/release-health-gates

name: release-health-gates
description: Standardizes release approvals with GitHub-aware checklists and deployment gates. Use before releasing to production to verify all gates pass.
alwaysApply: false
category: governance
tags:
- release
- github
- readiness
- quality
- governance
dependencies: []
tools: []
provides:
  governance:
  - release-gates
  - rollout-scorecards
  reporting:
  - deployment-comment
  - qa-handshake
usage_patterns:
- release-train
- hotfix-review
- stakeholder-briefing
complexity: intermediate
estimated_tokens: 700
progressive_loading: true
modules:
- modules/quality-signals.md
- modules/deployment-readiness.md

Release Health Gates

When NOT To Use

• Measuring delivery performance (use `minister:dora-metrics`)
• PR-level quality gates before merge (use `sanctum:pr-prep`)

Purpose

Standardize release approvals by expressing gates as GitHub-aware checklists. Ensure code, docs, comms, and observability items are green before deployment.

Gate Categories

1. **Scope & Risk** – Are all blocking issues closed or deferred with owners? 2. **Quality Signals** – Are required checks, tests, and soak times satisfied? 3. **Comms & Docs** – Are docs merged and release notes posted? 4. **Operations** – Are runbooks, oncall sign-off, and rollback plans ready?

Workflow

1. Load skill to access gate modules. 2. Attach Release Gate section to deployment PR. 3. Use tracker data to auto-fill blockers and highlight overdue tasks. 4. Update comment as gates turn green; require approvals for any waivers.

Outputs

• Release Gate markdown snippet (embed in PR/issue).
• QA Handshake summary referencing GitHub Checks.
• Rollout scorecard that persists in tracker data for retros.

Exit Criteria

• [ ] All release gates evaluated and documented.
• [ ] Any blocking gates have waiver approvals recorded.
• [ ] Deployment PR contains embedded Release Gate snippet.
• [ ] Rollout scorecard saved for post-release retrospective.