v2.16.0

feat(cli): add toolchain management command
v2.15.0
2026-05-10 11:05:17 +00:00 · 2026-05-10 11:04:57 +00:00 · 2026-05-10 10:01:18 +00:00 · 2026-05-10 10:01:09 +00:00 · 2026-04-30 13:03:04 +00:00 · 2026-04-30 13:03:04 +00:00
34 changed files with 4686 additions and 1591 deletions
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 {
-  "szci": {
-    "npmGlobalTools": [],
-    "npmAccessLevel": "private",
-    "npmRegistryUrl": "verdaccio.lossless.one"
+  "@ship.zone/szci": {
+    "npmGlobalTools": []
  },
-  "tsdoc": {
+  "@git.zone/tsdoc": {
    "legal": "\n## License and Legal Information\n\nThis repository contains open-source code that is licensed under the MIT License. A copy of the MIT License can be found in the [license](license) file within this repository. \n\n**Please note:** The MIT License does not grant permission to use the trade names, trademarks, service marks, or product names of the project, except as required for reasonable and customary use in describing the origin of the work and reproducing the content of the NOTICE file.\n\n### Trademarks\n\nThis project is owned and maintained by Task Venture Capital GmbH. The names and logos associated with Task Venture Capital GmbH and any related products or services are trademarks of Task Venture Capital GmbH and are not included within the scope of the MIT license granted herein. Use of these trademarks must comply with Task Venture Capital GmbH's Trademark Guidelines, and any usage must be approved in writing by Task Venture Capital GmbH.\n\n### Company Information\n\nTask Venture Capital GmbH  \nRegistered at District court Bremen HRB 35230 HB, Germany\n\nFor any legal inquiries or if you require further information, please contact us via email at hello@task.vc.\n\nBy using this repository, you acknowledge that you have read this section, agree to comply with its terms, and understand that the licensing of the code does not imply endorsement by Task Venture Capital GmbH of any derivative works.\n"
  },
  "@git.zone/cli": {
+    "schemaVersion": 2,
    "projectType": "npm",
    "module": {
      "githost": "gitlab.com",
@@ -35,12 +34,38 @@
        "CI/CD"
      ]
    },
+    "commit": {
+      "confirmation": "prompt",
+      "steps": ["analyze", "changelog", "commit"]
+    },
    "release": {
-      "registries": [
-        "https://verdaccio.lossless.digital",
-        "https://registry.npmjs.org"
-      ],
-      "accessLevel": "public"
+      "confirmation": "prompt",
+      "preflight": {
+        "requireCleanTree": true,
+        "test": false,
+        "build": true
+      },
+      "targets": {
+        "git": {
+          "enabled": true,
+          "remote": "origin",
+          "pushBranch": true,
+          "pushTags": true
+        },
+        "npm": {
+          "enabled": true,
+          "registries": [
+            "https://verdaccio.lossless.digital",
+            "https://registry.npmjs.org"
+          ],
+          "accessLevel": "public",
+          "alreadyPublished": "success"
+        },
+        "docker": {
+          "enabled": false,
+          "images": []
+        }
+      }
    }
  }
-}
+}
@@ -9,6 +9,13 @@
      "npmPackagename": "{{module.npmPackagename}}",
      "license": "{{module.license}}",
      "projectDomain": "{{module.projectDomain}}"
+    },
+    "release": {
+      "targets": {
+        "npm": {
+          "registries": ["{{npmPrivateRegistry}}"]
+        }
+      }
    }
  },
  "@ship.zone/szci": {
@@ -18,7 +25,6 @@
    },
    "dockerBuildargEnvMap": {
      "NPMCI_TOKEN_NPM2": "NPMCI_TOKEN_NPM2"
-    },
-    "npmRegistryUrl": "{{npmPrivateRegistry}}"
+    }
  }
 }
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ fileName: .smartconfig.json
      "projectDomain": "{{module.projectDomain}}"
    },
    "release": {
-      "accessLevel": "{{module.npmAccessLevel}}"
+      "targets": {
+        "npm": {
+          "accessLevel": "{{module.npmAccessLevel}}"
+        }
+      }
    }
  },
  "@ship.zone/szci": {
@@ -9,6 +9,13 @@
      "npmPackagename": "{{module.npmPackagename}}",
      "license": "{{module.license}}",
      "projectDomain": "{{module.projectDomain}}"
+    },
+    "release": {
+      "targets": {
+        "npm": {
+          "registries": ["{{private.npmRegistryUrl}}"]
+        }
+      }
    }
  },
  "@ship.zone/szci": {
@@ -18,7 +25,6 @@
    },
    "dockerBuildargEnvMap": {
      "NPMCI_TOKEN_NPM2": "NPMCI_TOKEN_NPM2"
-    },
-    "npmRegistryUrl": "{{private.npmRegistryUrl}}"
+    }
  }
 }
@@ -1,5 +1,57 @@
 # Changelog

+## Pending
+
+
+## 2026-05-10 - 2.16.0
+
+### Features
+
+- Add `gitzone tools` for managing the global `@git.zone` toolchain from the main CLI.
+
+## 2026-05-10 - 2.15.0
+
+### Features
+
+- Split `gitzone commit` and `gitzone release` into commit workflow and target-based release configuration.
+- Add pending changelog handling so commits accumulate unreleased notes and releases move them into version sections.
+- Add first-class release targets for git, npm, and Docker publishing.
+
+## 2026-04-30 - 2.14.3 - fix(test)
+move test workspace into .nogit and add bundled fixture project files
+
+- updates package scripts to clone and run the sandbox test repository from .nogit/test
+- adds a complete test fixture project under test/ for CLI, template, and documentation-related test scenarios
+
+## 2026-04-30 - 2.14.2 - fix(package)
+correct package entry point extension and align test scripts with pnpm
+
+- Change the package main field from dist_ts/index.ts to dist_ts/index.js for the built CLI entry point.
+- Update test and testBuild scripts to use pnpm run instead of npm run for consistent package manager usage.
+
+## 2026-04-16 - 2.14.1 - fix(repo)
+no changes to commit
+
+
+## 2026-04-16 - 2.14.0 - feat(cli)
+add machine-readable CLI help, recommendation, and configuration flows
+
+- introduces shared CLI mode handling for human, plain, and JSON output with configurable interactivity and update checks
+- adds read-only JSON support for `commit recommend`, `format plan`, and command help output
+- expands `config` and `services` commands with non-interactive config inspection and service enablement flows
+- updates format and smartconfig handling to respect non-interactive execution and fail clearly when required metadata is missing
+
+## 2026-04-16 - 2.13.16 - fix(mod_format)
+stop package.json formatter from modifying buildDocs and dependency entries
+
+- removes automatic buildDocs script injection from the package.json formatter
+- removes dependency include/exclude and latest-version update logic from package.json formatting
+- drops the unused smartnpm plugin import after removing registry lookups
+
+## 2026-03-24 - 2.13.15 - fix(repo)
+no changes to commit
+
+
 ## 2026-03-24 - 2.13.14 - fix(mod_format)
 move smartconfig file renaming into the formatter orchestrator

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-Copyright (c) 2015 Task Venture Capital GmbH (hello@lossless.com)
+Copyright (c) 2015 Task Venture Capital GmbH (hello@task.vc)

 Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
 of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@ FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
 AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
 LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
 OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
-SOFTWARE.
+SOFTWARE.
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 {
  "name": "@git.zone/cli",
  "private": false,
-  "version": "2.13.14",
+  "version": "2.16.0",
  "description": "A comprehensive CLI tool for enhancing and managing local development workflows with gitzone utilities, focusing on project setup, version control, code formatting, and template management.",
-  "main": "dist_ts/index.ts",
+  "main": "dist_ts/index.js",
  "typings": "dist_ts/index.d.ts",
  "type": "module",
  "bin": {
@@ -11,21 +11,21 @@
    "gzone": "./cli.js"
  },
  "scripts": {
-    "test": "(npm run clean && npm run prepareTest && npm run testCli && npm run testFormat && npm run testCommit && npm run testDeprecate && npm run testVersion && npm run testReadme && npm run testUpdate && npm run testTemplateNpm && npm run testTemplateLit) && rm -rf test",
+    "test": "(pnpm run clean && pnpm run prepareTest && pnpm run testCli && pnpm run testFormat && pnpm run testCommit && pnpm run testDeprecate && pnpm run testVersion && pnpm run testReadme && pnpm run testUpdate && pnpm run testTemplateNpm && pnpm run testTemplateLit) && rm -rf .nogit/test",
    "build": "tsbuild tsfolders",
-    "clean": "(rm -rf test/)",
-    "prepareTest": "(git clone https://gitlab.com/sandboxzone/sandbox-npmts.git test/)",
-    "testBuild": "npm run build && rm -r dist/",
-    "testCli": "(cd test && node ../cli.ts.js)",
-    "testCommit": "(cd test && node ../cli.ts.js commit)",
-    "testDeprecate": "(cd test && node ../cli.ts.js deprecate)",
-    "testOpen": "(cd test && node ../cli.ts.js open ci)",
-    "testReadme": "(cd test && node ../cli.ts.js readme)",
-    "testFormat": "(cd test && node ../cli.ts.js format)",
-    "testTemplateNpm": "(rm -rf test/testtemplate_npm/ && mkdir test/testtemplate_npm && cd test/testtemplate_npm && node ../../cli.ts.js template npm)",
-    "testTemplateLit": "(rm -rf test/testtemplate_lit/ && mkdir test/testtemplate_lit && cd test/testtemplate_lit && node ../../cli.ts.js template lit)",
-    "testUpdate": "(cd test && node ../cli.ts.js update)",
-    "testVersion": "(cd test && node ../cli.ts.js -v)",
+    "clean": "(rm -rf .nogit/test/)",
+    "prepareTest": "(mkdir -p .nogit && git clone https://gitlab.com/sandboxzone/sandbox-npmts.git .nogit/test/)",
+    "testBuild": "pnpm run build && rm -r dist/",
+    "testCli": "(cd .nogit/test && node ../../cli.ts.js)",
+    "testCommit": "(cd .nogit/test && node ../../cli.ts.js commit)",
+    "testDeprecate": "(cd .nogit/test && node ../../cli.ts.js deprecate)",
+    "testOpen": "(cd .nogit/test && node ../../cli.ts.js open ci)",
+    "testReadme": "(cd .nogit/test && node ../../cli.ts.js readme)",
+    "testFormat": "(cd .nogit/test && node ../../cli.ts.js format)",
+    "testTemplateNpm": "(rm -rf .nogit/test/testtemplate_npm/ && mkdir -p .nogit/test/testtemplate_npm && cd .nogit/test/testtemplate_npm && node ../../../cli.ts.js template npm)",
+    "testTemplateLit": "(rm -rf .nogit/test/testtemplate_lit/ && mkdir -p .nogit/test/testtemplate_lit && cd .nogit/test/testtemplate_lit && node ../../../cli.ts.js template lit)",
+    "testUpdate": "(cd .nogit/test && node ../../cli.ts.js update)",
+    "testVersion": "(cd .nogit/test && node ../../cli.ts.js -v)",
    "buildDocs": "tsdoc"
  },
  "repository": {
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ Gitzone CLI (`@git.zone/cli`) is a comprehensive toolbelt for streamlining local

 ### Configuration Management

- Uses `npmextra.json` for all tool configuration
- Configuration stored under `gitzone` key in npmextra
- No separate `.gitzonerc` file - everything in npmextra.json
- Project type and module metadata also stored in npmextra
+- Uses `.smartconfig.json` for tool configuration
+- CLI settings live under the `@git.zone/cli` namespace
+- Agent and non-interactive defaults now belong under `@git.zone/cli.cli`
+- Project type, module metadata, release settings, commit defaults, and format settings live in the same file

 ### Format Module (`mod_format`) - SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ The format module is responsible for project standardization:
 2. **copy** - File copying with glob patterns (fully implemented)
 3. **gitignore** - Creates/updates .gitignore from templates
 4. **license** - Checks dependency licenses for compatibility
-5. **npmextra** - Manages project metadata and configuration
+5. **smartconfig** - Manages project metadata and configuration
 6. **packagejson** - Formats and updates package.json
 7. **prettier** - Applies code formatting with batching
 8. **readme** - Ensures readme files exist
@@ -84,33 +84,31 @@ The format module is responsible for project standardization:

 1. **Plan → Action Workflow**: Shows changes before applying them
 2. **Rollback Mechanism**: Full backup and restore on failures
-3. **Enhanced Configuration**: Granular control via npmextra.json
+3. **Enhanced Configuration**: Granular control via `.smartconfig.json`
 4. **Better Error Handling**: Detailed errors with recovery options
 5. **Performance Optimizations**: Parallel execution and caching
 6. **Reporting**: Diff views, statistics, verbose logging
 7. **Architecture**: Clean separation of concerns with new classes
-8. **Unified Version Bumping**: Self-managed version updates eliminating npm warning pollution in deno.json
+8. **Split Commit/Release Workflows**: `commit` creates source commits; `release` owns versioning, tags, and artifact publishing

-### Version Bumping Refactor (Latest)
+### Commit/Release Workflow Refactor (Latest)

-The commit module's version bumping has been refactored to eliminate npm command dependencies:
+The commit module no longer bumps versions, creates tags, or publishes packages. Release work now belongs to `gitzone release`:

 **Changes:**

- Removed `bumpNpmVersion()` - was causing npm warnings to pollute deno.json
- Removed `syncVersionToDenoJson()` - no longer needed with unified approach
- Removed separate `bumpDenoVersion()` - replaced by unified implementation
- Added `readCurrentVersion()` helper - reads from either package.json or deno.json
- Added `updateVersionFile()` helper - updates JSON files directly
- Unified `bumpProjectVersion()` - handles npm/deno/both with single clean code path
+- `gitzone commit` analyzes changes, updates `changelog.md` `Pending`, commits, and optionally pushes.
+- `gitzone release` reads `Pending`, bumps versions, moves changelog entries into a version section, tags, pushes, and publishes configured artifacts.
+- Commit workflow steps are configured in `.smartconfig.json` under `@git.zone/cli.commit.steps`.
+- Smartconfig schema versioning lives at `@git.zone/cli.schemaVersion`; run `gitzone config migrate <version>` for targeted migrations.
+- Release publishing is target-based under `@git.zone/cli.release.targets`.
+- NPM registries only live under `@git.zone/cli.release.targets.npm.registries`.

 **Benefits:**

- No npm warning pollution in version fields
- Full control over version bumping process
- Simpler git history (no amending, no force-tagging)
- Same code path for all project types
- Reuses existing `calculateNewVersion()` function
+- Commit is safer and has no publishing side effects.
+- Multiple source commits can accumulate into one release via `Pending`.
+- Per-artifact release results can distinguish published, already-published, skipped, and failed targets.

 ### Auto-Accept Flag for Commits

@@ -132,7 +130,7 @@ The commit module now supports `-y/--yes` flag for non-interactive commits:
 ## Development Tips

 - Always check readme.plan.md for ongoing improvement plans
- Use npmextra.json for any new configuration options
+- Use `.smartconfig.json` for any new configuration options
 - Keep modules focused and single-purpose
 - Maintain the existing plugin pattern for dependencies
 - Test format operations on sample projects before deploying
@@ -144,30 +142,18 @@ The commit module now supports `-y/--yes` flag for non-interactive commits:

 ```json
 {
-  "gitzone": {
+  "@git.zone/cli": {
+    "cli": {
+      "interactive": true,
+      "output": "human",
+      "checkUpdates": true
+    },
    "format": {
      "interactive": true,
-      "parallel": true,
      "showStats": true,
-      "cache": {
-        "enabled": true,
-        "clean": true
-      },
-      "rollback": {
-        "enabled": true,
-        "autoRollbackOnError": true,
-        "backupRetentionDays": 7
-      },
      "modules": {
        "skip": ["prettier"],
-        "only": [],
-        "order": []
-      },
-      "licenses": {
-        "allowed": ["MIT", "Apache-2.0"],
-        "exceptions": {
-          "some-package": "GPL-3.0"
-        }
+        "only": []
      }
    }
  }
@@ -182,6 +168,9 @@ The commit module now supports `-y/--yes` flag for non-interactive commits:
 # Interactive commit (default)
 gitzone commit

+# Read-only recommendation
+gitzone commit recommend --json
+
 # Auto-accept AI recommendations (no prompts)
 gitzone commit -y
 gitzone commit --yes
@@ -201,11 +190,14 @@ gitzone commit --format
 # Basic format
 gitzone format

+# Read-only JSON plan
+gitzone format plan --json
+
 # Dry run to preview changes
 gitzone format --dry-run

-# Non-interactive mode
-gitzone format --yes
+# Non-interactive apply
+gitzone format --write --yes

 # Plan only (no execution)
 gitzone format --plan-only
@@ -222,11 +214,10 @@ gitzone format --verbose
 # Detailed diff views
 gitzone format --detailed

-# Rollback operations
-gitzone format --rollback
-gitzone format --rollback <operation-id>
-gitzone format --list-backups
-gitzone format --clean-backups
+# Inspect config for agents and scripts
+gitzone config show --json
+gitzone config set cli.output json
+gitzone config get release.targets.npm.accessLevel
 ```

 ## Common Issues (Now Resolved)
@@ -298,7 +289,7 @@ All sync methods must become async. Functions that were previously synchronous (
 **Affected Modules:**

 - ts/mod_format/\* (largest area - 15+ files)
- ts/mod_commit/\* (version bumping)
+- ts/mod_commit/\* and ts/mod_release/\* (commit/release workflows)
 - ts/mod_services/\* (configuration management)
 - ts/mod_meta/\* (meta repository management)
 - ts/mod_standard/\* (template listing)
@@ -1,365 +1,244 @@
 # @git.zone/cli 🚀

-**The ultimate CLI toolbelt for modern TypeScript development workflows**
+`@git.zone/cli` is the development workflow CLI behind the `gitzone` and `gzone` commands. It helps TypeScript-heavy teams keep projects tidy, create semantic source commits, manage local Docker-backed services, scaffold new modules, and release software through explicit, target-based release configuration.

-[![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/@git.zone/cli.svg)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@git.zone/cli)
-[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
-
-## 🎯 What is gitzone?
-
-gitzone is a powerful command-line interface that supercharges your development workflow with automated project management, intelligent code formatting, seamless version control, and development service orchestration. Whether you're bootstrapping a new TypeScript project, maintaining code quality, managing complex multi-repository setups, or spinning up local development databases, gitzone has got you covered.
+It is opinionated where that saves time: source commits and releases are separate, changelog entries flow through a standard `Pending` section, project config lives in `.smartconfig.json`, and release targets make side effects visible before they happen.

 ## Issue Reporting and Security

 For reporting bugs, issues, or security vulnerabilities, please visit [community.foss.global/](https://community.foss.global/). This is the central community hub for all issue reporting. Developers who sign and comply with our contribution agreement and go through identification can also get a [code.foss.global/](https://code.foss.global/) account to submit Pull Requests directly.

-## 🏃‍♂️ Quick Start
-
-### Installation
+## Install

 ```bash
-# Install globally via pnpm (recommended)
 pnpm add -g @git.zone/cli
-
-# Or with npm
-npm install -g @git.zone/cli
 ```

-Once installed, you can use either `gitzone` or the shorter `gzone` command from anywhere in your terminal.
-
-### Your First Commands
+After installation, both binaries point to the same CLI:

 ```bash
-# Create a new TypeScript npm package
-gitzone template npm
+gitzone --help
+gzone --help
+```

-# Format your entire codebase (dry-run by default)
+## The Big Idea
+
+`gitzone commit` handles source history.
+
+`gitzone release` handles release transactions.
+
+That split is intentional. A commit should not unexpectedly publish npm packages, push Docker images, or trigger remote release pipelines. A release should clearly show which targets it will publish to.
+
+## Quick Start
+
+```bash
+# Preview project standardization work
 gitzone format

 # Apply formatting changes
 gitzone format --write

-# Start local MongoDB and MinIO services
-gitzone services start
-
-# Create a semantic commit with AI-powered suggestions
+# Create a semantic source commit
 gitzone commit
+
+# Preview the configured release transaction
+gitzone release --plan
+
+# Release pending changelog entries to configured targets
+gitzone release
 ```

-## 🛠️ Core Features
+## Commands

-### 🔀 Semantic Commits & Versioning
+| Command | Purpose |
+| --- | --- |
+| `commit` | Analyze changes and create one semantic source commit |
+| `release` | Turn pending changelog entries into a versioned release and publish targets |
+| `format` | Plan or apply project formatting and standardization |
+| `config` | Inspect, update, and migrate `.smartconfig.json` |
+| `services` | Manage local MongoDB, MinIO, and Elasticsearch containers |
+| `tools` | Manage the global `@git.zone` toolchain |
+| `template` | Scaffold projects from built-in templates |
+| `meta` | Manage multi-repository workspaces |
+| `open` | Open repository assets like CI pages |
+| `docker` | Run Docker maintenance tasks |
+| `deprecate` | Deprecate npm packages across registries |
+| `start` | Prepare an existing project for local work |
+| `helpers` | Run small helper utilities |

-Create standardized commits with AI-powered suggestions that automatically handle versioning:
+Global flags include `--help`, `--json`, `--plain`, `--agent`, `--no-interactive`, and `--no-check-updates`.
+
+## Toolchain Management
+
+`gitzone tools` replaces the former `gtools` command from `@git.zone/tools`. It manages globally installed `@git.zone` development tools through pnpm.

 ```bash
-# Interactive commit with AI recommendations
+# Check installed @git.zone tools and update outdated packages
+gitzone tools update
+
+# Update without prompts
+gitzone tools update -y
+
+# Install missing managed @git.zone tools
+gitzone tools install
+```
+
+`gitzone tools update` checks `@git.zone/cli` first. If the CLI itself needs an update, it updates `@git.zone/cli` and asks you to rerun the command before updating the rest of the toolchain.
+
+## Commit Workflow
+
+`gitzone commit` creates one semantic source commit. It does not bump versions, create tags, publish packages, or push Docker images.
+
+```bash
+# Interactive semantic commit
 gitzone commit

-# Auto-accept AI recommendations (skipped for BREAKING CHANGEs)
+# Read-only AI recommendation
+gitzone commit recommend --json
+
+# Auto-accept safe recommendations
 gitzone commit -y

-# Auto-accept, push, build, and release
-gitzone commit -ypbr
+# Auto-accept, test, build, and push
+gitzone commit -ytbp
+
+# Show the resolved workflow without mutating anything
+gitzone commit --plan
 ```

-**Flags:**
+The commit flow:

-| Flag | Long Form | Description |
-|------|-----------|-------------|
-| `-y` | `--yes` | Auto-accept AI recommendations |
-| `-p` | `--push` | Push to remote after commit |
-| `-t` | `--test` | Run tests before committing |
-| `-b` | `--build` | Build after commit, verify clean tree |
-| `-r` | `--release` | Publish to configured npm registries |
-| | `--format` | Run format before committing |
+1. Analyze the working tree.
+2. Suggest commit type, scope, and message.
+3. Write a human-readable entry into `changelog.md` under `## Pending`.
+4. Stage and create one semantic source commit.
+5. Optionally run formatting, tests, build, and push based on flags or config.

-**Workflow steps:**
+Commit flags:

-1. 🤖 **AI-powered analysis** — analyzes your changes and suggests commit type, scope, and message
-2. 📝 Interactive commit message builder (type: `fix`/`feat`/`BREAKING CHANGE`, scope, description)
-3. 📜 Automatic changelog generation
-4. 🏷️ Automatic version bumping (major/minor/patch) with git tag creation
-5. 🔨 Optional build & verification
-6. 🚀 Optional push to origin
-7. 📦 Optional publish to npm registries
+| Flag | Meaning |
+| --- | --- |
+| `-y`, `--yes` | Auto-accept safe recommendations |
+| `-t`, `--test` | Add test step |
+| `-b`, `--build` | Add build step |
+| `-p`, `--push` | Push after the source commit |
+| `-f`, `--format` | Run `gitzone format --write` before commit |
+| `--plan` | Show resolved workflow only |

-Supports both npm (`package.json`) and Deno (`deno.json`) projects, including dual-type projects.
+`-r` is intentionally not part of commit anymore. Use `gitzone release`.

-### 🎨 Intelligent Code Formatting
+## Release Workflow

-Automatically format and standardize your entire codebase. **Dry-run by default** — nothing changes until you explicitly use `--write`:
+`gitzone release` performs the release core once, then publishes to configured targets.
+
+The release core is not configurable plumbing. It always follows the same professional release transaction:
+
+1. Run configured preflight checks.
+2. Read `changelog.md` `## Pending` entries.
+3. Infer or accept a semver bump.
+4. Update version files and baked commit info.
+5. Move pending changelog entries into the new version section.
+6. Create the local release commit.
+7. Create the local release tag.
+
+Targets decide what happens after that:
+
+| Target | What it does |
+| --- | --- |
+| `git` | Pushes the release commit and tags, often triggering remote CI release builds |
+| `npm` | Publishes the package to configured npm registries |
+| `docker` | Builds and pushes configured Docker images |

 ```bash
-# Preview what would change (default behavior)
-gitzone format
+# Preview the resolved release plan
+gitzone release --plan

-# Apply changes
-gitzone format --write
+# Release to configured targets
+gitzone release

-# Auto-approve without prompts
-gitzone format --yes --write
+# Release only to npm
+gitzone release --target npm

-# Show detailed diffs
-gitzone format --diff
+# Release only to git and Docker
+gitzone release --target git,docker

-# Enable verbose logging
-gitzone format --verbose
+# Skip package/container publishing and keep only git target
+gitzone release --no-publish
+
+# Override inferred semver level
+gitzone release --minor
 ```

-**Flags:**
+Release flags:

-| Flag | Description |
-|------|-------------|
-| `--write` / `-w` | Apply changes (default is dry-run) |
-| `--yes` | Auto-approve without interactive confirmation |
-| `--plan-only` | Only show what would be done |
-| `--save-plan <file>` | Save the format plan to a file |
-| `--from-plan <file>` | Load and execute a saved plan |
-| `--detailed` | Show detailed stats and save report |
-| `--parallel` / `--no-parallel` | Toggle parallel execution |
-| `--verbose` | Enable verbose logging |
-| `--diff` | Show file diffs |
+| Flag | Meaning |
+| --- | --- |
+| `-y`, `--yes` | Run without interactive confirmation |
+| `-t`, `--test` | Enable preflight tests |
+| `-b`, `--build` | Enable preflight build |
+| `-p`, `--push` | Enable the `git` target |
+| `--target <csv>` | Use only selected targets, e.g. `git,npm` |
+| `--npm` | Enable the `npm` target |
+| `--docker` | Enable the `docker` target |
+| `--no-publish` | Keep release core and `git` target only |
+| `--no-build` | Disable preflight build for this run |
+| `--major`, `--minor`, `--patch` | Override inferred semver level |
+| `--plan` | Show resolved workflow only |

-**Formatters (executed in order):**
+## Standard Changelog

-1. 🧹 **Cleanup** — removes obsolete files (yarn.lock, package-lock.json, tslint.json, etc.)
-2. ⚙️ **Npmextra** — formats and standardizes `npmextra.json`
-3. 📜 **License** — ensures proper licensing and checks dependency licenses
-4. 📦 **Package.json** — standardizes package configuration
-5. 📋 **Templates** — applies project template updates
-6. 🙈 **Gitignore** — updates repository ignore rules
-7. 🔧 **Tsconfig** — optimizes TypeScript configuration
-8. ✨ **Prettier** — applies code formatting
-9. 📖 **Readme** — ensures readme files exist
-10. 📂 **Copy** — copies configured files
+The changelog is convention-based and intentionally not configured.

