the 40-120s setup tax on every CI job:

 | Image | Contains | Used by jobs |
 |-------|----------|-------------|
-| `ci-base-latest` | Python 3.12 + devx[ci] + tea | detect-changes, detect-type, validate-commit-msg, pr-review, auto-merge, sync-wiki, vikunja, configure-repo |
-| `ci-quality-latest` | ci-base + devx[lint] + actionlint + checkmake + hadolint | quality, badges |
-| `ci-full-latest` | ci-quality + devx[release,molecule,deploy] + git-cliff + OpenTofu | release, publish, release-dry-run, molecule-tests, deploy jobs |
+| `ci-base-latest` | Python 3.12 + devx[ci] + tea | auto-merge, detect-and-configure |
+| `ci-quality-latest` | ci-base + devx[lint] + actionlint + checkmake + hadolint | (badges in release-and-maintain uses ci-full) |
+| `ci-full-latest` | ci-quality + devx[release,molecule,deploy] + git-cliff + OpenTofu | validate, release-and-maintain, molecule-tests, build-and-push |

 **Build process** (in `build-images.yml` workflow):
 1. `ci-base` builds FROM `gitea/runner-images:ubuntu-latest`
@@ -502,9 +511,9 @@ Each image is tagged `latest` and pushed to
 **Using images in workflows**:
 ```yaml
 jobs:
-  quality:
+  validate:
    runs-on: docker
-    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-quality:latest
+    container: git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/runner-images/ci-full:latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: Set up environment
@@ -586,7 +595,7 @@ the user should not need to specify which profile to use.

 | Profile | Purpose |
 |---------|---------|
-| `ci-investigator` | Investigate CI failures (quality, release, publish, wiki sync, image build) |
+| `ci-investigator` | Investigate CI failures (validate, release-and-maintain, build-images) |
 | `dep-upgrader` | Python dependency upgrades in pyproject.toml with dep-doc validation |
 | `docker-image-builder` | Build/push/cleanup 3-tier runner images (ci-base, ci-quality, ci-full) |
 | `doc-sync-specialist` | Doc coverage, doc linting, wiki sync integrity |
@@ -596,7 +605,7 @@ the user should not need to specify which profile to use.

 | Trigger | Profile | Mode |
 |---------|---------|------|
-| CI run failure (quality, release, publish, sync-wiki, build-images) | `ci-investigator` | Background |
+| CI run failure (validate, release-and-maintain, build-images) | `ci-investigator` | Background |
 | PR ready for review | `pr-reviewer` | Foreground |
 | Dependency upgrade requested | `dep-upgrader` | Background |
 | Docker image build/push needed | `docker-image-builder` | Background |
@@ -2,6 +2,24 @@

 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.

+## [0.40.1] - 2026-07-12
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Fall back to CI token when reviewer self-approval is rejected
+
+## [0.40.0] - 2026-07-11
+
+### Features
+
+- Detect double-prefix in Vikunja task title during pre-merge validation
+
+## [0.39.0] - 2026-07-09
+
+### Features
+
+- Extract shared utilities from infra and grm into devx
+
 ## [0.38.0] - 2026-07-08

 ### Features
@@ -16,12 +16,12 @@ quality badges.

 [![CI](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
 [![License: GPL-3.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-GPL--3.0-blue)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/src/branch/master/LICENSE)
-[![Coverage](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/fe1871151080d6188805f2a31916f7007d10849b/coverage.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
-[![Tests](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/fe1871151080d6188805f2a31916f7007d10849b/tests.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
-[![Docs](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/fe1871151080d6188805f2a31916f7007d10849b/docs.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/wiki)
-[![Code Quality](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/fe1871151080d6188805f2a31916f7007d10849b/quality.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
-[![Version](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/fe1871151080d6188805f2a31916f7007d10849b/version.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/releases)
-[![Python](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/fe1871151080d6188805f2a31916f7007d10849b/python.svg)](https://www.python.org/downloads/)
+[![Coverage](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/a22225afd192a03120847054053e296b653bb888/coverage.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
+[![Tests](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/a22225afd192a03120847054053e296b653bb888/tests.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
+[![Docs](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/a22225afd192a03120847054053e296b653bb888/docs.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/wiki)
+[![Code Quality](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/a22225afd192a03120847054053e296b653bb888/quality.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
+[![Version](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/a22225afd192a03120847054053e296b653bb888/version.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/releases)
+[![Python](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/a22225afd192a03120847054053e296b653bb888/python.svg)](https://www.python.org/downloads/)

 ## Why devx?

@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ extra index and list devx in your dependencies:
 ```toml
 [project]
 dependencies = [
-    "devx>=0.38.0",
+    "devx>=0.40.1",
 ]

 [tool.pip]
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ pip install -e .
 ```

 > **Note:** If your project requires a specific devx version, pin it in
-> `dependencies` (for example, `"devx==0.38.0"`) or use a version constraint
-> (for example, `"devx>=0.38.0,<0.39"`).
+> `dependencies` (for example, `"devx==0.40.1"`) or use a version constraint
+> (for example, `"devx>=0.40.1,<0.41"`).

 ### Optional extras

@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ project to be reusable across all oblachno-oss repositories.

 [![CI](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
 [![License: GPL-3.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-GPL--3.0-blue)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/src/branch/master/LICENSE)
-[![Coverage](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/fe1871151080d6188805f2a31916f7007d10849b/coverage.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
-[![Tests](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/fe1871151080d6188805f2a31916f7007d10849b/tests.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
-[![Docs](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/fe1871151080d6188805f2a31916f7007d10849b/docs.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/wiki)
-[![Code Quality](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/fe1871151080d6188805f2a31916f7007d10849b/quality.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
-[![Version](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/fe1871151080d6188805f2a31916f7007d10849b/version.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/releases)
-[![Python](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/fe1871151080d6188805f2a31916f7007d10849b/python.svg)](https://www.python.org/downloads/)
+[![Coverage](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/a22225afd192a03120847054053e296b653bb888/coverage.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
+[![Tests](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/a22225afd192a03120847054053e296b653bb888/tests.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
+[![Docs](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/a22225afd192a03120847054053e296b653bb888/docs.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/wiki)
+[![Code Quality](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/a22225afd192a03120847054053e296b653bb888/quality.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/actions)
+[![Version](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/a22225afd192a03120847054053e296b653bb888/version.svg)](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/releases)
+[![Python](https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/oblachno-oss/devx/raw/commit/a22225afd192a03120847054053e296b653bb888/python.svg)](https://www.python.org/downloads/)

 ## Overview

@@ -74,14 +74,14 @@ Add devx to your `pyproject.toml` dependencies and configure the registry:
 ```toml
 [project]
 dependencies = [
-    "devx>=0.38.0",
+    "devx>=0.40.1",
 ]

 [tool.pip]
 extra-index-url = "https://git.oblachno.oblachno.fyi/api/packages/oblachno-oss/pypi/simple"
 ```

-Pin a specific version if needed: `"devx==0.38.0"` or `"devx>=0.38.0,<0.39"`.
+Pin a specific version if needed: `"devx==0.40.1"` or `"devx>=0.40.1,<0.41"`.

 ### Optional extras

@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ Configures repository branch protection and labels via the Gitea REST API.
 Sets up master branch protection (required status checks, block on rejected
 reviews, block on outdated branch) and creates standard labels. Status check
 contexts are read from `DEVX_STATUS_CHECKS` or default to
-`CI / quality (pull_request)`.
+`CI / validate (pull_request)`.

 ### `generate_badges.py`

@@ -456,13 +456,14 @@ Developer pushes and creates PR (title: "DEVX-N: <vikunja task title>")
    ▼
 CI workflow (ci.yml) triggers:
    │
-    ├── quality (lint, tests, coverage, test speed, doc coverage,
-    │            translation check, dependency scan, workflow dry-run)
-    │
-    ├── detect-changes (classify_changes.py → user-facing or workflow-only)
-    │       └── if user-facing → release-dry-run (release.py --dry-run)
-    │
-    ├── pr-review (pr_review.py → posts COMMENT or REQUEST_CHANGES)
+    ├── validate (single job: quality + detect-changes +
+    │            release-dry-run + pr-review + pre-merge validation)
+    │       ├── quality steps (lint, tests, coverage, test speed, doc coverage,
+    │       │                 translation check, dependency scan, workflow dry-run)
+    │       ├── detect-changes (classify_changes.py → user-facing or workflow-only)
+    │       │       └── if user-facing → release-dry-run (release.py --dry-run)
+    │       ├── pre-merge validation (check_auto_merge_ready.py)
+    │       └── pr-review (pr_review.py → posts COMMENT or REQUEST_CHANGES)
    │
    └── auto-merge (auto_merge.py)
            ├── validate PR title format
@@ -483,50 +484,54 @@ Push to master (squash-merge commit: "DEVX-N <conventional commit>")
    ▼
 Post-merge workflow (post-merge.yml) triggers:
    │
-    ├── detect-type (detect_release_commit.py)
-    │       └── is-release? → skip all jobs except badges
+    ├── detect-and-configure (single job)
+    │       ├── configure-repo (configure_repo.py)
+    │       ├── detect-type (detect_release_commit.py)
+    │       │       └── is-release? → skip all steps except badges
+    │       └── validate-commit-msg (validate_commit_msg.py --branch master)
    │
-    ├── validate-commit-msg (validate_commit_msg.py --branch master)
-    │
-    ├── release (release.py)
-    │       ├── classify_changes.py → skip if workflow-only
-    │       ├── git-cliff → calculate next version
-    │       ├── update __version__ in __init__.py
-    │       ├── update CHANGELOG.md
-    │       ├── run make lint-ruff && make pytest-cov
-    │       ├── commit "release: vX.Y.Z [skip ci]"
-    │       ├── create annotated tag vX.Y.Z
-    │       └── push commit + tag to master
-    │               │
-    │               ▼
-    │       Tag push triggers publish workflow (see below)
-    │
-    ├── sync-wiki (sync_wiki.py --strict)
-    │       └── sync docs/ to Gitea wiki with integrity check
-    │
-    ├── badges (push_badges.py) [ALWAYS runs, even on release commits]
-    │       ├── fetch latest master
-    │       ├── generate_badges.py → SVG files
-    │       ├── push to orphan badges branch
-    │       └── update README.md + docs/index.md with cache-busting URLs
-    │
-    ├── vikunja (post_merge.py)
-    │       ├── extract task ID from commit message
-    │       ├── mark Vikunja task as done
-    │       └── post comment with merge SHA
-    │
-    └── configure-repo (configure_repo.py)
-            └── ensure branch protection and labels
+    └── release-and-maintain (needs detect-and-configure)
+            ├── release (release.py) [skip if release commit or workflow-only]
+            │       ├── classify_changes.py → skip if workflow-only
+            │       ├── git-cliff → calculate next version
+            │       ├── update __version__ in __init__.py
+            │       ├── update CHANGELOG.md
+            │       ├── run make lint-ruff && make pytest-cov
+            │       ├── commit "release: vX.Y.Z [skip ci]"
+            │       ├── create annotated tag vX.Y.Z
+            │       └── push commit + tag to master
+            │               │
+            │               ▼
+            │       publish (publish.py) [if release created a tag]
+            │               ├── build package (python -m build)
+            │               ├── publish to Gitea PyPI registry (twine upload)
+            │               │   OR publish to standard PyPI (if PYPI_TOKEN set)
+            │               │   OR skip publish (if --skip-build)
+            │               └── create Gitea release with git-cliff notes
+            │
+            ├── sync-wiki (sync_wiki.py --strict) [skip if automated]
+            │       └── sync docs/ to Gitea wiki with integrity check
+            │
+            ├── vikunja (post_merge.py) [skip if automated]
+            │       ├── extract task ID from commit message
+            │       ├── mark Vikunja task as done
+            │       └── post comment with merge SHA
+            │
+            └── badges (push_badges.py) [ALWAYS runs, even on release commits]
+                    ├── fetch latest master
+                    ├── generate_badges.py → SVG files
+                    ├── push to orphan badges branch
+                    └── update README.md + docs/index.md with cache-busting URLs
 ```

 ### Publish flow

 ```text
-Tag push (vX.Y.Z) triggers publish workflow (publish.yml):
+Within release-and-maintain job (after release step creates a tag):
    │
-    ▼
    ├── install build, twine, git-cliff, tea
    ├── configure tea login
+    ├── checkout release tag
    │
    └── publish (publish.py)
            ├── build package (python -m build)
@@ -1,32 +1,29 @@
 # CI/CD Workflow

-devx uses Gitea Actions for CI/CD automation. Three workflows implement a
-complete pipeline: pull request validation, post-merge release automation, and
-tag-triggered publishing.
+devx uses Gitea Actions for CI/CD automation. Two workflows implement a
+complete pipeline: pull request validation and post-merge release
+automation (including publishing).

