diff --git a/.agents/skills/codex-panel-release/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/codex-panel-release/SKILL.md
index 4cb290d3..26688f1f 100644
--- a/.agents/skills/codex-panel-release/SKILL.md
+++ b/.agents/skills/codex-panel-release/SKILL.md
@@ -14,15 +14,16 @@ Use this skill when delegating Codex Panel release work to an agent. `docs/relea
 - Do not create GitHub Releases locally with `gh release create`; the tag-triggered GitHub Actions workflow owns release creation and asset attachment.
 - Keep internal validation notes, procedural details, and implementation reasoning out of release notes.
 - Release notes must be short, public-facing bullets under the single `## Changes` section required by `docs/release.md`.
+- Treat the release notes produced by `release:prepare` as a draft. Conventional Commit types select candidate bullets, but the full release diff remains the source for checking completeness and user-facing accuracy.
 
 ## Delegation Procedure
 
 1. Read `docs/release.md`, `package.json`, `manifest.json`, `versions.json`, and existing `.github/release-notes/` files.
 2. Identify the target release version and the commit range since the previous released tag.
-3. Follow the preparation step in `docs/release.md`.
-4. Draft `.github/release-notes/X.Y.Z.md` from the full diff since the previous released tag, not only the latest commit.
-5. Before committing, ask the user to approve the release version, release-note bullets, and included commit range.
-6. After approval, follow `docs/release.md` for the commit, preflight, tag, and push sequence.
+3. Inspect the full diff since the previous released tag, then follow the preparation step in `docs/release.md`; it updates version files and generates `.github/release-notes/X.Y.Z.md` from Conventional Commits.
+4. Review the generated draft against the full diff. Rewrite bullets for users, combine related implementation commits, reorder by importance, add an omitted user-facing change when a commit was misclassified, and replace the empty placeholder when no candidate commit was generated.
+5. Before committing, ask the user to approve the release version, reviewed release-note bullets, and included commit range.
+6. After approval, follow `docs/release.md` for the Conventional Commit, preflight, tag, and push sequence. Do not rely on a local hook; preflight explicitly checks commits since the previous version in `versions.json`.
 7. After pushing, let GitHub Actions create or update the GitHub Release.
 
 ## Failure Handling
diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 054c5db6..4b3611cc 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ updates:
     directory: "/"
     schedule:
       interval: "weekly"
+    commit-message:
+      prefix: "ci(deps)"
     cooldown:
       default-days: 7
 
@@ -11,6 +13,9 @@ updates:
     directory: "/"
     schedule:
       interval: "weekly"
+    commit-message:
+      prefix: "chore(deps)"
+      prefix-development: "chore(deps)"
     cooldown:
       default-days: 7
     open-pull-requests-limit: 5
diff --git a/.github/workflows/check.yml b/.github/workflows/check.yml
index 6112ed63..2693162f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
           persist-credentials: false
 
       - name: Setup Node.js
@@ -32,6 +33,20 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check recorded API baselines
         run: npm run api:baseline -- --recorded-only
 
+      - name: Check pull request commit messages
+        if: github.event_name == 'pull_request'
+        env:
+          BASE_SHA: ${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}
+          HEAD_SHA: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
+        run: npm run commitlint -- --from "$BASE_SHA" --to "$HEAD_SHA" --verbose
+
+      - name: Check pushed commit messages
+        if: github.event_name == 'push'
+        env:
+          BASE_SHA: ${{ github.event.before }}
+          HEAD_SHA: ${{ github.sha }}
+        run: npm run commitlint -- --from "$BASE_SHA" --to "$HEAD_SHA" --verbose
+
       - name: Check release metadata
         run: npm run release:check
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 04525b65..93d41761 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
         with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
           persist-credentials: false
 
       - name: Setup Node.js
@@ -35,6 +36,14 @@ jobs:
         env:
           RELEASE_VERSION: ${{ github.ref_name }}
 
+      - name: Check release commit messages
+        env:
+          TAG: ${{ github.ref_name }}
+        run: |
+          PREVIOUS_TAG="$(node -p 'Object.keys(require("./versions.json")).at(-2)')"
+          git rev-parse --verify "refs/tags/$PREVIOUS_TAG"
+          npm run commitlint -- --from "$PREVIOUS_TAG" --to "$TAG" --verbose
+
       - name: Run checks and build
         run: npm run check
 
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 66041557..b17c2e0a 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ This repository contains the Codex Panel Obsidian plugin.
 
 Jujutsu is the recommended local change-management workflow when available.
 