-### 🐳 Development Services Management
+`gitzone commit` appends entries to:

-Effortlessly manage local development services (MongoDB, MinIO S3, Elasticsearch) with Docker:
-
-```bash
-gitzone services [command]
+```markdown
+## Pending
 ```

-**Commands:**
+`gitzone release` moves those pending entries into a dated version section:

-| Command | Description |
-|---------|-------------|
-| `start [service]` | Start services (`mongo`\|`s3`\|`elasticsearch`\|`all`) |
-| `stop [service]` | Stop services |
-| `restart [service]` | Restart services |
-| `status` | Show current service status |
-| `config` | Display configuration details |
-| `compass` | Get MongoDB Compass connection string with network IP |
-| `logs [service] [lines]` | View service logs (default: 20 lines) |
-| `reconfigure` | Reassign ports and restart all services |
-| `remove` | Remove containers (preserves data) |
-| `clean` | Remove containers AND data (⚠️ destructive) |
-
-**Service aliases:**
-
- `mongo` / `mongodb` — MongoDB
- `minio` / `s3` — MinIO (S3-compatible storage)
- `elasticsearch` / `es` — Elasticsearch
- `all` — All services (default)
-
-**Key features:**
-
- 🎲 **Smart port assignment** — automatically assigns random ports (20000–30000) to avoid conflicts
- 📦 **Project isolation** — each project gets its own containers with unique names
- 💾 **Data persistence** — data stored in `.nogit/` survives container restarts
- 🔗 **MongoDB Compass support** — instantly get connection strings for GUI access
- 🌐 **Network IP detection** — detects your local network IP for remote connections
- ⚙️ **Auto-configuration** — creates `.nogit/env.json` with smart defaults
-
-**Global operations (`-g` flag):**
-
-```bash
-# List all registered projects
-gitzone services list -g
-
-# Show status across all projects
-gitzone services status -g
-
-# Stop all containers across all projects
-gitzone services stop -g
-
-# Remove stale registry entries
-gitzone services cleanup -g
+```markdown
+## 2026-05-10 - 2.15.0
 ```

-**Example workflow:**
+The standard buckets are `Breaking Changes`, `Features`, `Fixes`, `Documentation`, and `Maintenance`.

-```bash
-# Start all services for your project
-gitzone services start
+## Configuration

-# Check what's running
-gitzone services status
-
-# Get MongoDB Compass connection string
-gitzone services compass
-# Output: mongodb://defaultadmin:defaultpass@192.168.1.100:27018/myproject?authSource=admin
-
-# View MongoDB logs
-gitzone services logs mongo 50
-
-# Stop services when done
-gitzone services stop
-```
-
-### ⚙️ Release & Commit Configuration
-
-Manage release registries and commit settings:
-
-```bash
-gitzone config [subcommand]
-```
-
-| Command | Description |
-|---------|-------------|
-| `show` | Display current release config (registries, access level) |
-| `add [url]` | Add a registry URL (default: `https://registry.npmjs.org`) |
-| `remove [url]` | Remove a registry URL (interactive selection if no URL) |
-| `clear` | Clear all registries (with confirmation) |
-| `access [public\|private]` | Set npm access level for publishing |
-| `commit alwaysTest [true\|false]` | Always run tests before commit |
-| `commit alwaysBuild [true\|false]` | Always build after commit |
-| `services` | Configure which services are enabled |
-
-Configuration is stored in `npmextra.json` under the `@git.zone/cli` key.
-
-### 📦 Project Templates
-
-Instantly scaffold production-ready projects with best practices built-in:
-
-```bash
-gitzone template [template-name]
-```
-
-**Interactive templates:**
-
- **`npm`** — TypeScript npm package with testing, CI/CD, and full tooling
- **`service`** — Microservice architecture with Docker support
- **`website`** — Modern web application with LitElement and service workers
- **`wcc`** — Web Component Collection for reusable UI components
-
-Each template comes pre-configured with:
-
- ✅ TypeScript with modern configurations
- ✅ Automated testing setup with `@git.zone/tstest`
- ✅ CI/CD pipelines (GitLab/GitHub)
- ✅ Code formatting and linting
- ✅ Documentation structure
-
-### 🏗️ Meta Repository Management
-
-Manage multiple related repositories as a cohesive unit:
-
-```bash
-# Initialize a meta repository
-gitzone meta init
-
-# Add a sub-project
-gitzone meta add [name] [git-url]
-
-# Update all sub-projects (clone missing, clean superfluous)
-gitzone meta update
-
-# Remove a sub-project
-gitzone meta remove [name]
-```
-
-### 🐳 Docker Management
-
-Streamline your Docker workflow:
-
-```bash
-# Clean up all Docker resources (containers, images, volumes, networks)
-gitzone docker prune
-```
-
-### 🔗 Quick CI/CD Access
-
-Jump directly to your CI/CD configurations:
-
-```bash
-# Open CI/CD settings
-gitzone open ci
-
-# Open pipelines view
-gitzone open pipelines
-```
-
-Works with GitLab repositories to provide instant access to your deployment configurations.
-
-### 📝 Package Deprecation
-
-Smoothly transition users from old to new packages:
-
-```bash
-gitzone deprecate
-```
-
-Interactive wizard that prompts for registry URLs, old package name, and new package name — then runs `npm deprecate` across all specified registries.
-
-### 🚦 Project Initialization
-
-Prepare existing projects for development:
-
-```bash
-gitzone start
-```
-
-Automatically checks out master, pulls latest changes, and installs dependencies.
-
-### 🔧 Helper Utilities
-
-```bash
-# Generate a unique short ID
-gitzone helpers shortid
-```
-
-## 📋 Configuration
-
-### npmextra.json
-
-Customize gitzone behavior through `npmextra.json`:
+All CLI config lives under `@git.zone/cli` in `.smartconfig.json`.

 ```json
 {
  "@git.zone/cli": {
+    "schemaVersion": 2,
    "projectType": "npm",
-    "release": {
-      "registries": [
-        "https://registry.npmjs.org"
-      ],
-      "accessLevel": "public"
-    },
    "commit": {
-      "alwaysTest": false,
-      "alwaysBuild": false
-    }
-  },
-  "gitzone": {
-    "format": {
-      "interactive": true,
-      "parallel": true,
-      "showStats": true,
-      "cache": {
-        "enabled": true,
-        "clean": true
+      "confirmation": "prompt",
+      "steps": ["analyze", "test", "build", "changelog", "commit", "push"]
+    },
+    "release": {
+      "confirmation": "prompt",
+      "preflight": {
+        "requireCleanTree": true,
+        "test": false,
+        "build": true
      },
-      "modules": {
-        "skip": ["prettier"],
-        "only": [],
-        "order": []
-      },
-      "licenses": {
-        "allowed": ["MIT", "Apache-2.0"],
-        "exceptions": {
-          "some-package": "GPL-3.0"
+      "targets": {
+        "git": {
+          "enabled": true,
+          "remote": "origin",
+          "pushBranch": true,
+          "pushTags": true
+        },
+        "npm": {
+          "enabled": true,
+          "registries": ["https://registry.npmjs.org"],
+          "accessLevel": "public",
+          "alreadyPublished": "success"
+        },
+        "docker": {
+          "enabled": false,
+          "images": []
        }
      }
    }
@@ -367,186 +246,165 @@ Customize gitzone behavior through `npmextra.json`:
 }
 ```

-### Environment Variables
+NPM registries belong only here:

- `CI` — Detect CI environment for automated workflows
- `DEBUG` — Enable debug output
- `GITZONE_FORMAT_PARALLEL` — Control parallel formatting
+```text
+@git.zone/cli.release.targets.npm.registries
+```

-## 🎯 Common Workflows
-
-### Full-Stack Development Cycle
+Useful config commands:

 ```bash
-# 1. Start fresh
-gitzone start
+# Show current @git.zone/cli config
+gitzone config show --json

-# 2. Spin up databases and services
-gitzone services start
+# Read the npm release target registries
+gitzone config get release.targets.npm.registries

-# 3. Make changes
-# ... your development work ...
+# Add an npm release target registry
+gitzone config add https://registry.npmjs.org

-# 4. Check service logs if needed
-gitzone services logs mongo
+# Set npm target access level
+gitzone config access public

-# 5. Preview format changes, then apply
+# Run schema migration to v2
+gitzone config migrate 2
+```
+
+## Formatting
+
+`gitzone format` is dry-run by default. That makes it safe to run in any repo.
+
+```bash
+# Preview changes
 gitzone format
+
+# Emit a machine-readable plan
+gitzone format plan --json
+
+# Apply changes
 gitzone format --write

-# 6. Commit with semantic versioning
-gitzone commit
-
-# 7. Stop services when done
-gitzone services stop
+# Apply without prompt
+gitzone format --write --yes
 ```

-### Automated CI/CD Commit
+Formatters include cleanup, smartconfig normalization, dependency license checks, package metadata normalization, template updates, `.gitignore`, TypeScript config, Prettier, README existence checks, and configured copy operations.
+
+## Development Services
+
+`gitzone services` manages local Docker-backed services for development projects.
+
+Supported services:
+
+| Service | Aliases |
+| --- | --- |
+| MongoDB | `mongo`, `mongodb` |
+| MinIO | `minio`, `s3` |
+| Elasticsearch | `elasticsearch`, `es` |

 ```bash
-# Auto-accept, test, build, push, and release in one command
-gitzone commit -ytbpr
-```
-
-### Multi-Repository Management
-
-```bash
-# 1. Set up meta repository
-gitzone meta init
-
-# 2. Add all related projects
-gitzone meta add frontend https://github.com/org/frontend.git
-gitzone meta add backend https://github.com/org/backend.git
-gitzone meta add shared https://github.com/org/shared.git
-
-# 3. Synchronize updates
-gitzone meta update
-```
-
-### Safe Formatting with Plan Review
-
-```bash
-# 1. Preview changes (default)
-gitzone format
-
-# 2. Save plan for review
-gitzone format --save-plan format-changes.json
-
-# 3. Apply from saved plan
-gitzone format --from-plan format-changes.json --write
-```
-
-### Database-Driven Development
-
-```bash
-# 1. Start MongoDB, MinIO, and Elasticsearch
+# Start configured services
 gitzone services start

-# 2. Get connection details
-gitzone services config
+# Enable specific services non-interactively
+gitzone services set mongodb,minio

-# 3. Connect with MongoDB Compass
-gitzone services compass
-
-# 4. Monitor services
+# Check status
 gitzone services status

-# 5. Clean everything when done
-gitzone services clean  # ⚠️ Warning: deletes data
+# Print MongoDB Compass connection string
+gitzone services compass
+
+# Show logs
+gitzone services logs mongo 50
+
+# Stop containers but keep data
+gitzone services stop
+
+# Remove containers and data
+gitzone services clean
 ```

-## 🔌 Integrations
+Service config is stored in `.nogit/env.json`. Data is stored below `.nogit/`, so it stays out of Git.

-### CI/CD Platforms
+## Templates

- **GitLab CI** — full pipeline support with templates
- **GitHub Actions** — automated workflows
- **Docker** — container-based deployments
+Start new projects with built-in scaffolds:

-### Development Tools
+```bash
+gitzone template npm
+gitzone template service
+gitzone template website
+gitzone template wcc
+```

- **TypeScript** — first-class support
- **Prettier** — code formatting
- **pnpm** — package management
- **MongoDB** — local database service
- **MinIO** — S3-compatible object storage
- **Elasticsearch** — search and analytics
- **MongoDB Compass** — database GUI integration
+Templates are rendered through SmartScaf and then can be normalized with `gitzone format`.

-### Version Control
+## Meta Repositories

- **Git** — deep integration
- **Semantic Versioning** — automatic version bumping
- **Conventional Commits** — standardized commit messages
- **AI-Powered Analysis** — intelligent commit suggestions via `@git.zone/tsdoc`
+Use `gitzone meta` when one workspace coordinates multiple repositories.

-## 💡 Pro Tips
+```bash
+gitzone meta init
+gitzone meta add frontend https://example.com/org/frontend.git
+gitzone meta update
+gitzone meta remove frontend
+```

-1. **Use aliases**: Add `alias gz='gitzone'` to your shell profile
-2. **Combine flags**: `gitzone commit -ypbr` for the full auto workflow
-3. **Leverage templates**: Start projects right with proven structures
-4. **Enable caching**: Dramatically speeds up formatting operations
-5. **Save format plans**: Review changes before applying
-6. **Port management**: Let services auto-assign ports to avoid conflicts
-7. **Use MongoDB Compass**: `gitzone services compass` for visual DB management
-8. **Global service management**: `gitzone services status -g` to see all projects' services at once
+## Other Utilities

-## 🐛 Troubleshooting
+```bash
+# Docker cleanup
+gitzone docker prune

-### Format Command Shows "Cancelled"
+# Open GitLab CI settings or pipelines for the current repo
+gitzone open ci
+gitzone open pipelines

- Check your `npmextra.json` configuration
- Try with `--yes --write` flags
- Use `--verbose` for detailed output
+# Deprecate an old npm package interactively
+gitzone deprecate

-### Docker Commands Fail
+# Prepare a project for local work
+gitzone start

-Ensure Docker daemon is running:
+# Generate a short unique ID
+gitzone helpers shortid
+```
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+Format only previews changes:
+
+```bash
+gitzone format --write
+```
+
+Release says there is nothing to release:
+
+```bash
+# Make sure commits have populated the Pending changelog section
+gitzone commit
+```
+
+Docker services fail to start:

 ```bash
 docker info
-```
-
-### Services Won't Start
-
-```bash
-# Services auto-assign ports, but you can check the config
-cat .nogit/env.json
-
-# Verify Docker is running
-docker ps
-
-# Reassign ports if there are conflicts
+gitzone services status
 gitzone services reconfigure
 ```

-### Template Creation Issues
-
-Verify pnpm/npm is properly configured:
+Config looks outdated:

 ```bash
-npm config get registry
+gitzone config migrate 2
+gitzone config show --json
 ```

-### MongoDB Connection Issues
-
- Ensure services are running: `gitzone services status`
- Check firewall settings for the assigned ports
- Use `gitzone services compass` for the correct connection string
-
-## 📈 Performance
-
-gitzone is optimized for speed:
-
- ⚡ **Parallel processing** for format operations
- 🧠 **Smart caching** to avoid redundant work
- 📊 **Incremental updates** for meta repositories
- 🐳 **Isolated services** prevent resource conflicts
- 🎲 **Auto port assignment** eliminates manual configuration
-
 ## License and Legal Information

-This repository contains open-source code licensed under the MIT License. A copy of the license can be found in the [LICENSE](./LICENSE) file.
+This repository contains open-source code licensed under the MIT License. A copy of the license can be found in the [LICENSE](./license) file.

 **Please note:** The MIT License does not grant permission to use the trade names, trademarks, service marks, or product names of the project, except as required for reasonable and customary use in describing the origin of the work and reproducing the content of the NOTICE file.

@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
 */
 export const commitinfo = {
  name: '@git.zone/cli',
-  version: '2.13.14',
+  version: '2.16.0',
  description: 'A comprehensive CLI tool for enhancing and managing local development workflows with gitzone utilities, focusing on project setup, version control, code formatting, and template management.'
 }
@@ -1,23 +1,29 @@
-import * as plugins from './plugins.js';
-import * as paths from './paths.js';
-import { GitzoneConfig } from './classes.gitzoneconfig.js';
+import * as plugins from "./plugins.js";
+import * as paths from "./paths.js";
+import { GitzoneConfig } from "./classes.gitzoneconfig.js";
+import { getRawCliMode } from "./helpers.climode.js";

 const gitzoneSmartcli = new plugins.smartcli.Smartcli();

 export let run = async () => {
  const done = plugins.smartpromise.defer();
+  const rawCliMode = await getRawCliMode();

  // get packageInfo
  const projectInfo = new plugins.projectinfo.ProjectInfo(paths.packageDir);

  // check for updates
-  const smartupdateInstance = new plugins.smartupdate.SmartUpdate();
-  await smartupdateInstance.check(
-    'gitzone',
-    projectInfo.npm.version,
-    'http://gitzone.gitlab.io/gitzone/changelog.html',
-  );
-  console.log('---------------------------------------------');
+  if (rawCliMode.checkUpdates) {
+    const smartupdateInstance = new plugins.smartupdate.SmartUpdate();
+    await smartupdateInstance.check(
+      "gitzone",
+      projectInfo.npm.version,
+      "http://gitzone.gitlab.io/gitzone/changelog.html",
+    );
+  }
+  if (rawCliMode.output === "human") {
+    console.log("---------------------------------------------");
+  }
  gitzoneSmartcli.addVersion(projectInfo.npm.version);

  // ======> Standard task <======
@@ -26,8 +32,13 @@ export let run = async () => {
   * standard task
   */
  gitzoneSmartcli.standardCommand().subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
-    const modStandard = await import('./mod_standard/index.js');
-    await modStandard.run();
+    const modStandard = await import("./mod_standard/index.js");
+    await modStandard.run(argvArg);
+  });
+
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("help").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+    const modStandard = await import("./mod_standard/index.js");
+    await modStandard.run(argvArg);
  });

  // ======> Specific tasks <======
@@ -35,43 +46,52 @@ export let run = async () => {
  /**
   * commit something
   */
-  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand('commit').subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
-    const modCommit = await import('./mod_commit/index.js');
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("commit").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+    const modCommit = await import("./mod_commit/index.js");
    await modCommit.run(argvArg);
  });

+  /**
+   * create a release from pending changelog entries
+   */
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("release").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+    const modRelease = await import("./mod_release/index.js");
+    await modRelease.run(argvArg);
+  });
+
  /**
   * deprecate a package on npm
   */
-  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand('deprecate').subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
-    const modDeprecate = await import('./mod_deprecate/index.js');
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("deprecate").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+    const modDeprecate = await import("./mod_deprecate/index.js");
    await modDeprecate.run();
  });

  /**
   * docker
   */
-  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand('docker').subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
-    const modDocker = await import('./mod_docker/index.js');
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("docker").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+    const modDocker = await import("./mod_docker/index.js");
    await modDocker.run(argvArg);
  });

  /**
   * Update all files that comply with the gitzone standard
   */
-  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand('format').subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("format").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
    const config = GitzoneConfig.fromCwd();
-    const modFormat = await import('./mod_format/index.js');
+    const modFormat = await import("./mod_format/index.js");

    // Handle format with options
    // Default is dry-mode, use --write/-w to apply changes
    await modFormat.run({
+      ...argvArg,
      write: argvArg.write || argvArg.w,
-      dryRun: argvArg['dry-run'],
+      dryRun: argvArg["dry-run"],
      yes: argvArg.yes,
-      planOnly: argvArg['plan-only'],
-      savePlan: argvArg['save-plan'],
-      fromPlan: argvArg['from-plan'],
+      planOnly: argvArg["plan-only"],
+      savePlan: argvArg["save-plan"],
+      fromPlan: argvArg["from-plan"],
      detailed: argvArg.detailed,
      interactive: argvArg.interactive !== false,
      verbose: argvArg.verbose,
@@ -82,54 +102,62 @@ export let run = async () => {
  /**
   * run meta commands
   */
-  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand('meta').subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("meta").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
    const config = GitzoneConfig.fromCwd();
-    const modMeta = await import('./mod_meta/index.js');
+    const modMeta = await import("./mod_meta/index.js");
    modMeta.run(argvArg);
  });

  /**
   * open assets
   */
-  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand('open').subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
-    const modOpen = await import('./mod_open/index.js');
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("open").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+    const modOpen = await import("./mod_open/index.js");
    modOpen.run(argvArg);
  });

  /**
   * add a readme to a project
   */
-  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand('template').subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
-    const modTemplate = await import('./mod_template/index.js');
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("template").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+    const modTemplate = await import("./mod_template/index.js");
    modTemplate.run(argvArg);
  });

  /**
   * start working on a project
   */
-  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand('start').subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
-    const modTemplate = await import('./mod_start/index.js');
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("start").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+    const modTemplate = await import("./mod_start/index.js");
    modTemplate.run(argvArg);
  });

-  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand('helpers').subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
-    const modHelpers = await import('./mod_helpers/index.js');
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("helpers").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+    const modHelpers = await import("./mod_helpers/index.js");
    modHelpers.run(argvArg);
  });

+  /**
+   * manage the global @git.zone toolchain
+   */
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("tools").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+    const modTools = await import("./mod_tools/index.js");
+    await modTools.run(argvArg);
+  });
+
  /**
   * manage release configuration
   */
-  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand('config').subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
-    const modConfig = await import('./mod_config/index.js');
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("config").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+    const modConfig = await import("./mod_config/index.js");
    await modConfig.run(argvArg);
  });

  /**
   * manage development services (MongoDB, S3/MinIO)
   */
-  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand('services').subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
-    const modServices = await import('./mod_services/index.js');
+  gitzoneSmartcli.addCommand("services").subscribe(async (argvArg) => {
+    const modServices = await import("./mod_services/index.js");
    await modServices.run(argvArg);
  });

