src/devx/ci/auto_merge.py

@@ -63,20 +63,22 @@ def run_cmd(args: list[str], check: bool = True) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess[
 
 
 def read_taskid(branch: str) -> str:
-    """Read task ID from .taskid file, falling back to branch name extraction.
+    """Read task ID from branch name, falling back to .taskid file.
 
-    The .taskid file is a simple text file containing just the task ID
-    (e.g., ``DEVX-60``).  If the file doesn't exist, extract from the
-    branch name as a backwards-compatibility fallback.
+    The branch name is the primary source of truth for the task ID
+    (e.g., ``DEVX-31-fix-foo`` → ``DEVX-31``).  The ``.taskid`` file
+    is a legacy fallback for branches without a task ID prefix.
     """
+    branch_task_id = extract_task_id(branch)
+    if branch_task_id:
+        return branch_task_id
+    # Fallback: read from .taskid file
     path = Path(TASKID_FILE)
     if path.exists():
         task_id = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8").strip()
         if task_id:
             return task_id
-    # Fallback: extract from branch name
-    match = TASK_ID_RE.search(branch)
-    return match.group(0) if match else ""
+    return ""
 
 
 def extract_task_id(branch: str) -> str:

src/devx/ci/release.py

@@ -547,6 +547,8 @@ def main(dry_run: bool, skip_tests: bool, verify: bool) -> None:
 
     # Ensure we're on master (skip this check in dry-run mode for PR validation)
     branch = run_cmd(["git", "rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", "HEAD"]).stdout.strip()
+    # Some git versions return "heads/master" instead of "master"
+    branch = branch.removeprefix("heads/")
     if branch != "master" and not dry_run:
         raise click.ClickException(_("Release must be run on master, currently on '{branch}'.", branch=branch))
     if branch != "master" and dry_run:

tests/unit/test_auto_merge.py

@@ -21,9 +21,16 @@ from devx.exceptions import APIError
 
 
 class TestReadTaskid:
-    def test_reads_from_file(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
+    def test_prefers_branch_name_over_file(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
         monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
         (tmp_path / ".taskid").write_text("DEVX-60\n")
+        # Branch name takes priority over .taskid file
+        assert read_taskid("DEVX-19-fix-bug") == "DEVX-19"
+
+    def test_falls_back_to_file_when_no_branch_match(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
+        monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
+        (tmp_path / ".taskid").write_text("DEVX-60\n")
+        # No task ID in branch name → fall back to .taskid
         assert read_taskid("some-branch") == "DEVX-60"
 
     def test_falls_back_to_branch_name(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]