+Commits after the `5.0.0` tag must follow Conventional Commits. Use the repository's allowed types and examples in `docs/development.md`, and validate the relevant commit range explicitly because Jujutsu does not rely on local Git hooks.
+
 ## What To Read
 
 - Read `README.md` for user-facing behavior, requirements, commands, privacy, and compatibility.
diff --git a/commitlint.config.mjs b/commitlint.config.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7a082ab0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commitlint.config.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+export default {
+  defaultIgnores: false,
+  extends: ["@commitlint/config-conventional"],
+  ignores: [(message) => /^Merge pull request #\d+ from \S+/.test(message)],
+  rules: {
+    "subject-case": [0],
+    "type-enum": [2, "always", ["build", "chore", "ci", "docs", "feat", "fix", "perf", "refactor", "revert", "test"]],
+  },
+};
diff --git a/docs/development.md b/docs/development.md
index fecdb64e..233b7553 100644
--- a/docs/development.md
+++ b/docs/development.md
@@ -14,6 +14,21 @@ Use Node.js 26, matching `.node-version`, CI, and the installed Node type defini
 
 Use this as the normal edit loop: make the change, run `npm run fix`, then run `npm run check`. Treat `npm run fix` as trusted mechanical cleanup for formatting, import ordering, and Knip safe fixes; review the resulting diff at normal change-boundary checkpoints rather than after each tool adjustment.
 
+## Commit Messages
+
+Commits after the `5.0.0` tag follow [Conventional Commits 1.0.0](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/en/v1.0.0/):
+
+```text
+feat(composer): add daily note context suggestions
+fix(threads): prevent manual titles from being overwritten
+refactor(chat): move session wiring into the runtime
+chore(release): 5.0.1
+```
+
+Use one of `build`, `chore`, `ci`, `docs`, `feat`, `fix`, `perf`, `refactor`, `revert`, or `test`. Scopes are optional and are not restricted to a fixed list. Keep the description concise and omit a trailing period. Both lowercase and uppercase starts are accepted so Dependabot's generated `Bump ...` descriptions follow the same validation path. Use `!` before the colon or a `BREAKING CHANGE:` footer for a disruptive change.
+
+CI checks every commit introduced by a pull request or direct push. GitHub-generated `Merge pull request ...` commits are the only format exemption; write manual reverts as `revert: ...`, and rewrite `fixup!` or `squash!` commits before publication. Run `npm run commitlint -- --from <base> --to <head> --verbose` for the same local check; local Git hooks are optional and are not a substitute for CI in the Jujutsu-first workflow.
+
 Use focused scripts such as `npm run typecheck`, `npm run test`, or `npm run build` only when diagnosing a specific failure or when a full check would obscure the signal while iterating. Do not treat focused scripts as a substitute for the final `npm run check`. CI and release preflight run the same `npm run check` command as local development.
 
 Keep rule suppressions local and include the Obsidian-specific reason when a native Obsidian UI pattern intentionally diverges from a generic browser rule.
diff --git a/docs/release.md b/docs/release.md
index f382cc06..9ed0e06c 100644
--- a/docs/release.md
+++ b/docs/release.md
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@ Release work is Jujutsu-first in a colocated Git repository; Git is still used t
 
 Plugin versions use SemVer-shaped numbers for Obsidian distribution, but they are not a library API compatibility contract. Prefer patch releases for fixes, dependency updates, internal changes, and compatibility refreshes that preserve existing workflows, including routine Codex CLI app-server compatibility updates. Prefer minor releases for user-visible capabilities, settings, workflow additions, or supported-runtime baseline changes such as raising the minimum supported Obsidian app/API version. Reserve major releases for disruptive workflow, settings, storage, or support-policy changes.
 
-Create a release by preparing the next version, editing the generated release notes, committing the release changes, then running the preflight before pushing the matching tag:
+Create a release by preparing the next version, reviewing and editing the generated release notes, committing the release changes, then running the preflight before pushing the matching tag:
 
 ```sh
 npm run release:prepare -- X.Y.Z
-# Edit .github/release-notes/X.Y.Z.md.
+# Review and edit .github/release-notes/X.Y.Z.md.
 jj status
-jj commit -m "Bump version to X.Y.Z"
+jj commit -m "chore(release): X.Y.Z"
 jj bookmark move main --to @-
 npm run release:preflight
 jj tag set X.Y.Z -r main
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@ jj git push --remote origin --bookmark main
 git push origin X.Y.Z
 ```
 
-`release:prepare` updates the version files and creates a `## Changes` release notes template. `release:preflight` verifies the local Jujutsu/Git state, release metadata, API baselines, lockfile, and the same `npm run check` validation used by CI after the release commit is on `main`.
+`release:prepare` updates the version files and generates a `## Changes` release notes draft from Conventional Commits after the previous version tag. It includes `feat`, `fix`, `perf`, and commits marked as breaking changes; other commit types are omitted. Review the generated bullets for user-facing wording, combine related implementation commits, and reorder them by importance before committing. If there are no included commits, preparation leaves an empty bullet to replace manually.
+
+`release:preflight` verifies all commit messages since the previous tag, the local Jujutsu/Git state, release metadata, API baselines, lockfile, and the same `npm run check` validation used by CI after the release commit is on `main`.
 