@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+import * as plugins from "./plugins.js";
+
+export type TChangelogBucket =
+  | "Breaking Changes"
+  | "Features"
+  | "Fixes"
+  | "Documentation"
+  | "Maintenance";
+
+export interface IChangelogEntry {
+  type: string;
+  scope: string;
+  message: string;
+  details?: string[];
+}
+
+export interface IPendingChangelog {
+  block: string;
+  isEmpty: boolean;
+}
+
+const bucketForCommitType = (commitType: string): TChangelogBucket => {
+  switch (commitType) {
+    case "BREAKING CHANGE":
+      return "Breaking Changes";
+    case "feat":
+      return "Features";
+    case "fix":
+      return "Fixes";
+    case "docs":
+      return "Documentation";
+    default:
+      return "Maintenance";
+  }
+};
+
+const readChangelog = async (filePath: string): Promise<string> => {
+  if (!(await plugins.smartfs.file(filePath).exists())) {
+    return "# Changelog\n\n";
+  }
+  return (await plugins.smartfs.file(filePath).encoding("utf8").read()) as string;
+};
+
+const writeChangelog = async (filePath: string, content: string): Promise<void> => {
+  await plugins.smartfs.file(filePath).encoding("utf8").write(content.endsWith("\n") ? content : `${content}\n`);
+};
+
+const findPendingSection = (
+  content: string,
+  sectionName: string,
+): { start: number; bodyStart: number; end: number } | null => {
+  const headingRegex = new RegExp(`^##\\s+${sectionName.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&")}\\s*$`, "m");
+  const match = headingRegex.exec(content);
+  if (!match || match.index === undefined) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const bodyStart = match.index + match[0].length;
+  const rest = content.slice(bodyStart);
+  const nextHeadingMatch = /^##\s+/m.exec(rest);
+  const end = nextHeadingMatch ? bodyStart + nextHeadingMatch.index : content.length;
+  return { start: match.index, bodyStart, end };
+};
+
+export const ensurePendingSection = async (
+  filePath: string,
+  sectionName = "Pending",
+): Promise<string> => {
+  let content = await readChangelog(filePath);
+  if (findPendingSection(content, sectionName)) {
+    return content;
+  }
+
+  const pendingSection = `## ${sectionName}\n\n`;
+  const titleMatch = /^#\s+.+$/m.exec(content);
+  if (titleMatch && titleMatch.index !== undefined) {
+    const insertAt = titleMatch.index + titleMatch[0].length;
+    content = `${content.slice(0, insertAt)}\n\n${pendingSection}${content.slice(insertAt).replace(/^\n+/, "")}`;
+  } else {
+    content = `# Changelog\n\n${pendingSection}${content}`;
+  }
+
+  await writeChangelog(filePath, content);
+  return content;
+};
+
+export const appendPendingChangelogEntry = async (
+  filePath: string,
+  sectionName: string,
+  entry: IChangelogEntry,
+): Promise<void> => {
+  let content = await ensurePendingSection(filePath, sectionName);
+  const pendingSection = findPendingSection(content, sectionName)!;
+  let pendingBody = content.slice(pendingSection.bodyStart, pendingSection.end);
+  const bucket = bucketForCommitType(entry.type);
+  const bucketHeading = `### ${bucket}`;
+
+  const entryLines = [`- ${entry.message}${entry.scope ? ` (${entry.scope})` : ""}`];
+  for (const detail of entry.details || []) {
+    entryLines.push(`  - ${detail}`);
+  }
+  const renderedEntry = entryLines.join("\n");
+
+  const bucketRegex = new RegExp(`^###\\s+${bucket.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&")}\\s*$`, "m");
+  const bucketMatch = bucketRegex.exec(pendingBody);
+  if (!bucketMatch || bucketMatch.index === undefined) {
+    pendingBody = `${pendingBody.trimEnd()}\n\n${bucketHeading}\n\n${renderedEntry}\n`;
+  } else {
+    const bucketBodyStart = bucketMatch.index + bucketMatch[0].length;
+    const afterBucket = pendingBody.slice(bucketBodyStart);
+    const nextBucketMatch = /^###\s+/m.exec(afterBucket);
+    const insertAt = nextBucketMatch ? bucketBodyStart + nextBucketMatch.index : pendingBody.length;
+    const beforeInsert = pendingBody.slice(0, insertAt).trimEnd();
+    const afterInsert = pendingBody.slice(insertAt).replace(/^\n+/, "");
+    pendingBody = `${beforeInsert}\n${renderedEntry}\n\n${afterInsert}`;
+  }
+
+  content = `${content.slice(0, pendingSection.bodyStart)}\n${pendingBody.trim()}\n\n${content.slice(pendingSection.end).replace(/^\n+/, "")}`;
+  await writeChangelog(filePath, content);
+};
+
+export const readPendingChangelog = async (
+  filePath: string,
+  sectionName = "Pending",
+): Promise<IPendingChangelog> => {
+  const content = await ensurePendingSection(filePath, sectionName);
+  const pendingSection = findPendingSection(content, sectionName)!;
+  const block = content.slice(pendingSection.bodyStart, pendingSection.end).trim();
+  return {
+    block,
+    isEmpty: block.length === 0,
+  };
+};
+
+export const inferVersionTypeFromPending = (pendingBlock: string): "patch" | "minor" | "major" => {
+  if (/^###\s+Breaking Changes\s*$/m.test(pendingBlock)) {
+    return "major";
+  }
+  if (/^###\s+Features\s*$/m.test(pendingBlock)) {
+    return "minor";
+  }
+  return "patch";
+};
+
+export const movePendingToVersion = async (
+  filePath: string,
+  sectionName: string,
+  versionHeading: string,
+  version: string,
+  dateString: string,
+): Promise<void> => {
+  let content = await ensurePendingSection(filePath, sectionName);
+  const pendingSection = findPendingSection(content, sectionName)!;
+  const pendingBlock = content.slice(pendingSection.bodyStart, pendingSection.end).trim();
+  if (!pendingBlock) {
+    throw new Error("No pending changelog entries. Nothing to release.");
+  }
+
+  const renderedHeading = versionHeading
+    .replaceAll("{{version}}", version)
+    .replaceAll("{{date}}", dateString);
+  const nextContent = content.slice(pendingSection.end).replace(/^\n+/, "");
+  content = `${content.slice(0, pendingSection.bodyStart)}\n\n${renderedHeading}\n\n${pendingBlock}\n\n${nextContent}`;
+  await writeChangelog(filePath, content);
+};
@@ -0,0 +1,212 @@
+import { getCliConfigValue } from "./helpers.smartconfig.js";
+
+export type TCliOutputMode = "human" | "plain" | "json";
+
+export interface ICliMode {
+  output: TCliOutputMode;
+  interactive: boolean;
+  json: boolean;
+  plain: boolean;
+  quiet: boolean;
+  yes: boolean;
+  help: boolean;
+  agent: boolean;
+  checkUpdates: boolean;
+  isTty: boolean;
+  command?: string;
+}
+
+interface ICliConfigSettings {
+  interactive?: boolean;
+  output?: TCliOutputMode;
+  checkUpdates?: boolean;
+}
+
+type TArgSource = Record<string, any> & { _?: string[] };
+
+const camelCase = (value: string): string => {
+  return value.replace(/-([a-z])/g, (_match, group: string) =>
+    group.toUpperCase(),
+  );
+};
+
+const getArgValue = (argvArg: TArgSource, key: string): any => {
+  const keyVariants = [key, camelCase(key), key.replace(/-/g, "")];
+  for (const keyVariant of keyVariants) {
+    if (argvArg[keyVariant] !== undefined) {
+      return argvArg[keyVariant];
+    }
+  }
+  return undefined;
+};
+
+const parseRawArgv = (argv: string[]): TArgSource => {
+  const parsedArgv: TArgSource = { _: [] };
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < argv.length; i++) {
+    const currentArg = argv[i];
+
+    if (currentArg.startsWith("--no-")) {
+      const key = currentArg.slice(5);
+      parsedArgv[key] = false;
+      parsedArgv[camelCase(key)] = false;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    if (currentArg.startsWith("--")) {
+      const withoutPrefix = currentArg.slice(2);
+      const [rawKey, inlineValue] = withoutPrefix.split("=", 2);
+      if (inlineValue !== undefined) {
+        parsedArgv[rawKey] = inlineValue;
+        parsedArgv[camelCase(rawKey)] = inlineValue;
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      const nextArg = argv[i + 1];
+      if (nextArg && !nextArg.startsWith("-")) {
+        parsedArgv[rawKey] = nextArg;
+        parsedArgv[camelCase(rawKey)] = nextArg;
+        i++;
+      } else {
+        parsedArgv[rawKey] = true;
+        parsedArgv[camelCase(rawKey)] = true;
+      }
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    if (currentArg.startsWith("-") && currentArg.length > 1) {
+      for (const shortFlag of currentArg.slice(1).split("")) {
+        parsedArgv[shortFlag] = true;
+      }
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    parsedArgv._ = parsedArgv._ || [];
+    parsedArgv._.push(currentArg);
+  }
+
+  return parsedArgv;
+};
+
+const normalizeOutputMode = (value: unknown): TCliOutputMode | undefined => {
+  if (value === "human" || value === "plain" || value === "json") {
+    return value;
+  }
+  return undefined;
+};
+
+const resolveCliMode = (
+  argvArg: TArgSource,
+  cliConfig: ICliConfigSettings,
+): ICliMode => {
+  const isTty = Boolean(process.stdout?.isTTY && process.stdin?.isTTY);
+  const agentMode = Boolean(getArgValue(argvArg, "agent"));
+  const outputOverride = normalizeOutputMode(getArgValue(argvArg, "output"));
+
+  let output: TCliOutputMode =
+    normalizeOutputMode(cliConfig.output) || (isTty ? "human" : "plain");
+  if (agentMode || getArgValue(argvArg, "json")) {
+    output = "json";
+  } else if (getArgValue(argvArg, "plain")) {
+    output = "plain";
+  } else if (outputOverride) {
+    output = outputOverride;
+  }
+
+  const interactiveSetting = getArgValue(argvArg, "interactive");
+  let interactive = cliConfig.interactive ?? isTty;
+  if (interactiveSetting === true) {
+    interactive = true;
+  } else if (interactiveSetting === false) {
+    interactive = false;
+  }
+  if (!isTty || output !== "human" || agentMode) {
+    interactive = false;
+  }
+
+  const checkUpdatesSetting = getArgValue(argvArg, "check-updates");
+  let checkUpdates = cliConfig.checkUpdates ?? output === "human";
+  if (checkUpdatesSetting === true) {
+    checkUpdates = true;
+  } else if (checkUpdatesSetting === false) {
+    checkUpdates = false;
+  }
+  if (output !== "human" || agentMode) {
+    checkUpdates = false;
+  }
+
+  return {
+    output,
+    interactive,
+    json: output === "json",
+    plain: output === "plain",
+    quiet: Boolean(
+      getArgValue(argvArg, "quiet") ||
+      getArgValue(argvArg, "q") ||
+      output === "json",
+    ),
+    yes: Boolean(getArgValue(argvArg, "yes") || getArgValue(argvArg, "y")),
+    help: Boolean(
+      getArgValue(argvArg, "help") ||
+      getArgValue(argvArg, "h") ||
+      argvArg._?.[0] === "help",
+    ),
+    agent: agentMode,
+    checkUpdates,
+    isTty,
+    command: argvArg._?.[0],
+  };
+};
+
+const getCliModeConfig = async (): Promise<ICliConfigSettings> => {
+  return await getCliConfigValue<ICliConfigSettings>("cli", {});
+};
+
+export const getCliMode = async (
+  argvArg: TArgSource = {},
+): Promise<ICliMode> => {
+  const cliConfig = await getCliModeConfig();
+  return resolveCliMode(argvArg, cliConfig);
+};
+
+export const getRawCliMode = async (): Promise<ICliMode> => {
+  const cliConfig = await getCliModeConfig();
+  const rawArgv = parseRawArgv(process.argv.slice(2));
+  return resolveCliMode(rawArgv, cliConfig);
+};
+
+export const printJson = (data: unknown): void => {
+  console.log(JSON.stringify(data, null, 2));
+};
+
+export const runWithSuppressedOutput = async <T>(
+  fn: () => Promise<T>,
+): Promise<T> => {
+  const originalConsole = {
+    log: console.log,
+    info: console.info,
+    warn: console.warn,
+    error: console.error,
+  };
+  const originalStdoutWrite = process.stdout.write.bind(process.stdout);
+  const originalStderrWrite = process.stderr.write.bind(process.stderr);
+  const noop = () => undefined;
+
+  console.log = noop;
+  console.info = noop;
+  console.warn = noop;
+  console.error = noop;
+  process.stdout.write = (() => true) as typeof process.stdout.write;
+  process.stderr.write = (() => true) as typeof process.stderr.write;
+
+  try {
+    return await fn();
+  } finally {
+    console.log = originalConsole.log;
+    console.info = originalConsole.info;
+    console.warn = originalConsole.warn;
+    console.error = originalConsole.error;
+    process.stdout.write = originalStdoutWrite;
+    process.stderr.write = originalStderrWrite;
+  }
+};
@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+import * as plugins from "./plugins.js";
+import { rename, writeFile } from "fs/promises";
+
+export const CLI_NAMESPACE = "@git.zone/cli";
+
+const isPlainObject = (value: unknown): value is Record<string, any> => {
+  return typeof value === "object" && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
+};
+
+export const getSmartconfigPath = (cwd: string = process.cwd()): string => {
+  return plugins.path.join(cwd, ".smartconfig.json");
+};
+
+export const readSmartconfigFile = async (
+  cwd: string = process.cwd(),
+): Promise<Record<string, any>> => {
+  const smartconfigPath = getSmartconfigPath(cwd);
+  if (!(await plugins.smartfs.file(smartconfigPath).exists())) {
+    return {};
+  }
+
+  const content = (await plugins.smartfs
+    .file(smartconfigPath)
+    .encoding("utf8")
+    .read()) as string;
+  if (content.trim() === "") {
+    return {};
+  }
+  return JSON.parse(content);
+};
+
+export const writeSmartconfigFile = async (
+  data: Record<string, any>,
+  cwd: string = process.cwd(),
+): Promise<void> => {
+  const smartconfigPath = getSmartconfigPath(cwd);
+  const tempPath = `${smartconfigPath}.tmp-${Date.now()}`;
+  const content = JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
+  await writeFile(tempPath, content, "utf8");
+  await rename(tempPath, smartconfigPath);
+};
+
+export const normalizeCliConfigPath = (configPath: string): string => {
+  const trimmedPath = configPath.trim();
+  if (!trimmedPath || trimmedPath === CLI_NAMESPACE) {
+    return "";
+  }
+
+  if (trimmedPath.startsWith(`${CLI_NAMESPACE}.`)) {
+    return trimmedPath.slice(`${CLI_NAMESPACE}.`.length);
+  }
+
+  return trimmedPath;
+};
+
+export const getCliConfigPathSegments = (configPath: string): string[] => {
+  const normalizedPath = normalizeCliConfigPath(configPath);
+  if (!normalizedPath) {
+    return [];
+  }
+
+  return normalizedPath
+    .split(".")
+    .map((segment) => segment.trim())
+    .filter(Boolean);
+};
+
+export const getCliNamespaceConfig = (
+  smartconfigData: Record<string, any>,
+): Record<string, any> => {
+  const cliConfig = smartconfigData[CLI_NAMESPACE];
+  if (isPlainObject(cliConfig)) {
+    return cliConfig;
+  }
+  return {};
+};
+
+export const getCliConfigValueFromData = (
+  smartconfigData: Record<string, any>,
+  configPath: string,
+): any => {
+  const segments = getCliConfigPathSegments(configPath);
+  let currentValue: any = getCliNamespaceConfig(smartconfigData);
+
+  for (const segment of segments) {
+    if (!isPlainObject(currentValue) && !Array.isArray(currentValue)) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+    currentValue = (currentValue as any)?.[segment];
+  }
+
+  return currentValue;
+};
+
+export const getCliConfigValue = async <T>(
+  configPath: string,
+  defaultValue: T,
+  cwd: string = process.cwd(),
+): Promise<T> => {
+  const smartconfigData = await readSmartconfigFile(cwd);
+  const configValue = getCliConfigValueFromData(smartconfigData, configPath);
+
+  if (configValue === undefined) {
+    return defaultValue;
+  }
+
+  if (isPlainObject(defaultValue) && isPlainObject(configValue)) {
+    return {
+      ...defaultValue,
+      ...configValue,
+    } as T;
+  }
+
+  return configValue as T;
+};
+
+export const setCliConfigValueInData = (
+  smartconfigData: Record<string, any>,
+  configPath: string,
+  value: any,
+): Record<string, any> => {
+  const segments = getCliConfigPathSegments(configPath);
+
+  if (!isPlainObject(smartconfigData[CLI_NAMESPACE])) {
+    smartconfigData[CLI_NAMESPACE] = {};
+  }
+
+  if (segments.length === 0) {
+    smartconfigData[CLI_NAMESPACE] = value;
+    return smartconfigData;
+  }
+
+  let currentValue = smartconfigData[CLI_NAMESPACE];
+  for (const segment of segments.slice(0, -1)) {
+    if (!isPlainObject(currentValue[segment])) {
+      currentValue[segment] = {};
+    }
+    currentValue = currentValue[segment];
+  }
+
+  currentValue[segments[segments.length - 1]] = value;
+  return smartconfigData;
+};
+
+export const unsetCliConfigValueInData = (
+  smartconfigData: Record<string, any>,
+  configPath: string,
+): boolean => {
+  const segments = getCliConfigPathSegments(configPath);
+  if (segments.length === 0) {
+    if (smartconfigData[CLI_NAMESPACE] !== undefined) {
+      delete smartconfigData[CLI_NAMESPACE];
+      return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  const parentSegments = segments.slice(0, -1);
+  let currentValue: any = getCliNamespaceConfig(smartconfigData);
+  const objectPath: Array<Record<string, any>> = [currentValue];
+
+  for (const segment of parentSegments) {
+    if (!isPlainObject(currentValue[segment])) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    currentValue = currentValue[segment];
+    objectPath.push(currentValue);
+  }
+
+  const lastSegment = segments[segments.length - 1];
+  if (!(lastSegment in currentValue)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  delete currentValue[lastSegment];
+
+  for (let i = objectPath.length - 1; i >= 1; i--) {
+    if (Object.keys(objectPath[i]).length > 0) {
+      break;
+    }
+
+    const parentObject = objectPath[i - 1];
+    const parentKey = parentSegments[i - 1];
+    delete parentObject[parentKey];
+  }
+
+  if (Object.keys(getCliNamespaceConfig(smartconfigData)).length === 0) {
+    delete smartconfigData[CLI_NAMESPACE];
+  }
+
+  return true;
+};
@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+export const CURRENT_GITZONE_CLI_SCHEMA_VERSION = 2;
+
+export interface ISmartconfigMigrationResult {
+  migrated: boolean;
+  fromVersion: number;
+  toVersion: number;
+}
+
+const CLI_NAMESPACE = "@git.zone/cli";
+
+const isPlainObject = (value: unknown): value is Record<string, any> => {
+  return typeof value === "object" && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
+};
+
+const ensureObject = (parent: Record<string, any>, key: string): Record<string, any> => {
+  if (!isPlainObject(parent[key])) {
+    parent[key] = {};
+  }
+  return parent[key];
+};
+
+const migrateNamespaceKeys = (smartconfigJson: Record<string, any>): boolean => {
+  let migrated = false;
+  const migrations = [
+    { oldKey: "gitzone", newKey: CLI_NAMESPACE },
+    { oldKey: "tsdoc", newKey: "@git.zone/tsdoc" },
+    { oldKey: "npmdocker", newKey: "@git.zone/tsdocker" },
+    { oldKey: "npmci", newKey: "@ship.zone/szci" },
+    { oldKey: "szci", newKey: "@ship.zone/szci" },
+  ];
+
+  for (const { oldKey, newKey } of migrations) {
+    if (!isPlainObject(smartconfigJson[oldKey])) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (!isPlainObject(smartconfigJson[newKey])) {
+      smartconfigJson[newKey] = smartconfigJson[oldKey];
+    } else {
+      smartconfigJson[newKey] = {
+        ...smartconfigJson[oldKey],
+        ...smartconfigJson[newKey],
+      };
+    }
+    delete smartconfigJson[oldKey];
+    migrated = true;
+  }
+
+  return migrated;
+};
+
+const migrateToV2 = (smartconfigJson: Record<string, any>): boolean => {
+  const cliConfig = ensureObject(smartconfigJson, CLI_NAMESPACE);
+  const releaseConfig = ensureObject(cliConfig, "release");
+
+  let migrated = false;
+  const targets = ensureObject(releaseConfig, "targets");
+  const shipzoneConfig = smartconfigJson["@ship.zone/szci"];
+
+  if (isPlainObject(releaseConfig.git) && !isPlainObject(targets.git)) {
+    targets.git = releaseConfig.git;
+    delete releaseConfig.git;
+    migrated = true;
+  }
+
+  if (isPlainObject(releaseConfig.npm) && !isPlainObject(targets.npm)) {
+    targets.npm = releaseConfig.npm;
+    delete releaseConfig.npm;
+    migrated = true;
+  }
+
+  if (isPlainObject(releaseConfig.docker) && !isPlainObject(targets.docker)) {
+    targets.docker = releaseConfig.docker;
+    delete releaseConfig.docker;
+    migrated = true;
+  }
+
+  if (Array.isArray(releaseConfig.registries)) {
+    const npmTarget = ensureObject(targets, "npm");
+    if (!Array.isArray(npmTarget.registries)) {
+      npmTarget.registries = releaseConfig.registries;
+    }
+    delete releaseConfig.registries;
+    migrated = true;
+  }
+
+  if (releaseConfig.accessLevel) {
+    const npmTarget = ensureObject(targets, "npm");
+    if (!npmTarget.accessLevel) {
+      npmTarget.accessLevel = releaseConfig.accessLevel;
+    }
+    delete releaseConfig.accessLevel;
+    migrated = true;
+  }
+
+  if (isPlainObject(shipzoneConfig)) {
+    if (shipzoneConfig.npmAccessLevel) {
+      const npmTarget = ensureObject(targets, "npm");
+      if (!npmTarget.accessLevel) {
+        npmTarget.accessLevel = shipzoneConfig.npmAccessLevel;
+      }
+      delete shipzoneConfig.npmAccessLevel;
+      migrated = true;
+    }
+
+    if (shipzoneConfig.npmRegistryUrl) {
+      const npmTarget = ensureObject(targets, "npm");
+      const registry = normalizeRegistryUrl(shipzoneConfig.npmRegistryUrl);
+      const registries = Array.isArray(npmTarget.registries) ? npmTarget.registries : [];
+      if (!registries.includes(registry)) {
+        registries.push(registry);
+      }
+      npmTarget.registries = registries;
+      delete shipzoneConfig.npmRegistryUrl;
+      migrated = true;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (Array.isArray(releaseConfig.steps)) {
+    const steps = releaseConfig.steps as string[];
+    const preflight = ensureObject(releaseConfig, "preflight");
+    if (steps.includes("test") && preflight.test === undefined) {
+      preflight.test = true;
+    }
+    if (steps.includes("build") && preflight.build === undefined) {
+      preflight.build = true;
+    }
+    if (steps.includes("push")) {
+      const gitTarget = ensureObject(targets, "git");
+      if (gitTarget.enabled === undefined) {
+        gitTarget.enabled = true;
+      }
+    }
+    if (steps.includes("publishNpm")) {
+      const npmTarget = ensureObject(targets, "npm");
+      if (npmTarget.enabled === undefined) {
+        npmTarget.enabled = true;
+      }
+    }
+    if (steps.includes("publishDocker")) {
+      const dockerTarget = ensureObject(targets, "docker");
+      if (dockerTarget.enabled === undefined) {
+        dockerTarget.enabled = true;
+      }
+    }
+    delete releaseConfig.steps;
+    migrated = true;
+  }
+
+  if (releaseConfig.changelog) {
+    delete releaseConfig.changelog;
+    migrated = true;
+  }
+
+  cliConfig.schemaVersion = 2;
+  return migrated || true;
+};
+
+const normalizeRegistryUrl = (url: string): string => {
+  let normalizedUrl = url.trim();
+  if (!normalizedUrl.startsWith("http://") && !normalizedUrl.startsWith("https://")) {
+    normalizedUrl = `https://${normalizedUrl}`;
+  }
+  return normalizedUrl.endsWith("/") ? normalizedUrl.slice(0, -1) : normalizedUrl;
+};
+
+export const migrateSmartconfigData = (
+  smartconfigJson: Record<string, any>,
+  targetVersion = CURRENT_GITZONE_CLI_SCHEMA_VERSION,
+): ISmartconfigMigrationResult => {
+  let migrated = false;
+  migrated = migrateNamespaceKeys(smartconfigJson) || migrated;
+
+  const cliConfig = ensureObject(smartconfigJson, CLI_NAMESPACE);
+  const fromVersion = typeof cliConfig.schemaVersion === "number" ? cliConfig.schemaVersion : 1;
+  let currentVersion = fromVersion;
+
+  if (currentVersion < 2 && targetVersion >= 2) {
+    migrated = migrateToV2(smartconfigJson) || migrated;
+    currentVersion = 2;
+  }
+
+  if (targetVersion === CURRENT_GITZONE_CLI_SCHEMA_VERSION && cliConfig.schemaVersion !== targetVersion) {
+    cliConfig.schemaVersion = targetVersion;
+    migrated = true;
+  }
+
+  return {
+    migrated,
+    fromVersion,
+    toVersion: Math.min(targetVersion, CURRENT_GITZONE_CLI_SCHEMA_VERSION),
+  };
+};
@@ -0,0 +1,387 @@
+import { getCliConfigValue } from "./helpers.smartconfig.js";
+
+export type TConfirmationMode = "prompt" | "auto" | "plan";
+
+export type TCommitStep =
+  | "format"
+  | "analyze"
+  | "test"
+  | "build"
+  | "changelog"
+  | "commit"
+  | "push";
+
+export type TReleaseTarget = "git" | "npm" | "docker";
+
+export interface ICommitWorkflowConfig {
+  confirmation?: TConfirmationMode;
+  staging?: "all";
+  steps?: TCommitStep[];
+  alwaysTest?: boolean;
+  alwaysBuild?: boolean;
+  analyze?: {
+    provider?: "ai";
+    requireConfirmationFor?: string[];
+  };
+  test?: {
+    command?: string;
+  };
+  build?: {
+    command?: string;
+    verifyCleanTree?: boolean;
+  };
+  push?: {
+    remote?: string;
+    followTags?: boolean;
+  };
+}
+
+export interface IReleaseGitTargetConfig {
+  enabled?: boolean;
+  remote?: string;
+  pushBranch?: boolean;
+  pushTags?: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface IReleaseNpmTargetConfig {
+  enabled?: boolean;
+  registries?: string[];
+  accessLevel?: "public" | "private";
+  alreadyPublished?: "success" | "error";
+}
+
+export interface IReleaseDockerTargetConfig {
+  enabled?: boolean;
+  images?: string[];
+}
+
+export interface IReleaseWorkflowConfig {
+  confirmation?: TConfirmationMode;
+  version?: {
+    strategy?: "semver";
+    source?: "pendingChangelog" | "manual";
+  };
+  preflight?: {
+    requireCleanTree?: boolean;
+    test?: boolean;
+    build?: boolean;
+    testCommand?: string;
+    buildCommand?: string;
+  };
+  targets?: {
+    git?: IReleaseGitTargetConfig;
+    npm?: IReleaseNpmTargetConfig;
+    docker?: IReleaseDockerTargetConfig;
+  };
+}
+
+export interface IResolvedCommitWorkflow {
+  confirmation: TConfirmationMode;
+  steps: TCommitStep[];
+  staging: "all";
+  testCommand: string;
+  buildCommand: string;
+  changelogFile: "changelog.md";
+  changelogSection: "Pending";
+  pushRemote: string;
+  pushFollowTags: boolean;
+  releaseFlagRequested: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface IResolvedReleaseWorkflow {
+  confirmation: TConfirmationMode;
+  plan: string[];
+  targets: TReleaseTarget[];
+  requireCleanTree: boolean;
+  runTests: boolean;
+  runBuild: boolean;
+  testCommand: string;
+  buildCommand: string;
+  changelogFile: "changelog.md";
+  changelogPendingSection: "Pending";
+  changelogVersionHeading: "## {{date}} - {{version}}";
+  gitEnabled: boolean;
+  gitRemote: string;
+  pushBranch: boolean;
+  pushTags: boolean;
+  npmEnabled: boolean;
+  npmRegistries: string[];
+  npmAccessLevel: "public" | "private";
+  npmAlreadyPublished: "success" | "error";
+  dockerEnabled: boolean;
+  dockerImages: string[];
+}
+
+interface ICliWorkflowConfig {
+  commit?: ICommitWorkflowConfig;
+  release?: IReleaseWorkflowConfig;
+}
+
+const commitFlagToStep: Record<string, TCommitStep | undefined> = {
+  f: "format",
+  t: "test",
+  b: "build",
+  p: "push",
+};
+
+const unique = <T>(items: T[]): T[] => {
+  const result: T[] = [];
+  for (const item of items) {
+    if (!result.includes(item)) {
+      result.push(item);
+    }
+  }
+  return result;
+};
+
+const normalizeConfirmation = (
+  value: unknown,
+  fallback: TConfirmationMode,
+): TConfirmationMode => {
+  if (value === "prompt" || value === "auto" || value === "plan") {
+    return value;
+  }
+  return fallback;
+};
+
+const normalizeRegistryUrl = (url: string): string => {
+  let normalizedUrl = url.trim();
+  if (!normalizedUrl.startsWith("http://") && !normalizedUrl.startsWith("https://")) {
+    normalizedUrl = `https://${normalizedUrl}`;
+  }
+  return normalizedUrl.endsWith("/") ? normalizedUrl.slice(0, -1) : normalizedUrl;
+};
+
+const isDisabled = (argvArg: any, ...keys: string[]): boolean => {
+  return keys.some((key) => argvArg[key] === false || argvArg[`no-${key}`] || argvArg[`no${key[0].toUpperCase()}${key.slice(1)}`]);
+};
+
+const readCliWorkflowConfig = async (): Promise<ICliWorkflowConfig> => {
+  return await getCliConfigValue<ICliWorkflowConfig>("", {});
+};
+
+const getOrderedArgsAfterCommand = (commandName: string): string[] => {
+  const rawArgs = process.argv.slice(2);
+  const commandIndex = rawArgs.indexOf(commandName);
+  if (commandIndex === -1) {
+    return rawArgs;
+  }
+  return rawArgs.slice(commandIndex + 1);
+};
+
+const getOrderedShortFlags = (commandName: string): string[] => {
+  const orderedFlags: string[] = [];
+  for (const arg of getOrderedArgsAfterCommand(commandName)) {
+    if (arg === "--") {
+      break;
+    }
+    if (arg.startsWith("--")) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (arg.startsWith("-") && arg.length > 1) {
+      orderedFlags.push(...arg.slice(1).split(""));
+    }
+  }
+  return orderedFlags;
+};
+
+const hasExplicitCommitWorkflowFlags = (argvArg: any): boolean => {
+  return Boolean(
+    argvArg.f ||
+      argvArg.format ||
+      argvArg.t ||
+      argvArg.test ||
+      argvArg.b ||
+      argvArg.build ||
+      argvArg.p ||
+      argvArg.push,
+  );
+};
+
+const normalizeCommitSteps = (rawSteps: TCommitStep[]): TCommitStep[] => {
+  const steps = unique(rawSteps.filter(Boolean));
+  const pushRequested = steps.includes("push");
+  const prePushSteps = steps.filter((step) => step !== "push");
+
+  if (!prePushSteps.includes("analyze")) {
+    prePushSteps.unshift("analyze");
+  }
+
+  if (!prePushSteps.includes("changelog")) {
+    const commitIndex = prePushSteps.indexOf("commit");
+    if (commitIndex === -1) {
+      prePushSteps.push("changelog");
+    } else {
+      prePushSteps.splice(commitIndex, 0, "changelog");
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (!prePushSteps.includes("commit")) {
+    prePushSteps.push("commit");
+  }
+
+  const analyzeIndex = prePushSteps.indexOf("analyze");
+  const commitIndex = prePushSteps.indexOf("commit");
+  if (analyzeIndex > commitIndex) {
+    throw new Error("Commit workflow requires analyze before commit.");
+  }
+
+  const changelogIndex = prePushSteps.indexOf("changelog");
+  if (changelogIndex === -1 || changelogIndex > commitIndex) {
+    throw new Error("Commit workflow requires changelog before commit.");
+  }
+
+  return pushRequested ? [...prePushSteps, "push"] : prePushSteps;
+};
+
+const getTargetOverride = (argvArg: any): TReleaseTarget[] | undefined => {
+  const validTargets: TReleaseTarget[] = ["git", "npm", "docker"];
+  const rawTargets = argvArg.target || argvArg.targets;
+  if (typeof rawTargets === "string") {
+    return rawTargets
+      .split(",")
+      .map((target) => target.trim())
+      .filter((target): target is TReleaseTarget => validTargets.includes(target as TReleaseTarget));
+  }
+
+  const targets: TReleaseTarget[] = [];
+  if (argvArg.git || argvArg.p || argvArg.push) targets.push("git");
+  if (argvArg.npm) targets.push("npm");
+  if (argvArg.docker) targets.push("docker");
+  return targets.length > 0 ? targets : undefined;
+};
+
+const buildReleasePlan = (options: {
+  requireCleanTree: boolean;
+  runTests: boolean;
+  runBuild: boolean;
+  targets: TReleaseTarget[];
+}): string[] => {
+  const plan: string[] = [];
+  if (options.requireCleanTree) plan.push("preflight.cleanTree");
+  if (options.runTests) plan.push("preflight.test");
+  plan.push("core.version", "core.changelog", "core.commit", "core.tag");
+  if (options.runBuild) plan.push("core.build");
+  for (const target of options.targets) {
+    plan.push(`target.${target}`);
+  }
+  return plan;
+};
+
+export const resolveCommitWorkflow = async (argvArg: any): Promise<IResolvedCommitWorkflow> => {
+  const cliConfig = await readCliWorkflowConfig();
+  const commitConfig = cliConfig.commit || {};
+  const releaseFlagRequested = Boolean(argvArg.r || argvArg.release);
+
+  let confirmation = normalizeConfirmation(commitConfig.confirmation, "prompt");
+  if (argvArg.plan) {
+    confirmation = "plan";
+  } else if (argvArg.y || argvArg.yes) {
+    confirmation = "auto";
+  }
+
+  let rawSteps: TCommitStep[];
+  if (hasExplicitCommitWorkflowFlags(argvArg)) {
+    const orderedFlags = getOrderedShortFlags("commit");
+    rawSteps = ["analyze"];
+    for (const shortFlag of orderedFlags) {
+      const step = commitFlagToStep[shortFlag];
+      if (step) {
+        rawSteps.push(step);
+      }
+    }
+    if (argvArg.format && !rawSteps.includes("format")) rawSteps.push("format");
+    if (argvArg.test && !rawSteps.includes("test")) rawSteps.push("test");
+    if (argvArg.build && !rawSteps.includes("build")) rawSteps.push("build");
+    if (argvArg.push && !rawSteps.includes("push")) rawSteps.push("push");
+    rawSteps.push("changelog");
+    rawSteps.push("commit");
+  } else if (Array.isArray(commitConfig.steps) && commitConfig.steps.length > 0) {
+    rawSteps = commitConfig.steps;
+  } else {
+    rawSteps = ["analyze"];
+    if (commitConfig.alwaysTest) rawSteps.push("test");
+    if (commitConfig.alwaysBuild) rawSteps.push("build");
+    rawSteps.push("changelog");
+    rawSteps.push("commit");
+  }
+
+  return {
+    confirmation,
+    steps: normalizeCommitSteps(rawSteps),
+    staging: commitConfig.staging || "all",
+    testCommand: commitConfig.test?.command || "pnpm test",
+    buildCommand: commitConfig.build?.command || "pnpm build",
+    changelogFile: "changelog.md",
+    changelogSection: "Pending",
+    pushRemote: commitConfig.push?.remote || "origin",
+    pushFollowTags: commitConfig.push?.followTags || false,
+    releaseFlagRequested,
+  };
+};
+
+export const resolveReleaseWorkflow = async (argvArg: any): Promise<IResolvedReleaseWorkflow> => {
+  const cliConfig = await readCliWorkflowConfig();
+  const releaseConfig = cliConfig.release || {};
+  const targetConfig = releaseConfig.targets || {};
+  const gitConfig = targetConfig.git || {};
+  const npmConfig = targetConfig.npm || {};
+  const dockerConfig = targetConfig.docker || {};
+  const npmRegistries = (npmConfig.registries || []).map(normalizeRegistryUrl);
+  const npmEnabled = npmConfig.enabled ?? npmRegistries.length > 0;
+  const gitEnabled = gitConfig.enabled ?? true;
+  const dockerEnabled = dockerConfig.enabled ?? false;
+
+  let confirmation = normalizeConfirmation(releaseConfig.confirmation, "prompt");
+  if (argvArg.plan) {
+    confirmation = "plan";
+  } else if (argvArg.y || argvArg.yes) {
+    confirmation = "auto";
+  }
+
+  let requireCleanTree = releaseConfig.preflight?.requireCleanTree ?? true;
+  let runTests = releaseConfig.preflight?.test ?? false;
+  let runBuild = releaseConfig.preflight?.build ?? true;
+  if (argvArg.t || argvArg.test) runTests = true;
+  if (argvArg.b || argvArg.build) runBuild = true;
+  if (isDisabled(argvArg, "test")) runTests = false;
+  if (isDisabled(argvArg, "build")) runBuild = false;
+  if (isDisabled(argvArg, "preflight")) requireCleanTree = false;
+
+  const configuredTargets: TReleaseTarget[] = [];
+  if (gitEnabled) configuredTargets.push("git");
+  if (npmEnabled) configuredTargets.push("npm");
+  if (dockerEnabled) configuredTargets.push("docker");
+  let targets = getTargetOverride(argvArg) || configuredTargets;
+  if (isDisabled(argvArg, "git", "push")) {
+    targets = targets.filter((target) => target !== "git");
+  }
+  if (isDisabled(argvArg, "publish")) {
+    targets = targets.filter((target) => target === "git");
+  }
+  targets = unique(targets);
+
+  return {
+    confirmation,
+    plan: buildReleasePlan({ requireCleanTree, runTests, runBuild, targets }),
+    targets,
+    requireCleanTree,
+    runTests,
+    runBuild,
+    testCommand: releaseConfig.preflight?.testCommand || "pnpm test",
+    buildCommand: releaseConfig.preflight?.buildCommand || "pnpm build",
+    changelogFile: "changelog.md",
+    changelogPendingSection: "Pending",
+    changelogVersionHeading: "## {{date}} - {{version}}",
+    gitEnabled,
+    gitRemote: gitConfig.remote || "origin",
+    pushBranch: gitConfig.pushBranch ?? true,
+    pushTags: gitConfig.pushTags ?? true,
+    npmEnabled,
+    npmRegistries,
+    npmAccessLevel: npmConfig.accessLevel || "public",
+    npmAlreadyPublished: npmConfig.alreadyPublished || "success",
+    dockerEnabled,
+    dockerImages: dockerConfig.images || [],
+  };
+};
@@ -1,346 +1,371 @@
 // this file contains code to create commits in a consistent way