 ## Workflow overview

 ```text
 PR opened/synchronized ──► CI (ci.yml)
-    │                         ├── quality
-    │                         ├── detect-changes
-    │                         ├── release-dry-run (if user-facing)
-    │                         ├── pr-review
+    │                         ├── validate (quality + detect-changes +
+    │                         │              release-dry-run + pr-review +
+    │                         │              pre-merge validation)
    │                         └── auto-merge ──► squash-merge to master
    │                                              │
    ▼                                              ▼
 Push to master ──► Post-merge (post-merge.yml)
-                     ├── detect-type
-                     ├── validate-commit-msg
-                     ├── release ──► tag vX.Y.Z
-                     ├── sync-wiki        │
-                     ├── badges           │
-                     ├── vikunja          │
-                     └── configure-repo   │
-                                          │
-                                          ▼
-Tag push (v*) ──► Publish (publish.yml)
-                     └── publish ──► Gitea PyPI registry + Gitea release
+                     ├── detect-and-configure (detect-type +
+                     │                          validate-commit-msg +
+                     │                          configure-repo)
+                     └── release-and-maintain
+                          ├── release ──► tag vX.Y.Z
+                          ├── publish ──► Gitea PyPI registry + Gitea release
+                          ├── sync-wiki
+                          ├── vikunja
+                          └── badges (always runs)
 ```

 ## CI workflow (`ci.yml`)
@@ -35,9 +32,15 @@ Runs on pull requests (opened and synchronize) and manual dispatch.

 ### Jobs

-#### `quality`
+#### `validate`

-The main quality gate. Runs on every PR:
+The single validation job. Consolidates the former `quality`,
+`detect-changes`, `release-dry-run`, `pr-review`, and `pre-merge-check`
+jobs into one job to save checkout+setup overhead. Runs on every PR.
+
+**Quality steps**
+
+The main quality gate:

 1. **Lint all** — ruff check, ruff format check, pyright, bandit, actionlint
   (via `make lint-all`)
@@ -52,21 +55,21 @@ The main quality gate. Runs on every PR:
 7. **Workflow dry-run validation** — `make workflow-dryrun` via act_runner
   (best-effort, skipped if act_runner is not installed)

-#### `detect-changes`
+**`detect-changes` step**

 Classifies changes between `origin/master` and the PR head as user-facing or
 workflow-only using `python -m devx.ci.classify_changes --github-output`.
 Writes `user-facing-changed=true|false` to the job output for use by
-downstream jobs.
+downstream steps.

-#### `release-dry-run`
+**`release-dry-run` step**

-Depends on `quality` and `detect-changes`. Only runs if user-facing changes
-are detected. Runs `python -m devx.ci.release --dry-run` to validate that
-the release script can calculate the next version and generate the changelog
-without making changes. Non-blocking (uses `|| true`).
+Only runs if the detect-changes step detected user-facing changes. Runs
+`python -m devx.ci.release --dry-run` to validate that the release script
+can calculate the next version and generate the changelog without making
+changes. Non-blocking (uses `|| true`).

-#### `pr-review`
+**`pr-review` step**

 Runs on every pull request. Executes `python -m devx.ci.pr_review` with the
 PR number and repository. Fetches the PR diff via the Gitea API and runs
@@ -87,11 +90,24 @@ Checks performed:
 7. Test coverage — source changes must include test updates
 8. Commit conventions — conventional commit format on PR commits

+**Pre-merge validation step**
+
+Runs on every pull request. Executes
+`python -m devx.ci.check_auto_merge_ready` with the branch name, PR title,
+repository, and PR number. Validates auto-merge preconditions before the
+`auto-merge` job runs:
+
+1. **Branch name** — must contain a valid task ID (for example,
+   `DEVX-12-fix-foo` → `DEVX-12`)
+2. **PR title format** — must be `{PREFIX}-N: <vikunja task title>`
+3. **Vikunja task** — must exist and the title must match the PR title
+4. **Branch state** — must not be behind master
+
 #### `auto-merge`

-Depends on `quality`, `detect-changes`, and `pr-review`. The final job in the
-CI workflow. Runs `python -m devx.ci.auto_merge` with the branch name, PR
-title, repository, and PR number:
+Depends on `validate`. The final job in the CI workflow. Runs
+`python -m devx.ci.auto_merge` with the branch name, PR title, repository,
+and PR number:

 1. **Read task ID** from branch name (for example, `DEVX-12-fix-foo` → `DEVX-12`)
 2. **Validate PR title format** — must be `{PREFIX}-N: <vikunja task title>`
@@ -107,8 +123,9 @@ The merge commit push to master triggers the post-merge workflow.

 ### Smart CI: user-facing vs workflow-only changes

-Not all changes require a new release. The `detect-changes` job classifies
-changes using `python -m devx.ci.classify_changes`:
+Not all changes require a new release. The `detect-changes` step in the
+`validate` job classifies changes using
+`python -m devx.ci.classify_changes`:

 **Workflow-only paths** (infrastructure — no release needed):
 - `.gitea/**` — Gitea Actions workflows
@@ -137,55 +154,90 @@ Rule priority (first match wins):

 ## Post-merge workflow (`post-merge.yml`)

-Runs on every push to master. A single workflow with conditional jobs
-replaces separate workflows for release, wiki sync, badges, and Vikunja task
-updates.
+Runs on every push to master. Consolidated into 2 jobs (from 7) to reduce
+runner overhead: `detect-and-configure` (detect-type + validate-commit-msg +
+configure-repo) and `release-and-maintain` (release + publish + sync-wiki +
+badges + vikunja). Individual steps within `release-and-maintain` are
+conditional on the `detect-and-configure` job's outputs.

 ### Job dependency graph

 ```text
-detect-type ──┬── validate-commit-msg (skip if release commit)
-              ├── release (skip if release commit)
-              │       │
-              │       ├── sync-wiki (needs release)
-              │       ├── badges (needs release, ALWAYS runs)
-              │       └── vikunja (needs release)
-              └── configure-repo (independent, skip if release commit)
+detect-and-configure
+    ├── configure-repo (independent, skip if release commit)
+    ├── detect-type → is-release? is-automated?
+    └── validate-commit-msg (skip if release commit)
+            │
+            ▼
+release-and-maintain (needs detect-and-configure)
+    ├── release (skip if release commit or workflow-only)
+    │       └── publish (if release created a tag)
+    ├── sync-wiki (skip if automated)
+    ├── vikunja (skip if automated)
+    └── badges (always runs)
 ```

-`sync-wiki` and `vikunja` depend on `release` succeeding so that the wiki and
-task tracker are only updated when the code is actually released. If release
-fails, they are skipped to avoid leaving the wiki or Vikunja in an
-inconsistent state.
+`sync-wiki` and `vikunja` run only on non-automated commits (that is, real PR
+merges) so that the wiki and task tracker are only updated when a human
+change lands. They skip on release commits and automated commits.

-The `badges` job uses `if: always()` with no is-release condition so it runs
-on every push to master, including release commits. This ensures badges
-(tests, coverage, version, etc.) are always current.
+The `badges` step always runs (even on release commits) so badges (tests,
+coverage, version, etc.) are always current. It runs last so it picks up
+any version bump the release step created.

 When `release` creates a `release: vX.Y.Z` commit, the release commit's
 post-merge run still updates badges (the version badge picks up the new
-version). Other jobs skip. The tag push triggers `publish.yml`.
+version). Other steps skip. The `publish` step builds and publishes the
+package to the Gitea PyPI registry within the same `release-and-maintain`
+job (it checks out the release tag).

 ### Post-merge jobs

-#### `detect-type`
+#### `detect-and-configure`
+
+The first post-merge job. Consolidates the former `detect-type`,
+`validate-commit-msg`, and `configure-repo` jobs. Outputs `is-release`,
+`is-automated`, and `user-facing-changed` for the `release-and-maintain`
+job.
+
+**`detect-type` step**

 Checks if the latest commit is a release commit (`release: vX.Y.Z [skip ci]`)
 using `python -m devx.ci.detect_release_commit`. Writes `is-release=true` or
-`is-release=false` to the job output. All subsequent jobs use this to
-conditionally skip for release commits.
+`is-release=false` (and `is-automated`) to the job output. The
+`release-and-maintain` job uses these to conditionally skip steps for
+release commits.

-#### `validate-commit-msg`
+**`validate-commit-msg` step**

-Depends on `detect-type`. Skips for release commits. Validates the latest
-commit message using `python -m devx.ci.validate_commit_msg --branch master`.
-On master, commits must follow `{PREFIX}-N: <conventional commit>` format
-(added by auto-merge).
+Skips for release/automated commits. Validates the latest commit message
+using `python -m devx.ci.validate_commit_msg --branch master`. On master,
+commits must follow `{PREFIX}-N: <conventional commit>` format (added by
+auto-merge).

-#### `release`
+**`configure-repo` step**

-Depends on `detect-type`. Skips for release commits. The core release
-automation job. Runs `python -m devx.ci.release`:
+Ensures branch protection and labels are configured using
+`python -m devx.tools.configure_repo --repo <name> --owner <owner>`:
+
+- Sets up master branch protection (required status checks, block on rejected
+  reviews, block on outdated branch)
+- Creates standard labels
+- Status check contexts read from `DEVX_STATUS_CHECKS` or default to
+  `CI / validate (pull_request)`
+
+On failure, the `notify_failure` step creates a Gitea issue.
+
+#### `release-and-maintain`
+
+Depends on `detect-and-configure`. The second post-merge job. Consolidates
+the former `release`, `publish`, `sync-wiki`, `badges`, and `vikunja` jobs.
+Individual steps are conditional on the `detect-and-configure` job's outputs.
+
+**`release` step**
+
+Skips for release commits and workflow-only changes. The core release
+automation step. Runs `python -m devx.ci.release`:

 1. **Classify changes** — calls `classify_changes.py` to check for user-facing
   changes. If only infrastructure files changed, exits without releasing.
@@ -225,11 +277,10 @@ tag/version/commit alignment.
 On failure, the `notify_failure` step creates a Gitea issue via
 `python -m devx.ci.notify_failure`.

-#### `sync-wiki`
+**`sync-wiki` step**

-Depends on `detect-type` and `release`. Skips for release commits. Syncs
-documentation from `docs/` to the Gitea wiki using
-`python -m devx.ci.sync_wiki --repo <owner/repo> --strict`:
+Skips for automated commits. Syncs documentation from `docs/` to the Gitea
+wiki using `python -m devx.ci.sync_wiki --repo <owner/repo> --strict`:

 1. Reads `docs/mapping.json` to map file paths to wiki page titles
 2. Lists existing wiki pages via the Gitea API
@@ -243,15 +294,14 @@ deleted).

 On failure, the `notify_failure` step creates a Gitea issue.

-#### `badges`
+**`badges` step**

-Depends on `detect-type` and `release`. Uses `if: always()` so it runs on
-every push to master, including release commits. Generates and pushes quality
-badges using `python -m devx.ci.push_badges`:
+Always runs (even on release commits). Generates and pushes quality badges
+using `python -m devx.ci.push_badges`:

 1. **Fetch latest master** — `git fetch origin master && git reset --hard
   origin/master` (ensures the version badge reflects the current state,
-   even if the release job recently pushed a new version)
+   even if the release step recently pushed a new version)
 2. **Generate badges** — calls `devx.tools.generate_badges` which runs
   pytest-cov, doc-coverage, lint checks, and version extraction, then writes
   SVG files: `coverage.svg`, `tests.svg`, `docs.svg`, `quality.svg`,
@@ -268,11 +318,10 @@ and waits 10s between attempts).

 On failure, the `notify_failure` step creates a Gitea issue.

-#### `vikunja`
+**`vikunja` step**

-Depends on `detect-type` and `release`. Skips for release commits. Updates
-the Vikunja task after a merge using `python -m devx.ci.post_merge --git-sha
-<sha>`:
+Skips for automated commits. Updates the Vikunja task after a merge using
+`python -m devx.ci.post_merge --git-sha <sha>`:

 1. Extracts the task ID from the first line of the commit message
 2. Marks the corresponding Vikunja task as done
@@ -280,26 +329,11 @@ the Vikunja task after a merge using `python -m devx.ci.post_merge --git-sha

 On failure, the `notify_failure` step creates a Gitea issue.

-#### `configure-repo`
+**`publish` step**

-Depends on `detect-type`. Skips for release commits. Ensures branch
-protection and labels are configured using
-`python -m devx.tools.configure_repo --repo <name> --owner <owner>`:
-
- Sets up master branch protection (required status checks, block on rejected
-  reviews, block on outdated branch)
- Creates standard labels
- Status check contexts read from `DEVX_STATUS_CHECKS` or default to
-  `CI / quality (pull_request)`
-
-On failure, the `notify_failure` step creates a Gitea issue.
-
-## Publish workflow (`publish.yml`)
-
-Runs on tag pushes matching `v*`. Triggered by the `release` job in the
-post-merge workflow when it creates and pushes a new version tag.