 Release notes should normally include only user-facing changes. Internal implementation changes, validation details, and release procedure notes should be omitted when minor; when they are important enough to mention, group them into at most one concise bullet.
 
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index f842f5cd..45f92cd2 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -18,8 +18,12 @@
       },
       "devDependencies": {
         "@biomejs/biome": "^2.5.2",
+        "@commitlint/cli": "^21.2.1",
+        "@commitlint/config-conventional": "^21.2.0",
         "@types/node": "^26.1.0",
         "concurrently": "^10.0.3",
+        "conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits": "^10.2.1",
+        "conventional-commits-parser": "^7.1.0",
         "esbuild": "^0.28.0",
         "eslint": "^10.6.0",
         "eslint-plugin-obsidianmd": "^0.4.1",
@@ -86,6 +90,31 @@
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT"
     },
+    "node_modules/@babel/code-frame": {
+      "version": "7.29.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@babel/code-frame/-/code-frame-7.29.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Aup7aUOfpbAUg2ROOJN6Iw5f9DMBlzu0mIkm/malLQFN/YQgO48wCj0Kxa3sEHJvPVFg7siR+qRInwXd2qhQKw==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@babel/helper-validator-identifier": "^7.29.7",
+        "js-tokens": "^4.0.0",
+        "picocolors": "^1.1.1"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=6.9.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@babel/helper-validator-identifier": {
+      "version": "7.29.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@babel/helper-validator-identifier/-/helper-validator-identifier-7.29.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-qehxGkRj55h/ff8EMaJ+cYhyaKlHIxqYDn682wQD7RNp9UujOQsHog2uS0r2vzr4pW+sXf90NeeayjcNaX3fFg==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=6.9.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/@biomejs/biome": {
       "version": "2.5.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@biomejs/biome/-/biome-2.5.2.tgz",
@@ -297,6 +326,328 @@
         "w3c-keyname": "^2.2.4"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/cli": {
+      "version": "21.2.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@commitlint/cli/-/cli-21.2.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-blsZGe29hJ72VGEFVl72IVYX+1vsfINpjA9yWQA6i7OKD/McGEOXg08sKIRKjFk4JvzhV/9n0l3i6NooPLTNfg==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@commitlint/config-conventional": "^21.2.0",
+        "@commitlint/format": "^21.2.0",
+        "@commitlint/lint": "^21.2.0",
+        "@commitlint/load": "^21.2.0",
+        "@commitlint/read": "^21.2.1",
+        "@commitlint/types": "^21.2.0",
+        "tinyexec": "^1.0.0",
+        "yargs": "^18.0.0"
+      },
+      "bin": {
+        "commitlint": "cli.js"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=22.12.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/config-conventional": {
+      "version": "21.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@commitlint/config-conventional/-/config-conventional-21.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Qf8WRDVcyVd14if6VTWenebxFbKnVnbzPUJjlzjkyJGeHK2xCGd63Dr1XZzj0plXKQb9P0BfOxoc1HVeCo2BWQ==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@commitlint/types": "^21.2.0",
+        "conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits": "^10.0.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=22.12.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/config-validator": {
+      "version": "21.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@commitlint/config-validator/-/config-validator-21.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-t7AzNHAKeIdo/3NRGwzpufKHsKkPHmFs/56N2Fnsh0/r0rGtnQzTxk6vnFgjaGr4hdSQKNB50/KAhR9Yk4LJKA==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@commitlint/types": "^21.2.0",
+        "ajv": "^8.11.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=22.12.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/config-validator/node_modules/ajv": {
+      "version": "8.20.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ajv/-/ajv-8.20.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-Thbli+OlOj+iMPYFBVBfJ3OmCAnaSyNn4M1vz9T6Gka5Jt9ba/HIR56joy65tY6kx/FCF5VXNB819Y7/GUrBGA==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "fast-deep-equal": "^3.1.3",
+        "fast-uri": "^3.0.1",
+        "json-schema-traverse": "^1.0.0",
+        "require-from-string": "^2.0.2"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "type": "github",
+        "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/epoberezkin"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/config-validator/node_modules/json-schema-traverse": {
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/json-schema-traverse/-/json-schema-traverse-1.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-NM8/P9n3XjXhIZn1lLhkFaACTOURQXjWhV4BA/RnOv8xvgqtqpAX9IO4mRQxSx1Rlo4tqzeqb0sOlruaOy3dug==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT"
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/ensure": {
+      "version": "21.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@commitlint/ensure/-/ensure-21.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-76IF9vDNS13lAzEEik9eKwzt8f9hYhWiwVXZ2AnyLCz5/f511FsEQ3pw1X3/zSQpdRLQU7i5qDMVKyXi1GWjSg==",
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+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@commitlint/types": "^21.2.0",
+        "es-toolkit": "^1.46.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=22.12.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/execute-rule": {
+      "version": "21.0.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@commitlint/execute-rule/-/execute-rule-21.0.1.tgz",