-import * as plugins from './mod.plugins.js';
-import * as paths from '../paths.js';
-import { logger } from '../gitzone.logging.js';
-import * as helpers from './mod.helpers.js';
-import * as ui from './mod.ui.js';
-import { ReleaseConfig } from '../mod_config/classes.releaseconfig.js';
+import * as plugins from "./mod.plugins.js";
+import * as paths from "../paths.js";
+import { logger } from "../gitzone.logging.js";
+import * as ui from "./mod.ui.js";
+import type { ICliMode } from "../helpers.climode.js";
+import { getCliMode, printJson, runWithSuppressedOutput } from "../helpers.climode.js";
+import { appendPendingChangelogEntry } from "../helpers.changelog.js";
+import { resolveCommitWorkflow, type IResolvedCommitWorkflow } from "../helpers.workflow.js";

 export const run = async (argvArg: any) => {
-  // Read commit config from .smartconfig.json
-  const smartconfigInstance = new plugins.smartconfig.Smartconfig();
-  const gitzoneConfig = smartconfigInstance.dataFor<{
-    commit?: {
-      alwaysTest?: boolean;
-      alwaysBuild?: boolean;
-    };
-  }>('@git.zone/cli', {});
-  const commitConfig = gitzoneConfig.commit || {};
+  const mode = await getCliMode(argvArg);
+  const subcommand = argvArg._?.[1];

-  // Check flags and merge with config options
-  const wantsRelease = !!(argvArg.r || argvArg.release);
-  const wantsTest = !!(argvArg.t || argvArg.test || commitConfig.alwaysTest);
-  const wantsBuild = !!(argvArg.b || argvArg.build || commitConfig.alwaysBuild);
-  let releaseConfig: ReleaseConfig | null = null;
-
-  if (wantsRelease) {
-    releaseConfig = await ReleaseConfig.fromCwd();
-    if (!releaseConfig.hasRegistries()) {
-      logger.log('error', 'No release registries configured.');
-      console.log('');
-      console.log('  Run `gitzone config add <registry-url>` to add registries.');
-      console.log('');
-      process.exit(1);
-    }
+  if (mode.help || subcommand === "help") {
+    showHelp(mode);
+    return;
  }

-  // Print execution plan at the start
-  ui.printExecutionPlan({
-    autoAccept: !!(argvArg.y || argvArg.yes),
-    push: !!(argvArg.p || argvArg.push),
-    test: wantsTest,
-    build: wantsBuild,
-    release: wantsRelease,
-    format: !!argvArg.format,
-    registries: releaseConfig?.getRegistries(),
-  });
-
-  if (argvArg.format) {
-    const formatMod = await import('../mod_format/index.js');
-    await formatMod.run();
+  if (subcommand === "recommend") {
+    await handleRecommend(mode);
+    return;
  }

-  // Run tests early to fail fast before analysis
-  if (wantsTest) {
-    ui.printHeader('🧪 Running tests...');
-    const smartshellForTest = new plugins.smartshell.Smartshell({
-      executor: 'bash',
-      sourceFilePaths: [],
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson({
+      ok: false,
+      error:
+        "JSON output is only supported for the read-only recommendation flow. Use `gitzone commit recommend --json`.",
    });
-    const testResult = await smartshellForTest.exec('pnpm test');
-    if (testResult.exitCode !== 0) {
-      logger.log('error', 'Tests failed. Aborting commit.');
-      process.exit(1);
-    }
-    logger.log('success', 'All tests passed.');
+    return;
  }

-  ui.printHeader('🔍 Analyzing repository changes...');
-
-  const aidoc = new plugins.tsdoc.AiDoc();
-  await aidoc.start();
-
-  const nextCommitObject = await aidoc.buildNextCommitObject(paths.cwd);
-
-  await aidoc.stop();
-
-  ui.printRecommendation({
-    recommendedNextVersion: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersion,
-    recommendedNextVersionLevel: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionLevel,
-    recommendedNextVersionScope: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionScope,
-    recommendedNextVersionMessage: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionMessage,
-  });
-
-  let answerBucket: plugins.smartinteract.AnswerBucket;
-
-  // Check if -y/--yes flag is set AND version is not a breaking change
-  // Breaking changes (major version bumps) always require manual confirmation
-  const isBreakingChange = nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionLevel === 'BREAKING CHANGE';
-  const canAutoAccept = (argvArg.y || argvArg.yes) && !isBreakingChange;
-
-  if (canAutoAccept) {
-    // Auto-mode: create AnswerBucket programmatically
-    logger.log('info', '✓ Auto-accepting AI recommendations (--yes flag)');
-
-    answerBucket = new plugins.smartinteract.AnswerBucket();
-    answerBucket.addAnswer({
-      name: 'commitType',
-      value: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionLevel,
-    });
-    answerBucket.addAnswer({
-      name: 'commitScope',
-      value: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionScope,
-    });
-    answerBucket.addAnswer({
-      name: 'commitDescription',
-      value: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionMessage,
-    });
-    answerBucket.addAnswer({
-      name: 'pushToOrigin',
-      value: !!(argvArg.p || argvArg.push), // Only push if -p flag also provided
-    });
-    answerBucket.addAnswer({
-      name: 'createRelease',
-      value: wantsRelease,
-    });
-  } else {
-    // Warn if --yes was provided but we're requiring confirmation due to breaking change
-    if (isBreakingChange && (argvArg.y || argvArg.yes)) {
-      logger.log('warn', '⚠️  BREAKING CHANGE detected - manual confirmation required');
-    }
-    // Interactive mode: prompt user for input
-    const commitInteract = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
-    commitInteract.addQuestions([
-      {
-        type: 'list',
-        name: `commitType`,
-        message: `Choose TYPE of the commit:`,
-        choices: [`fix`, `feat`, `BREAKING CHANGE`],
-        default: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionLevel,
-      },
-      {
-        type: 'input',
-        name: `commitScope`,
-        message: `What is the SCOPE of the commit:`,
-        default: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionScope,
-      },
-      {
-        type: `input`,
-        name: `commitDescription`,
-        message: `What is the DESCRIPTION of the commit?`,
-        default: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionMessage,
-      },
-      {
-        type: 'confirm',
-        name: `pushToOrigin`,
-        message: `Do you want to push this version now?`,
-        default: true,
-      },
-      {
-        type: 'confirm',
-        name: `createRelease`,
-        message: `Do you want to publish to npm registries?`,
-        default: wantsRelease,
-      },
-    ]);
-    answerBucket = await commitInteract.runQueue();
+  const workflow = await resolveCommitWorkflow(argvArg);
+  if (workflow.releaseFlagRequested) {
+    logger.log(
+      "warn",
+      "`gitzone commit -r` is deprecated and no longer releases. Use `gitzone release` after committing.",
+    );
+  }
+
+  printCommitExecutionPlan(workflow);
+  if (workflow.confirmation === "plan") {
+    return;
  }
-  const commitString = createCommitStringFromAnswerBucket(answerBucket);
-  const commitVersionType = (() => {
-    switch (answerBucket.getAnswerFor('commitType')) {
-      case 'fix':
-        return 'patch';
-      case 'feat':
-        return 'minor';
-      case 'BREAKING CHANGE':
-        return 'major';
-    }
-  })();

-  ui.printHeader('✨ Creating Semantic Commit');
-  ui.printCommitMessage(commitString);
  const smartshellInstance = new plugins.smartshell.Smartshell({
-    executor: 'bash',
+    executor: "bash",
    sourceFilePaths: [],
  });

-  // Load release config if user wants to release (interactively selected)
-  if (answerBucket.getAnswerFor('createRelease') && !releaseConfig) {
-    releaseConfig = await ReleaseConfig.fromCwd();
-    if (!releaseConfig.hasRegistries()) {
-      logger.log('error', 'No release registries configured.');
-      console.log('');
-      console.log('  Run `gitzone config add <registry-url>` to add registries.');
-      console.log('');
-      process.exit(1);
+  let nextCommitObject: any;
+  let answerBucket: plugins.smartinteract.AnswerBucket | undefined;
+
+  for (const step of workflow.steps) {
+    switch (step) {
+      case "format":
+        await runFormatStep();
+        break;
+      case "test":
+        await runCommandStep(smartshellInstance, "Running tests", workflow.testCommand);
+        break;
+      case "build":
+        await runCommandStep(smartshellInstance, "Running build", workflow.buildCommand);
+        break;
+      case "analyze":
+        nextCommitObject = await runAnalyzeStep();
+        answerBucket = await buildAnswerBucket(nextCommitObject, workflow, mode, argvArg);
+        break;
+      case "changelog":
+        assertAnalysisComplete(answerBucket, nextCommitObject);
+        await runChangelogStep(workflow, answerBucket!, nextCommitObject);
+        break;
+      case "commit":
+        assertAnalysisComplete(answerBucket, nextCommitObject);
+        await runCommitStep(smartshellInstance, answerBucket!);
+        break;
+      case "push":
+        await runPushStep(smartshellInstance, workflow);
+        break;
    }
  }

-  // Determine total steps based on options
-  // Note: test runs early (like format) so not counted in numbered steps
-  const willPush = answerBucket.getAnswerFor('pushToOrigin') && !(process.env.CI === 'true');
-  const willRelease = answerBucket.getAnswerFor('createRelease') && releaseConfig?.hasRegistries();
-  let totalSteps = 5; // Base steps: commitinfo, changelog, staging, commit, version
-  if (wantsBuild) totalSteps += 2; // build step + verification step
-  if (willPush) totalSteps++;
-  if (willRelease) totalSteps++;
-  let currentStep = 0;
-
-  // Step 1: Baking commitinfo
-  currentStep++;
-  ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '🔧 Baking commit info into code', 'in-progress');
-  const commitInfo = new plugins.commitinfo.CommitInfo(
-    paths.cwd,
-    commitVersionType,
-  );
-  await commitInfo.writeIntoPotentialDirs();
-  ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '🔧 Baking commit info into code', 'done');
-
-  // Step 2: Writing changelog
-  currentStep++;
-  ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '📄 Generating changelog.md', 'in-progress');
-  let changelog = nextCommitObject.changelog;
-  changelog = changelog.replaceAll(
-    '{{nextVersion}}',
-    (await commitInfo.getNextPlannedVersion()).versionString,
-  );
-  changelog = changelog.replaceAll(
-    '{{nextVersionScope}}',
-    `${await answerBucket.getAnswerFor('commitType')}(${await answerBucket.getAnswerFor('commitScope')})`,
-  );
-  changelog = changelog.replaceAll(
-    '{{nextVersionMessage}}',
-    nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionMessage,
-  );
-  if (nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionDetails?.length > 0) {
-    changelog = changelog.replaceAll(
-      '{{nextVersionDetails}}',
-      '- ' + nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionDetails.join('\n- '),
-    );
-  } else {
-    changelog = changelog.replaceAll('\n{{nextVersionDetails}}', '');
-  }
-
-  await plugins.smartfs
-    .file(plugins.path.join(paths.cwd, `changelog.md`))
-    .encoding('utf8')
-    .write(changelog);
-  ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '📄 Generating changelog.md', 'done');
-
-  // Step 3: Staging files
-  currentStep++;
-  ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '📦 Staging files', 'in-progress');
-  await smartshellInstance.exec(`git add -A`);
-  ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '📦 Staging files', 'done');
-
-  // Step 4: Creating commit
-  currentStep++;
-  ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '💾 Creating git commit', 'in-progress');
-  await smartshellInstance.exec(`git commit -m "${commitString}"`);
-  ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '💾 Creating git commit', 'done');
-
-  // Step 5: Bumping version
-  currentStep++;
-  const projectType = await helpers.detectProjectType();
-  const newVersion = await helpers.bumpProjectVersion(projectType, commitVersionType, currentStep, totalSteps);
-
-  // Step 6: Run build (optional)
-  if (wantsBuild) {
-    currentStep++;
-    ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '🔨 Running build', 'in-progress');
-    const buildResult = await smartshellInstance.exec('pnpm build');
-    if (buildResult.exitCode !== 0) {
-      ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '🔨 Running build', 'error');
-      logger.log('error', 'Build failed. Aborting release.');
-      process.exit(1);
-    }
-    ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '🔨 Running build', 'done');
-
-    // Step 7: Verify no uncommitted changes
-    currentStep++;
-    ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '🔍 Verifying clean working tree', 'in-progress');
-    const statusResult = await smartshellInstance.exec('git status --porcelain');
-    if (statusResult.stdout.trim() !== '') {
-      ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '🔍 Verifying clean working tree', 'error');
-      logger.log('error', 'Build produced uncommitted changes. This usually means build output is not gitignored.');
-      logger.log('error', 'Uncommitted files:');
-      console.log(statusResult.stdout);
-      logger.log('error', 'Aborting release. Please ensure build artifacts are in .gitignore');
-      process.exit(1);
-    }
-    ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, '🔍 Verifying clean working tree', 'done');
-  }
-
-  // Step: Push to remote (optional)
-  const currentBranch = await helpers.detectCurrentBranch();
-  if (willPush) {
-    currentStep++;
-    ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, `🚀 Pushing to origin/${currentBranch}`, 'in-progress');
-    await smartshellInstance.exec(`git push origin ${currentBranch} --follow-tags`);
-    ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, `🚀 Pushing to origin/${currentBranch}`, 'done');
-  }
-
-  // Step 7: Publish to npm registries (optional)
-  let releasedRegistries: string[] = [];
-  if (willRelease && releaseConfig) {
-    currentStep++;
-    const registries = releaseConfig.getRegistries();
-    ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, `📦 Publishing to ${registries.length} registr${registries.length === 1 ? 'y' : 'ies'}`, 'in-progress');
-
-    const accessLevel = releaseConfig.getAccessLevel();
-    for (const registry of registries) {
-      try {
-        await smartshellInstance.exec(`npm publish --registry=${registry} --access=${accessLevel}`);
-        releasedRegistries.push(registry);
-      } catch (error) {
-        logger.log('error', `Failed to publish to ${registry}: ${error}`);
-      }
-    }
-
-    if (releasedRegistries.length === registries.length) {
-      ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, `📦 Publishing to ${registries.length} registr${registries.length === 1 ? 'y' : 'ies'}`, 'done');
-    } else {
-      ui.printStep(currentStep, totalSteps, `📦 Publishing to ${registries.length} registr${registries.length === 1 ? 'y' : 'ies'}`, 'error');
-    }
-  }
-
-  console.log(''); // Add spacing before summary
-
-  // Get commit SHA for summary
-  const commitShaResult = await smartshellInstance.exec('git rev-parse --short HEAD');
-  const commitSha = commitShaResult.stdout.trim();
-
-  // Print final summary
+  const commitShaResult = await smartshellInstance.exec("git rev-parse --short HEAD");
+  const currentBranch = await detectCurrentBranch(smartshellInstance);
  ui.printSummary({
-    projectType,
+    projectType: "source",
    branch: currentBranch,
-    commitType: answerBucket.getAnswerFor('commitType'),
-    commitScope: answerBucket.getAnswerFor('commitScope'),
-    commitMessage: answerBucket.getAnswerFor('commitDescription'),
-    newVersion: newVersion,
-    commitSha: commitSha,
-    pushed: willPush,
-    released: releasedRegistries.length > 0,
-    releasedRegistries: releasedRegistries.length > 0 ? releasedRegistries : undefined,
+    commitType: answerBucket!.getAnswerFor("commitType"),
+    commitScope: answerBucket!.getAnswerFor("commitScope"),
+    commitMessage: answerBucket!.getAnswerFor("commitDescription"),
+    commitSha: commitShaResult.stdout.trim(),
+    pushed: workflow.steps.includes("push"),
  });
 };

