diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..468c804
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+name: Release
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: [main]
+
+concurrency:
+  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: false
+
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+
+jobs:
+  release:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Detect release tag in commit message
+        id: detect
+        run: |
+          MSG="${{ github.event.head_commit.message }}"
+          if echo "$MSG" | grep -qE '\[(major|minor|patch)\]'; then
+            echo "triggered=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          else
+            echo "triggered=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          fi
+
+      - name: Read version
+        if: steps.detect.outputs.triggered == 'true'
+        id: version
+        run: echo "version=$(cat VERSION)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
+      - name: Create and push tag
+        if: steps.detect.outputs.triggered == 'true'
+        run: |
+          git tag "v${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}"
+          git push origin "v${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}"
+
+      - name: Package release artifact
+        if: steps.detect.outputs.triggered == 'true'
+        run: zip -r release.zip . --exclude ".git/*" --exclude ".github/*"
+
+      - name: Create GitHub Release
+        if: steps.detect.outputs.triggered == 'true'
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          gh release create "v${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}" \
+            release.zip \
+            --title "Release v${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}" \
+            --generate-notes
diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate-version.yml b/.github/workflows/validate-version.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..883e037
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate-version.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+name: Validate version
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    branches: [main]
+
+jobs:
+  validate:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Check version consistency
+        run: |
+          VERSION=$(cat VERSION)
+          FAILED=0
+
+          PLUGIN_VERSION=$(jq -r '.version' plugins/jfrog/.cursor-plugin/plugin.json)
+          if [ "$VERSION" != "$PLUGIN_VERSION" ]; then
+            echo "::error::Version mismatch: VERSION=$VERSION but plugins/jfrog/.cursor-plugin/plugin.json.version=$PLUGIN_VERSION"
+            FAILED=1
+          fi
+
+          MARKET_VERSION=$(jq -r '.metadata.version' .cursor-plugin/marketplace.json)
+          if [ "$VERSION" != "$MARKET_VERSION" ]; then
+            echo "::error::Version mismatch: VERSION=$VERSION but .cursor-plugin/marketplace.json.metadata.version=$MARKET_VERSION"
+            FAILED=1
+          fi
+
+          [ "$FAILED" -eq 0 ] && echo "All versions consistent: $VERSION"
+          exit $FAILED
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 1b11640..c040477 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -36,6 +36,15 @@ The `skills/` tree is vendored from [`jfrog/jfrog-skills`](https://github.com/jf
 
 See [`VENDOR.md`](VENDOR.md) for the full picture.
 
+## Releasing
+
+To cut a release:
+
+1. In your PR, bump `VERSION` and sync both `plugins/jfrog/.cursor-plugin/plugin.json` `.version` and `.cursor-plugin/marketplace.json` `.metadata.version` to match. The `validate-version` PR check enforces this.
+2. Merge to `main` with `[major]`, `[minor]`, or `[patch]` anywhere in the commit message.
+
+The release workflow reads `VERSION`, creates a `vX.Y.Z` git tag, and publishes a GitHub Release with a repo zip attached. No bot push to `main` — the version bump is part of the PR itself.
+
 ## Reporting Issues
 
 Open a [GitHub issue](https://github.com/jfrog/cursor-plugin/issues) with:
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d85683
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0.5.4