-
-### Job: `publish`
+Only runs if the `release` step created a tag. Builds and publishes the
+package within the same `release-and-maintain` job (checks out the release
+tag). Runs `python -m devx.ci.publish <tag> <owner/repo>`:

 1. **Install dependencies** — build, twine, requests, python-dotenv, click,
   and the project itself
@@ -518,25 +552,29 @@ The complete release process from PR to published package:
 1. **PR merged** — `auto-merge` squash-merges the PR to master with
   `{PREFIX}-N <conventional commit>` title
 2. **Post-merge triggers** — the merge push triggers `post-merge.yml`
-3. **detect-type** — confirms the commit is not a release commit
-4. **release** — `release.py` calculates the next version, updates files,
-   runs tests, commits `release: vX.Y.Z [skip ci]`, creates tag `vX.Y.Z`,
-   and pushes to master
-5. **Tag push triggers publish** — the tag push triggers `publish.yml`
-6. **publish** — `publish.py` builds the package, publishes to the Gitea PyPI
-   registry, and creates a Gitea release with git-cliff notes
-7. **sync-wiki** — documentation is synced to the Gitea wiki
-8. **badges** — quality badges are regenerated and pushed to the `badges`
-   branch; README and docs/index.md are updated with cache-busting URLs
-9. **vikunja** — the corresponding Vikunja task is marked as done
-10. **configure-repo** — branch protection and labels are ensured
+3. **detect-and-configure** — detects release commit, validates commit
+   message, and ensures branch protection/labels
+4. **release** (step in `release-and-maintain`) — `release.py` calculates
+   the next version, updates files, runs tests, commits
+   `release: vX.Y.Z [skip ci]`, creates tag `vX.Y.Z`, and pushes to master
+5. **publish** (step in `release-and-maintain`) — `publish.py` builds the
+   package, publishes to the Gitea PyPI registry, and creates a Gitea
+   release with git-cliff notes (checks out the release tag within the
+   same job)
+6. **sync-wiki** (step in `release-and-maintain`) — documentation is synced
+   to the Gitea wiki
+7. **vikunja** (step in `release-and-maintain`) — the corresponding Vikunja
+   task is marked as done
+8. **badges** (step in `release-and-maintain`) — quality badges are
+   regenerated and pushed to the `badges` branch; README and docs/index.md
+   are updated with cache-busting URLs

-The release commit's post-merge run skips all jobs except `badges` (which
+The release commit's post-merge run skips all steps except `badges` (which
 picks up the new version number). This prevents infinite loops.

 ## Failure handling

-Every job in the post-merge and publish workflows has a `notify_failure` step
+Every job in the CI and post-merge workflows has a `notify_failure` step
 that runs `if: failure()`. This creates a Gitea issue with the workflow name,
 run ID, and commit SHA, ensuring failures that would otherwise go unnoticed
 in the Actions tab are surfaced as issues. The issue is created via the tea
@@ -48,12 +48,12 @@ Add devx to your `pyproject.toml`:
 ```toml
 [project]
 dependencies = [
-    "devx>=0.38.0",
+    "devx>=0.40.1",
 ]

 [project.optional-dependencies]
 dev = [
-    "devx>=0.38.0",
+    "devx>=0.40.1",
 ]
 ```

@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 """devx — reusable development and CI/CD tools for oblachno-oss projects."""

-__version__ = "0.38.0"
+__version__ = "0.40.1"
@@ -241,17 +241,33 @@ def cli(
            else:
                click.echo("[pre-merge-check] WARNING: VIKUNJA_TOKEN not set — skipping Vikunja title match check.")
        else:
-            expected = f"{task_id}: {vikunja_title}"
-            if pr_title != expected:
+            # Defensive check: warn if the Vikunja task title already includes
+            # the task ID prefix. The expected PR title is
+            # f"{task_id}: {vikunja_title}" — if vikunja_title already starts
+            # with "{task_id}:", the PR title will have a double prefix.
+            if vikunja_title.startswith(f"{task_id}:"):
                errors.append(
                    _(
-                        "PR title does not match Vikunja task title.\n  Expected: {expected}\n  Got:      {title}",
-                        expected=expected,
-                        title=pr_title,
+                        "Vikunja task title '{title}' starts with '{prefix}:'. "
+                        "The task title should NOT include the '{prefix}' prefix — "
+                        "it is automatically added to the PR title. "
+                        "Update the Vikunja task title to remove the prefix.",
+                        title=vikunja_title,
+                        prefix=task_id,
                    ),
                )
            else:
-                click.echo(f"[pre-merge-check] Vikunja title match OK: {expected}")
+                expected = f"{task_id}: {vikunja_title}"
+                if pr_title != expected:
+                    errors.append(
+                        _(
+                            "PR title does not match Vikunja task title.\n  Expected: {expected}\n  Got:      {title}",
+                            expected=expected,
+                            title=pr_title,
+                        ),
+                    )
+                else:
+                    click.echo(f"[pre-merge-check] Vikunja title match OK: {expected}")

    # 6. Branch behind master (skip if --skip-behind-check)
    if not skip_behind_check:
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ Usage:

 from __future__ import annotations

+import os
 import re
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import Any
@@ -548,8 +549,14 @@ def _post_manual_review(
    checklist_confirmed: bool,
    checklist_categories: str | None,
    dry_run: bool,
+    owner: str | None = None,
+    repo_name: str | None = None,
 ) -> None:
-    """Post a manual review with validation for APPROVE events."""
+    """Post a manual review with validation for APPROVE events.
+
+    When self-approval is rejected (reviewer token belongs to PR author),
+    falls back to the CI token (different user) if available.
+    """
    if not body or len(body) < 50:
        raise click.ClickException(_("Review body must be at least 50 characters."))

@@ -585,8 +592,20 @@ def _post_manual_review(
        review = client.create_review(pr_number, event=event, body=body)
    except APIError as e:
        if "approve" in e.message.lower() or "422" in str(e.status):
-            click.echo(_("Note: Self-approval not allowed. Posting COMMENT instead."))
-            review = client.create_review(pr_number, event="COMMENT", body=body)
+            # Self-approval not allowed (reviewer token belongs to PR author).
+            # Fall back to CI token (different user) if available.
+            ci_token = os.environ.get("CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN", "").strip()
+            if ci_token and owner and repo_name:
+                click.echo(_("Note: Self-approval not allowed with reviewer token. Retrying with CI token."))
+                ci_client = GiteaClient(GITEA_API_URL, ci_token, owner, repo_name)
+                try:
+                    review = ci_client.create_review(pr_number, event=event, body=body)
+                except APIError:
+                    click.echo(_("Note: CI token also cannot approve. Posting COMMENT instead."))
+                    review = client.create_review(pr_number, event="COMMENT", body=body)
+            else:
+                click.echo(_("Note: Self-approval not allowed. Posting COMMENT instead."))
+                review = client.create_review(pr_number, event="COMMENT", body=body)
        else:
            raise
    review_id = review.get("id", "?")
@@ -645,7 +664,17 @@ def main(
    client = GiteaClient(GITEA_API_URL, token, owner, repo_name)

    if event is not None:
-        _post_manual_review(client, pr_number, event.upper(), body, checklist_confirmed, checklist_categories, dry_run)
+        _post_manual_review(
+            client,
+            pr_number,
+            event.upper(),
+            body,
+            checklist_confirmed,
+            checklist_categories,
+            dry_run,
+            owner=owner,
+            repo_name=repo_name,
+        )
        return

    result = run_review(client, pr_number)
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Record the deployed git tag for a given environment.
+
+Writes the tag to a Gitea repository variable so it can be queried
+later via the Gitea API or ``devx.ci.get_deployed_tag``.
+
+Usage::
+
+    python -m devx.ci.record_deployed_tag --env production --tag v0.28.1
+    python -m devx.ci.record_deployed_tag --env staging --tag master-abc1234
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import sys
+
+import click
+
+from devx.api_clients import GiteaClient
+from devx.config import GITEA_API_URL, REPO_NAME, REPO_OWNER
+from devx.i18n import _
+from devx.tokens import get_ci_token
+
+
+@click.command()
+@click.option(
+    "--env",
+    "env_name",
+    type=click.Choice(["staging", "production"]),
+    required=True,
+)
+@click.option("--tag", required=True, help=_("Git tag or ref that was deployed"))
+def main(env_name: str, tag: str) -> None:
+    """Record the deployed tag for the given environment."""
+    try:
+        token = get_ci_token()
+    except click.ClickException as exc:
+        click.echo(f"Error: {exc.message}", err=True)
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    var_name = f"{env_name.upper()}_DEPLOY_TAG"
+    client = GiteaClient(GITEA_API_URL, token, REPO_OWNER, REPO_NAME)
+    client.set_repo_variable(var_name, tag)
+    click.echo(f"Recorded {var_name} = {tag}")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
+    main()
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Resolve and validate the git tag to deploy.
+
+Shared between staging and production deployments.  Ensures a concrete
+git tag is used — never a moving branch ref — so deployments are
+reproducible and rollback-friendly.
+
+Usage in workflows::
+
+    # Production (tag required)
+    python -m devx.ci.validate_deploy_ref --tag "$TAG" --github-output
+
+    # Staging force-deploy (tag required)
+    python -m devx.ci.validate_deploy_ref --tag "$TAG" --github-output
+
+    # Staging PR-triggered (PR SHA is already concrete, no tag needed)
+    python -m devx.ci.validate_deploy_ref --allow-empty --github-output
+
+Writes ``deploy-ref=<tag>`` to ``$GITHUB_OUTPUT`` when ``--github-output``
+is passed, otherwise prints the ref to stdout.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import subprocess  # nosec B404
+import sys
+
+import click
+
+from devx.i18n import _
+
+
+@click.command()
+@click.option("--tag", default="", help=_("Git tag to deploy (e.g. v0.28.1)."))
+@click.option(
+    "--allow-empty",
+    is_flag=True,
+    help=_("Allow empty tag (PR mode where SHA is concrete)."),
+)
+@click.option(
+    "--github-output",
+    is_flag=True,
+    help=_("Write deploy-ref to $GITHUB_OUTPUT file."),
+)
+def main(tag: str, allow_empty: bool, github_output: bool) -> None:
+    """Resolve and validate the deploy ref, exiting non-zero on failure."""
+    if not tag:
+        if not allow_empty:
+            click.echo(
+                "::error::No tag specified. Deployments require a concrete git tag "
+                "(e.g. v0.28.1). Use --allow-empty only for PR-triggered staging deploys "
+                "where the checkout SHA is already concrete.",
+                err=True,
+            )
+            sys.exit(1)
+        ref = ""
+        click.echo("No tag specified — using checkout ref (PR mode).")
+    else:
+        result = subprocess.run(  # nosec B603, B607
+            ["git", "rev-parse", "-q", "--verify", f"refs/tags/{tag}"],
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            check=False,
+        )
+        if result.returncode != 0:
+            click.echo(f"::error::Tag '{tag}' does not exist in the repository.", err=True)
+            sys.exit(1)
+        ref = tag
+        commit = result.stdout.strip()[:8]
+        click.echo(f"Deploying tag: {tag} (commit {commit})")
+
+    if github_output:
+        github_output_path = os.environ.get("GITHUB_OUTPUT")
+        if not github_output_path:
+            click.echo("::error::GITHUB_OUTPUT environment variable not set.", err=True)
+            sys.exit(1)
+        with open(github_output_path, "a") as f:
+            f.write(f"deploy-ref={ref}\n")
+    else:
+        click.echo(ref)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
+    main()
@@ -2104,12 +2104,28 @@
    "zh": "No workflow runs found for SHA {sha}."
  },
  "Note: Self-approval not allowed. Posting COMMENT instead.": {
-    "bg": "Note: Self-approval not allowed. Posting COMMENT instead.",
-    "de": "Note: Self-approval not allowed. Posting COMMENT instead.",
+    "bg": "Забележка: Само-одобрението не е разрешено. Публикуване на COMMENT вместо това.",
+    "de": "Hinweis: Selbstgenehmigung nicht erlaubt. COMMENT wird stattdessen gesendet.",
    "en": "Note: Self-approval not allowed. Posting COMMENT instead.",
    "pl": "Uwaga: Samo-zatwierdzenie niedozwolone. Publikowanie COMMENT zamiast tego.",
-    "ru": "Note: Self-approval not allowed. Posting COMMENT instead.",
-    "zh": "Note: Self-approval not allowed. Posting COMMENT instead."