+async function runFormatStep(): Promise<void> {
+  ui.printHeader("Formatting project files");
+  const formatMod = await import("../mod_format/index.js");
+  await formatMod.run({ write: true, yes: true, interactive: false });
+}
+
+async function runCommandStep(
+  smartshellInstance: plugins.smartshell.Smartshell,
+  label: string,
+  command: string,
+): Promise<void> {
+  ui.printHeader(label);
+  const result = await smartshellInstance.exec(command);
+  if (result.exitCode !== 0) {
+    logger.log("error", `${label} failed. Aborting commit.`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+  logger.log("success", `${label} passed.`);
+}
+
+async function runAnalyzeStep(): Promise<any> {
+  ui.printHeader("Analyzing repository changes");
+  const aidoc = new plugins.tsdoc.AiDoc();
+  await aidoc.start();
+  try {
+    const nextCommitObject = await aidoc.buildNextCommitObject(paths.cwd);
+    ui.printRecommendation({
+      recommendedNextVersion: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersion,
+      recommendedNextVersionLevel: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionLevel,
+      recommendedNextVersionScope: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionScope,
+      recommendedNextVersionMessage: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionMessage,
+    });
+    return nextCommitObject;
+  } finally {
+    await aidoc.stop();
+  }
+}
+
+async function buildAnswerBucket(
+  nextCommitObject: any,
+  workflow: IResolvedCommitWorkflow,
+  mode: ICliMode,
+  argvArg: any,
+): Promise<plugins.smartinteract.AnswerBucket> {
+  const isBreakingChange = nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionLevel === "BREAKING CHANGE";
+  const canAutoAccept = workflow.confirmation === "auto" && !isBreakingChange;
+
+  if (canAutoAccept) {
+    logger.log("info", "Auto-accepting AI recommendations");
+    return createAnswerBucket({
+      commitType: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionLevel,
+      commitScope: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionScope,
+      commitDescription: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionMessage,
+    });
+  }
+
+  if (isBreakingChange && (workflow.confirmation === "auto" || argvArg.y || argvArg.yes)) {
+    logger.log("warn", "BREAKING CHANGE detected - manual confirmation required");
+  }
+
+  if (!mode.interactive) {
+    throw new Error("Commit confirmation requires an interactive terminal. Use `-y` or set commit.confirmation to `auto`.");
+  }
+
+  const commitInteract = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
+  commitInteract.addQuestions([
+    {
+      type: "list",
+      name: "commitType",
+      message: "Choose TYPE of the commit:",
+      choices: ["fix", "feat", "BREAKING CHANGE"],
+      default: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionLevel,
+    },
+    {
+      type: "input",
+      name: "commitScope",
+      message: "What is the SCOPE of the commit:",
+      default: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionScope,
+    },
+    {
+      type: "input",
+      name: "commitDescription",
+      message: "What is the DESCRIPTION of the commit?",
+      default: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionMessage,
+    },
+  ]);
+  return await commitInteract.runQueue();
+}
+
+function createAnswerBucket(answers: {
+  commitType: string;
+  commitScope: string;
+  commitDescription: string;
+}): plugins.smartinteract.AnswerBucket {
+  const answerBucket = new plugins.smartinteract.AnswerBucket();
+  for (const [name, value] of Object.entries(answers)) {
+    answerBucket.addAnswer({ name, value });
+  }
+  return answerBucket;
+}
+
+async function runChangelogStep(
+  workflow: IResolvedCommitWorkflow,
+  answerBucket: plugins.smartinteract.AnswerBucket,
+  nextCommitObject: any,
+): Promise<void> {
+  await appendPendingChangelogEntry(
+    plugins.path.join(paths.cwd, workflow.changelogFile),
+    workflow.changelogSection,
+    {
+      type: answerBucket.getAnswerFor("commitType"),
+      scope: answerBucket.getAnswerFor("commitScope"),
+      message: answerBucket.getAnswerFor("commitDescription"),
+      details: nextCommitObject.recommendedNextVersionDetails || [],
+    },
+  );
+  logger.log("success", `Updated ${workflow.changelogFile} pending section.`);
+}
+
+async function runCommitStep(
+  smartshellInstance: plugins.smartshell.Smartshell,
+  answerBucket: plugins.smartinteract.AnswerBucket,
+): Promise<void> {
+  ui.printHeader("Creating Semantic Commit");
+  const commitString = createCommitStringFromAnswerBucket(answerBucket);
+  ui.printCommitMessage(commitString);
+  await smartshellInstance.exec("git add -A");
+  const result = await smartshellInstance.exec(`git commit -m ${shellQuote(commitString)}`);
+  if (result.exitCode !== 0) {
+    logger.log("error", "git commit failed.");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+}
+
+async function runPushStep(
+  smartshellInstance: plugins.smartshell.Smartshell,
+  workflow: IResolvedCommitWorkflow,
+): Promise<void> {
+  const currentBranch = await detectCurrentBranch(smartshellInstance);
+  const followTags = workflow.pushFollowTags ? " --follow-tags" : "";
+  const result = await smartshellInstance.exec(
+    `git push ${workflow.pushRemote} ${currentBranch}${followTags}`,
+  );
+  if (result.exitCode !== 0) {
+    logger.log("error", "git push failed.");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+}
+
+async function detectCurrentBranch(
+  smartshellInstance: plugins.smartshell.Smartshell,
+): Promise<string> {
+  const branchResult = await smartshellInstance.exec("git branch --show-current");
+  return branchResult.stdout.trim() || "master";
+}
+
+function assertAnalysisComplete(
+  answerBucket: plugins.smartinteract.AnswerBucket | undefined,
+  nextCommitObject: any,
+): void {
+  if (!answerBucket || !nextCommitObject) {
+    throw new Error("Commit workflow requires analyze before changelog and commit steps.");
+  }
+}
+
+function shellQuote(value: string): string {
+  return `'${value.replaceAll("'", "'\\''")}'`;
+}
+
+function printCommitExecutionPlan(workflow: IResolvedCommitWorkflow): void {
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("gitzone commit - resolved workflow");
+  console.log(`confirmation: ${workflow.confirmation}`);
+  console.log(`steps: ${workflow.steps.join(" -> ")}`);
+  console.log(`changelog: ${workflow.changelogFile}#${workflow.changelogSection}`);
+  console.log("");
+}
+
+async function handleRecommend(mode: ICliMode): Promise<void> {
+  const recommendationBuilder = async () => {
+    const aidoc = new plugins.tsdoc.AiDoc();
+    await aidoc.start();
+    try {
+      return await aidoc.buildNextCommitObject(paths.cwd);
+    } finally {
+      await aidoc.stop();
+    }
+  };
+
+  const recommendation = mode.json
+    ? await runWithSuppressedOutput(recommendationBuilder)
+    : await recommendationBuilder();
+
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson(recommendation);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  ui.printRecommendation({
+    recommendedNextVersion: recommendation.recommendedNextVersion,
+    recommendedNextVersionLevel: recommendation.recommendedNextVersionLevel,
+    recommendedNextVersionScope: recommendation.recommendedNextVersionScope,
+    recommendedNextVersionMessage: recommendation.recommendedNextVersionMessage,
+  });
+
+  console.log(
+    `Suggested commit: ${recommendation.recommendedNextVersionLevel}(${recommendation.recommendedNextVersionScope}): ${recommendation.recommendedNextVersionMessage}`,
+  );
+}
+
 const createCommitStringFromAnswerBucket = (
  answerBucket: plugins.smartinteract.AnswerBucket,
 ) => {
-  const commitType = answerBucket.getAnswerFor('commitType');
-  const commitScope = answerBucket.getAnswerFor('commitScope');
-  const commitDescription = answerBucket.getAnswerFor('commitDescription');
+  const commitType = answerBucket.getAnswerFor("commitType");
+  const commitScope = answerBucket.getAnswerFor("commitScope");
+  const commitDescription = answerBucket.getAnswerFor("commitDescription");
  return `${commitType}(${commitScope}): ${commitDescription}`;
 };
+
+export function showHelp(mode?: ICliMode): void {
+  if (mode?.json) {
+    printJson({
+      command: "commit",
+      usage: "gitzone commit [recommend] [options]",
+      description: "Analyzes changes and creates one semantic source commit.",
+      commands: [
+        {
+          name: "recommend",
+          description: "Generate a commit recommendation without mutating the repository",
+        },
+      ],
+      flags: [
+        { flag: "-y, --yes", description: "Auto-accept safe AI recommendations" },
+        { flag: "-p, --push", description: "Push to origin after committing" },
+        { flag: "-t, --test", description: "Run tests as part of the commit workflow" },
+        { flag: "-b, --build", description: "Run build as part of the commit workflow" },
+        { flag: "-f, --format", description: "Run gitzone format before committing" },
+        { flag: "--plan", description: "Show resolved workflow without mutating files" },
+        { flag: "--json", description: "Emit JSON for `commit recommend` only" },
+      ],
+      examples: [
+        "gitzone commit recommend --json",
+        "gitzone commit -y",
+        "gitzone commit -ytbp",
+        "gitzone release",
+      ],
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Usage: gitzone commit [recommend] [options]");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Creates one semantic source commit. It does not version, tag, or publish.");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Commands:");
+  console.log("  recommend           Generate a commit recommendation without mutating the repository");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Flags:");
+  console.log("  -y, --yes           Auto-accept safe AI recommendations");
+  console.log("  -p, --push          Push after commit");
+  console.log("  -t, --test          Run tests in the configured order");
+  console.log("  -b, --build         Run build in the configured order");
+  console.log("  -f, --format        Run gitzone format before committing");
+  console.log("  --plan              Show resolved workflow without mutating files");
+  console.log("  --json              Emit JSON for `commit recommend` only");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Examples:");
+  console.log("  gitzone commit recommend --json");
+  console.log("  gitzone commit -y");
+  console.log("  gitzone commit -ytbp");
+  console.log("  gitzone release");
+  console.log("");
+}
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ export async function detectProjectType(): Promise<ProjectType> {
 * @param versionType Type of version bump
 * @returns New version string
 */
-function calculateNewVersion(currentVersion: string, versionType: VersionType): string {
+export function calculateNewVersion(currentVersion: string, versionType: VersionType): string {
  const versionMatch = currentVersion.match(/^(\d+)\.(\d+)\.(\d+)/);

  if (!versionMatch) {
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ function calculateNewVersion(currentVersion: string, versionType: VersionType):
 * @param projectType The project type to determine which file to read
 * @returns The current version string
 */
-async function readCurrentVersion(projectType: ProjectType): Promise<string> {
+export async function readCurrentVersion(projectType: ProjectType): Promise<string> {
  if (projectType === 'npm' || projectType === 'both') {
    const packageJsonPath = plugins.path.join(paths.cwd, 'package.json');
    const content = (await plugins.smartfs
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ async function readCurrentVersion(projectType: ProjectType): Promise<string> {
 * @param filePath Path to the JSON file
 * @param newVersion The new version to write
 */
-async function updateVersionFile(filePath: string, newVersion: string): Promise<void> {
+export async function updateVersionFile(filePath: string, newVersion: string): Promise<void> {
  const content = (await plugins.smartfs
    .file(filePath)
    .encoding('utf8')
@@ -141,6 +141,30 @@ async function updateVersionFile(filePath: string, newVersion: string): Promise<
    .write(JSON.stringify(config, null, 2) + '\n');
 }

+/**
+ * Updates project version files without creating commits or tags.
+ */
+export async function updateProjectVersionFiles(
+  projectType: ProjectType,
+  newVersion: string,
+): Promise<string[]> {
+  const filesToUpdate: string[] = [];
+  const packageJsonPath = plugins.path.join(paths.cwd, 'package.json');
+  const denoJsonPath = plugins.path.join(paths.cwd, 'deno.json');
+
+  if (projectType === 'npm' || projectType === 'both') {
+    await updateVersionFile(packageJsonPath, newVersion);
+    filesToUpdate.push('package.json');
+  }
+
+  if (projectType === 'deno' || projectType === 'both') {
+    await updateVersionFile(denoJsonPath, newVersion);
+    filesToUpdate.push('deno.json');
+  }
+
+  return filesToUpdate;
+}
+
 /**
 * Bumps the project version based on project type
 * Handles npm-only, deno-only, and dual projects with unified logic
@@ -182,19 +206,7 @@ export async function bumpProjectVersion(
    logger.log('info', `Bumping version: ${currentVersion} → ${newVersion}`);

    // 3. Determine which files to update
-    const filesToUpdate: string[] = [];
-    const packageJsonPath = plugins.path.join(paths.cwd, 'package.json');
-    const denoJsonPath = plugins.path.join(paths.cwd, 'deno.json');
-
-    if (projectType === 'npm' || projectType === 'both') {
-      await updateVersionFile(packageJsonPath, newVersion);
-      filesToUpdate.push('package.json');
-    }
-
-    if (projectType === 'deno' || projectType === 'both') {
-      await updateVersionFile(denoJsonPath, newVersion);
-      filesToUpdate.push('deno.json');
-    }
+    const filesToUpdate = await updateProjectVersionFiles(projectType, newVersion);

    // 4. Stage all updated files
    await smartshellInstance.exec(`git add ${filesToUpdate.join(' ')}`);
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ interface ICommitSummary {
  commitType: string;
  commitScope: string;
  commitMessage: string;
-  newVersion: string;
+  newVersion?: string;
  commitSha?: string;
  pushed: boolean;
  repoUrl?: string;
@@ -197,9 +197,14 @@ export function printSummary(summary: ICommitSummary): void {
    `Branch:         🌿 ${summary.branch}`,
    `Commit Type:    ${getCommitTypeEmoji(summary.commitType)}`,
    `Scope:          📍 ${summary.commitScope}`,
-    `New Version:    🏷️  v${summary.newVersion}`,
  ];

+  if (summary.newVersion) {
+    lines.push(`New Version:    🏷️  v${summary.newVersion}`);
+  } else {
+    lines.push(`Version:        ⊘ Not bumped`);
+  }
+
  if (summary.commitSha) {
    lines.push(`Commit SHA:     📌 ${summary.commitSha}`);
  }
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import * as plugins from './mod.plugins.js';
 export interface ICommitConfig {
  alwaysTest: boolean;
  alwaysBuild: boolean;
+  confirmation: 'prompt' | 'auto' | 'plan';
+  steps: string[];
 }

 /**
@@ -15,7 +17,7 @@ export class CommitConfig {

  constructor(cwd: string = process.cwd()) {
    this.cwd = cwd;
-    this.config = { alwaysTest: false, alwaysBuild: false };
+    this.config = { alwaysTest: false, alwaysBuild: false, confirmation: 'prompt', steps: ['analyze', 'changelog', 'commit'] };
  }

  /**
@@ -34,9 +36,19 @@ export class CommitConfig {
    const smartconfigInstance = new plugins.smartconfig.Smartconfig(this.cwd);
    const gitzoneConfig = smartconfigInstance.dataFor<any>('@git.zone/cli', {});

+    const alwaysTest = gitzoneConfig?.commit?.alwaysTest ?? false;
+    const alwaysBuild = gitzoneConfig?.commit?.alwaysBuild ?? false;
    this.config = {
-      alwaysTest: gitzoneConfig?.commit?.alwaysTest ?? false,
-      alwaysBuild: gitzoneConfig?.commit?.alwaysBuild ?? false,
+      alwaysTest,
+      alwaysBuild,
+      confirmation: gitzoneConfig?.commit?.confirmation ?? 'prompt',
+      steps: gitzoneConfig?.commit?.steps || [
+        'analyze',
+        ...(alwaysTest ? ['test'] : []),
+        ...(alwaysBuild ? ['build'] : []),
+        'changelog',
+        'commit',
+      ],
    };
  }

@@ -66,6 +78,8 @@ export class CommitConfig {
    // Update commit settings
    smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].commit.alwaysTest = this.config.alwaysTest;
    smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].commit.alwaysBuild = this.config.alwaysBuild;
+    smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].commit.confirmation = this.config.confirmation;
+    smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].commit.steps = this.config.steps;

    // Write back to file
    await plugins.smartfs
@@ -101,4 +115,20 @@ export class CommitConfig {
  public setAlwaysBuild(value: boolean): void {
    this.config.alwaysBuild = value;
  }
+
+  public getConfirmation(): 'prompt' | 'auto' | 'plan' {
+    return this.config.confirmation;
+  }
+
+  public setConfirmation(value: 'prompt' | 'auto' | 'plan'): void {
+    this.config.confirmation = value;
+  }
+
+  public getSteps(): string[] {
+    return [...this.config.steps];
+  }
+
+  public setSteps(steps: string[]): void {
+    this.config.steps = [...steps];
+  }
 }
@@ -35,13 +35,11 @@ export class ReleaseConfig {
  public async load(): Promise<void> {
    const smartconfigInstance = new plugins.smartconfig.Smartconfig(this.cwd);
    const gitzoneConfig = smartconfigInstance.dataFor<any>('@git.zone/cli', {});
-
-    // Also check szci for backward compatibility
-    const szciConfig = smartconfigInstance.dataFor<any>('@ship.zone/szci', {});
+    const npmTarget = gitzoneConfig?.release?.targets?.npm || {};

    this.config = {
-      registries: gitzoneConfig?.release?.registries || [],
-      accessLevel: gitzoneConfig?.release?.accessLevel || szciConfig?.npmAccessLevel || 'public',
+      registries: npmTarget.registries || [],
+      accessLevel: npmTarget.accessLevel || 'public',
    };
  }

@@ -68,9 +66,18 @@ export class ReleaseConfig {
      smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].release = {};
    }

+    if (!smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].release.targets) {
+      smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].release.targets = {};
+    }
+
+    if (!smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].release.targets.npm) {
+      smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].release.targets.npm = {};
+    }
+
    // Update registries and accessLevel
-    smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].release.registries = this.config.registries;
-    smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].release.accessLevel = this.config.accessLevel;
+    smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].release.targets.npm.enabled = this.config.registries.length > 0;
+    smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].release.targets.npm.registries = this.config.registries;
+    smartconfigData['@git.zone/cli'].release.targets.npm.accessLevel = this.config.accessLevel;

    // Write back to file
    await plugins.smartfs
@@ -1,73 +1,123 @@
-// gitzone config - manage release registry configuration
+// gitzone config - manage CLI smartconfig configuration

-import * as plugins from './mod.plugins.js';
-import { ReleaseConfig } from './classes.releaseconfig.js';
-import { CommitConfig } from './classes.commitconfig.js';
-import { runFormatter, type ICheckResult } from '../mod_format/index.js';
+import * as plugins from "./mod.plugins.js";
+import { ReleaseConfig } from "./classes.releaseconfig.js";
+import { CommitConfig } from "./classes.commitconfig.js";
+import { runFormatter, type ICheckResult } from "../mod_format/index.js";
+import type { ICliMode } from "../helpers.climode.js";
+import { getCliMode, printJson } from "../helpers.climode.js";
+import {
+  getCliConfigValueFromData,
+  readSmartconfigFile,
+  setCliConfigValueInData,
+  unsetCliConfigValueInData,
+  writeSmartconfigFile,
+} from "../helpers.smartconfig.js";
+import {
+  CURRENT_GITZONE_CLI_SCHEMA_VERSION,
+  migrateSmartconfigData,
+} from "../helpers.smartconfigmigrations.js";

 export { ReleaseConfig, CommitConfig };

+const defaultCliMode: ICliMode = {
+  output: "human",
+  interactive: true,
+  json: false,
+  plain: false,
+  quiet: false,
+  yes: false,
+  help: false,
+  agent: false,
+  checkUpdates: true,
+  isTty: true,
+};
+
 /**
 * Format .smartconfig.json with diff preview
 * Shows diff first, asks for confirmation, then applies
 */
-async function formatSmartconfigWithDiff(): Promise<void> {
+async function formatSmartconfigWithDiff(mode: ICliMode): Promise<void> {
+  if (!mode.interactive) {
+    return;
+  }
+
  // Check for diffs first
-  const checkResult = await runFormatter('smartconfig', {
+  const checkResult = (await runFormatter("smartconfig", {
    checkOnly: true,
    showDiff: true,
-  }) as ICheckResult | void;
+  })) as ICheckResult | void;

  if (checkResult && checkResult.hasDiff) {
-    const shouldApply = await plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract.getCliConfirmation(
-      'Apply formatting changes to .smartconfig.json?',
-      true
-    );
+    const shouldApply =
+      await plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract.getCliConfirmation(
+        "Apply formatting changes to .smartconfig.json?",
+        true,
+      );
    if (shouldApply) {
-      await runFormatter('smartconfig', { silent: true });
+      await runFormatter("smartconfig", { silent: true });
    }
  }
 }

 export const run = async (argvArg: any) => {
+  const mode = await getCliMode(argvArg);
  const command = argvArg._?.[1];
  const value = argvArg._?.[2];

+  if (mode.help || command === "help") {
+    showHelp(mode);
+    return;
+  }
+
  // If no command provided, show interactive menu
  if (!command) {
+    if (!mode.interactive) {
+      showHelp(mode);
+      return;
+    }
    await handleInteractiveMenu();
    return;
  }

  switch (command) {
-    case 'show':
-      await handleShow();
+    case "show":
+      await handleShow(mode);
      break;
-    case 'add':
-      await handleAdd(value);
+    case "add":
+      await handleAdd(value, mode);
      break;
-    case 'remove':
-      await handleRemove(value);
+    case "remove":
+      await handleRemove(value, mode);
      break;
-    case 'clear':
-      await handleClear();
+    case "clear":
+      await handleClear(mode);
      break;
-    case 'access':
-    case 'accessLevel':
-      await handleAccessLevel(value);
+    case "access":
+    case "accessLevel":
+      await handleAccessLevel(value, mode);
      break;
-    case 'commit':
-      await handleCommit(argvArg._?.[2], argvArg._?.[3]);
+    case "commit":
+      await handleCommit(argvArg._?.[2], argvArg._?.[3], mode);
      break;
-    case 'services':
-      await handleServices();
+    case "services":
+      await handleServices(mode);
      break;
-    case 'help':
-      showHelp();
+    case "migrate":
+      await handleMigrate(value, mode);
+      break;
+    case "get":
+      await handleGet(value, mode);
+      break;
+    case "set":
+      await handleSet(value, argvArg._?.[3], mode);
+      break;
+    case "unset":
+      await handleUnset(value, mode);
      break;
    default:
-      plugins.logger.log('error', `Unknown command: ${command}`);
-      showHelp();
+      plugins.logger.log("error", `Unknown command: ${command}`);
+      showHelp(mode);
  }
 };

@@ -75,55 +125,65 @@ export const run = async (argvArg: any) => {
 * Interactive menu for config command
 */
 async function handleInteractiveMenu(): Promise<void> {
-  console.log('');
-  console.log('╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮');
-  console.log('│  gitzone config - Project Configuration                     │');
-  console.log('╰─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯');
-  console.log('');
+  console.log("");
+  console.log(
+    "╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮",
+  );
+  console.log(
+    "│  gitzone config - Project Configuration                     │",
+  );
+  console.log(
+    "╰─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯",
+  );
+  console.log("");

  const interactInstance = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
  const response = await interactInstance.askQuestion({
-    type: 'list',
-    name: 'action',
-    message: 'What would you like to do?',
-    default: 'show',
+    type: "list",
+    name: "action",
+    message: "What would you like to do?",
+    default: "show",
    choices: [
-      { name: 'Show current configuration', value: 'show' },
-      { name: 'Add a registry', value: 'add' },
-      { name: 'Remove a registry', value: 'remove' },
-      { name: 'Clear all registries', value: 'clear' },
-      { name: 'Set access level (public/private)', value: 'access' },
-      { name: 'Configure commit options', value: 'commit' },
-      { name: 'Configure services', value: 'services' },
-      { name: 'Show help', value: 'help' },
+      { name: "Show current configuration", value: "show" },
+      { name: "Add an npm target registry", value: "add" },
+      { name: "Remove an npm target registry", value: "remove" },
+      { name: "Clear npm target registries", value: "clear" },
+      { name: "Set access level (public/private)", value: "access" },
+      { name: "Migrate smartconfig schema", value: "migrate" },
+      { name: "Configure commit options", value: "commit" },
+      { name: "Configure services", value: "services" },
+      { name: "Show help", value: "help" },
    ],
  });

  const action = (response as any).value;

  switch (action) {
-    case 'show':
-      await handleShow();
+    case "show":
+      await handleShow(defaultCliMode);
      break;
-    case 'add':
-      await handleAdd();
+    case "add":
+      await handleAdd(undefined, defaultCliMode);
      break;
-    case 'remove':
-      await handleRemove();
+    case "remove":
+      await handleRemove(undefined, defaultCliMode);
      break;
-    case 'clear':
-      await handleClear();
+    case "clear":
+      await handleClear(defaultCliMode);
      break;
-    case 'access':
-      await handleAccessLevel();
+    case "access":
+      await handleAccessLevel(undefined, defaultCliMode);
      break;
-    case 'commit':
-      await handleCommit();
+    case "migrate":
+      await handleMigrate(undefined, defaultCliMode);
      break;
-    case 'services':
-      await handleServices();
+    case "commit":
+      await handleCommit(undefined, undefined, defaultCliMode);
      break;
-    case 'help':
+    case "services":
+      await handleServices(defaultCliMode);
+      break;
+    case "help":
      showHelp();
      break;
  }
@@ -132,50 +192,69 @@ async function handleInteractiveMenu(): Promise<void> {
 /**
 * Show current registry configuration
 */
-async function handleShow(): Promise<void> {
+async function handleShow(mode: ICliMode): Promise<void> {
+  if (mode.json) {
+    const smartconfigData = await readSmartconfigFile();
+    printJson(getCliConfigValueFromData(smartconfigData, ""));
+    return;
+  }
+
  const config = await ReleaseConfig.fromCwd();
  const registries = config.getRegistries();
  const accessLevel = config.getAccessLevel();

-  console.log('');
-  console.log('╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮');
-  console.log('│  Release Configuration                                      │');
-  console.log('╰─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯');
-  console.log('');
+  console.log("");
+  console.log(
+    "╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮",
+  );
+  console.log(
+    "│  Release NPM Target Configuration                           │",
+  );
+  console.log(
+    "╰─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯",
+  );
+  console.log("");

  // Show access level
-  plugins.logger.log('info', `Access Level: ${accessLevel}`);
-  console.log('');
+  plugins.logger.log("info", `Access Level: ${accessLevel}`);
+  console.log("");

  if (registries.length === 0) {
-    plugins.logger.log('info', 'No release registries configured.');
-    console.log('');
-    console.log('  Run `gitzone config add <registry-url>` to add one.');
-    console.log('');
+    plugins.logger.log("info", "No npm target registries configured.");
+    console.log("");
+    console.log("  Run `gitzone config add <registry-url>` to add one.");
+    console.log("");
  } else {
-    plugins.logger.log('info', `Configured registries (${registries.length}):`);
-    console.log('');
+    plugins.logger.log("info", `Configured npm target registries (${registries.length}):`);
+    console.log("");
    registries.forEach((url, index) => {
      console.log(`  ${index + 1}. ${url}`);
    });
-    console.log('');
+    console.log("");
  }
 }

 /**
- * Add a registry URL
+ * Add an npm target registry URL
 */
-async function handleAdd(url?: string): Promise<void> {
+async function handleAdd(
+  url: string | undefined,
+  mode: ICliMode,
+): Promise<void> {
  if (!url) {
+    if (!mode.interactive) {
+      throw new Error("Registry URL is required in non-interactive mode");
+    }
+
    // Interactive mode
    const interactInstance = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
    const response = await interactInstance.askQuestion({
-      type: 'input',
-      name: 'registryUrl',
-      message: 'Enter registry URL:',
-      default: 'https://registry.npmjs.org',
+      type: "input",
+      name: "registryUrl",
+        message: "Enter npm target registry URL:",
+      default: "https://registry.npmjs.org",
      validate: (input: string) => {
-        return !!(input && input.trim() !== '');
+        return !!(input && input.trim() !== "");
      },
    });
    url = (response as any).value;
@@ -186,32 +265,48 @@ async function handleAdd(url?: string): Promise<void> {

  if (added) {
    await config.save();
-    plugins.logger.log('success', `Added registry: ${url}`);
-    await formatSmartconfigWithDiff();
+    if (mode.json) {
+      printJson({
+        ok: true,
+        action: "add",
+        registry: url,
+        registries: config.getRegistries(),
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+    plugins.logger.log("success", `Added npm target registry: ${url}`);
+    await formatSmartconfigWithDiff(mode);
  } else {
-    plugins.logger.log('warn', `Registry already exists: ${url}`);
+    plugins.logger.log("warn", `Registry already exists: ${url}`);
  }
 }