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+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=22.12.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/format": {
+      "version": "21.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@commitlint/format/-/format-21.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-c4q64xaav2U83t7k7RyzJerBZurPer7FxUOY0RL5L/6CZijZ7K+s6HIBGIghj0ey1P2+seRX0J9XQYtDued6tg==",
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+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@commitlint/types": "^21.2.0",
+        "picocolors": "^1.1.1"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=22.12.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/is-ignored": {
+      "version": "21.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@commitlint/is-ignored/-/is-ignored-21.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-4/eB0vBN7L88O/oC4ajAEqi7j2ZfNgxl/+11RfAV9YosejZgDXhY2C9VcHnHJhOzPLoSy5P3Mg/46kqeyJfXKw==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@commitlint/types": "^21.2.0",
+        "semver": "^7.6.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=22.12.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/lint": {
+      "version": "21.2.0",
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+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@commitlint/is-ignored": "^21.2.0",
+        "@commitlint/parse": "^21.2.0",
+        "@commitlint/rules": "^21.2.0",
+        "@commitlint/types": "^21.2.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=22.12.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/load": {
+      "version": "21.2.0",
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+      "integrity": "sha512-RjlzWQqruRwIenJEfZtq7kG97co97nKoHpflE5YnF61tDLXxHPrdWImgzw6VL6MlFyaOcVlk74eBV8ZQmc3oIA==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@commitlint/config-validator": "^21.2.0",
+        "@commitlint/execute-rule": "^21.0.1",
+        "@commitlint/resolve-extends": "^21.2.0",
+        "@commitlint/types": "^21.2.0",
+        "cosmiconfig": "^9.0.1",
+        "cosmiconfig-typescript-loader": "^6.1.0",
+        "es-toolkit": "^1.46.0",
+        "is-plain-obj": "^4.1.0",
+        "picocolors": "^1.1.1"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=22.12.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/message": {
+      "version": "21.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@commitlint/message/-/message-21.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-YxGoiXD/HXNXLJPrQwE5poXa+XH0CBEm+mdvbHQP0g6MV/dmJyUFCzPNzZbxL93GvZ70TmtTK0Z0/IBpAqHv8g==",
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+      "license": "MIT",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=22.12.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/parse": {
+      "version": "21.2.0",
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+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@commitlint/types": "^21.2.0",
+        "conventional-changelog-angular": "^9.0.0",
+        "conventional-commits-parser": "^7.0.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=22.12.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/read": {
+      "version": "21.2.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@commitlint/read/-/read-21.2.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-hUW7EJQnNTL0vPOmVMNK4CrnrNBN0nN+JJHReFkdHO5y4iyHeEmTBwuC15OCqUTjxWo7idnH1LftfpWVIaPWIA==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@commitlint/top-level": "^21.2.0",
+        "@commitlint/types": "^21.2.0",
+        "@conventional-changelog/git-client": "^3.0.0",
+        "tinyexec": "^1.0.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=22.12.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@commitlint/resolve-extends": {
+      "version": "21.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@commitlint/resolve-extends/-/resolve-extends-21.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-4O/1j51+79Wth9s/MGxt/5gs0XYLDgNlYpltQfhAvLE0itusLKs9zruxbiNg1oOkmkb9L9L4USYGjEj7n87NxA==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@commitlint/config-validator": "^21.2.0",
+        "@commitlint/types": "^21.2.0",
+        "es-toolkit": "^1.46.0",
+        "global-directory": "^5.0.0",
+        "resolve-from": "^5.0.0"
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@@ -2322,6 +2673,35 @@
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@@ -2881,6 +3261,19 @@
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@@ -3341,6 +3734,49 @@
         "url": "https://github.com/chalk/supports-color?sponsor=1"
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+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@simple-libs/stream-utils": "^2.0.0",
+        "argue-cli": "^3.1.0"
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+      "bin": {
+        "conventional-commits-parser": "dist/cli/index.js"
+      },
+      "engines": {
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+    },
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@@ -3348,6 +3784,61 @@
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT"
     },
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+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cosmiconfig/-/cosmiconfig-9.0.2.tgz",
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+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "env-paths": "^2.2.1",
+        "import-fresh": "^3.3.0",
+        "js-yaml": "^4.1.0",
+        "parse-json": "^5.2.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=14"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/d-fischer"
+      },
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+      },
+      "peerDependenciesMeta": {
+        "typescript": {
+          "optional": true
+        }
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+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "jiti": "2.6.1"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=v18"