+    "ru": "Примечание: Самоодобрение не разрешено. Публикация COMMENT вместо этого.",
+    "zh": "注意：不允许自我批准。改为发布 COMMENT。"
+  },
+  "Note: Self-approval not allowed with reviewer token. Retrying with CI token.": {
+    "bg": "Забележка: Само-одобрението не е разрешено с тоукън на рецензента. Повторен опит с CI тоукън.",
+    "de": "Hinweis: Selbstgenehmigung mit Reviewer-Token nicht erlaubt. Wiederholung mit CI-Token.",
+    "en": "Note: Self-approval not allowed with reviewer token. Retrying with CI token.",
+    "pl": "Uwaga: Samo-zatwierdzenie niedozwolone tokenem recenzenta. Ponawianie tokenem CI.",
+    "ru": "Примечание: Самоодобрение токеном ревьюера не разрешено. Повторная попытка с CI токеном.",
+    "zh": "注意：不允许使用审阅者令牌进行自我批准。正在使用 CI 令牌重试。"
+  },
+  "Note: CI token also cannot approve. Posting COMMENT instead.": {
+    "bg": "Забележка: CI тоукънът също не може да одобри. Публикуване на COMMENT вместо това.",
+    "de": "Hinweis: CI-Token kann ebenfalls nicht genehmigen. COMMENT wird stattdessen gesendet.",
+    "en": "Note: CI token also cannot approve. Posting COMMENT instead.",
+    "pl": "Uwaga: Token CI również nie może zatwierdzić. Publikowanie COMMENT zamiast tego.",
+    "ru": "Примечание: CI токен также не может одобрить. Публикация COMMENT вместо этого.",
+    "zh": "注意：CI 令牌也无法批准。改为发布 COMMENT。"
  },
  "Nothing to push.": {
    "bg": "Nothing to push.",
@@ -3566,5 +3582,45 @@
    "pl": "{separator}",
    "ru": "{separator}",
    "zh": "{separator}"
+  },
+  "Allow empty tag (PR mode where SHA is concrete).": {
+    "bg": "Позволи празен таг (PR режим, където SHA е конкретен).",
+    "de": "Leeren Tag zulassen (PR-Modus, in dem SHA konkret ist).",
+    "en": "Allow empty tag (PR mode where SHA is concrete).",
+    "pl": "Zezwalaj na pusty tag (tryb PR, w którym SHA jest konkretne).",
+    "ru": "Разрешить пустой тег (режим PR, где SHA конкретен).",
+    "zh": "允许空标签（SHA 为具体值的 PR 模式）。"
+  },
+  "Git tag or ref that was deployed": {
+    "bg": "Git таг или референция, която беше разгърната",
+    "de": "Git-Tag oder Ref, der bereitgestellt wurde",
+    "en": "Git tag or ref that was deployed",
+    "pl": "Tag Git lub ref, który został wdrożony",
+    "ru": "Git-тег или ссылка, которые были развёрнуты",
+    "zh": "已部署的 Git 标签或引用"
+  },
+  "Git tag to deploy (e.g. v0.28.1).": {
+    "bg": "Git таг за разгръщане (напр. v0.28.1).",
+    "de": "Git-Tag für Bereitstellung (z.B. v0.28.1).",
+    "en": "Git tag to deploy (e.g. v0.28.1).",
+    "pl": "Tag Git do wdrożenia (np. v0.28.1).",
+    "ru": "Git-тег для развёртывания (напр. v0.28.1).",
+    "zh": "要部署的 Git 标签（例如 v0.28.1）。"
+  },
+  "Write deploy-ref to $GITHUB_OUTPUT file.": {
+    "bg": "Запиши deploy-ref в $GITHUB_OUTPUT файла.",
+    "de": "Deploy-ref in $GITHUB_OUTPUT-Datei schreiben.",
+    "en": "Write deploy-ref to $GITHUB_OUTPUT file.",
+    "pl": "Zapisz deploy-ref do pliku $GITHUB_OUTPUT.",
+    "ru": "Записать deploy-ref в файл $GITHUB_OUTPUT.",
+    "zh": "将 deploy-ref 写入 $GITHUB_OUTPUT 文件。"
+  },
+  "Vikunja task title '{title}' starts with '{prefix}:'. The task title should NOT include the '{prefix}' prefix — it is automatically added to the PR title. Update the Vikunja task title to remove the prefix.": {
+    "bg": "Заглавието на задачата във Vikunja '{title}' започва с '{prefix}:'. Заглавието на задачата НЕ трябва да съдържа префикса '{prefix}' — той се добавя автоматично към заглавието на PR. Актуализирайте заглавието на задачата във Vikunja, за да премахнете префикса.",
+    "de": "Der Vikunja-Aufgabentitel '{title}' beginnt mit '{prefix}:'. Der Aufgabentitel darf NICHT den Präfix '{prefix}' enthalten — er wird automatisch zum PR-Titel hinzugefügt. Aktualisieren Sie den Vikunja-Aufgabentitel, um den Präfix zu entfernen.",
+    "en": "Vikunja task title '{title}' starts with '{prefix}:'. The task title should NOT include the '{prefix}' prefix — it is automatically added to the PR title. Update the Vikunja task title to remove the prefix.",
+    "pl": "Tytuł zadania Vikunja '{title}' zaczyna się od '{prefix}:'. Tytuł zadania nie powinien zawierać prefiksu '{prefix}' — jest on automatycznie dodawany do tytułu PR. Zaktualizuj tytuł zadania Vikunja, aby usunąć prefiks.",
+    "ru": "Заголовок задачи Vikunja '{title}' начинается с '{prefix}:'. Заголовок задачи НЕ должен включать префикс '{prefix}' — он автоматически добавляется к заголовку PR. Обновите заголовок задачи Vikunja, чтобы удалить префикс.",
+    "zh": "Vikunja 任务标题 '{title}' 以 '{prefix}:' 开头。任务标题不应包含 '{prefix}' 前缀 — 它会自动添加到 PR 标题中。请更新 Vikunja 任务标题以删除前缀。"
  }
 }
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+"""Typed confirmation validation for destructive operations.
+
+Ensures the user typed an exact confirmation phrase before proceeding
+with dangerous operations (e.g. production deploys, database migrations).
+
+Usage::
+
+    from devx.utils.confirm import validate_confirmation
+
+    if not validate_confirmation(user_input, expected="deploy-production"):
+        raise SystemExit("Confirmation does not match")
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+
+def validate_confirmation(confirm: str, expected: str) -> bool:
+    """Check if confirmation text matches the expected phrase.
+
+    Args:
+        confirm: The confirmation text entered by the user.
+        expected: The exact phrase that must be matched.
+
+    Returns:
+        True if confirmation matches exactly, False otherwise.
+    """
+    return confirm == expected
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+"""Cryptographic secret generation helpers.
+
+Provides safe secret/password generators that avoid shell-option
+interpretation issues (e.g. leading ``-`` being parsed as a flag by
+``su -c`` in Docker entrypoints).
+
+Usage::
+
+    from devx.utils.crypto import generate_secret, generate_password
+
+    api_key = generate_secret()
+    db_password = generate_password(length=32)
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import secrets
+
+_SYMBOLS = "!@#$%^&*()-_=+[]{}|;:,.<>?"
+_UPPER = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ"
+_LOWER = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz"
+_DIGITS = "0123456789"
+
+
+def generate_secret() -> str:
+    """Generate a URL-safe secret that never starts with ``-``.
+
+    A leading ``-`` causes passwords to be interpreted as command-line
+    options when passed through shell expansion chains (e.g. Nextcloud's
+    Docker entrypoint uses ``su -c`` which strips quoting).
+
+    Returns:
+        A 43-character URL-safe base64 secret.
+    """
+    value = secrets.token_urlsafe(32)
+    while value.startswith("-"):
+        value = secrets.token_urlsafe(32)
+    return value
+
+
+def generate_password(length: int = 32) -> str:
+    """Generate a password guaranteed to contain upper, lower, digit, and symbol.
+
+    The first character is always alphanumeric to avoid being interpreted
+    as a command-line option when passed through shell expansion chains.
+
+    Args:
+        length: Desired password length (minimum 4).
+
+    Returns:
+        A password string with guaranteed character class coverage.
+    """
+    pools = [_UPPER, _LOWER, _DIGITS, _SYMBOLS]
+    chars = [secrets.choice(p) for p in pools]
+    all_chars = "".join(pools)
+    chars += [secrets.choice(all_chars) for _ in range(length - len(pools))]
+    secrets.SystemRandom().shuffle(chars)
+    while chars[0] in _SYMBOLS:
+        secrets.SystemRandom().shuffle(chars)
+    return "".join(chars)
+
+
+def generate_hex_secret(length: int = 32) -> str:
+    """Generate a hexadecimal secret of the given length.
+
+    Args:
+        length: Desired number of hex characters (doubled internally
+            since ``token_hex`` produces pairs).
+
+    Returns:
+        A hexadecimal string.
+    """
+    return secrets.token_hex(length // 2)
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+"""File-locked JSON registry for local state management.
+
+Provides a simple JSON-backed key-value store with ``fcntl`` file
+locking for safe concurrent access.  Useful for CLI tools that need
+to track remote resources (runners, VMs, deployments) on the local
+machine.
+
+Usage::
+
+    from devx.utils.json_registry import JsonRegistry
+
+    registry = JsonRegistry(Path("~/.local/share/myapp/state.json"))
+    registry.add("item1", host="10.0.0.1", user="deploy")
+    info = registry.get("item1")
+    registry.remove("item1")
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import copy
+import fcntl
+import json
+from datetime import UTC, datetime
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any, cast
+
+
+class JsonRegistry:
+    """Manages a local JSON file mapping names to arbitrary metadata.
+
+    Uses ``fcntl`` for file locking (shared lock for reads, exclusive
+    lock for writes) to prevent race conditions in concurrent scenarios.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, path: Path | None = None) -> None:
+        """Initialise the registry.
+
+        Args:
+            path: Path to the JSON file. Defaults to
+                ``~/.local/share/devx/registry.json``.
+        """
+        self._path = path or Path.home() / ".local" / "share" / "devx" / "registry.json"
+        self._data: dict[str, dict[str, Any]] = self._load()
+
+    def _load(self) -> dict[str, dict[str, Any]]:
+        if not self._path.exists():
+            return {}
+        try:
+            with open(self._path) as f:
+                fcntl.flock(f.fileno(), fcntl.LOCK_SH)
+                try:
+                    data: Any = json.load(f)
+                    if isinstance(data, dict):
+                        return cast(dict[str, dict[str, Any]], data)
+                finally:
+                    fcntl.flock(f.fileno(), fcntl.LOCK_UN)
+        except (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError):
+            pass
+        return {}
+
+    def _save(self) -> None:
+        self._path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        with open(self._path, "w") as f:
+            fcntl.flock(f.fileno(), fcntl.LOCK_EX)
+            try:
+                json.dump(self._data, f, indent=2)
+            finally:
+                fcntl.flock(f.fileno(), fcntl.LOCK_UN)
+
+    def add(self, name: str, **fields: Any) -> None:
+        """Register or overwrite an entry in the registry.
+
+        Args:
+            name: Unique key for the entry.
+            **fields: Arbitrary metadata fields to store.
+        """
+        self._data[name] = {
+            **fields,
+            "created_at": datetime.now(UTC).isoformat(),
+        }
+        self._save()
+
+    def get(self, name: str) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
+        """Retrieve entry metadata by name.
+
+        Args:
+            name: Key to look up.
+
+        Returns:
+            A copy of the entry's metadata, or None if not found.
+        """
+        info = self._data.get(name)
+        if info:
+            return copy.deepcopy(info)
+        return None
+
+    def remove(self, name: str) -> None:
+        """Remove an entry from the registry.
+
+        Args:
+            name: Key to remove. No-op if not found.
+        """
+        if name in self._data:
+            del self._data[name]
+            self._save()
+
+    def list(self) -> dict[str, dict[str, Any]]:
+        """Return a copy of all registered entries.
+
+        Returns:
+            Dict mapping names to metadata copies.
+        """
+        return {name: copy.deepcopy(info) for name, info in self._data.items()}
+
+    def update(self, name: str, **fields: Any) -> None:
+        """Update fields for an existing entry.
+
+        Args:
+            name: Key to update.
+            **fields: Fields to update (None values are skipped).
+
+        Raises:
+            KeyError: If the entry doesn't exist.
+        """
+        if name not in self._data:
+            raise KeyError(name)
+        self._data[name].update({k: v for k, v in fields.items() if v is not None})
+        self._save()
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+"""XDG-compliant logging configuration for CLI tools.
+
+Provides a standardised logging setup that writes to
+``~/.local/state/<app>/logs/<app>.log`` following the XDG state
+directory specification.  Console output is handled separately by
+the application (e.g. via ``click.echo``).
+
+Usage::
+
+    from devx.utils.logging import get_logger
+
+    logger = get_logger("myapp")
+    logger.info("Application started")
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def get_logger(name: str = "devx") -> logging.Logger:
+    """Return a configured logger that writes to an XDG state directory.
+
+    All messages (including DEBUG) are written to
+    ``~/.local/state/<name>/logs/<name>.log``.  Console output is
+    expected to be handled by the application via ``click.echo``.
+
+    Args:
+        name: Logger name and subdirectory name for log files.
+
+    Returns:
+        A configured :class:`logging.Logger` instance.
+    """
+    logger = logging.getLogger(name)
+    if logger.handlers:
+        return logger
+
+    logger.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
+
+    log_dir = Path.home() / ".local" / "state" / name / "logs"
+    log_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    file_handler = logging.FileHandler(log_dir / f"{name}.log")
+    file_handler.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
+    file_handler.setFormatter(logging.Formatter("%(asctime)s %(levelname)s %(name)s: %(message)s"))
+    logger.addHandler(file_handler)
+
+    return logger
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+"""Network connectivity helpers.