 /**
- * Remove a registry URL
+ * Remove an npm target registry URL
 */
-async function handleRemove(url?: string): Promise<void> {
+async function handleRemove(
+  url: string | undefined,
+  mode: ICliMode,
+): Promise<void> {
  const config = await ReleaseConfig.fromCwd();
  const registries = config.getRegistries();

  if (registries.length === 0) {
-    plugins.logger.log('warn', 'No registries configured to remove.');
+    plugins.logger.log("warn", "No npm target registries configured to remove.");
    return;
  }

  if (!url) {
+    if (!mode.interactive) {
+      throw new Error("Registry URL is required in non-interactive mode");
+    }
+
    // Interactive mode - show list to select from
    const interactInstance = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
    const response = await interactInstance.askQuestion({
-      type: 'list',
-      name: 'registryUrl',
-      message: 'Select registry to remove:',
+      type: "list",
+      name: "registryUrl",
+      message: "Select npm target registry to remove:",
      choices: registries,
      default: registries[0],
    });
@@ -222,99 +317,135 @@ async function handleRemove(url?: string): Promise<void> {

  if (removed) {
    await config.save();
-    plugins.logger.log('success', `Removed registry: ${url}`);
-    await formatSmartconfigWithDiff();
+    if (mode.json) {
+      printJson({
+        ok: true,
+        action: "remove",
+        registry: url,
+        registries: config.getRegistries(),
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+    plugins.logger.log("success", `Removed npm target registry: ${url}`);
+    await formatSmartconfigWithDiff(mode);
  } else {
-    plugins.logger.log('warn', `Registry not found: ${url}`);
+    plugins.logger.log("warn", `Registry not found: ${url}`);
  }
 }

 /**
- * Clear all registries
+ * Clear all npm target registries
 */
-async function handleClear(): Promise<void> {
+async function handleClear(mode: ICliMode): Promise<void> {
  const config = await ReleaseConfig.fromCwd();

  if (!config.hasRegistries()) {
-    plugins.logger.log('info', 'No registries to clear.');
+    plugins.logger.log("info", "No npm target registries to clear.");
    return;
  }

  // Confirm before clearing
-  const confirmed = await plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract.getCliConfirmation(
-    'Clear all configured registries?',
-    false
-  );
+  const confirmed = mode.interactive
+    ? await plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract.getCliConfirmation(
+        "Clear all configured npm target registries?",
+        false,
+      )
+    : true;

  if (confirmed) {
    config.clearRegistries();
    await config.save();
-    plugins.logger.log('success', 'All registries cleared.');
-    await formatSmartconfigWithDiff();
+    if (mode.json) {
+      printJson({ ok: true, action: "clear", registries: [] });
+      return;
+    }
+    plugins.logger.log("success", "All npm target registries cleared.");
+    await formatSmartconfigWithDiff(mode);
  } else {
-    plugins.logger.log('info', 'Operation cancelled.');
+    plugins.logger.log("info", "Operation cancelled.");
  }
 }

 /**
 * Set or toggle access level
 */
-async function handleAccessLevel(level?: string): Promise<void> {
+async function handleAccessLevel(
+  level: string | undefined,
+  mode: ICliMode,
+): Promise<void> {
  const config = await ReleaseConfig.fromCwd();
  const currentLevel = config.getAccessLevel();

  if (!level) {
+    if (!mode.interactive) {
+      throw new Error("Access level is required in non-interactive mode");
+    }
+
    // Interactive mode - toggle or ask
    const interactInstance = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
    const response = await interactInstance.askQuestion({
-      type: 'list',
-      name: 'accessLevel',
-      message: 'Select npm access level for publishing:',
-      choices: ['public', 'private'],
+      type: "list",
+      name: "accessLevel",
+      message: "Select npm access level for publishing:",
+      choices: ["public", "private"],
      default: currentLevel,
    });
    level = (response as any).value;
  }

  // Validate the level
-  if (level !== 'public' && level !== 'private') {
-    plugins.logger.log('error', `Invalid access level: ${level}. Must be 'public' or 'private'.`);
+  if (level !== "public" && level !== "private") {
+    plugins.logger.log(
+      "error",
+      `Invalid access level: ${level}. Must be 'public' or 'private'.`,
+    );
    return;
  }

  if (level === currentLevel) {
-    plugins.logger.log('info', `Access level is already set to: ${level}`);
+    plugins.logger.log("info", `Access level is already set to: ${level}`);
    return;
  }

-  config.setAccessLevel(level as 'public' | 'private');
+  config.setAccessLevel(level as "public" | "private");
  await config.save();
-  plugins.logger.log('success', `Access level set to: ${level}`);
-  await formatSmartconfigWithDiff();
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson({ ok: true, action: "access", accessLevel: level });
+    return;
+  }
+  plugins.logger.log("success", `Access level set to: ${level}`);
+  await formatSmartconfigWithDiff(mode);
 }

 /**
 * Handle commit configuration
 */
-async function handleCommit(setting?: string, value?: string): Promise<void> {
+async function handleCommit(
+  setting: string | undefined,
+  value: string | undefined,
+  mode: ICliMode,
+): Promise<void> {
  const config = await CommitConfig.fromCwd();

  // No setting = interactive mode
  if (!setting) {
+    if (!mode.interactive) {
+      throw new Error("Commit setting is required in non-interactive mode");
+    }
    await handleCommitInteractive(config);
    return;
  }

  // Direct setting
  switch (setting) {
-    case 'alwaysTest':
-      await handleCommitSetting(config, 'alwaysTest', value);
+    case "alwaysTest":
+      await handleCommitSetting(config, "alwaysTest", value, mode);
      break;
-    case 'alwaysBuild':
-      await handleCommitSetting(config, 'alwaysBuild', value);
+    case "alwaysBuild":
+      await handleCommitSetting(config, "alwaysBuild", value, mode);
      break;
    default:
-      plugins.logger.log('error', `Unknown commit setting: ${setting}`);
+      plugins.logger.log("error", `Unknown commit setting: ${setting}`);
      showCommitHelp();
  }
 }
@@ -323,109 +454,347 @@ async function handleCommit(setting?: string, value?: string): Promise<void> {
 * Interactive commit configuration
 */
 async function handleCommitInteractive(config: CommitConfig): Promise<void> {
-  console.log('');
-  console.log('╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮');
-  console.log('│  Commit Configuration                                       │');
-  console.log('╰─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯');
-  console.log('');
+  console.log("");
+  console.log(
+    "╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮",
+  );
+  console.log(
+    "│  Commit Configuration                                       │",
+  );
+  console.log(
+    "╰─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯",
+  );
+  console.log("");

  const interactInstance = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
  const response = await interactInstance.askQuestion({
-    type: 'checkbox',
-    name: 'commitOptions',
-    message: 'Select commit options to enable:',
+    type: "checkbox",
+    name: "commitOptions",
+    message: "Select commit options to enable:",
    choices: [
-      { name: 'Always run tests before commit (-t)', value: 'alwaysTest' },
-      { name: 'Always build after commit (-b)', value: 'alwaysBuild' },
+      { name: "Always run tests before commit (-t)", value: "alwaysTest" },
+      { name: "Always build after commit (-b)", value: "alwaysBuild" },
    ],
    default: [
-      ...(config.getAlwaysTest() ? ['alwaysTest'] : []),
-      ...(config.getAlwaysBuild() ? ['alwaysBuild'] : []),
+      ...(config.getAlwaysTest() ? ["alwaysTest"] : []),
+      ...(config.getAlwaysBuild() ? ["alwaysBuild"] : []),
    ],
  });

  const selected = (response as any).value || [];
-  config.setAlwaysTest(selected.includes('alwaysTest'));
-  config.setAlwaysBuild(selected.includes('alwaysBuild'));
+  config.setAlwaysTest(selected.includes("alwaysTest"));
+  config.setAlwaysBuild(selected.includes("alwaysBuild"));
+  syncCommitStepsFromBooleans(config);
  await config.save();

-  plugins.logger.log('success', 'Commit configuration updated');
-  await formatSmartconfigWithDiff();
+  plugins.logger.log("success", "Commit configuration updated");
+  await formatSmartconfigWithDiff(defaultCliMode);
 }

 /**
 * Set a specific commit setting
 */
-async function handleCommitSetting(config: CommitConfig, setting: string, value?: string): Promise<void> {
+async function handleCommitSetting(
+  config: CommitConfig,
+  setting: string,
+  value: string | undefined,
+  mode: ICliMode,
+): Promise<void> {
  // Parse boolean value
-  const boolValue = value === 'true' || value === '1' || value === 'on';
+  const boolValue = value === "true" || value === "1" || value === "on";

-  if (setting === 'alwaysTest') {
+  if (setting === "alwaysTest") {
    config.setAlwaysTest(boolValue);
-  } else if (setting === 'alwaysBuild') {
+  } else if (setting === "alwaysBuild") {
    config.setAlwaysBuild(boolValue);
  }
+  syncCommitStepsFromBooleans(config);

  await config.save();
-  plugins.logger.log('success', `Set ${setting} to ${boolValue}`);
-  await formatSmartconfigWithDiff();
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson({ ok: true, action: "commit", setting, value: boolValue });
+    return;
+  }
+  plugins.logger.log("success", `Set ${setting} to ${boolValue}`);
+  await formatSmartconfigWithDiff(mode);
+}
+
+function syncCommitStepsFromBooleans(config: CommitConfig): void {
+  config.setSteps([
+    "analyze",
+    ...(config.getAlwaysTest() ? ["test"] : []),
+    ...(config.getAlwaysBuild() ? ["build"] : []),
+    "changelog",
+    "commit",
+  ]);
 }

 /**
 * Show help for commit subcommand
 */
 function showCommitHelp(): void {
-  console.log('');
-  console.log('Usage: gitzone config commit [setting] [value]');
-  console.log('');
-  console.log('Settings:');
-  console.log('  alwaysTest [true|false]     Always run tests before commit');
-  console.log('  alwaysBuild [true|false]    Always build after commit');
-  console.log('');
-  console.log('Examples:');
-  console.log('  gitzone config commit                    # Interactive mode');
-  console.log('  gitzone config commit alwaysTest true');
-  console.log('  gitzone config commit alwaysBuild false');
-  console.log('');
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Usage: gitzone config commit [setting] [value]");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Settings:");
+  console.log("  alwaysTest [true|false]     Always run tests before commit");
+  console.log("  alwaysBuild [true|false]    Always build after commit");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Examples:");
+  console.log("  gitzone config commit                    # Interactive mode");
+  console.log("  gitzone config commit alwaysTest true");
+  console.log("  gitzone config commit alwaysBuild false");
+  console.log("");
 }

 /**
 * Handle services configuration
 */
-async function handleServices(): Promise<void> {
+async function handleServices(mode: ICliMode): Promise<void> {
+  if (!mode.interactive) {
+    throw new Error(
+      "Use `gitzone services config --json` or `gitzone services set ...` in non-interactive mode",
+    );
+  }
+
  // Import and use ServiceManager's configureServices
-  const { ServiceManager } = await import('../mod_services/classes.servicemanager.js');
+  const { ServiceManager } =
+    await import("../mod_services/classes.servicemanager.js");
  const serviceManager = new ServiceManager();
  await serviceManager.init();
  await serviceManager.configureServices();
 }

+async function handleGet(
+  configPath: string | undefined,
+  mode: ICliMode,
+): Promise<void> {
+  if (!configPath) {
+    throw new Error("Configuration path is required");
+  }
+
+  const smartconfigData = await readSmartconfigFile();
+  const value = getCliConfigValueFromData(smartconfigData, configPath);
+
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson({ path: configPath, value, exists: value !== undefined });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (value === undefined) {
+    plugins.logger.log("warn", `No value set for ${configPath}`);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (typeof value === "string") {
+    console.log(value);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  printJson(value);
+}
+
+async function handleSet(
+  configPath: string | undefined,
+  rawValue: string | undefined,
+  mode: ICliMode,
+): Promise<void> {
+  if (!configPath) {
+    throw new Error("Configuration path is required");
+  }
+  if (rawValue === undefined) {
+    throw new Error("Configuration value is required");
+  }
+
+  const smartconfigData = await readSmartconfigFile();
+  const parsedValue = parseConfigValue(rawValue);
+  setCliConfigValueInData(smartconfigData, configPath, parsedValue);
+  await writeSmartconfigFile(smartconfigData);
+
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson({
+      ok: true,
+      action: "set",
+      path: configPath,
+      value: parsedValue,
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  plugins.logger.log("success", `Set ${configPath}`);
+}
+
+async function handleUnset(
+  configPath: string | undefined,
+  mode: ICliMode,
+): Promise<void> {
+  if (!configPath) {
+    throw new Error("Configuration path is required");
+  }
+
+  const smartconfigData = await readSmartconfigFile();
+  const removed = unsetCliConfigValueInData(smartconfigData, configPath);
+  if (!removed) {
+    if (mode.json) {
+      printJson({
+        ok: false,
+        action: "unset",
+        path: configPath,
+        removed: false,
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+
+    plugins.logger.log("warn", `No value set for ${configPath}`);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  await writeSmartconfigFile(smartconfigData);
+
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson({ ok: true, action: "unset", path: configPath, removed: true });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  plugins.logger.log("success", `Unset ${configPath}`);
+}
+
+async function handleMigrate(
+  rawTargetVersion: string | undefined,
+  mode: ICliMode,
+): Promise<void> {
+  const targetVersion = rawTargetVersion
+    ? Number(rawTargetVersion)
+    : CURRENT_GITZONE_CLI_SCHEMA_VERSION;
+  if (!Number.isInteger(targetVersion) || targetVersion < 1) {
+    throw new Error("Migration target version must be a positive integer");
+  }
+
+  const smartconfigData = await readSmartconfigFile();
+  const result = migrateSmartconfigData(smartconfigData, targetVersion);
+  if (result.migrated) {
+    await writeSmartconfigFile(smartconfigData);
+  }
+
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson({ ok: true, action: "migrate", ...result });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (result.migrated) {
+    plugins.logger.log(
+      "success",
+      `Migrated .smartconfig.json from schema v${result.fromVersion} to v${result.toVersion}`,
+    );
+  } else {
+    plugins.logger.log("info", `.smartconfig.json already at schema v${result.toVersion}`);
+  }
+}
+
+function parseConfigValue(rawValue: string): any {
+  const trimmedValue = rawValue.trim();
+  if (trimmedValue === "true") {
+    return true;
+  }
+  if (trimmedValue === "false") {
+    return false;
+  }
+  if (trimmedValue === "null") {
+    return null;
+  }
+  if (/^-?\d+(\.\d+)?$/.test(trimmedValue)) {
+    return Number(trimmedValue);
+  }
+  if (
+    (trimmedValue.startsWith("{") && trimmedValue.endsWith("}")) ||
+    (trimmedValue.startsWith("[") && trimmedValue.endsWith("]")) ||
+    (trimmedValue.startsWith('"') && trimmedValue.endsWith('"'))
+  ) {
+    return JSON.parse(trimmedValue);
+  }
+  return rawValue;
+}
+
 /**
 * Show help for config command
 */
-function showHelp(): void {
-  console.log('');
-  console.log('Usage: gitzone config <command> [options]');
-  console.log('');
-  console.log('Commands:');
-  console.log('  show                        Display current release configuration');
-  console.log('  add [url]                   Add a registry URL');
-  console.log('  remove [url]                Remove a registry URL');
-  console.log('  clear                       Clear all registries');
-  console.log('  access [public|private]     Set npm access level for publishing');
-  console.log('  commit [setting] [value]    Configure commit options');
-  console.log('  services                    Configure which services are enabled');
-  console.log('');
-  console.log('Examples:');
-  console.log('  gitzone config show');
-  console.log('  gitzone config add https://registry.npmjs.org');
-  console.log('  gitzone config add https://verdaccio.example.com');
-  console.log('  gitzone config remove https://registry.npmjs.org');
-  console.log('  gitzone config clear');
-  console.log('  gitzone config access public');
-  console.log('  gitzone config access private');
-  console.log('  gitzone config commit                    # Interactive');
-  console.log('  gitzone config commit alwaysTest true');
-  console.log('  gitzone config services                  # Interactive');
-  console.log('');
+export function showHelp(mode?: ICliMode): void {
+  if (mode?.json) {
+    printJson({
+      command: "config",
+      usage: "gitzone config <command> [options]",
+      commands: [
+        {
+          name: "show",
+          description: "Display current @git.zone/cli configuration",
+        },
+        { name: "get <path>", description: "Read a single config value" },
+        { name: "set <path> <value>", description: "Write a config value" },
+        { name: "unset <path>", description: "Delete a config value" },
+        { name: "add [url]", description: "Add an npm release target registry" },
+        { name: "remove [url]", description: "Remove an npm release target registry" },
+        { name: "clear", description: "Clear npm release target registries" },
+        {
+          name: "access [public|private]",
+          description: "Set npm target publish access level",
+        },
+        {
+          name: "commit <setting> <value>",
+          description: "Set commit defaults",
+        },
+        {
+          name: "migrate [version]",
+          description: "Run version-targeted .smartconfig.json migrations",
+        },
+      ],
+      examples: [
+        "gitzone config show --json",
+        "gitzone config get release.targets.npm.accessLevel",
+        "gitzone config set cli.interactive false",
+        "gitzone config set cli.output json",
+      ],
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Usage: gitzone config <command> [options]");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Commands:");
+  console.log(
+    "  show                        Display current @git.zone/cli configuration",
+  );
+  console.log("  get <path>                  Read a single config value");
+  console.log("  set <path> <value>          Write a config value");
+  console.log("  unset <path>                Delete a config value");
+  console.log("  add [url]                   Add an npm target registry URL");
+  console.log("  remove [url]                Remove an npm target registry URL");
+  console.log("  clear                       Clear npm target registries");
+  console.log(
+    "  access [public|private]     Set npm target access level for publishing",
+  );
+  console.log("  commit [setting] [value]    Configure commit options");
+  console.log("  migrate [version]           Run version-targeted smartconfig migrations");
+  console.log(
+    "  services                    Configure which services are enabled",
+  );
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Examples:");
+  console.log("  gitzone config show");
+  console.log("  gitzone config show --json");
+  console.log("  gitzone config get release.targets.npm.accessLevel");
+  console.log("  gitzone config set cli.interactive false");
+  console.log("  gitzone config set cli.output json");
+  console.log("  gitzone config unset cli.output");
+  console.log("  gitzone config add https://registry.npmjs.org");
+  console.log("  gitzone config add https://verdaccio.example.com");
+  console.log("  gitzone config remove https://registry.npmjs.org");
+  console.log("  gitzone config clear");
+  console.log("  gitzone config access public");
+  console.log("  gitzone config access private");
+  console.log("  gitzone config migrate 2");
+  console.log("  gitzone config commit                    # Interactive");
+  console.log("  gitzone config commit alwaysTest true");
+  console.log("  gitzone config services                  # Interactive");
+  console.log("");
 }
@@ -1,14 +1,31 @@
-import * as plugins from './mod.plugins.js';
-import { FormatStats } from './classes.formatstats.js';
+import * as plugins from "./mod.plugins.js";
+import { FormatStats } from "./classes.formatstats.js";
+
+interface IFormatContextOptions {
+  interactive?: boolean;
+  jsonOutput?: boolean;
+}

 export class FormatContext {
  private formatStats: FormatStats;
+  private interactive: boolean;
+  private jsonOutput: boolean;

-  constructor() {
+  constructor(options: IFormatContextOptions = {}) {
    this.formatStats = new FormatStats();
+    this.interactive = options.interactive ?? true;
+    this.jsonOutput = options.jsonOutput ?? false;
  }

  getFormatStats(): FormatStats {
    return this.formatStats;
  }
+
+  isInteractive(): boolean {
+    return this.interactive;
+  }
+
+  isJsonOutput(): boolean {
+    return this.jsonOutput;
+  }
 }
@@ -4,77 +4,6 @@ import * as plugins from '../mod.plugins.js';
 import * as paths from '../../paths.js';
 import { logger, logVerbose } from '../../gitzone.logging.js';

-/**
- * Ensures a certain dependency exists or is excluded
- */
-const ensureDependency = async (
-  packageJsonObject: any,
-  position: 'dep' | 'devDep' | 'everywhere',
-  constraint: 'exclude' | 'include' | 'latest',
-  dependencyArg: string,
-): Promise<void> => {
-  // Parse package name and version, handling scoped packages like @scope/name@version
-  const isScoped = dependencyArg.startsWith('@');
-  const lastAtIndex = dependencyArg.lastIndexOf('@');
-
-  // For scoped packages, the version @ must come after the /
-  // For unscoped packages, any @ indicates a version
-  const hasVersion = isScoped
-    ? lastAtIndex > dependencyArg.indexOf('/')
-    : lastAtIndex >= 0;
-
-  const packageName = hasVersion ? dependencyArg.slice(0, lastAtIndex) : dependencyArg;
-  const version = hasVersion ? dependencyArg.slice(lastAtIndex + 1) : 'latest';
-
-  const targetSections: string[] = [];
-
-  switch (position) {
-    case 'dep':
-      targetSections.push('dependencies');
-      break;
-    case 'devDep':
-      targetSections.push('devDependencies');
-      break;
-    case 'everywhere':
-      targetSections.push('dependencies', 'devDependencies');
-      break;
-  }
-
-  for (const section of targetSections) {
-    if (!packageJsonObject[section]) {
-      packageJsonObject[section] = {};
-    }
-
-    switch (constraint) {
-      case 'exclude':
-        delete packageJsonObject[section][packageName];
-        break;
-      case 'include':
-        if (!packageJsonObject[section][packageName]) {
-          packageJsonObject[section][packageName] =
-            version === 'latest' ? '^1.0.0' : version;
-        }
-        break;
-      case 'latest':
-        try {
-          const registry = new plugins.smartnpm.NpmRegistry();
-          const packageInfo = await registry.getPackageInfo(packageName);
-          const latestVersion = packageInfo['dist-tags'].latest;
-          packageJsonObject[section][packageName] = `^${latestVersion}`;
-        } catch (error) {
-          logVerbose(
-            `Could not fetch latest version for ${packageName}, using existing or default`,
-          );
-          if (!packageJsonObject[section][packageName]) {
-            packageJsonObject[section][packageName] =
-              version === 'latest' ? '^1.0.0' : version;
-          }
-        }
-        break;
-    }
-  }
-};
-
 export class PackageJsonFormatter extends BaseFormatter {
  get name(): string {
    return 'packagejson';
@@ -141,11 +70,6 @@ export class PackageJsonFormatter extends BaseFormatter {
      packageJson.scripts.build = `echo "Not needed for now"`;
    }

-    // Ensure buildDocs script exists
-    if (!packageJson.scripts.buildDocs) {
-      packageJson.scripts.buildDocs = `tsdoc`;
-    }
-
    // Set files array
    packageJson.files = [
      'ts/**/*',
@@ -160,21 +84,6 @@ export class PackageJsonFormatter extends BaseFormatter {
      'readme.md',
    ];

-    // Handle dependencies
-    await ensureDependency(
-      packageJson,
-      'devDep',
-      'exclude',
-      '@push.rocks/tapbundle',
-    );
-    await ensureDependency(packageJson, 'devDep', 'latest', '@git.zone/tstest');
-    await ensureDependency(
-      packageJson,
-      'devDep',
-      'latest',
-      '@git.zone/tsbuild',
-    );
-
    // Set pnpm overrides from assets
    try {
      const overridesContent = (await plugins.smartfs
@@ -1,71 +1,14 @@
-import { BaseFormatter } from '../classes.baseformatter.js';
-import type { IPlannedChange } from '../interfaces.format.js';
-import * as plugins from '../mod.plugins.js';
-import { logger, logVerbose } from '../../gitzone.logging.js';
+import { BaseFormatter } from "../classes.baseformatter.js";
+import type { IPlannedChange } from "../interfaces.format.js";
+import * as plugins from "../mod.plugins.js";
+import { logger, logVerbose } from "../../gitzone.logging.js";
+import { migrateSmartconfigData } from "../../helpers.smartconfigmigrations.js";

-/**
- * Migrates .smartconfig.json from old namespace keys to new package-scoped keys
- */
-const migrateNamespaceKeys = (smartconfigJson: any): boolean => {
-  let migrated = false;
-  const migrations = [
-    { oldKey: 'gitzone', newKey: '@git.zone/cli' },
-    { oldKey: 'tsdoc', newKey: '@git.zone/tsdoc' },
-    { oldKey: 'npmdocker', newKey: '@git.zone/tsdocker' },
-    { oldKey: 'npmci', newKey: '@ship.zone/szci' },
-    { oldKey: 'szci', newKey: '@ship.zone/szci' },
-  ];
-  for (const { oldKey, newKey } of migrations) {
-    if (smartconfigJson[oldKey]) {
-      if (!smartconfigJson[newKey]) {
-        smartconfigJson[newKey] = smartconfigJson[oldKey];
-      } else {
-        smartconfigJson[newKey] = {
-          ...smartconfigJson[oldKey],
-          ...smartconfigJson[newKey],
-        };
-      }
-      delete smartconfigJson[oldKey];
-      migrated = true;
-    }
-  }
-  return migrated;
-};
-
-/**
- * Migrates npmAccessLevel from @ship.zone/szci to @git.zone/cli.release.accessLevel
- */
-const migrateAccessLevel = (smartconfigJson: any): boolean => {
-  const szciConfig = smartconfigJson['@ship.zone/szci'];
-
-  if (!szciConfig?.npmAccessLevel) {
-    return false;
-  }
-
-  const gitzoneConfig = smartconfigJson['@git.zone/cli'] || {};
-  if (gitzoneConfig?.release?.accessLevel) {
-    delete szciConfig.npmAccessLevel;
-    return true;
-  }
-
-  if (!smartconfigJson['@git.zone/cli']) {
-    smartconfigJson['@git.zone/cli'] = {};
-  }
-  if (!smartconfigJson['@git.zone/cli'].release) {
-    smartconfigJson['@git.zone/cli'].release = {};
-  }
-
-  smartconfigJson['@git.zone/cli'].release.accessLevel = szciConfig.npmAccessLevel;
-  delete szciConfig.npmAccessLevel;
-
-  return true;
-};
-
-const CONFIG_FILE = '.smartconfig.json';
+const CONFIG_FILE = ".smartconfig.json";

 export class SmartconfigFormatter extends BaseFormatter {
  get name(): string {
-    return 'smartconfig';
+    return "smartconfig";
  }

  async analyze(): Promise<IPlannedChange[]> {
@@ -76,37 +19,35 @@ export class SmartconfigFormatter extends BaseFormatter {
    // This formatter only operates on .smartconfig.json.
    const exists = await plugins.smartfs.file(CONFIG_FILE).exists();
    if (!exists) {
-      logVerbose('.smartconfig.json does not exist, skipping');
+      logVerbose(".smartconfig.json does not exist, skipping");
      return changes;
    }

    const currentContent = (await plugins.smartfs
      .file(CONFIG_FILE)
-      .encoding('utf8')
+      .encoding("utf8")
      .read()) as string;

    const smartconfigJson = JSON.parse(currentContent);