+      },
+      "peerDependencies": {
+        "@types/node": "*",
+        "cosmiconfig": ">=9",
+        "typescript": ">=5"
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+    "node_modules/cosmiconfig-typescript-loader/node_modules/jiti": {
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+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/jiti/-/jiti-2.6.1.tgz",
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+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "bin": {
+        "jiti": "lib/jiti-cli.mjs"
+      }
+    },
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       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/crelt/-/crelt-1.0.6.tgz",
@@ -3756,6 +4247,26 @@
         "url": "https://github.com/fb55/entities?sponsor=1"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/env-paths": {
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+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/env-paths/-/env-paths-2.2.1.tgz",
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+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=6"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/error-ex": {
+      "version": "1.3.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/error-ex/-/error-ex-1.3.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-sqQamAnR14VgCr1A618A3sGrygcpK+HEbenA/HiEAkkUwcZIIB/tgWqHFxWgOyDh4nB4JCRimh79dR5Ywc9MDQ==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "is-arrayish": "^0.2.1"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/es-abstract": {
       "version": "1.24.2",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/es-abstract/-/es-abstract-1.24.2.tgz",
@@ -3940,6 +4451,17 @@
         "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/ljharb"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/es-toolkit": {
+      "version": "1.49.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/es-toolkit/-/es-toolkit-1.49.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-G5iZ6Pc/FNRY/soKZHC+TxGDD83rHUDXxzaWhGCX44vAv/tMs56WMusnm/KMNK+luUPsgA9U28cGr4RDlSzL2g==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "workspaces": [
+        "docs",
+        "benchmarks"
+      ]
+    },
     "node_modules/esbuild": {
       "version": "0.28.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/esbuild/-/esbuild-0.28.1.tgz",
@@ -5260,6 +5782,22 @@
         "node": ">=10.13.0"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/global-directory": {
+      "version": "5.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/global-directory/-/global-directory-5.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-1pgFdhK3J2LeM+dVf2Pd424yHx2ou338lC0ErNP2hPx4j8eW1Sp0XqSjNxtk6Tc4Kr5wlWtSvz8cn2yb7/SG/w==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "ini": "6.0.0"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=20"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/sindresorhus"
+      }
+    },
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       "version": "14.0.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/globals/-/globals-14.0.0.tgz",
@@ -5494,6 +6032,16 @@
         "node": ">=0.8.19"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/ini": {
+      "version": "6.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ini/-/ini-6.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-IBTdIkzZNOpqm7q3dRqJvMaldXjDHWkEDfrwGEQTs5eaQMWV+djAhR+wahyNNMAa+qpbDUhBMVt4ZKNwpPm7xQ==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "ISC",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": "^20.17.0 || >=22.9.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/internal-slot": {
       "version": "1.1.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/internal-slot/-/internal-slot-1.1.0.tgz",
@@ -5527,6 +6075,13 @@
         "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/ljharb"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/is-arrayish": {
+      "version": "0.2.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/is-arrayish/-/is-arrayish-0.2.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-zz06S8t0ozoDXMG+ube26zeCTNXcKIPJZJi8hBrF4idCLms4CG9QtK7qBl1boi5ODzFpjswb5JPmHCbMpjaYzg==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT"
+    },
     "node_modules/is-async-function": {
       "version": "2.1.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/is-async-function/-/is-async-function-2.1.1.tgz",
@@ -5746,6 +6301,19 @@
         "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/ljharb"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/is-plain-obj": {
+      "version": "4.1.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/is-plain-obj/-/is-plain-obj-4.1.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-+Pgi+vMuUNkJyExiMBt5IlFoMyKnr5zhJ4Uspz58WOhBF5QoIZkFyNHIbBAtHwzVAgk5RtndVNsDRN61/mmDqg==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/sindresorhus"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/is-potential-custom-element-name": {
       "version": "1.0.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/is-potential-custom-element-name/-/is-potential-custom-element-name-1.0.1.tgz",
@@ -6018,6 +6586,13 @@
       "dev": true,
       "license": "MIT"
     },
+    "node_modules/json-parse-even-better-errors": {
+      "version": "2.3.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/json-parse-even-better-errors/-/json-parse-even-better-errors-2.3.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-xyFwyhro/JEof6Ghe2iz2NcXoj2sloNsWr/XsERDK/oiPCfaNhl5ONfp+jQdAZRQQ0IJWNzH9zIZF7li91kh2w==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT"
+    },
     "node_modules/json-schema-migrate": {
       "version": "2.0.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/json-schema-migrate/-/json-schema-migrate-2.0.0.tgz",
@@ -6481,6 +7056,13 @@