+
+Provides retry-aware HTTP connectivity checks and SSH availability
+checks for deployment workflows.  Uses ``tenacity`` for exponential
+backoff retry logic.
+
+Usage::
+
+    from devx.utils.network import check_http_connectivity, wait_for_ssh
+
+    check_http_connectivity("https://auth.example.com")
+    wait_for_ssh("178.105.254.83")
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+import socket
+import time
+from collections.abc import Callable
+
+import requests
+from tenacity import (
+    Retrying,
+    before_sleep_log,
+    retry_if_exception_type,
+    stop_after_attempt,
+    wait_exponential,
+)
+
+
+def check_http_connectivity(
+    base_url: str,
+    max_attempts: int = 30,
+    *,
+    verify: bool = True,
+    sleep: Callable[[float], None] | None = None,
+) -> None:
+    """Verify HTTP reachability of *base_url* with retry.
+
+    Uses tenacity for retry with exponential backoff (2 s min, 10 s max).
+
+    Args:
+        base_url: URL to check via GET request.
+        max_attempts: Maximum retry attempts.
+        verify: Whether to verify TLS certificates.
+        sleep: Custom sleep function for testing (defaults to ``time.sleep``).
+
+    Raises:
+        requests.exceptions.ConnectionError: If the URL is not reachable
+            after *max_attempts*.
+    """
+    retrying = Retrying(
+        stop=stop_after_attempt(max_attempts),
+        wait=wait_exponential(multiplier=2, min=2, max=10),
+        retry=retry_if_exception_type(requests.exceptions.ConnectionError),
+        before_sleep=before_sleep_log(logging.getLogger("devx.utils.network"), logging.WARNING),
+        sleep=sleep if sleep is not None else time.sleep,
+        reraise=True,
+    )
+
+    def _check() -> None:
+        requests.get(base_url, timeout=10, verify=verify)  # nosec B501
+
+    retrying(_check)
+
+
+def wait_for_ssh(
+    host: str,
+    port: int = 22,
+    max_attempts: int = 30,
+    interval: int = 10,
+    *,
+    sleep: Callable[[float], None] | None = None,
+) -> None:
+    """Wait for SSH to be available on a host using a pure-Python socket check.
+
+    Uses socket instead of ``nc(1)`` so it works on CI runners without
+    netcat.  Uses exponential backoff: starts at 2 s, doubles each
+    attempt up to 10 s max.
+
+    Args:
+        host: VM IP address or hostname.
+        port: SSH port (default 22).
+        max_attempts: Maximum number of connection attempts.
+        interval: Base interval for backoff calculation (seconds).
+        sleep: Custom sleep function for testing (defaults to ``time.sleep``).
+
+    Raises:
+        RuntimeError: If SSH is not available after *max_attempts*.
+    """
+    _sleep = sleep if sleep is not None else time.sleep
+    for i in range(max_attempts):
+        try:
+            with socket.create_connection((host, port), timeout=5):
+                return
+        except OSError:
+            pass
+        if i < max_attempts - 1:
+            wait = min(2 * (2**i), 10)
+            _sleep(wait)
+    raise RuntimeError(f"SSH not available on {host}:{port} after {max_attempts} attempts")
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+"""SSH helpers for running commands on remote hosts.
+
+Provides a simple wrapper around the ``ssh`` CLI for executing commands
+on remote machines (e.g. customer VMs, CI runners) without requiring
+Ansible.  Includes a pure-Python ``wait_for_ssh`` that uses socket
+instead of ``nc(1)`` so it works on minimal CI containers.
+
+Usage::
+
+    from devx.utils.ssh import ssh_exec, wait_for_ssh
+
+    wait_for_ssh("178.105.254.83")
+    result = ssh_exec("178.105.254.83", "uname -a")
+    print(result.stdout)
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import socket
+import subprocess  # nosec B404
+import sys
+import time
+
+SSH_CONNECT_TIMEOUT = "10"
+SSH_HOST_KEY_CHECKING = "no"
+
+
+def ssh_exec(
+    host: str,
+    command: str,
+    *,
+    user: str = "deploy",
+    timeout: int = 30,
+    check: bool = True,
+) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess[str]:
+    """Run *command* on *host* via SSH and return the result.
+
+    Args:
+        host: VM IP address or hostname.
+        command: Shell command to execute on the remote host.
+        user: SSH user (default ``deploy``).
+        timeout: Subprocess timeout in seconds.
+        check: If True, raise ``CalledProcessError`` on non-zero exit.
+
+    Returns:
+        The completed process result with stdout/stderr captured.
+    """
+    result = subprocess.run(  # nosec B603, B607, B607
+        [
+            "ssh",
+            "-o",
+            f"StrictHostKeyChecking={SSH_HOST_KEY_CHECKING}",
+            "-o",
+            f"ConnectTimeout={SSH_CONNECT_TIMEOUT}",
+            f"{user}@{host}",
+            command,
+        ],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        check=False,
+        timeout=timeout,
+    )
+    if check and result.returncode != 0:
+        print(f"SSH command failed on {host}: {command}", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(f"  stdout: {result.stdout.strip()}", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(f"  stderr: {result.stderr.strip()}", file=sys.stderr)
+        result.check_returncode()
+    return result
+
+
+def docker_exec_on_vm(
+    host: str,
+    container: str,
+    command: str,
+    *,
+    user: str = "deploy",
+    db_user: str | None = None,
+    db_name: str | None = None,
+    timeout: int = 30,
+) -> str:
+    """Run a command inside a Docker container on a remote VM via SSH.
+
+    For PostgreSQL commands, set *db_user* and *db_name* to run
+    ``psql -U <db_user> -d <db_name> -c <command>`` inside the container.
+
+    Args:
+        host: VM IP address or hostname.
+        container: Docker container name on the remote host.
+        command: Command to execute inside the container (or SQL if db_user/db_name set).
+        user: SSH user (default ``deploy``).
+        db_user: PostgreSQL user name (enables psql mode).
+        db_name: PostgreSQL database name (enables psql mode).
+        timeout: Subprocess timeout in seconds.
+
+    Returns:
+        Stripped stdout from the command.
+    """
+    if db_user and db_name:
+        escaped_sql = command.replace("'", "'\"'\"'")
+        remote_cmd = f'docker exec {container} psql -U {db_user} -d {db_name} -t -A -c "{escaped_sql}"'
+    else:
+        remote_cmd = f"docker exec {container} {command}"
+    result = ssh_exec(host, remote_cmd, user=user, timeout=timeout)
+    return result.stdout.strip()
+
+
+def wait_for_ssh(host: str, port: int = 22, max_attempts: int = 30, interval: int = 10) -> None:
+    """Wait for SSH to be available on a host using a pure-Python socket check.
+
+    Uses socket instead of ``nc(1)`` so it works on CI runners without
+    netcat.  Uses exponential backoff: starts at 2 s, doubles each
+    attempt up to 10 s max.
+
+    Args:
+        host: VM IP address or hostname.
+        port: SSH port (default 22).
+        max_attempts: Maximum number of connection attempts.
+        interval: Base interval for backoff calculation (seconds).
+
+    Raises:
+        RuntimeError: If SSH is not available after *max_attempts*.
+    """
+    for i in range(max_attempts):
+        try:
+            with socket.create_connection((host, port), timeout=5):
+                return
+        except OSError:
+            pass
+        if i < max_attempts - 1:
+            wait = min(2 * (2**i), 10)
+            time.sleep(wait)
+    raise RuntimeError(f"SSH not available on {host}:{port} after {max_attempts} attempts")
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+"""Operation step tracking with translated reports.
+
+Provides a context manager that tracks multi-step operations and prints
+a status report on exit.  Steps are marked as pending, in_progress,
+completed, or failed.  On exception, the last in-progress step is
+marked as failed.
+
+Usage::
+
+    from devx.utils.step_tracker import track_steps
+
+    with track_steps() as tracker:
+        tracker.begin("Install dependencies")
+        install_deps()
+        tracker.done()
+
+        tracker.begin("Run tests")
+        run_tests()
+        tracker.done()
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from collections.abc import Generator
+from contextlib import contextmanager
+
+import click
+
+_STATUS_ICONS = {
+    "completed": "✓",
+    "failed": "✗",
+    "pending": "○",
+    "in_progress": "◌",
+}
+
+_STATUS_COLORS = {
+    "completed": "green",
+    "failed": "red",
+    "in_progress": "yellow",
+    "pending": "white",
+}
+
+
+class Step:
+    """A single tracked step in an operation."""
+
+    def __init__(self, name: str) -> None:
+        self.name = name
+        self.status = "pending"
+
+
+class StepTracker:
+    """Tracks steps of an operation and prints a report on exit."""
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self.steps: list[Step] = []
+
+    def begin(self, name: str) -> None:
+        """Start a new step.
+
+        Args:
+            name: Human-readable step name.
+        """
+        step = Step(name)
+        self.steps.append(step)
+        step.status = "in_progress"
+
+    def done(self) -> None:
+        """Mark the most recent in-progress step as completed."""
+        if self.steps and self.steps[-1].status == "in_progress":
+            self.steps[-1].status = "completed"
+
+
+@contextmanager
+def track_steps() -> Generator[StepTracker, None, None]:
+    """Context manager that tracks steps and prints a report on exit.
+
+    On exception the last in-progress step is marked as failed.
+    The report is printed in the ``finally`` block so it always appears.
+
+    Yields:
+        A :class:`StepTracker` instance to track steps with.
+    """
+    tracker = StepTracker()
+    try:
+        yield tracker
+    except Exception:
+        for step in reversed(tracker.steps):
+            if step.status == "in_progress":
+                step.status = "failed"
+        raise
+    finally:
+        _print_report(tracker.steps)
+
+
+def _print_report(steps: list[Step]) -> None:
+    """Print an operation report to stdout."""
+    click.secho("=== Operation Report ===", fg="bright_cyan")
+    for step in steps:
+        icon = _STATUS_ICONS.get(step.status, "?")
+        color = _STATUS_COLORS.get(step.status)
+        click.secho(f"  {icon} {step.name} ({step.status})", fg=color)
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+"""Ansible Vault helpers for encrypting and decrypting YAML files.
+
+Wraps ``ansible-vault`` to provide a convenient API for loading and
+saving vault-encrypted YAML files.  Falls back to plain YAML when no
+vault-password file is available, making it safe to use in both
+local (with vault) and CI (without vault) environments.
+
+Usage::
+
+    from devx.utils.vault import load_vault_yaml, save_vault_yaml
+
+    data = load_vault_yaml(Path("secrets.yml"), vault_pass=Path("vault-password"))
+    data["new_key"] = "value"
+    save_vault_yaml(Path("secrets.yml"), data, vault_pass=Path("vault-password"))
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import subprocess  # nosec B404
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import yaml
+
+
+def encrypt_file(path: Path, vault_pass: Path) -> None:
+    """Encrypt a file in-place using ansible-vault.
+
+    Args:
+        path: File to encrypt.
+        vault_pass: Path to the vault-password file.
+    """
+    subprocess.run(  # nosec B603, B607
+        [
+            "ansible-vault",
+            "encrypt",
+            str(path),
+            "--vault-password-file",
+            str(vault_pass),
+            "--encrypt-vault-id",
+            "default",
+        ],
+        check=True,
+    )
+
+
+def decrypt_file(path: Path, vault_pass: Path) -> None:
+    """Decrypt a file in-place using ansible-vault.
+
+    Args:
+        path: File to decrypt.
+        vault_pass: Path to the vault-password file.
+    """
+    subprocess.run(  # nosec B603, B607
+        [
+            "ansible-vault",
+            "decrypt",
+            str(path),
+            "--vault-password-file",
+            str(vault_pass),
+        ],
+        check=True,
+    )
+
+
+def load_vault_yaml(path: Path, vault_pass: Path | None = None) -> dict:
+    """Load a YAML file, decrypting with ansible-vault if vault-password exists.
+
+    If *vault_pass* is None or doesn't exist, the file is read as plain
+    YAML.  If decryption fails (file not vault-encrypted), it falls back
+    to plain YAML.
+
+    Args:
+        path: YAML file path.
+        vault_pass: Path to the vault-password file (optional).
+
+    Returns:
+        Parsed YAML content as a dict (empty dict if file is empty).
+    """
+    if vault_pass is None or not vault_pass.exists():
+        with open(path, encoding="utf-8") as f:
+            return yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
+    result = subprocess.run(  # nosec B603, B607
+        ["ansible-vault", "view", str(path), "--vault-password-file", str(vault_pass)],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        check=False,
+    )
+    if result.returncode == 0:
+        return yaml.safe_load(result.stdout) or {}
+    if "is not vault encrypted" in result.stderr:
+        with open(path, encoding="utf-8") as f:
+            return yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
+    result.check_returncode()  # pragma: no cover
+    return {}  # pragma: no cover
+
+
+def save_vault_yaml(path: Path, data: dict, vault_pass: Path | None = None) -> None:
+    """Write YAML data, encrypting with ansible-vault if vault-password exists.