-    // Apply key migrations
-    migrateNamespaceKeys(smartconfigJson);
-    migrateAccessLevel(smartconfigJson);
+    migrateSmartconfigData(smartconfigJson);

    // Ensure namespaces exist
-    if (!smartconfigJson['@git.zone/cli']) {
-      smartconfigJson['@git.zone/cli'] = {};
+    if (!smartconfigJson["@git.zone/cli"]) {
+      smartconfigJson["@git.zone/cli"] = {};
    }
-    if (!smartconfigJson['@ship.zone/szci']) {
-      smartconfigJson['@ship.zone/szci'] = {};
+    if (!smartconfigJson["@ship.zone/szci"]) {
+      smartconfigJson["@ship.zone/szci"] = {};
    }

    const newContent = JSON.stringify(smartconfigJson, null, 2);

    if (newContent !== currentContent) {
      changes.push({
-        type: 'modify',
+        type: "modify",
        path: CONFIG_FILE,
        module: this.name,
-        description: 'Migrate and format .smartconfig.json',
+        description: "Migrate and format .smartconfig.json",
        content: newContent,
      });
    }
@@ -115,26 +56,41 @@ export class SmartconfigFormatter extends BaseFormatter {
  }

  async applyChange(change: IPlannedChange): Promise<void> {
-    if (change.type !== 'modify' || !change.content) return;
+    if (change.type !== "modify" || !change.content) return;

    const smartconfigJson = JSON.parse(change.content);

    // Check for missing required module information
    const expectedRepoInformation: string[] = [
-      'projectType',
-      'module.githost',
-      'module.gitscope',
-      'module.gitrepo',
-      'module.description',
-      'module.npmPackagename',
-      'module.license',
+      "projectType",
+      "module.githost",
+      "module.gitscope",
+      "module.gitrepo",
+      "module.description",
+      "module.npmPackagename",
+      "module.license",
    ];

    const interactInstance = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
+    const missingRepoInformation = expectedRepoInformation.filter(
+      (expectedRepoInformationItem) => {
+        return !plugins.smartobject.smartGet(
+          smartconfigJson["@git.zone/cli"],
+          expectedRepoInformationItem,
+        );
+      },
+    );
+
+    if (missingRepoInformation.length > 0 && !this.context.isInteractive()) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Missing required .smartconfig.json fields: ${missingRepoInformation.join(", ")}`,
+      );
+    }
+
    for (const expectedRepoInformationItem of expectedRepoInformation) {
      if (
        !plugins.smartobject.smartGet(
-          smartconfigJson['@git.zone/cli'],
+          smartconfigJson["@git.zone/cli"],
          expectedRepoInformationItem,
        )
      ) {
@@ -142,8 +98,8 @@ export class SmartconfigFormatter extends BaseFormatter {
          {
            message: `What is the value of ${expectedRepoInformationItem}`,
            name: expectedRepoInformationItem,
-            type: 'input',
-            default: 'undefined variable',
+            type: "input",
+            default: "undefined variable",
          },
        ]);
      }
@@ -156,7 +112,7 @@ export class SmartconfigFormatter extends BaseFormatter {
      );
      if (cliProvidedValue) {
        plugins.smartobject.smartAdd(
-          smartconfigJson['@git.zone/cli'],
+          smartconfigJson["@git.zone/cli"],
          expectedRepoInformationItem,
          cliProvidedValue,
        );
@@ -165,6 +121,6 @@ export class SmartconfigFormatter extends BaseFormatter {

    const finalContent = JSON.stringify(smartconfigJson, null, 2);
    await this.modifyFile(change.path, finalContent);
-    logger.log('info', 'Updated .smartconfig.json');
+    logger.log("info", "Updated .smartconfig.json");
  }
 }
@@ -1,44 +1,60 @@
-import * as plugins from './mod.plugins.js';
-import { Project } from '../classes.project.js';
-import { FormatContext } from './classes.formatcontext.js';
-import { FormatPlanner } from './classes.formatplanner.js';
-import { BaseFormatter } from './classes.baseformatter.js';
-import { logger, setVerboseMode } from '../gitzone.logging.js';
+import * as plugins from "./mod.plugins.js";
+import { Project } from "../classes.project.js";
+import { FormatContext } from "./classes.formatcontext.js";
+import { FormatPlanner } from "./classes.formatplanner.js";
+import { BaseFormatter } from "./classes.baseformatter.js";
+import { logger, setVerboseMode } from "../gitzone.logging.js";
+import type { ICliMode } from "../helpers.climode.js";
+import {
+  getCliMode,
+  printJson,
+  runWithSuppressedOutput,
+} from "../helpers.climode.js";
+import { getCliConfigValue } from "../helpers.smartconfig.js";

-import { CleanupFormatter } from './formatters/cleanup.formatter.js';
-import { SmartconfigFormatter } from './formatters/smartconfig.formatter.js';
-import { LicenseFormatter } from './formatters/license.formatter.js';
-import { PackageJsonFormatter } from './formatters/packagejson.formatter.js';
-import { TemplatesFormatter } from './formatters/templates.formatter.js';
-import { GitignoreFormatter } from './formatters/gitignore.formatter.js';
-import { TsconfigFormatter } from './formatters/tsconfig.formatter.js';
-import { PrettierFormatter } from './formatters/prettier.formatter.js';
-import { ReadmeFormatter } from './formatters/readme.formatter.js';
-import { CopyFormatter } from './formatters/copy.formatter.js';
+import { CleanupFormatter } from "./formatters/cleanup.formatter.js";
+import { SmartconfigFormatter } from "./formatters/smartconfig.formatter.js";
+import { LicenseFormatter } from "./formatters/license.formatter.js";
+import { PackageJsonFormatter } from "./formatters/packagejson.formatter.js";
+import { TemplatesFormatter } from "./formatters/templates.formatter.js";
+import { GitignoreFormatter } from "./formatters/gitignore.formatter.js";
+import { TsconfigFormatter } from "./formatters/tsconfig.formatter.js";
+import { PrettierFormatter } from "./formatters/prettier.formatter.js";
+import { ReadmeFormatter } from "./formatters/readme.formatter.js";
+import { CopyFormatter } from "./formatters/copy.formatter.js";

 /**
 * Rename npmextra.json or smartconfig.json to .smartconfig.json
 * before any formatter tries to read config.
 */
-async function migrateConfigFile(): Promise<void> {
-  const target = '.smartconfig.json';
+async function migrateConfigFile(allowWrite: boolean): Promise<void> {
+  const target = ".smartconfig.json";
  const targetExists = await plugins.smartfs.file(target).exists();
  if (targetExists) return;

-  for (const oldName of ['smartconfig.json', 'npmextra.json']) {
+  for (const oldName of ["smartconfig.json", "npmextra.json"]) {
    const exists = await plugins.smartfs.file(oldName).exists();
    if (exists) {
-      const content = await plugins.smartfs.file(oldName).encoding('utf8').read() as string;
-      await plugins.smartfs.file(`./${target}`).encoding('utf8').write(content);
+      if (!allowWrite) {
+        return;
+      }
+      const content = (await plugins.smartfs
+        .file(oldName)
+        .encoding("utf8")
+        .read()) as string;
+      await plugins.smartfs.file(`./${target}`).encoding("utf8").write(content);
      await plugins.smartfs.file(oldName).delete();
-      logger.log('info', `Migrated ${oldName} to ${target}`);
+      logger.log("info", `Migrated ${oldName} to ${target}`);
      return;
    }
  }
 }

 // Shared formatter class map used by both run() and runFormatter()
-const formatterMap: Record<string, new (ctx: FormatContext, proj: Project) => BaseFormatter> = {
+const formatterMap: Record<
+  string,
+  new (ctx: FormatContext, proj: Project) => BaseFormatter
+> = {
  cleanup: CleanupFormatter,
  smartconfig: SmartconfigFormatter,
  license: LicenseFormatter,
@@ -52,7 +68,104 @@ const formatterMap: Record<string, new (ctx: FormatContext, proj: Project) => Ba
 };

 // Formatters that don't require projectType to be set
-const formattersNotRequiringProjectType = ['smartconfig', 'prettier', 'cleanup', 'packagejson'];
+const formattersNotRequiringProjectType = [
+  "smartconfig",
+  "prettier",
+  "cleanup",
+  "packagejson",
+];
+
+const getFormatConfig = async () => {
+  const rawFormatConfig = await getCliConfigValue<Record<string, any>>(
+    "format",
+    {},
+  );
+  return {
+    interactive: true,
+    showDiffs: false,
+    autoApprove: false,
+    showStats: true,
+    modules: {
+      skip: [],
+      only: [],
+      ...(rawFormatConfig.modules || {}),
+    },
+    ...rawFormatConfig,
+  };
+};
+
+const createActiveFormatters = async (options: {
+  interactive: boolean;
+  jsonOutput: boolean;
+}) => {
+  const project = await Project.fromCwd({ requireProjectType: false });
+  const context = new FormatContext(options);
+  const planner = new FormatPlanner();
+
+  const formatConfig = await getFormatConfig();
+  const formatters = Object.entries(formatterMap).map(
+    ([, FormatterClass]) => new FormatterClass(context, project),
+  );
+
+  const activeFormatters = formatters.filter((formatter) => {
+    if (formatConfig.modules.only.length > 0) {
+      return formatConfig.modules.only.includes(formatter.name);
+    }
+    if (formatConfig.modules.skip.includes(formatter.name)) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+  });
+
+  return {
+    context,
+    planner,
+    formatConfig,
+    activeFormatters,
+  };
+};
+
+const buildFormatPlan = async (options: {
+  fromPlan?: string;
+  interactive: boolean;
+  jsonOutput: boolean;
+}) => {
+  const { context, planner, formatConfig, activeFormatters } =
+    await createActiveFormatters({
+      interactive: options.interactive,
+      jsonOutput: options.jsonOutput,
+    });
+
+  const plan = options.fromPlan
+    ? JSON.parse(
+        (await plugins.smartfs
+          .file(options.fromPlan)
+          .encoding("utf8")
+          .read()) as string,
+      )
+    : await planner.planFormat(activeFormatters);
+
+  return {
+    context,
+    planner,
+    formatConfig,
+    activeFormatters,
+    plan,
+  };
+};
+
+const serializePlan = (plan: any) => {
+  return {
+    summary: plan.summary,
+    warnings: plan.warnings,
+    changes: plan.changes.map((change: any) => ({
+      type: change.type,
+      path: change.path,
+      module: change.module,
+      description: change.description,
+    })),
+  };
+};

 export let run = async (
  options: {
@@ -66,62 +179,61 @@ export let run = async (
    interactive?: boolean;
    verbose?: boolean;
    diff?: boolean;
+    [key: string]: any;
  } = {},
 ): Promise<any> => {
+  const mode = await getCliMode(options as any);
+  const subcommand = (options as any)?._?.[1];
+
+  if (mode.help || subcommand === "help") {
+    showHelp(mode);
+    return;
+  }
+
  if (options.verbose) {
    setVerboseMode(true);
  }

-  const shouldWrite = options.write ?? (options.dryRun === false);
+  const shouldWrite = options.write ?? options.dryRun === false;
+  const treatAsPlan = subcommand === "plan";
+
+  if (mode.json && shouldWrite) {
+    printJson({
+      ok: false,
+      error:
+        "JSON output is only supported for read-only format planning. Use `gitzone format plan --json` or omit `--json` when applying changes.",
+    });
+    return;
+  }

  // Migrate config file before anything reads it
-  await migrateConfigFile();
+  await migrateConfigFile(shouldWrite);

-  const project = await Project.fromCwd({ requireProjectType: false });
-  const context = new FormatContext();
-  const planner = new FormatPlanner();
-
-  const smartconfigInstance = new plugins.smartconfig.Smartconfig();
-  const formatConfig = smartconfigInstance.dataFor<any>('@git.zone/cli.format', {
-    interactive: true,
-    showDiffs: false,
-    autoApprove: false,
-    modules: {
-      skip: [],
-      only: [],
-    },
-  });
-
-  const interactive = options.interactive ?? formatConfig.interactive;
+  const formatConfig = await getFormatConfig();
+  const interactive =
+    options.interactive ?? (mode.interactive && formatConfig.interactive);
  const autoApprove = options.yes ?? formatConfig.autoApprove;

  try {
-    // Initialize formatters in execution order
-    const formatters = Object.entries(formatterMap).map(
-      ([, FormatterClass]) => new FormatterClass(context, project),
-    );
+    const planBuilder = async () => {
+      return await buildFormatPlan({
+        fromPlan: options.fromPlan,
+        interactive,
+        jsonOutput: mode.json,
+      });
+    };

-    // Filter formatters based on configuration
-    const activeFormatters = formatters.filter((formatter) => {
-      if (formatConfig.modules.only.length > 0) {
-        return formatConfig.modules.only.includes(formatter.name);
-      }
-      if (formatConfig.modules.skip.includes(formatter.name)) {
-        return false;
-      }
-      return true;
-    });
+    if (!mode.json) {
+      logger.log("info", "Analyzing project for format operations...");
+    }
+    const { context, planner, activeFormatters, plan } = mode.json
+      ? await runWithSuppressedOutput(planBuilder)
+      : await planBuilder();

-    // Plan phase
-    logger.log('info', 'Analyzing project for format operations...');
-    let plan = options.fromPlan
-      ? JSON.parse(
-          (await plugins.smartfs
-            .file(options.fromPlan)
-            .encoding('utf8')
-            .read()) as string,
-        )
-      : await planner.planFormat(activeFormatters);
+    if (mode.json) {
+      printJson(serializePlan(plan));
+      return;
+    }

    // Display plan
    await planner.displayPlan(plan, options.detailed);
@@ -130,34 +242,35 @@ export let run = async (
    if (options.savePlan) {
      await plugins.smartfs
        .file(options.savePlan)
-        .encoding('utf8')
+        .encoding("utf8")
        .write(JSON.stringify(plan, null, 2));
-      logger.log('info', `Plan saved to ${options.savePlan}`);
+      logger.log("info", `Plan saved to ${options.savePlan}`);
    }

-    if (options.planOnly) {
+    if (options.planOnly || treatAsPlan) {
      return;
    }

    // Show diffs if explicitly requested or before interactive write confirmation
-    const showDiffs = options.diff || (shouldWrite && interactive && !autoApprove);
+    const showDiffs =
+      options.diff || (shouldWrite && interactive && !autoApprove);
    if (showDiffs) {
-      logger.log('info', 'Showing file diffs:');
-      console.log('');
+      logger.log("info", "Showing file diffs:");
+      console.log("");

      for (const formatter of activeFormatters) {
        const checkResult = await formatter.check();
        if (checkResult.hasDiff) {
-          logger.log('info', `[${formatter.name}]`);
+          logger.log("info", `[${formatter.name}]`);
          formatter.displayAllDiffs(checkResult);
-          console.log('');
+          console.log("");
        }
      }
    }

    // Dry-run mode (default behavior)
    if (!shouldWrite) {
-      logger.log('info', 'Dry-run mode - use --write (-w) to apply changes');
+      logger.log("info", "Dry-run mode - use --write (-w) to apply changes");
      return;
    }

@@ -165,25 +278,25 @@ export let run = async (
    if (interactive && !autoApprove) {
      const interactInstance = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
      const response = await interactInstance.askQuestion({
-        type: 'confirm',
-        name: 'proceed',
-        message: 'Proceed with formatting?',
+        type: "confirm",
+        name: "proceed",
+        message: "Proceed with formatting?",
        default: true,
      });

      if (!(response as any).value) {
-        logger.log('info', 'Format operation cancelled by user');
+        logger.log("info", "Format operation cancelled by user");
        return;
      }
    }

    // Execute phase
-    logger.log('info', 'Executing format operations...');
+    logger.log("info", "Executing format operations...");
    await planner.executePlan(plan, activeFormatters, context);

    context.getFormatStats().finish();

-    const showStats = smartconfigInstance.dataFor('gitzone.format.showStats', true);
+    const showStats = formatConfig.showStats ?? true;
    if (showStats) {
      context.getFormatStats().displayStats();
    }
@@ -193,14 +306,15 @@ export let run = async (
      await context.getFormatStats().saveReport(statsPath);
    }

-    logger.log('success', 'Format operations completed successfully!');
+    logger.log("success", "Format operations completed successfully!");
  } catch (error) {
-    logger.log('error', `Format operation failed: ${error.message}`);
+    const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+    logger.log("error", `Format operation failed: ${errorMessage}`);
    throw error;
  }
 };

-import type { ICheckResult } from './interfaces.format.js';
+import type { ICheckResult } from "./interfaces.format.js";
 export type { ICheckResult };

 /**
@@ -212,11 +326,12 @@ export const runFormatter = async (
    silent?: boolean;
    checkOnly?: boolean;
    showDiff?: boolean;
-  } = {}
+  } = {},
 ): Promise<ICheckResult | void> => {
-  const requireProjectType = !formattersNotRequiringProjectType.includes(formatterName);
+  const requireProjectType =
+    !formattersNotRequiringProjectType.includes(formatterName);
  const project = await Project.fromCwd({ requireProjectType });
-  const context = new FormatContext();
+  const context = new FormatContext({ interactive: true, jsonOutput: false });

  const FormatterClass = formatterMap[formatterName];
  if (!FormatterClass) {
@@ -240,6 +355,80 @@ export const runFormatter = async (
  }