         "url": "https://opencollective.com/parcel"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/lines-and-columns": {
+      "version": "1.2.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lines-and-columns/-/lines-and-columns-1.2.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-7ylylesZQ/PV29jhEDl3Ufjo6ZX7gCqJr5F7PKrqc93v7fzSymt1BpwEU8nAUXs8qzzvqhbjhK5QZg6Mt/HkBg==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT"
+    },
     "node_modules/linkedom": {
       "version": "0.18.12",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/linkedom/-/linkedom-0.18.12.tgz",
@@ -7444,6 +8026,25 @@
         "node": ">=6"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/parse-json": {
+      "version": "5.2.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/parse-json/-/parse-json-5.2.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-ayCKvm/phCGxOkYRSCM82iDwct8/EonSEgCSxWxD7ve6jHggsFl4fZVQBPRNgQoKiuV/odhFrGzQXZwbifC8Rg==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@babel/code-frame": "^7.0.0",
+        "error-ex": "^1.3.1",
+        "json-parse-even-better-errors": "^2.3.0",
+        "lines-and-columns": "^1.1.6"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=8"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/sindresorhus"
+      }
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diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b8f71aae..330cffa0 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
     "api:baseline": "node scripts/api-baseline.mjs",
     "build": "node esbuild.config.mjs",
     "build:styles": "node scripts/build-styles.mjs",
+    "commitlint": "commitlint",
     "check": "concurrently --group --pad-prefix 'node:check:*' && node --run build",
     "check:biome": "biome check --diagnostic-level=warn --error-on-warnings",
     "check:css-usage": "node scripts/check-css-usage.mjs",
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@
     "fix": "biome check --fix --skip=plugin --diagnostic-level=warn --error-on-warnings && knip --fix --no-progress",
     "generate:app-server-types": "node scripts/generate-app-server-types.mjs",
     "release:check": "node scripts/release/check.mjs",
+    "release:notes": "node scripts/release/notes.mjs",
     "release:preflight": "node scripts/release/preflight.mjs",
     "release:prepare": "node scripts/release/prepare.mjs",
     "test": "vitest run --pool threads --maxWorkers 6",
@@ -37,8 +39,12 @@
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@biomejs/biome": "^2.5.2",
+    "@commitlint/cli": "^21.2.1",
+    "@commitlint/config-conventional": "^21.2.0",
     "@types/node": "^26.1.0",
     "concurrently": "^10.0.3",
+    "conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits": "^10.2.1",
+    "conventional-commits-parser": "^7.1.0",
     "esbuild": "^0.28.0",
     "eslint": "^10.6.0",
     "eslint-plugin-obsidianmd": "^0.4.1",
diff --git a/scripts/release/notes.mjs b/scripts/release/notes.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..30be8384
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/release/notes.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
+import conventionalCommits from "conventional-changelog-conventionalcommits";
+import { CommitParser } from "conventional-commits-parser";
+
+const releaseNoteTypes = new Set(["feat", "fix", "perf"]);
+const parser = new CommitParser(conventionalCommits().parser);
+
+function fail(message) {
+  throw new Error(`release notes generation failed: ${message}`);
+}
+
+function runGit(args, cwd) {
+  const result = spawnSync("git", args, {
+    cwd,
+    encoding: "utf8",
+    shell: false,
+  });
+  if (result.error) fail(result.error.message);
+  if (result.status !== 0) {
+    fail(`${args.join(" ")} exited with ${result.status}: ${result.stderr.trim()}`);
+  }
+  return result.stdout;
+}
+
+function formatSubject(subject) {
+  const sentence = subject.replace(/^([a-z])/, (letter) => letter.toUpperCase());
+  return /[.!?]$/.test(sentence) ? sentence : `${sentence}.`;
+}
+
+export function releaseNoteForCommit(message) {
+  const commit = parser.parse(message);
+  if (!commit.subject) return null;
+
+  const isBreaking = commit.notes.length > 0;
+  if (!isBreaking && !releaseNoteTypes.has(commit.type ?? "")) return null;
+
+  return formatSubject(commit.subject);
+}
+
+export function renderReleaseNotes(messages) {
+  const entries = messages.map(releaseNoteForCommit).filter((entry) => entry !== null);
+  const bullets = entries.length > 0 ? entries.map((entry) => `- ${entry}`).join("\n") : "- ";
+  return `## Changes\n\n${bullets}\n`;
+}
+
+export function readCommitMessagesSince(tag, cwd = process.cwd()) {
+  runGit(["rev-parse", "--verify", `refs/tags/${tag}`], cwd);
+  const output = runGit(["log", "--format=%B%x00", `${tag}..HEAD`], cwd);
+  return output
+    .split("\0")
+    .map((message) => message.trim())
+    .filter(Boolean);
+}
+
+export function generateReleaseNotes(tag, cwd = process.cwd()) {
+  return renderReleaseNotes(readCommitMessagesSince(tag, cwd));
+}
+
+if (process.argv[1] && import.meta.url === pathToFileURL(process.argv[1]).href) {
+  const previousTag = process.argv[2];
+  if (!previousTag) {
+    console.error("usage: npm run release:notes -- X.Y.Z");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  try {
+    process.stdout.write(generateReleaseNotes(previousTag));
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error(error instanceof Error ? error.message : error);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/scripts/release/preflight.mjs b/scripts/release/preflight.mjs
index cfd6d8be..60668091 100644
--- a/scripts/release/preflight.mjs
+++ b/scripts/release/preflight.mjs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 
 function fail(message) {
   console.error(`release preflight failed: ${message}`);
@@ -81,6 +82,11 @@ if (maybeRun("jj", ["root"])) {
   assertGitReleaseState(packageVersion);
 }
 