+
+    Args:
+        path: Destination YAML file path.
+        data: Data to serialize.
+        vault_pass: Path to the vault-password file (optional).
+    """
+    plain = yaml.dump(data, default_flow_style=False, sort_keys=False)
+    with open(path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        f.write(plain)
+    if vault_pass is not None and vault_pass.exists():
+        subprocess.run(  # nosec B603, B607
+            [
+                "ansible-vault",
+                "encrypt",
+                str(path),
+                "--vault-password-file",
+                str(vault_pass),
+                "--encrypt-vault-id",
+                "default",
+            ],
+            capture_output=True,
+            check=True,
+        )
+
+
+def is_encrypted(path: Path) -> bool:
+    """Check if a file is ansible-vault encrypted.
+
+    Args:
+        path: File to check.
+
+    Returns:
+        True if the file starts with the ``$ANSIBLE_VAULT`` marker.
+    """
+    with open(path, encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        first_line = f.readline()
+    return "$ANSIBLE_VAULT" in first_line
@@ -292,3 +292,18 @@ class TestCli:
            )
        assert result.exit_code != 0
        assert "does not match Vikunja" in result.output
+
+    def test_fails_with_double_prefix_in_vikunja_title(self) -> None:
+        """Vikunja title with task ID prefix causes double-prefix in PR title."""
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        with (
+            patch.dict("os.environ", {"DEVX_TASK_PREFIX": "DEVX", "VIKUNJA_TOKEN": "tok"}, clear=True),
+            patch("devx.ci.check_auto_merge_ready.is_branch_behind_master", return_value=False),
+            patch("devx.ci.check_auto_merge_ready.get_vikunja_title_optional", return_value="DEVX-1: Fix foo"),
+        ):
+            result = runner.invoke(
+                cli,
+                ["--branch", "DEVX-1-fix-foo", "--pr-title", "DEVX-1: Fix foo"],
+            )
+        assert result.exit_code != 0
+        assert "should NOT include" in result.output
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@

 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch

+import pytest
 from click.testing import CliRunner

 from devx.ci.pr_review import (
@@ -902,7 +903,12 @@ class TestManualReview:
        mock_client_class.return_value.create_review.assert_not_called()

    @patch("devx.ci.pr_review.GiteaClient")
-    def test_manual_review_self_approval_fallback(self, mock_client_class: MagicMock) -> None:
+    def test_manual_review_self_approval_fallback_to_comment(
+        self, mock_client_class: MagicMock, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+    ) -> None:
+        """Self-approval with no CI token available → fall back to COMMENT."""
+        monkeypatch.delenv("CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN", raising=False)
+        monkeypatch.delenv("CI_GITEA_TOKEN", raising=False)
        client = mock_client_class.return_value
        client.create_review.side_effect = [
            APIError(422, "approve your own pull is not allowed"),
@@ -922,10 +928,77 @@ class TestManualReview:
                "--checklist-categories",
                "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8",
            ],
-            env={"CI_GITEA_TOKEN": "fake"},
+            env={"REVIEWER_GITEA_API_TOKEN": "fake-reviewer"},
        )
        assert result.exit_code == 0
        assert "Review #202" in result.output
+        # Without CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN, the fallback is COMMENT
+        assert "Self-approval not allowed. Posting COMMENT instead." in result.output
+        assert client.create_review.call_count == 2
+        assert client.create_review.call_args_list[1].kwargs.get("event") == "COMMENT"
+
+    @patch("devx.ci.pr_review.GiteaClient")
+    def test_manual_review_self_approval_falls_back_to_ci_token(self, mock_client_class: MagicMock) -> None:
+        """Self-approval with CI token available → retry APPROVE with CI token (different user)."""
+        client = mock_client_class.return_value
+        client.create_review.side_effect = [
+            APIError(422, "approve your own pull is not allowed"),
+            {"id": 303},
+        ]
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(
+            main,
+            [
+                "42",
+                "oblachno-oss/devx",
+                "--event",
+                "APPROVE",
+                "--body",
+                "x" * 60,
+                "--checklist-confirmed",
+                "--checklist-categories",
+                "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8",
+            ],
+            env={"REVIEWER_GITEA_API_TOKEN": "fake-reviewer", "CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN": "fake-ci"},
+        )
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        assert "Review #303" in result.output
+        assert "Retrying with CI token" in result.output
+        # Second call should still be APPROVE (CI token retry)
+        assert client.create_review.call_count == 2
+        assert client.create_review.call_args_list[1].kwargs.get("event") == "APPROVE"
+
+    @patch("devx.ci.pr_review.GiteaClient")
+    def test_manual_review_ci_token_also_fails_falls_back_to_comment(self, mock_client_class: MagicMock) -> None:
+        """Self-approval + CI token retry also fails → fall back to COMMENT."""
+        client = mock_client_class.return_value
+        client.create_review.side_effect = [
+            APIError(422, "approve your own pull is not allowed"),
+            APIError(422, "approve your own pull is not allowed"),
+            {"id": 404},
+        ]
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(
+            main,
+            [
+                "42",
+                "oblachno-oss/devx",
+                "--event",
+                "APPROVE",
+                "--body",
+                "x" * 60,
+                "--checklist-confirmed",
+                "--checklist-categories",
+                "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8",
+            ],
+            env={"REVIEWER_GITEA_API_TOKEN": "fake-reviewer", "CI_GITEA_API_TOKEN": "fake-ci"},
+        )
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        assert "Review #404" in result.output
+        assert "CI token also cannot approve" in result.output
+        # Third call should be COMMENT (final fallback)
+        assert client.create_review.call_count == 3
+        assert client.create_review.call_args_list[2].kwargs.get("event") == "COMMENT"

    @patch("devx.ci.pr_review.GiteaClient")
    def test_manual_review_other_error_re_raises(self, mock_client_class: MagicMock) -> None:
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+"""Unit tests for devx.ci.record_deployed_tag."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+from click.testing import CliRunner
+
+from devx.ci.record_deployed_tag import main
+
+
+class TestRecordDeployedTag:
+    @patch("devx.ci.record_deployed_tag.GiteaClient")
+    @patch("devx.ci.record_deployed_tag.get_ci_token")
+    def test_records_production_tag(self, mock_token: MagicMock, mock_client: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_token.return_value = "fake-token"
+        client_instance = MagicMock()
+        mock_client.return_value = client_instance
+
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(main, ["--env", "production", "--tag", "v1.0.0"])
+
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        assert "PRODUCTION_DEPLOY_TAG" in result.output
+        assert "v1.0.0" in result.output
+        client_instance.set_repo_variable.assert_called_once_with("PRODUCTION_DEPLOY_TAG", "v1.0.0")
+
+    @patch("devx.ci.record_deployed_tag.GiteaClient")
+    @patch("devx.ci.record_deployed_tag.get_ci_token")
+    def test_records_staging_tag(self, mock_token: MagicMock, mock_client: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_token.return_value = "fake-token"
+        client_instance = MagicMock()
+        mock_client.return_value = client_instance
+
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(main, ["--env", "staging", "--tag", "master-abc123"])
+
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        assert "STAGING_DEPLOY_TAG" in result.output
+        client_instance.set_repo_variable.assert_called_once_with("STAGING_DEPLOY_TAG", "master-abc123")
+
+    @patch("devx.ci.record_deployed_tag.get_ci_token")
+    def test_token_error_exits_nonzero(self, mock_token: MagicMock) -> None:
+        import click
+
+        mock_token.side_effect = click.ClickException("No token available")
+
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(main, ["--env", "production", "--tag", "v1.0.0"])
+
+        assert result.exit_code == 1
+        assert "No token available" in result.output
+
+    def test_invalid_env_choice(self) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(main, ["--env", "invalid", "--tag", "v1.0.0"])
+        assert result.exit_code != 0
+
+    def test_missing_tag_option(self) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(main, ["--env", "production"])
+        assert result.exit_code != 0
@@ -34,19 +34,25 @@ class TestRun:

 class TestInstallPythonDeps:
    @patch("devx.tools.setup.subprocess.run")
+    @patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=False)
    def test_install_dev(self, mock_run: MagicMock) -> None:
+        os.environ.pop("PIP_BREAK_SYSTEM_PACKAGES", None)
        mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0)
        _install_python_deps(".venv/bin", "dev")
        mock_run.assert_called_once_with([".venv/bin/pip", "install", "-e", ".[dev]"], check=False)

    @patch("devx.tools.setup.subprocess.run")
+    @patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=False)
    def test_install_ci(self, mock_run: MagicMock) -> None:
+        os.environ.pop("PIP_BREAK_SYSTEM_PACKAGES", None)
        mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0)
        _install_python_deps(".venv/bin", "ci")
        mock_run.assert_called_once_with([".venv/bin/pip", "install", "-e", ".[ci]"], check=False)

    @patch("devx.tools.setup.subprocess.run")
+    @patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=False)
    def test_install_custom_extras(self, mock_run: MagicMock) -> None:
+        os.environ.pop("PIP_BREAK_SYSTEM_PACKAGES", None)
        mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0)
        _install_python_deps(".venv/bin", "ci,lint")
        mock_run.assert_called_once_with([".venv/bin/pip", "install", "-e", ".[ci,lint]"], check=False)
@@ -71,7 +77,9 @@ class TestInstallPythonDeps:
        )

    @patch("devx.tools.setup.subprocess.run")
+    @patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=False)
    def test_install_failure_without_break_system(self, mock_run: MagicMock) -> None:
+        os.environ.pop("PIP_BREAK_SYSTEM_PACKAGES", None)
        mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=1)
        with pytest.raises(subprocess.CalledProcessError):
            _install_python_deps(".venv/bin", "ci")
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""Unit tests for devx.utils.confirm."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from devx.utils.confirm import validate_confirmation
+
+
+class TestValidateConfirmation:
+    def test_exact_match(self) -> None:
+        assert validate_confirmation("deploy-production", "deploy-production") is True
+
+    def test_mismatch(self) -> None:
+        assert validate_confirmation("deploy-staging", "deploy-production") is False
+
+    def test_empty_string(self) -> None:
+        assert validate_confirmation("", "deploy-production") is False
+
+    def test_case_sensitive(self) -> None:
+        assert validate_confirmation("Deploy-Production", "deploy-production") is False
+
+    def test_partial_match(self) -> None:
+        assert validate_confirmation("deploy", "deploy-production") is False
+
+    def test_extra_whitespace(self) -> None:
+        assert validate_confirmation("deploy-production ", "deploy-production") is False
+
+    def test_custom_expected(self) -> None:
+        assert validate_confirmation("yes-delete-all", "yes-delete-all") is True
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+"""Unit tests for devx.utils.crypto."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+
+from devx.utils.crypto import (
+    _DIGITS,
+    _LOWER,
+    _SYMBOLS,
+    _UPPER,
+    generate_hex_secret,
+    generate_password,
+    generate_secret,
+)
+
+
+class TestGenerateSecret:
+    def test_returns_url_safe_string(self) -> None:
+        secret = generate_secret()
+        assert isinstance(secret, str)
+        assert len(secret) > 0
+        # URL-safe base64 characters only
+        assert re.match(r"^[A-Za-z0-9_-]+$", secret)
+
+    def test_never_starts_with_dash(self) -> None:
+        for _ in range(1000):
+            secret = generate_secret()
+            assert not secret.startswith("-")
+
+
+class TestGeneratePassword:
+    def test_default_length(self) -> None:
+        pw = generate_password()
+        assert len(pw) == 32
+
+    def test_custom_length(self) -> None:
+        pw = generate_password(length=64)
+        assert len(pw) == 64
+
+    def test_contains_all_char_classes(self) -> None:
+        pw = generate_password(length=32)
+        assert any(c in _UPPER for c in pw), "Missing uppercase"
+        assert any(c in _LOWER for c in pw), "Missing lowercase"
+        assert any(c in _DIGITS for c in pw), "Missing digits"
+        assert any(c in _SYMBOLS for c in pw), "Missing symbols"
+
+    def test_first_char_alphanumeric(self) -> None:
+        for _ in range(1000):
+            pw = generate_password()
+            assert pw[0] not in _SYMBOLS, f"First char '{pw[0]}' is a symbol"
+
+    def test_minimum_length_4(self) -> None:
+        pw = generate_password(length=4)
+        assert len(pw) == 4
+
+
+class TestGenerateHexSecret:
+    def test_returns_hex_string(self) -> None:
+        secret = generate_hex_secret(length=32)
+        assert re.match(r"^[0-9a-f]+$", secret)
+
+    def test_correct_length(self) -> None:
+        secret = generate_hex_secret(length=20)
+        assert len(secret) == 20
+
+    def test_empty_for_zero(self) -> None:
+        secret = generate_hex_secret(length=0)
+        assert secret == ""
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+"""Unit tests for devx.utils.json_registry."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from devx.utils.json_registry import JsonRegistry
+
+
+class TestJsonRegistry:
+    def test_add_and_get(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        reg = JsonRegistry(tmp_path / "state.json")
