diff --git a/.claude/commands/release.md b/.claude/commands/release.md
index 1261a8f..b45bf79 100644
--- a/.claude/commands/release.md
+++ b/.claude/commands/release.md
@@ -1,8 +1,25 @@
+---
+description: Release a new version of the plugin. Follow these steps exactly:
+allowed-tools: Bash(npm:*), Bash(git:*)
+---
+
 Release a new version of the plugin. Follow these steps exactly:
 
 ## 1. Check current version
 
-Read `manifest.json` to confirm the current version number, then ask the user what the new version should be (or check if they've already specified it).
+Read `manifest.json` to confirm the current version number, then confirm with the user what the new version should be (patch / minor / major).
+
+**Important**: `package.json` and `manifest.json` must stay in sync. Set `package.json` to the new version first:
+
+```bash
+node -e "
+const fs = require('fs');
+const pkg = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('package.json', 'utf8'));
+pkg.version = 'X.Y.Z';
+fs.writeFileSync('package.json', JSON.stringify(pkg, null, '\t'));
+console.log('package.json set to', pkg.version);
+"
+```
 
 ## 2. Bump version
 
@@ -10,7 +27,7 @@ Read `manifest.json` to confirm the current version number, then ask the user wh
 npm run version
 ```
 
-This updates `manifest.json` and `versions.json` and stages both files. Confirm the version was bumped correctly by reading `manifest.json`.
+This reads the version from `package.json` and writes it into `manifest.json` and `versions.json`, then stages both. Confirm by reading `manifest.json`.
 
 ## 3. Build and test
 
@@ -20,36 +37,27 @@ npm run build && npm test
 
 Do not proceed if either fails.
 
-## 4. Commit and push
+## 4. Commit and push to master
 
 ```bash
-git add manifest.json versions.json
+git add manifest.json versions.json package.json package-lock.json
 git commit -m "chore: release X.Y.Z"
 git push prod master
 ```
 
 Replace `X.Y.Z` with the actual version from `manifest.json`.
 
-## 5. Tag and push tag
-
-```bash
-git tag -a X.Y.Z -m "X.Y.Z"
-git push prod X.Y.Z
-```
-
-The tag **must exactly match** the version in `manifest.json`. The GitHub Actions release workflow is triggered by this tag push and will:
-- Run tests
-- Build `main.js`
-- Create a **draft** GitHub release with `main.js`, `manifest.json`, and `styles.css` attached
-
-## 6. Publish the draft release
-
-Go to the GitHub releases page, find the draft, add release notes, and publish it.
+That's it. Pushing to `master` automatically triggers the GitHub Actions release workflow, which will:
+- Detect the new version in `manifest.json`
+- Run tests and build `main.js`
+- Create a git tag `X.Y.Z`
+- Publish a GitHub release with auto-generated changelog and `main.js`, `manifest.json`, `styles.css` attached
 
 ---
 
 **Notes:**
 - The remote is named `prod` (not `origin`)
 - `main.js` is in `.gitignore` — never commit it manually; the CI builds it
-- The tag version must match `manifest.json` exactly (not `package.json`)
-- The release workflow creates a **draft** — you must publish it manually after adding release notes
+- No manual tagging required — the workflow creates the tag automatically
+- The release is published immediately (not a draft) with auto-generated release notes
+- If you push to master without changing the version, no release is created (idempotent)
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 61a6ddf..5fb05f1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ name: CI
 
 on:
   push:
+    branches:
+      - "**"
   pull_request:
 
 jobs:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index a363b33..d5cd184 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -2,38 +2,64 @@ name: Release Obsidian plugin
 
 on:
   push:
-    tags:
-      - "*"
+    branches:
+      - master
 
 jobs:
-  build:
+  release:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     permissions:
       contents: write
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Read version from manifest
+        id: version
+        run: echo "version=$(node -p "require('./manifest.json').version")" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+
+      - name: Check if release already exists
+        id: check
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          if gh release view "${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}" &>/dev/null; then
+            echo "exists=true" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          else
+            echo "exists=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          fi
 
       - name: Use Node.js
+        if: steps.check.outputs.exists == 'false'
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: "20.x"
           cache: "npm"
 
       - name: Install dependencies
+        if: steps.check.outputs.exists == 'false'
         run: npm ci
 
       - name: Run tests
+        if: steps.check.outputs.exists == 'false'
         run: npm test
 
       - name: Build plugin
+        if: steps.check.outputs.exists == 'false'
         run: npm run build
 
-      - name: Create release
+      - name: Tag and create release
+        if: steps.check.outputs.exists == 'false'
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         run: |
-          tag="${GITHUB_REF#refs/tags/}"
-          gh release create "$tag" \
-            --title="$tag" \
-            --draft \
+          version="${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}"
+          git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
+          git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
+          git tag -a "$version" -m "$version"
+          git push origin "$version"
+          gh release create "$version" \
+            --title="$version" \
+            --generate-notes \
             main.js manifest.json styles.css