+const versionKeys = Object.keys(JSON.parse(readFileSync("versions.json", "utf8")));
+const previousTag = versionKeys.at(-2);
+if (!previousTag) fail("versions.json must contain a release before the prepared version");
+run("git", ["rev-parse", "--verify", `refs/tags/${previousTag}`], { capture: true });
+run("npm", ["run", "commitlint", "--", "--from", previousTag, "--to", "main", "--verbose"]);
 run("npm", ["run", "release:check"]);
 run("npm", ["run", "api:baseline"]);
 run("npm", ["ci", "--dry-run"]);
diff --git a/scripts/release/prepare.mjs b/scripts/release/prepare.mjs
index 3b431283..2fba6a61 100644
--- a/scripts/release/prepare.mjs
+++ b/scripts/release/prepare.mjs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { mkdir, readFile, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
 import path from "node:path";
+import { generateReleaseNotes } from "./notes.mjs";
 import { compareVersions, isExpectedNextVersion, parseVersion } from "./versioning.mjs";
 
 function fail(message) {
@@ -38,6 +39,13 @@ try {
   if (error.code !== "ENOENT") throw error;
 }
 
+let releaseNotes;
+try {
+  releaseNotes = generateReleaseNotes(previousVersionKey);
+} catch (error) {
+  fail(error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error));
+}
+
 packageJson.version = releaseVersion;
 packageLockJson.version = releaseVersion;
 if (!packageLockJson.packages?.[""]) fail('package-lock.json is missing packages[""]');
@@ -51,7 +59,7 @@ await writeFile("manifest.json", `${JSON.stringify(manifestJson, null, 2)}\n`);
 await writeFile("versions.json", `${JSON.stringify(versionsJson, null, 2)}\n`);
 
 await mkdir(notesDir, { recursive: true });
-await writeFile(notesPath, "## Changes\n\n- \n");
+await writeFile(notesPath, releaseNotes);
 
 console.log(`prepared release ${releaseVersion}`);
-console.log(`edit ${notesPath}, then run npm run release:preflight after committing`);
+console.log(`review and edit ${notesPath}, then run npm run release:preflight after committing`);
diff --git a/tests/scripts/development-scripts.test.ts b/tests/scripts/development-scripts.test.ts
index dc3e4e60..a43342fc 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/development-scripts.test.ts
+++ b/tests/scripts/development-scripts.test.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,16 @@ afterEach(async () => {
 });
 
 describe("development scripts", () => {
+  it("enforces Conventional Commits except for GitHub merge commits", () => {
+    for (const message of ["feat: add side chats", "Merge pull request #123 from owner/feature"]) {
+      expect(runCommitlint(message), message).toBe(0);
+    }
+
+    for (const message of ['Revert "feat: add side chats"', "v5.1.0", "fixup! feat: add side chats", "squash! feat: add side chats"]) {
+      expect(runCommitlint(message), message).toBe(1);
+    }
+  });
+
   it("fails style builds when CSS files are missing from the style order file", async () => {
     const cwd = await styleOrderFixture();
 