+        reg.add("item1", host="10.0.0.1", user="deploy")
+        info = reg.get("item1")
+        assert info is not None
+        assert info["host"] == "10.0.0.1"
+        assert info["user"] == "deploy"
+        assert "created_at" in info
+
+    def test_get_nonexistent(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        reg = JsonRegistry(tmp_path / "state.json")
+        assert reg.get("nope") is None
+
+    def test_remove(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        reg = JsonRegistry(tmp_path / "state.json")
+        reg.add("item1", host="10.0.0.1")
+        reg.remove("item1")
+        assert reg.get("item1") is None
+
+    def test_remove_nonexistent_is_noop(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        reg = JsonRegistry(tmp_path / "state.json")
+        reg.remove("nonexistent")  # should not raise
+
+    def test_list(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        reg = JsonRegistry(tmp_path / "state.json")
+        reg.add("a", host="1.1.1.1")
+        reg.add("b", host="2.2.2.2")
+        items = reg.list()
+        assert set(items.keys()) == {"a", "b"}
+        assert items["a"]["host"] == "1.1.1.1"
+
+    def test_list_empty(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        reg = JsonRegistry(tmp_path / "state.json")
+        assert reg.list() == {}
+
+    def test_update_existing(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        reg = JsonRegistry(tmp_path / "state.json")
+        reg.add("item", host="1.1.1.1", status="active")
+        reg.update("item", status="inactive")
+        info = reg.get("item")
+        assert info["status"] == "inactive"
+        assert info["host"] == "1.1.1.1"  # unchanged
+
+    def test_update_nonexistent_raises(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        reg = JsonRegistry(tmp_path / "state.json")
+        with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+            reg.update("nonexistent", host="1.1.1.1")
+
+    def test_update_skips_none_values(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        reg = JsonRegistry(tmp_path / "state.json")
+        reg.add("item", host="1.1.1.1")
+        reg.update("item", host=None, status="active")
+        info = reg.get("item")
+        assert info["host"] == "1.1.1.1"  # not overwritten by None
+        assert info["status"] == "active"
+
+    def test_persistence_across_instances(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        path = tmp_path / "state.json"
+        reg1 = JsonRegistry(path)
+        reg1.add("item", host="10.0.0.1")
+        reg2 = JsonRegistry(path)
+        info = reg2.get("item")
+        assert info is not None
+        assert info["host"] == "10.0.0.1"
+
+    def test_overwrite_existing(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        reg = JsonRegistry(tmp_path / "state.json")
+        reg.add("item", host="1.1.1.1")
+        reg.add("item", host="2.2.2.2")
+        info = reg.get("item")
+        assert info["host"] == "2.2.2.2"
+
+    def test_corrupt_json_returns_empty(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        path = tmp_path / "state.json"
+        path.write_text("{invalid json")
+        reg = JsonRegistry(path)
+        assert reg.list() == {}
+
+    def test_nonexistent_file_returns_empty(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        reg = JsonRegistry(tmp_path / "nonexistent.json")
+        assert reg.list() == {}
+
+    def test_creates_parent_dirs(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        path = tmp_path / "subdir" / "deeper" / "state.json"
+        reg = JsonRegistry(path)
+        reg.add("item", host="1.1.1.1")
+        assert path.exists()
+
+    def test_get_returns_copy(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        reg = JsonRegistry(tmp_path / "state.json")
+        reg.add("item", host="1.1.1.1", tags=["a", "b"])
+        info = reg.get("item")
+        assert info is not None
+        info["tags"].append("c")
+        # Original should be unchanged
+        info2 = reg.get("item")
+        assert info2 is not None
+        assert info2["tags"] == ["a", "b"]
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+"""Unit tests for devx.utils.logging."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from devx.utils.logging import get_logger
+
+
+class TestGetLogger:
+    def test_returns_logger_with_handlers(self) -> None:
+        logger = get_logger("test_devx_unit_1")
+        assert logger.handlers
+        assert isinstance(logger.handlers[0], logging.FileHandler)
+
+    def test_idempotent(self) -> None:
+        logger1 = get_logger("test_devx_unit_2")
+        initial_count = len(logger1.handlers)
+        logger2 = get_logger("test_devx_unit_2")
+        assert logger1 is logger2
+        assert len(logger2.handlers) == initial_count
+
+    def test_log_level_is_debug(self) -> None:
+        logger = get_logger("test_devx_unit_3")
+        assert logger.level == logging.DEBUG
+
+    def test_file_handler_level_is_debug(self) -> None:
+        logger = get_logger("test_devx_unit_4")
+        file_handler = logger.handlers[0]
+        assert file_handler.level == logging.DEBUG
+
+    def test_default_name(self) -> None:
+        logger = get_logger()
+        assert logger.name == "devx"
+
+    def test_creates_log_directory(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        with patch.object(Path, "home", return_value=tmp_path):
+            get_logger("test_app_creates_dir")
+            log_dir = tmp_path / ".local" / "state" / "test_app_creates_dir" / "logs"
+            assert log_dir.exists()
+            assert (log_dir / "test_app_creates_dir.log").exists()
+
+    def test_formatter_includes_timestamp(self) -> None:
+        logger = get_logger("test_devx_unit_5")
+        file_handler = logger.handlers[0]
+        fmt = file_handler.formatter
+        assert fmt is not None
+        assert "%(asctime)s" in fmt._fmt
+        assert "%(levelname)s" in fmt._fmt
+        assert "%(name)s" in fmt._fmt
+        assert "%(message)s" in fmt._fmt
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+"""Unit tests for devx.utils.network."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+import requests
+
+from devx.utils.network import check_http_connectivity, wait_for_ssh
+
+_no_sleep = MagicMock()
+
+
+class TestCheckHttpConnectivity:
+    @patch("devx.utils.network.requests.get")
+    def test_success(self, mock_get: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_get.return_value = MagicMock(status_code=200)
+        check_http_connectivity("https://example.com", max_attempts=3)
+        mock_get.assert_called_once()
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.network.requests.get")
+    def test_retries_on_connection_error(self, mock_get: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_get.side_effect = [
+            requests.exceptions.ConnectionError("refused"),
+            requests.exceptions.ConnectionError("refused"),
+            MagicMock(status_code=200),
+        ]
+        check_http_connectivity("https://example.com", max_attempts=5, sleep=_no_sleep)
+        assert mock_get.call_count == 3
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.network.requests.get")
+    def test_raises_after_max_attempts(self, mock_get: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_get.side_effect = requests.exceptions.ConnectionError("refused")
+        with pytest.raises(requests.exceptions.ConnectionError):
+            check_http_connectivity("https://example.com", max_attempts=2, sleep=_no_sleep)
+        assert mock_get.call_count == 2
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.network.requests.get")
+    def test_verify_false(self, mock_get: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_get.return_value = MagicMock(status_code=200)
+        check_http_connectivity("https://example.com", verify=False)
+        mock_get.assert_called_once_with("https://example.com", timeout=10, verify=False)
+
+
+class TestWaitForSsh:
+    @patch("devx.utils.network.socket.create_connection")
+    def test_immediate_success(self, mock_conn: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_conn.return_value.__enter__ = MagicMock()
+        mock_conn.return_value.__exit__ = MagicMock(return_value=False)
+        wait_for_ssh("10.0.0.1")
+        mock_conn.assert_called_once()
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.network.socket.create_connection")
+    def test_retries_until_success(self, mock_conn: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_conn.side_effect = [
+            OSError("refused"),
+            OSError("refused"),
+            MagicMock(),
+        ]
+        mock_conn.return_value.__enter__ = MagicMock()
+        mock_conn.return_value.__exit__ = MagicMock(return_value=False)
+        wait_for_ssh("10.0.0.1", max_attempts=5, sleep=_no_sleep)
+        assert mock_conn.call_count == 3
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.network.socket.create_connection")
+    def test_timeout_after_max_attempts(self, mock_conn: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_conn.side_effect = OSError("refused")
+        with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="SSH not available"):
+            wait_for_ssh("10.0.0.1", max_attempts=3, sleep=_no_sleep)
+        assert mock_conn.call_count == 3
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+"""Unit tests for devx.utils.ssh."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import subprocess
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from devx.utils.ssh import docker_exec_on_vm, ssh_exec, wait_for_ssh
+
+
+class TestSshExec:
+    @patch("devx.utils.ssh.subprocess.run")
+    def test_success(self, mock_run: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0, stdout="ok", stderr="")
+        result = ssh_exec("10.0.0.1", "uname -a")
+        assert result.returncode == 0
+        mock_run.assert_called_once()
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.ssh.subprocess.run")
+    def test_failure_with_check(self, mock_run: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_result = MagicMock(returncode=1, stdout="", stderr="error")
+        mock_result.check_returncode.side_effect = subprocess.CalledProcessError(1, "ssh")
+        mock_run.return_value = mock_result
+        with pytest.raises(subprocess.CalledProcessError):
+            ssh_exec("10.0.0.1", "false")
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.ssh.subprocess.run")
+    def test_failure_without_check(self, mock_run: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=1, stdout="", stderr="error")
+        result = ssh_exec("10.0.0.1", "false", check=False)
+        assert result.returncode == 1
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.ssh.subprocess.run")
+    def test_custom_user(self, mock_run: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
+        ssh_exec("10.0.0.1", "whoami", user="root")
+        cmd = mock_run.call_args[0][0]
+        assert "root@10.0.0.1" in cmd
+
+
+class TestDockerExecOnVm:
+    @patch("devx.utils.ssh.ssh_exec")
+    def test_simple_command(self, mock_ssh: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_ssh.return_value = MagicMock(stdout="output\n")
+        result = docker_exec_on_vm("10.0.0.1", "mycontainer", "ls /")
+        assert result == "output"
+        mock_ssh.assert_called_once_with("10.0.0.1", "docker exec mycontainer ls /", user="deploy", timeout=30)
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.ssh.ssh_exec")
+    def test_psql_mode(self, mock_ssh: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_ssh.return_value = MagicMock(stdout="result\n")
+        result = docker_exec_on_vm("10.0.0.1", "db", "SELECT 1", db_user="postgres", db_name="mydb")
+        assert result == "result"
+        call_args = mock_ssh.call_args[0][1]
+        assert "psql -U postgres -d mydb" in call_args
+        assert "SELECT 1" in call_args
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.ssh.ssh_exec")
+    def test_psql_escapes_single_quotes(self, mock_ssh: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_ssh.return_value = MagicMock(stdout="\n")
+        docker_exec_on_vm("10.0.0.1", "db", "SELECT 'it''s ok'", db_user="pg", db_name="db")
+        call_args = mock_ssh.call_args[0][1]
+        assert "'\"'\"'" in call_args
+
+
+class TestWaitForSsh:
+    @patch("devx.utils.ssh.socket.create_connection")
+    def test_immediate_success(self, mock_conn: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_conn.return_value.__enter__ = MagicMock()
+        mock_conn.return_value.__exit__ = MagicMock(return_value=False)
+        wait_for_ssh("10.0.0.1")
+        mock_conn.assert_called_once()
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.ssh.socket.create_connection")
+    @patch("devx.utils.ssh.time.sleep")
+    def test_retries_until_success(self, mock_sleep: MagicMock, mock_conn: MagicMock) -> None:
+        # Fail twice, then succeed
+        mock_conn.side_effect = [
+            OSError("refused"),
+            OSError("refused"),
+            MagicMock(),
+        ]
+        mock_conn.return_value.__enter__ = MagicMock()
+        mock_conn.return_value.__exit__ = MagicMock(return_value=False)
+        wait_for_ssh("10.0.0.1", max_attempts=5)
+        assert mock_conn.call_count == 3
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.ssh.socket.create_connection")
+    @patch("devx.utils.ssh.time.sleep")
+    def test_timeout_after_max_attempts(self, mock_sleep: MagicMock, mock_conn: MagicMock) -> None:
+        mock_conn.side_effect = OSError("refused")
+        with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="SSH not available"):
+            wait_for_ssh("10.0.0.1", max_attempts=3)
+        assert mock_conn.call_count == 3
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+"""Unit tests for devx.utils.step_tracker."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import click
+import pytest
+from click.testing import CliRunner
+
+from devx.utils.step_tracker import Step, StepTracker, track_steps
+
+
+class TestStep:
+    def test_initial_status_is_pending(self) -> None:
+        step = Step("install")
+        assert step.status == "pending"
+        assert step.name == "install"
+
+
+class TestStepTracker:
+    def test_begin_adds_step_as_in_progress(self) -> None:
+        tracker = StepTracker()
+        tracker.begin("install deps")
+        assert len(tracker.steps) == 1
+        assert tracker.steps[0].status == "in_progress"
+
+    def test_done_marks_last_in_progress_as_completed(self) -> None:
+        tracker = StepTracker()