@@ -172,6 +182,34 @@ describe("development scripts", () => {
     expect(result.stderr).toContain("codex-panel__unused");
   });
 
+  it("prepares release notes from conventional commits since the previous tag", async () => {
+    const cwd = await tempWorkspace();
+    await writeJson(path.join(cwd, "package.json"), { version: "2.3.2" });
+    await writeJson(path.join(cwd, "package-lock.json"), {
+      version: "2.3.2",
+      packages: { "": { version: "2.3.2" } },
+    });
+    await writeJson(path.join(cwd, "manifest.json"), { version: "2.3.2", minAppVersion: "1.12.0" });
+    await writeJson(path.join(cwd, "versions.json"), { "2.3.2": "1.12.0" });
+    runGit(["init"], cwd);
+    runGit(["config", "user.name", "Codex Panel Tests"], cwd);
+    runGit(["config", "user.email", "tests@example.com"], cwd);
+    runGit(["add", "."], cwd);
+    runGit(["commit", "-m", "chore: establish release baseline"], cwd);
+    runGit(["tag", "2.3.2"], cwd);
+    await writeFile(path.join(cwd, "change.txt"), "side chats\n");
+    runGit(["add", "change.txt"], cwd);
+    runGit(["commit", "-m", "feat(chat): add side chat support"], cwd);
+
+    const result = runNodeScript("scripts/release/prepare.mjs", ["2.4.0"], cwd);
+
+    expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+    await expect(readFile(path.join(cwd, ".github", "release-notes", "2.4.0.md"), "utf8")).resolves.toBe(
+      "## Changes\n\n- Add side chat support.\n",
+    );
+    await expect(readJson(path.join(cwd, "package.json"))).resolves.toMatchObject({ version: "2.4.0" });
+  });
+
   it("fails release prepare before changing version files when release notes already exist", async () => {
     const cwd = await tempWorkspace();
     await mkdir(path.join(cwd, ".github", "release-notes"), { recursive: true });
@@ -236,6 +274,20 @@ function runNodeScript(script: string, args: string[] = [], cwd = repoRoot, env:
   });
 }
 
+function runCommitlint(message: string): number | null {
+  return spawnSync(process.execPath, [path.join(repoRoot, "node_modules", "@commitlint", "cli", "cli.js")], {
+    cwd: repoRoot,
+    encoding: "utf8",
+    input: `${message}\n`,
+    shell: false,
+  }).status;
+}
+
+function runGit(args: string[], cwd: string): void {
+  const result = spawnSync("git", args, { cwd, encoding: "utf8", shell: false });
+  if (result.status !== 0) throw new Error(`git ${args.join(" ")} failed: ${result.stderr}`);
+}
+
 async function writeJson(file: string, value: unknown): Promise<void> {
   await writeFile(file, `${JSON.stringify(value, null, 2)}\n`);
 }
diff --git a/tests/scripts/release-notes.test.ts b/tests/scripts/release-notes.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9b3bddc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/scripts/release-notes.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import path from "node:path";
+import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+const { releaseNoteForCommit, renderReleaseNotes } = (await import(
+  pathToFileURL(path.join(process.cwd(), "scripts", "release", "notes.mjs")).href
+)) as {
+  releaseNoteForCommit(message: string): string | null;
+  renderReleaseNotes(messages: string[]): string;
+};
+
+describe("release notes", () => {
+  it("renders user-facing conventional commits and breaking changes", () => {
+    expect(
+      renderReleaseNotes([
+        "feat(chat): add side chat support",
+        "fix: prevent stale titles",
+        "perf(stream): reduce rendering work",
+        "refactor!: remove the legacy settings format",
+        "docs: explain side chats",
+        "chore(deps): update development dependencies",
+      ]),
+    ).toBe(
+      [
+        "## Changes",
+        "",
+        "- Add side chat support.",
+        "- Prevent stale titles.",
+        "- Reduce rendering work.",
+        "- Remove the legacy settings format.",
+        "",
+      ].join("\n"),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("uses a breaking footer to include an otherwise hidden type", () => {
+    expect(releaseNoteForCommit("refactor: replace settings storage\n\nBREAKING-CHANGE: existing settings are reset")).toBe(
+      "Replace settings storage.",
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("leaves an editable placeholder when no commits belong in the notes", () => {
+    expect(renderReleaseNotes(["test: cover release generation", "ci: validate commit messages"])).toBe("## Changes\n\n- \n");
+  });
+});