+        tracker.begin("step1")
+        tracker.done()
+        assert tracker.steps[0].status == "completed"
+
+    def test_done_no_op_if_no_in_progress(self) -> None:
+        tracker = StepTracker()
+        tracker.begin("step1")
+        tracker.done()
+        tracker.done()  # should not raise, no-op
+        assert tracker.steps[0].status == "completed"
+
+    def test_done_no_op_if_empty(self) -> None:
+        tracker = StepTracker()
+        tracker.done()  # should not raise
+
+    def test_multiple_steps(self) -> None:
+        tracker = StepTracker()
+        tracker.begin("step1")
+        tracker.done()
+        tracker.begin("step2")
+        tracker.done()
+        assert len(tracker.steps) == 2
+        assert tracker.steps[0].status == "completed"
+        assert tracker.steps[1].status == "completed"
+
+
+class TestTrackSteps:
+    def test_successful_operation(self) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        with runner.isolation():
+            with track_steps() as tracker:
+                tracker.begin("step1")
+                tracker.done()
+                tracker.begin("step2")
+                tracker.done()
+            assert len(tracker.steps) == 2
+            assert all(s.status == "completed" for s in tracker.steps)
+
+    def test_exception_marks_in_progress_as_failed(self) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        with runner.isolation():
+            with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="boom"):
+                with track_steps() as tracker:
+                    tracker.begin("step1")
+                    tracker.done()
+                    tracker.begin("step2")
+                    raise ValueError("boom")
+            assert tracker.steps[0].status == "completed"
+            assert tracker.steps[1].status == "failed"
+
+    def test_pending_step_stays_pending_on_exception(self) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        with runner.isolation():
+            with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+                with track_steps() as tracker:
+                    tracker.begin("step1")
+                    tracker.done()
+                    tracker.begin("step2")
+                    tracker.done()
+                    tracker.begin("step3")  # in_progress
+                    # step4 is pending (not started)
+                    raise ValueError("oops")
+            assert tracker.steps[2].status == "failed"
+
+    def test_empty_operation(self) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        with runner.isolation():
+            with track_steps() as tracker:
+                pass
+            assert tracker.steps == []
+
+    def test_report_printed_on_success(self) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(_cmd_success, [], color=False)
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        assert "Operation Report" in result.output
+        assert "step1" in result.output
+
+    def test_report_printed_on_failure(self) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(_cmd_failure, [], color=False)
+        assert result.exit_code != 0
+        assert "Operation Report" in result.output
+
+
+@click.command()
+def _cmd_success() -> None:
+    with track_steps() as tracker:
+        tracker.begin("step1")
+        tracker.done()
+
+
+@click.command()
+def _cmd_failure() -> None:
+    with track_steps() as tracker:
+        tracker.begin("step1")
+        raise ValueError("oops")
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+"""Unit tests for devx.utils.vault."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+from devx.utils.vault import (
+    decrypt_file,
+    encrypt_file,
+    is_encrypted,
+    load_vault_yaml,
+    save_vault_yaml,
+)
+
+
+class TestIsEncrypted:
+    def test_encrypted_file(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        f = tmp_path / "secret.yml"
+        f.write_text("$ANSIBLE_VAULT;1.1;AES256\n9382928...\n")
+        assert is_encrypted(f) is True
+
+    def test_plain_file(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        f = tmp_path / "plain.yml"
+        f.write_text("key: value\n")
+        assert is_encrypted(f) is False
+
+
+class TestLoadVaultYaml:
+    def test_plain_yaml_no_vault_pass(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        f = tmp_path / "data.yml"
+        f.write_text("key: value\nlist:\n  - a\n  - b\n")
+        data = load_vault_yaml(f)
+        assert data == {"key": "value", "list": ["a", "b"]}
+
+    def test_empty_file(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        f = tmp_path / "empty.yml"
+        f.write_text("")
+        data = load_vault_yaml(f)
+        assert data == {}
+
+    def test_vault_pass_not_exists(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        f = tmp_path / "data.yml"
+        f.write_text("key: value\n")
+        data = load_vault_yaml(f, vault_pass=tmp_path / "nonexistent")
+        assert data == {"key": "value"}
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.vault.subprocess.run")
+    def test_encrypted_file_success(self, mock_run: MagicMock, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        f = tmp_path / "secret.yml"
+        f.write_text("$ANSIBLE_VAULT\n...")
+        vp = tmp_path / "vault-password"
+        vp.write_text("secret")
+
+        mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0, stdout="key: decrypted\n", stderr="")
+        data = load_vault_yaml(f, vault_pass=vp)
+        assert data == {"key": "decrypted"}
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.vault.subprocess.run")
+    def test_not_vault_encrypted_fallback(self, mock_run: MagicMock, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        f = tmp_path / "plain.yml"
+        f.write_text("key: value\n")
+        vp = tmp_path / "vault-password"
+        vp.write_text("secret")
+
+        mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=1, stdout="", stderr="is not vault encrypted")
+        data = load_vault_yaml(f, vault_pass=vp)
+        assert data == {"key": "value"}
+
+
+class TestSaveVaultYaml:
+    def test_save_plain(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        f = tmp_path / "output.yml"
+        save_vault_yaml(f, {"key": "value"})
+        content = f.read_text()
+        assert "key: value" in content
+
+    def test_save_with_vault_pass_not_exists(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        f = tmp_path / "output.yml"
+        vp = tmp_path / "nonexistent"
+        save_vault_yaml(f, {"key": "value"}, vault_pass=vp)
+        # Should save as plain YAML
+        content = f.read_text()
+        assert "key: value" in content
+        assert "$ANSIBLE_VAULT" not in content
+
+    @patch("devx.utils.vault.subprocess.run")
+    def test_save_and_encrypt(self, mock_run: MagicMock, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        f = tmp_path / "output.yml"
+        vp = tmp_path / "vault-password"
+        vp.write_text("secret")
+
+        save_vault_yaml(f, {"key": "value"}, vault_pass=vp)
+        # File should be written
+        assert f.exists()
+        # ansible-vault encrypt should be called
+        mock_run.assert_called_once()
+        cmd = mock_run.call_args[0][0]
+        assert "ansible-vault" in cmd
+        assert "encrypt" in cmd
+
+
+class TestEncryptFile:
+    @patch("devx.utils.vault.subprocess.run")
+    def test_calls_ansible_vault(self, mock_run: MagicMock, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        f = tmp_path / "file.yml"
+        f.write_text("key: value")
+        vp = tmp_path / "vault-password"
+        vp.write_text("secret")
+
+        encrypt_file(f, vp)
+        mock_run.assert_called_once()
+        cmd = mock_run.call_args[0][0]
+        assert "ansible-vault" in cmd
+        assert "encrypt" in cmd
+        assert str(f) in cmd
+        assert str(vp) in cmd
+
+
+class TestDecryptFile:
+    @patch("devx.utils.vault.subprocess.run")
+    def test_calls_ansible_vault(self, mock_run: MagicMock, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        f = tmp_path / "file.yml"
+        f.write_text("$ANSIBLE_VAULT\n...")
+        vp = tmp_path / "vault-password"
+        vp.write_text("secret")
+
+        decrypt_file(f, vp)
+        mock_run.assert_called_once()
+        cmd = mock_run.call_args[0][0]
+        assert "ansible-vault" in cmd
+        assert "decrypt" in cmd
+        assert str(f) in cmd
+        assert str(vp) in cmd
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+"""Unit tests for devx.ci.validate_deploy_ref."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+from click.testing import CliRunner
+
+from devx.ci.validate_deploy_ref import main
+
+
+class TestValidateDeployRef:
+    def test_valid_tag_prints_ref(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        with patch("devx.ci.validate_deploy_ref.subprocess.run") as mock_run:
+            mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0, stdout="abcdef1234567890\n", stderr="")
+            result = runner.invoke(main, ["--tag", "v1.0.0"])
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        assert "v1.0.0" in result.output
+
+    def test_invalid_tag_exits_nonzero(self) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        with patch("devx.ci.validate_deploy_ref.subprocess.run") as mock_run:
+            mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=1, stdout="", stderr="error")
+            result = runner.invoke(main, ["--tag", "nonexistent"])
+        assert result.exit_code == 1
+        assert "does not exist" in result.output
+
+    def test_no_tag_without_allow_empty_exits_nonzero(self) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(main, [])
+        assert result.exit_code == 1
+        assert "No tag specified" in result.output
+
+    def test_allow_empty_prints_pr_mode(self) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(main, ["--allow-empty"])
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        assert "PR mode" in result.output
+
+    def test_github_output_writes_ref(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        gh_output = tmp_path / "github_output"
+        gh_output.write_text("")
+        with patch("devx.ci.validate_deploy_ref.subprocess.run") as mock_run:
+            mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0, stdout="abcdef12\n", stderr="")
+            with runner.isolation(env={"GITHUB_OUTPUT": str(gh_output)}):
+                result = runner.invoke(main, ["--tag", "v1.0.0", "--github-output"])
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        content = gh_output.read_text()
+        assert "deploy-ref=v1.0.0" in content
+
+    def test_github_output_without_env_var_exits_nonzero(self) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        with patch("devx.ci.validate_deploy_ref.subprocess.run") as mock_run:
+            mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0, stdout="abcdef12\n", stderr="")
+            with runner.isolation(env={"GITHUB_OUTPUT": ""}):
+                result = runner.invoke(main, ["--tag", "v1.0.0", "--github-output"])
+        assert result.exit_code == 1
+        assert "GITHUB_OUTPUT" in result.output
+
+    def test_allow_empty_with_github_output(self, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        gh_output = tmp_path / "github_output"
+        gh_output.write_text("")
+        with runner.isolation(env={"GITHUB_OUTPUT": str(gh_output)}):
+            result = runner.invoke(main, ["--allow-empty", "--github-output"])
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        assert "deploy-ref=" in gh_output.read_text()
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
devx-ci-bot	59d6fa1833	release: v0.40.1 [skip ci]	2026-07-12 16:34:45 +00:00
emil	d035b620e0	DEVX-127: fix: fall back to CI token when reviewer self-approval is rejected Post-merge / detect-and-configure (push) Successful in 17s Details Post-merge / release-and-maintain (push) Successful in 1m25s Details	2026-07-12 16:33:53 +00:00
gitea-actions-bot	5987adee64	chore: update badge URLs to commit a22225af [skip ci]	2026-07-12 01:53:50 +00:00
emil	cb84dae050	DEVX-126: ci: consolidate CI and post-merge workflows Post-merge / detect-and-configure (push) Successful in 20s Details Post-merge / release-and-maintain (push) Successful in 46s Details	2026-07-12 01:52:40 +00:00
gitea-actions-bot	ed0dfce98b	chore: update badge URLs to commit 2747061d [skip ci]	2026-07-11 23:09:11 +00:00
devx-ci-bot	c244881f22	release: v0.40.0 [skip ci]	2026-07-11 23:08:23 +00:00
emil	4cde7de696	DEVX-125: feat: detect double-prefix in Vikunja task title during pre-merge validation Post-merge / detect-type (push) Successful in 8s Details Post-merge / validate-commit-msg (push) Successful in 8s Details Post-merge / sync-wiki (push) Successful in 21s Details Post-merge / release (push) Successful in 30s Details Post-merge / vikunja (push) Successful in 13s Details Post-merge / configure-repo (push) Successful in 10s Details Post-merge / publish (push) Successful in 19s Details Post-merge / badges (push) Successful in 41s Details	2026-07-11 23:07:45 +00:00
gitea-actions-bot	d675889604	chore: update badge URLs to commit c9f25c13 [skip ci]	2026-07-09 11:54:42 +00:00
devx-ci-bot	e23138e731	release: v0.39.0 [skip ci]	2026-07-09 11:53:12 +00:00
emil	ef3b882e5b	DEVX-124: feat: extract shared utilities from infra and grm into devx Post-merge / detect-type (push) Successful in 13s Details Post-merge / validate-commit-msg (push) Successful in 10s Details Post-merge / configure-repo (push) Successful in 28s Details Post-merge / vikunja (push) Successful in 44s Details Post-merge / sync-wiki (push) Successful in 58s Details Post-merge / release (push) Successful in 1m7s Details Post-merge / publish (push) Successful in 44s Details Post-merge / badges (push) Successful in 1m6s Details	2026-07-09 11:51:50 +00:00
gitea-actions-bot	8d9ee1ea26	chore: update badge URLs to commit 931a4a37 [skip ci]	2026-07-08 20:20:51 +00:00
emil	1497b29487	DEVX-123: ci: retrigger workflow after configuring secrets Post-merge / detect-type (push) Successful in 9s Details Post-merge / validate-commit-msg (push) Successful in 12s Details Post-merge / release (push) Successful in 19s Details Post-merge / configure-repo (push) Successful in 15s Details Post-merge / vikunja (push) Successful in 17s Details Post-merge / publish (push) Has been skipped Details Post-merge / sync-wiki (push) Successful in 26s Details Post-merge / badges (push) Successful in 31s Details	2026-07-08 20:19:44 +00:00
gitea-actions-bot	cb126e83da	chore: update badge URLs to commit 37543185 [skip ci]	2026-07-08 19:31:39 +00:00