  if (!options.silent) {
-    logger.log('success', `Formatter '${formatterName}' completed`);
+    logger.log("success", `Formatter '${formatterName}' completed`);
  }
 };
+
+export function showHelp(mode?: ICliMode): void {
+  if (mode?.json) {
+    printJson({
+      command: "format",
+      usage: "gitzone format [plan] [options]",
+      description:
+        "Plans formatting changes by default and applies them only with --write.",
+      flags: [
+        { flag: "--write, -w", description: "Apply planned changes" },
+        {
+          flag: "--yes",
+          description: "Skip the interactive confirmation before writing",
+        },
+        {
+          flag: "--plan-only",
+          description: "Show the plan without applying changes",
+        },
+        {
+          flag: "--save-plan <file>",
+          description: "Write the format plan to a file",
+        },
+        {
+          flag: "--from-plan <file>",
+          description: "Load a previously saved plan",
+        },
+        {
+          flag: "--detailed",
+          description: "Show detailed diffs and save stats",
+        },
+        { flag: "--verbose", description: "Enable verbose logging" },
+        {
+          flag: "--diff",
+          description: "Show per-file diffs before applying changes",
+        },
+        { flag: "--json", description: "Emit a read-only format plan as JSON" },
+      ],
+      examples: [
+        "gitzone format",
+        "gitzone format plan --json",
+        "gitzone format --write --yes",
+      ],
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Usage: gitzone format [plan] [options]");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log(
+    "Plans formatting changes by default and applies them only with --write.",
+  );
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Flags:");
+  console.log("  --write, -w          Apply planned changes");
+  console.log(
+    "  --yes                Skip the interactive confirmation before writing",
+  );
+  console.log("  --plan-only          Show the plan without applying changes");
+  console.log("  --save-plan <file>   Write the format plan to a file");
+  console.log("  --from-plan <file>   Load a previously saved plan");
+  console.log("  --detailed           Show detailed diffs and save stats");
+  console.log("  --verbose            Enable verbose logging");
+  console.log(
+    "  --diff               Show per-file diffs before applying changes",
+  );
+  console.log("  --json               Emit a read-only format plan as JSON");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Examples:");
+  console.log("  gitzone format");
+  console.log("  gitzone format plan --json");
+  console.log("  gitzone format --write --yes");
+  console.log("");
+}
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import * as smartfile from '@push.rocks/smartfile';
 import * as smartinteract from '@push.rocks/smartinteract';
 import * as smartlegal from '@push.rocks/smartlegal';
 import * as smartobject from '@push.rocks/smartobject';
-import * as smartnpm from '@push.rocks/smartnpm';
 import * as smartconfig from '@push.rocks/smartconfig';
 import * as smartdiff from '@push.rocks/smartdiff';
 import * as smartscaf from '@push.rocks/smartscaf';
@@ -16,7 +15,6 @@ export {
  smartinteract,
  smartlegal,
  smartobject,
-  smartnpm,
  smartconfig,
  smartdiff,
  smartscaf,
@@ -0,0 +1,393 @@
+import * as plugins from "./mod.plugins.js";
+import * as paths from "../paths.js";
+import { logger } from "../gitzone.logging.js";
+import type { ICliMode } from "../helpers.climode.js";
+import { getCliMode, printJson } from "../helpers.climode.js";
+import {
+  inferVersionTypeFromPending,
+  movePendingToVersion,
+  readPendingChangelog,
+} from "../helpers.changelog.js";
+import {
+  resolveReleaseWorkflow,
+  type IResolvedReleaseWorkflow,
+} from "../helpers.workflow.js";
+import * as commitHelpers from "../mod_commit/mod.helpers.js";
+
+type TTargetStatus = "success" | "already-published" | "skipped" | "failed";
+
+interface ITargetResult {
+  target: string;
+  status: TTargetStatus;
+  message?: string;
+}
+
+export const run = async (argvArg: any) => {
+  const mode = await getCliMode(argvArg);
+  const subcommand = argvArg._?.[1];
+
+  if (mode.help || subcommand === "help") {
+    showHelp(mode);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson({
+      ok: false,
+      error: "JSON output is not supported for mutating release workflows yet. Use `gitzone release --plan` for a human-readable plan.",
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const workflow = await resolveReleaseWorkflow(argvArg);
+  printReleasePlan(workflow);
+  if (workflow.confirmation === "plan") {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const smartshellInstance = new plugins.smartshell.Smartshell({
+    executor: "bash",
+    sourceFilePaths: [],
+  });
+
+  const pending = await readPendingChangelog(
+    plugins.path.join(paths.cwd, workflow.changelogFile),
+    workflow.changelogPendingSection,
+  );
+  if (pending.isEmpty && !argvArg["allow-empty"] && !argvArg.allowEmpty) {
+    logger.log("error", "No pending changelog entries. Nothing to release.");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  const versionType = resolveVersionType(argvArg, pending.block);
+  const projectType = await commitHelpers.detectProjectType();
+  const currentVersion = await commitHelpers.readCurrentVersion(projectType);
+  const plannedVersion = commitHelpers.calculateNewVersion(currentVersion, versionType);
+
+  if (workflow.confirmation === "prompt") {
+    if (!mode.interactive) {
+      throw new Error("Release confirmation requires an interactive terminal. Use `-y` or set release.confirmation to `auto`.");
+    }
+    const confirmed = await plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract.getCliConfirmation(
+      `Release v${plannedVersion} (${versionType}) now?`,
+      true,
+    );
+    if (!confirmed) {
+      logger.log("info", "Release cancelled.");
+      return;
+    }
+  }
+
+  let newVersion = plannedVersion;
+  const gitResults: ITargetResult[] = [];
+  const npmResults: ITargetResult[] = [];
+  const dockerResults: ITargetResult[] = [];
+
+  if (workflow.requireCleanTree) {
+    await verifyCleanTree(smartshellInstance, "Working tree is not clean. Commit or stash changes before releasing.");
+  }
+  if (workflow.runTests) {
+    await runCommandStep(smartshellInstance, "Running tests", workflow.testCommand);
+  }
+
+  newVersion = await runVersionStep(projectType, versionType);
+  await runChangelogStep(workflow, newVersion);
+  await runReleaseCommitStep(smartshellInstance, newVersion);
+  await runTagStep(smartshellInstance, newVersion);
+
+  if (workflow.runBuild) {
+    await runCommandStep(smartshellInstance, "Running release build", workflow.buildCommand);
+    await verifyCleanTree(smartshellInstance, "Build produced uncommitted changes. Aborting release.");
+  }
+
+  if (workflow.targets.includes("git")) {
+    gitResults.push(...(await runGitTarget(smartshellInstance, workflow)));
+  }
+  if (workflow.targets.includes("npm")) {
+    npmResults.push(...(await runNpmTarget(smartshellInstance, workflow)));
+  }
+  if (workflow.targets.includes("docker")) {
+    dockerResults.push(...(await runDockerTarget(smartshellInstance, workflow, newVersion)));
+  }
+
+  printReleaseSummary(newVersion, gitResults, npmResults, dockerResults);
+  if ([...gitResults, ...npmResults, ...dockerResults].some((result) => result.status === "failed")) {
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+};
+
+function resolveVersionType(argvArg: any, pendingBlock: string): commitHelpers.VersionType {
+  if (argvArg.major) return "major";
+  if (argvArg.minor) return "minor";
+  if (argvArg.patch) return "patch";
+  return inferVersionTypeFromPending(pendingBlock);
+}
+
+async function runCommandStep(
+  smartshellInstance: plugins.smartshell.Smartshell,
+  label: string,
+  command: string,
+): Promise<void> {
+  console.log(`\n${label}`);
+  const result = await smartshellInstance.exec(command);
+  if (result.exitCode !== 0) {
+    logger.log("error", `${label} failed. Aborting release.`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+  logger.log("success", `${label} passed.`);
+}
+
+async function verifyCleanTree(
+  smartshellInstance: plugins.smartshell.Smartshell,
+  errorMessage: string,
+): Promise<void> {
+  const statusResult = await smartshellInstance.exec("git status --porcelain");
+  if (statusResult.stdout.trim() !== "") {
+    logger.log("error", errorMessage);
+    console.log(statusResult.stdout);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+}
+
+async function runVersionStep(
+  projectType: commitHelpers.ProjectType,
+  versionType: commitHelpers.VersionType,
+): Promise<string> {
+  const currentVersion = await commitHelpers.readCurrentVersion(projectType);
+  const newVersion = commitHelpers.calculateNewVersion(currentVersion, versionType);
+  logger.log("info", `Bumping version: ${currentVersion} -> ${newVersion}`);
+
+  const commitInfo = new plugins.commitinfo.CommitInfo(paths.cwd, versionType);
+  await commitInfo.writeIntoPotentialDirs();
+  await commitHelpers.updateProjectVersionFiles(projectType, newVersion);
+  return newVersion;
+}
+
+async function runChangelogStep(
+  workflow: IResolvedReleaseWorkflow,
+  newVersion: string,
+): Promise<void> {
+  const dateString = new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 10);
+  await movePendingToVersion(
+    plugins.path.join(paths.cwd, workflow.changelogFile),
+    workflow.changelogPendingSection,
+    workflow.changelogVersionHeading,
+    newVersion,
+    dateString,
+  );
+}
+
+async function runReleaseCommitStep(
+  smartshellInstance: plugins.smartshell.Smartshell,
+  newVersion: string,
+): Promise<void> {
+  await smartshellInstance.exec("git add -A");
+  const result = await smartshellInstance.exec(`git commit -m ${shellQuote(`v${newVersion}`)}`);
+  if (result.exitCode !== 0) {
+    logger.log("error", "Release commit failed.");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+}
+
+async function runTagStep(
+  smartshellInstance: plugins.smartshell.Smartshell,
+  newVersion: string,
+): Promise<void> {
+  const result = await smartshellInstance.exec(`git tag v${newVersion} -m ${shellQuote(`v${newVersion}`)}`);
+  if (result.exitCode !== 0) {
+    logger.log("error", "Release tag failed.");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+}
+
+async function runGitTarget(
+  smartshellInstance: plugins.smartshell.Smartshell,
+  workflow: IResolvedReleaseWorkflow,
+): Promise<ITargetResult[]> {
+  const currentBranchResult = await smartshellInstance.exec("git branch --show-current");
+  const currentBranch = currentBranchResult.stdout.trim() || "master";
+  const commands: Array<{ target: string; command: string }> = [];
+  if (workflow.pushBranch) {
+    commands.push({
+      target: `${workflow.gitRemote}/${currentBranch}`,
+      command: `git push ${workflow.gitRemote} ${currentBranch}`,
+    });
+  }
+  if (workflow.pushTags) {
+    commands.push({
+      target: `${workflow.gitRemote}/tags`,
+      command: `git push ${workflow.gitRemote} --tags`,
+    });
+  }
+
+  const results: ITargetResult[] = [];
+  for (const { target, command } of commands) {
+    const result = await smartshellInstance.exec(command);
+    results.push({
+      target,
+      status: result.exitCode === 0 ? "success" : "failed",
+      message: result.exitCode === 0 ? undefined : "push failed",
+    });
+  }
+  return results;
+}
+
+async function runNpmTarget(
+  smartshellInstance: plugins.smartshell.Smartshell,
+  workflow: IResolvedReleaseWorkflow,
+): Promise<ITargetResult[]> {
+  if (!workflow.npmEnabled) {
+    return [{ target: "npm", status: "skipped", message: "disabled" }];
+  }
+  if (workflow.npmRegistries.length === 0) {
+    return [{ target: "npm", status: "failed", message: "no registries configured" }];
+  }
+
+  const results: ITargetResult[] = [];
+  for (const registry of workflow.npmRegistries) {
+    const command = `pnpm publish --registry=${registry} --access=${workflow.npmAccessLevel}`;
+    const result = await smartshellInstance.exec(command);
+    const output = `${result.stdout || ""}\n${(result as any).stderr || ""}\n${(result as any).combinedOutput || ""}`;
+    if (result.exitCode === 0) {
+      results.push({ target: registry, status: "success" });
+    } else if (isAlreadyPublishedOutput(output) && workflow.npmAlreadyPublished === "success") {
+      results.push({ target: registry, status: "already-published" });
+    } else {
+      results.push({ target: registry, status: "failed", message: firstMeaningfulLine(output) });
+    }
+  }
+  return results;
+}
+
+async function runDockerTarget(
+  smartshellInstance: plugins.smartshell.Smartshell,
+  workflow: IResolvedReleaseWorkflow,
+  newVersion: string,
+): Promise<ITargetResult[]> {
+  if (!workflow.dockerEnabled) {
+    return [{ target: "docker", status: "skipped", message: "disabled" }];
+  }
+  if (workflow.dockerImages.length === 0) {
+    return [{ target: "docker", status: "failed", message: "no images configured" }];
+  }
+
+  const results: ITargetResult[] = [];
+  for (const imageTemplate of workflow.dockerImages) {
+    const image = imageTemplate.replaceAll("{{version}}", newVersion);
+    const buildResult = await smartshellInstance.exec(`docker build -t ${shellQuote(image)} .`);
+    if (buildResult.exitCode !== 0) {
+      results.push({ target: image, status: "failed", message: "docker build failed" });
+      continue;
+    }
+    const pushResult = await smartshellInstance.exec(`docker push ${shellQuote(image)}`);
+    results.push({
+      target: image,
+      status: pushResult.exitCode === 0 ? "success" : "failed",
+      message: pushResult.exitCode === 0 ? undefined : "docker push failed",
+    });
+  }
+  return results;
+}
+
+function isAlreadyPublishedOutput(output: string): boolean {
+  return /previously published versions|cannot publish over|already exists/i.test(output);
+}
+
+function firstMeaningfulLine(output: string): string {
+  return output
+    .split("\n")
+    .map((line) => line.trim())
+    .find((line) => line.length > 0) || "command failed";
+}
+
+function shellQuote(value: string): string {
+  return `'${value.replaceAll("'", "'\\''")}'`;
+}
+
+function printReleasePlan(workflow: IResolvedReleaseWorkflow): void {
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("gitzone release - resolved workflow");
+  console.log(`confirmation: ${workflow.confirmation}`);
+  console.log(`plan: ${workflow.plan.join(" -> ")}`);
+  console.log(`targets: ${workflow.targets.length > 0 ? workflow.targets.join(", ") : "none"}`);
+  console.log(`changelog: ${workflow.changelogFile}#${workflow.changelogPendingSection}`);
+  if (workflow.targets.includes("npm")) {
+    console.log(`npm registries: ${workflow.npmRegistries.length > 0 ? workflow.npmRegistries.join(", ") : "none"}`);
+  }
+  if (workflow.targets.includes("docker")) {
+    console.log(`docker images: ${workflow.dockerImages.length > 0 ? workflow.dockerImages.join(", ") : "none"}`);
+  }
+  console.log("");
+}
+
+function printReleaseSummary(
+  newVersion: string,
+  gitResults: ITargetResult[],
+  npmResults: ITargetResult[],
+  dockerResults: ITargetResult[],
+): void {
+  console.log("");
+  console.log(`Release v${newVersion}`);
+  console.log("");
+
+  if (gitResults.length > 0) {
+    console.log("git:");
+    for (const result of gitResults) {
+      console.log(`  ${result.target}  ${result.status}${result.message ? ` (${result.message})` : ""}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (npmResults.length > 0) {
+    console.log("npm:");
+    for (const result of npmResults) {
+      console.log(`  ${result.target}  ${result.status}${result.message ? ` (${result.message})` : ""}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (dockerResults.length > 0) {
+    console.log("docker:");
+    for (const result of dockerResults) {
+      console.log(`  ${result.target}  ${result.status}${result.message ? ` (${result.message})` : ""}`);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+export function showHelp(mode?: ICliMode): void {
+  if (mode?.json) {
+    printJson({
+      command: "release",
+      usage: "gitzone release [options]",
+      description: "Creates a versioned release from pending changelog entries and publishes configured artifacts.",
+      flags: [
+        { flag: "-y, --yes", description: "Run without interactive confirmation" },
+        { flag: "-t, --test", description: "Enable release preflight tests" },
+        { flag: "-b, --build", description: "Enable release preflight build" },
+        { flag: "-p, --push", description: "Enable the git release target" },
+        { flag: "--target <names>", description: "Release only selected targets: git,npm,docker" },
+        { flag: "--npm", description: "Enable the npm release target" },
+        { flag: "--docker", description: "Enable the Docker release target" },
+        { flag: "--no-publish", description: "Run release core and git target only" },
+        { flag: "--plan", description: "Show resolved workflow without mutating files" },
+      ],
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Usage: gitzone release [options]");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Creates a versioned release from changelog Pending entries.");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Flags:");
+  console.log("  -y, --yes           Run without interactive confirmation");
+  console.log("  -t, --test          Enable release preflight tests");
+  console.log("  -b, --build         Enable release preflight build");
+  console.log("  -p, --push          Enable the git release target");
+  console.log("  --target <names>    Release only selected targets: git,npm,docker");
+  console.log("  --npm               Enable the npm release target");
+  console.log("  --docker            Enable the Docker release target");
+  console.log("  --no-publish        Run release core and git target only");
+  console.log("  --major|--minor|--patch  Override inferred semver level");
+  console.log("  --plan              Show resolved workflow without mutating files");
+  console.log("");
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+export * from "../plugins.js";
+
+import * as commitinfo from "@push.rocks/commitinfo";
+
+export { commitinfo };
@@ -1,12 +1,26 @@
-import * as plugins from './mod.plugins.js';
-import * as helpers from './helpers.js';
-import { ServiceManager } from './classes.servicemanager.js';
-import { GlobalRegistry } from './classes.globalregistry.js';
-import { logger } from '../gitzone.logging.js';
+import * as plugins from "./mod.plugins.js";
+import * as helpers from "./helpers.js";
+import { ServiceManager } from "./classes.servicemanager.js";
+import { GlobalRegistry } from "./classes.globalregistry.js";
+import { logger } from "../gitzone.logging.js";
+import type { ICliMode } from "../helpers.climode.js";
+import { getCliMode, printJson } from "../helpers.climode.js";
+import {
+  getCliConfigValueFromData,
+  readSmartconfigFile,
+  setCliConfigValueInData,
+  writeSmartconfigFile,
+} from "../helpers.smartconfig.js";

 export const run = async (argvArg: any) => {
+  const mode = await getCliMode(argvArg);
  const isGlobal = argvArg.g || argvArg.global;
-  const command = argvArg._[1] || 'help';
+  const command = argvArg._[1] || "help";
+
+  if (mode.help || command === "help") {
+    showHelp(mode);
+    return;
+  }

  // Handle global commands first
  if (isGlobal) {
@@ -14,264 +28,597 @@ export const run = async (argvArg: any) => {
    return;
  }

-  // Local project commands
-  const serviceManager = new ServiceManager();
-  await serviceManager.init();
-
-  const service = argvArg._[2] || 'all';
+  const service = argvArg._[2] || "all";

  switch (command) {
-    case 'start':
-      await handleStart(serviceManager, service);
-      break;
-      
-    case 'stop':
-      await handleStop(serviceManager, service);
-      break;
-      
-    case 'restart':
-      await handleRestart(serviceManager, service);
-      break;
-      
-    case 'status':
-      await serviceManager.showStatus();
-      break;
-      
-    case 'config':
-      if (service === 'services' || argvArg._[2] === 'services') {
+    case "config":
+      if (service === "services" || argvArg._[2] === "services") {
+        const serviceManager = new ServiceManager();
+        await serviceManager.init();
        await handleConfigureServices(serviceManager);
      } else {
-        await serviceManager.showConfig();
+        await handleShowConfig(mode);
      }
      break;

-    case 'compass':
-      await serviceManager.showCompassConnection();
+    case "set":
+      await handleSetServices(argvArg._[2], mode);
      break;
-      
-    case 'logs':
-      const lines = parseInt(argvArg._[3]) || 20;
-      await serviceManager.showLogs(service, lines);
+
+    case "enable":
+      await handleEnableServices(argvArg._.slice(2), mode);
      break;
-      
-    case 'remove':
-      await handleRemove(serviceManager);
+
+    case "disable":
+      await handleDisableServices(argvArg._.slice(2), mode);
      break;
-      
-    case 'clean':
-      await handleClean(serviceManager);
+
+    case "start":
+    case "stop":
+    case "restart":
+    case "status":
+    case "compass":
+    case "logs":
+    case "remove":
+    case "clean":
+    case "reconfigure": {
+      const serviceManager = new ServiceManager();
+      await serviceManager.init();
+
+      switch (command) {
+        case "start":
+          await handleStart(serviceManager, service);
+          break;
+
+        case "stop":
+          await handleStop(serviceManager, service);
+          break;
+
+        case "restart":
+          await handleRestart(serviceManager, service);
+          break;
+
+        case "status":
+          await serviceManager.showStatus();
+          break;
+
+        case "compass":
+          await serviceManager.showCompassConnection();
+          break;
+
+        case "logs": {
+          const lines = parseInt(argvArg._[3]) || 20;
+          await serviceManager.showLogs(service, lines);
+          break;
+        }
+
+        case "remove":
+          await handleRemove(serviceManager);
+          break;
+
+        case "clean":
+          await handleClean(serviceManager);
+          break;
+
+        case "reconfigure":
+          await serviceManager.reconfigure();
+          break;
+      }
      break;
-      
-    case 'reconfigure':
-      await serviceManager.reconfigure();
-      break;
-      
-    case 'help':
+    }
    default:
-      showHelp();
+      showHelp(mode);
      break;
  }
 };

+const allowedServices = ["mongodb", "minio", "elasticsearch"];
+
+const normalizeServiceName = (service: string): string => {
+  switch (service) {
+    case "mongo":
+    case "mongodb":
+      return "mongodb";
+    case "minio":
+    case "s3":
+      return "minio";
+    case "elastic":
+    case "elasticsearch":
+    case "es":
+      return "elasticsearch";
+    default:
+      return service;
+  }
+};
+
+async function readServicesConfig(): Promise<{
+  enabledServices: string[];
+  environment: Record<string, any> | null;
+}> {
+  const smartconfigData = await readSmartconfigFile();
+  const enabledServices = getCliConfigValueFromData(
+    smartconfigData,
+    "services",
+  );
+  let environment: Record<string, any> | null = null;
+  const envPath = plugins.path.join(process.cwd(), ".nogit", "env.json");
+  if (await plugins.smartfs.file(envPath).exists()) {
+    const envContent = (await plugins.smartfs
+      .file(envPath)
+      .encoding("utf8")
+      .read()) as string;
+    environment = JSON.parse(envContent);
+  }
+
+  return {
+    enabledServices: Array.isArray(enabledServices) ? enabledServices : [],
+    environment,
+  };
+}
+
+async function updateEnabledServices(services: string[]): Promise<void> {
+  const smartconfigData = await readSmartconfigFile();
+  setCliConfigValueInData(smartconfigData, "services", services);
+  await writeSmartconfigFile(smartconfigData);
+}
+
+async function handleShowConfig(mode: ICliMode) {
+  const configData = await readServicesConfig();
+
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson(configData);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  helpers.printHeader("Current Services Configuration");
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    `Enabled Services: ${configData.enabledServices.length > 0 ? configData.enabledServices.join(", ") : "none configured"}`,
+  );
+  console.log();
+
+  if (!configData.environment) {
+    logger.log(
+      "note",
+      "No .nogit/env.json found yet. Start a service once to create runtime defaults.",
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const env = configData.environment;
+  logger.log("note", "MongoDB:");
+  logger.log("info", `  Host: ${env.MONGODB_HOST}:${env.MONGODB_PORT}`);
+  logger.log("info", `  Database: ${env.MONGODB_NAME}`);
+  logger.log("info", `  User: ${env.MONGODB_USER}`);
+  logger.log("info", `  Container: ${env.PROJECT_NAME}-mongodb`);
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    `  Data: ${plugins.path.join(process.cwd(), ".nogit", "mongodata")}`,
+  );
+  logger.log("info", `  Connection: ${env.MONGODB_URL}`);
+  console.log();
+
+  logger.log("note", "S3/MinIO:");
+  logger.log("info", `  Host: ${env.S3_HOST}`);
+  logger.log("info", `  API Port: ${env.S3_PORT}`);
+  logger.log("info", `  Console Port: ${env.S3_CONSOLE_PORT}`);
+  logger.log("info", `  Bucket: ${env.S3_BUCKET}`);
+  logger.log("info", `  Container: ${env.PROJECT_NAME}-minio`);
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    `  Data: ${plugins.path.join(process.cwd(), ".nogit", "miniodata")}`,
+  );
+  logger.log("info", `  Endpoint: ${env.S3_ENDPOINT}`);
+  console.log();
+
+  logger.log("note", "Elasticsearch:");
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    `  Host: ${env.ELASTICSEARCH_HOST}:${env.ELASTICSEARCH_PORT}`,
+  );
+  logger.log("info", `  User: ${env.ELASTICSEARCH_USER}`);
+  logger.log("info", `  Container: ${env.PROJECT_NAME}-elasticsearch`);
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    `  Data: ${plugins.path.join(process.cwd(), ".nogit", "esdata")}`,
+  );
+  logger.log("info", `  Connection: ${env.ELASTICSEARCH_URL}`);
+}
+
+async function handleSetServices(rawValue: string | undefined, mode: ICliMode) {
+  if (!rawValue) {
+    throw new Error("Specify a comma-separated list of services");
+  }
+
+  const requestedServices = rawValue
+    .split(",")
+    .map((service) => normalizeServiceName(service.trim()))
+    .filter(Boolean);
+  validateRequestedServices(requestedServices);
+  await updateEnabledServices(requestedServices);
+
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson({ ok: true, action: "set", enabledServices: requestedServices });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  logger.log("ok", `Enabled services set to: ${requestedServices.join(", ")}`);
+}
+
+async function handleEnableServices(
+  requestedServices: string[],
+  mode: ICliMode,
+) {
+  const normalizedServices = requestedServices.map((service) =>
+    normalizeServiceName(service),
+  );
+  validateRequestedServices(normalizedServices);
+
+  const configData = await readServicesConfig();
+  const nextServices = Array.from(
+    new Set([...configData.enabledServices, ...normalizedServices]),
+  );
+  await updateEnabledServices(nextServices);
+
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson({ ok: true, action: "enable", enabledServices: nextServices });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  logger.log("ok", `Enabled services: ${nextServices.join(", ")}`);
+}
+
+async function handleDisableServices(
+  requestedServices: string[],
+  mode: ICliMode,
+) {
+  const normalizedServices = requestedServices.map((service) =>
+    normalizeServiceName(service),
+  );
+  validateRequestedServices(normalizedServices);
+
+  const configData = await readServicesConfig();
+  const nextServices = configData.enabledServices.filter(
+    (service) => !normalizedServices.includes(service),
+  );
+  await updateEnabledServices(nextServices);
+
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson({ ok: true, action: "disable", enabledServices: nextServices });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  logger.log("ok", `Enabled services: ${nextServices.join(", ")}`);
+}
+
+function validateRequestedServices(services: string[]): void {
+  if (services.length === 0) {
+    throw new Error("Specify at least one service");
+  }
+
+  const invalidServices = services.filter(
+    (service) => !allowedServices.includes(service),
+  );
+  if (invalidServices.length > 0) {
+    throw new Error(`Unknown service(s): ${invalidServices.join(", ")}`);
+  }
+}
+
 async function handleStart(serviceManager: ServiceManager, service: string) {
-  helpers.printHeader('Starting Services');
+  helpers.printHeader("Starting Services");

  switch (service) {
-    case 'mongo':
-    case 'mongodb':
+    case "mongo":
+    case "mongodb":
      await serviceManager.startMongoDB();
      break;

-    case 'minio':
-    case 's3':
+    case "minio":
+    case "s3":
      await serviceManager.startMinIO();
      break;

-    case 'elasticsearch':
-    case 'es':
+    case "elasticsearch":
+    case "es":
      await serviceManager.startElasticsearch();
      break;

-    case 'all':
-    case '':
+    case "all":
+    case "":
      await serviceManager.startAll();
      break;

    default:
-      logger.log('error', `Unknown service: ${service}`);
-      logger.log('note', 'Use: mongo, s3, elasticsearch, or all');
+      logger.log("error", `Unknown service: ${service}`);
+      logger.log("note", "Use: mongo, s3, elasticsearch, or all");
      break;
  }
 }

 async function handleStop(serviceManager: ServiceManager, service: string) {
-  helpers.printHeader('Stopping Services');
+  helpers.printHeader("Stopping Services");

  switch (service) {
-    case 'mongo':
-    case 'mongodb':
+    case "mongo":
+    case "mongodb":
      await serviceManager.stopMongoDB();
      break;

-    case 'minio':
-    case 's3':
+    case "minio":
+    case "s3":
      await serviceManager.stopMinIO();
      break;

-    case 'elasticsearch':
-    case 'es':
+    case "elasticsearch":
+    case "es":
      await serviceManager.stopElasticsearch();
      break;

-    case 'all':
-    case '':
+    case "all":
+    case "":
      await serviceManager.stopAll();
      break;

    default:
-      logger.log('error', `Unknown service: ${service}`);
-      logger.log('note', 'Use: mongo, s3, elasticsearch, or all');
+      logger.log("error", `Unknown service: ${service}`);
+      logger.log("note", "Use: mongo, s3, elasticsearch, or all");
      break;
  }
 }

 async function handleRestart(serviceManager: ServiceManager, service: string) {
-  helpers.printHeader('Restarting Services');
+  helpers.printHeader("Restarting Services");

  switch (service) {
-    case 'mongo':
-    case 'mongodb':
+    case "mongo":
+    case "mongodb":
      await serviceManager.stopMongoDB();
      await plugins.smartdelay.delayFor(2000);
      await serviceManager.startMongoDB();
      break;

-    case 'minio':
-    case 's3':
+    case "minio":
+    case "s3":
      await serviceManager.stopMinIO();
      await plugins.smartdelay.delayFor(2000);
      await serviceManager.startMinIO();
      break;

-    case 'elasticsearch':
-    case 'es':
+    case "elasticsearch":
+    case "es":
      await serviceManager.stopElasticsearch();
      await plugins.smartdelay.delayFor(2000);
      await serviceManager.startElasticsearch();
      break;

-    case 'all':
-    case '':
+    case "all":
+    case "":
      await serviceManager.stopAll();
      await plugins.smartdelay.delayFor(2000);
      await serviceManager.startAll();
      break;

    default:
-      logger.log('error', `Unknown service: ${service}`);
+      logger.log("error", `Unknown service: ${service}`);
      break;
  }
 }

 async function handleRemove(serviceManager: ServiceManager) {
-  helpers.printHeader('Removing Containers');
-  logger.log('note', '⚠️  This will remove containers but preserve data');
-  
-  const shouldContinue = await plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract.getCliConfirmation('Continue?', false);
-  
+  helpers.printHeader("Removing Containers");
+  logger.log("note", "⚠️  This will remove containers but preserve data");
+
+  const shouldContinue =
+    await plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract.getCliConfirmation(
+      "Continue?",
+      false,
+    );
+
  if (shouldContinue) {
    await serviceManager.removeContainers();
  } else {
-    logger.log('note', 'Cancelled');
+    logger.log("note", "Cancelled");
  }
 }

 async function handleClean(serviceManager: ServiceManager) {
-  helpers.printHeader('Clean All');
-  logger.log('error', '⚠️  WARNING: This will remove all containers and data!');
-  logger.log('error', 'This action cannot be undone!');
+  helpers.printHeader("Clean All");
+  logger.log("error", "⚠️  WARNING: This will remove all containers and data!");
+  logger.log("error", "This action cannot be undone!");

  const smartinteraction = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
  const confirmAnswer = await smartinteraction.askQuestion({
-    name: 'confirm',
-    type: 'input',
+    name: "confirm",
+    type: "input",
    message: 'Type "yes" to confirm:',
-    default: 'no'
+    default: "no",
  });

-  if (confirmAnswer.value === 'yes') {
+  if (confirmAnswer.value === "yes") {
    await serviceManager.removeContainers();
    console.log();
    await serviceManager.cleanData();
-    logger.log('ok', 'All cleaned ✓');
+    logger.log("ok", "All cleaned ✓");
  } else {
-    logger.log('note', 'Cancelled');
+    logger.log("note", "Cancelled");
  }
 }

 async function handleConfigureServices(serviceManager: ServiceManager) {
-  helpers.printHeader('Configure Services');
+  helpers.printHeader("Configure Services");
  await serviceManager.configureServices();
 }

-function showHelp() {
-  helpers.printHeader('GitZone Services Manager');
+export function showHelp(mode?: ICliMode) {
+  if (mode?.json) {
+    printJson({
+      command: "services",
+      usage: "gitzone services <command> [options]",
+      commands: [
+        {
+          name: "config",
+          description:
+            "Show configured services and any existing runtime env.json data",
+        },
+        {
+          name: "set <csv>",
+          description: "Set the enabled service list without prompts",
+        },
+        {
+          name: "enable <service...>",
+          description: "Enable one or more services without prompts",
+        },
+        {
+          name: "disable <service...>",
+          description: "Disable one or more services without prompts",
+        },
+        { name: "start [service]", description: "Start services" },
+        { name: "stop [service]", description: "Stop services" },
+        { name: "status", description: "Show service status" },
+      ],
+      examples: [
+        "gitzone services config --json",
+        "gitzone services set mongodb,minio",
+        "gitzone services enable elasticsearch",
+      ],
+    });
+    return;
+  }

-  logger.log('ok', 'Usage: gitzone services [command] [options]');
+  helpers.printHeader("GitZone Services Manager");
+
+  logger.log("ok", "Usage: gitzone services [command] [options]");
  console.log();

-  logger.log('note', 'Commands:');
-  logger.log('info', '  start [service]   Start services (mongo|s3|elasticsearch|all)');
-  logger.log('info', '  stop [service]    Stop services (mongo|s3|elasticsearch|all)');
-  logger.log('info', '  restart [service] Restart services (mongo|s3|elasticsearch|all)');
-  logger.log('info', '  status            Show service status');
-  logger.log('info', '  config            Show current configuration');
-  logger.log('info', '  config services   Configure which services are enabled');
-  logger.log('info', '  compass           Show MongoDB Compass connection string');
-  logger.log('info', '  logs [service]    Show logs (mongo|s3|elasticsearch|all) [lines]');
-  logger.log('info', '  reconfigure       Reassign ports and restart services');
-  logger.log('info', '  remove            Remove all containers');
-  logger.log('info', '  clean             Remove all containers and data ⚠️');
-  logger.log('info', '  help              Show this help message');
+  logger.log("note", "Commands:");
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  start [service]   Start services (mongo|s3|elasticsearch|all)",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  stop [service]    Stop services (mongo|s3|elasticsearch|all)",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  restart [service] Restart services (mongo|s3|elasticsearch|all)",
+  );
+  logger.log("info", "  status            Show service status");
+  logger.log("info", "  config            Show current configuration");
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  config services   Configure which services are enabled",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  set <csv>         Set enabled services without prompts",
+  );
+  logger.log("info", "  enable <svc...>   Enable one or more services");
+  logger.log("info", "  disable <svc...>  Disable one or more services");
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  compass           Show MongoDB Compass connection string",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  logs [service]    Show logs (mongo|s3|elasticsearch|all) [lines]",
+  );
+  logger.log("info", "  reconfigure       Reassign ports and restart services");
+  logger.log("info", "  remove            Remove all containers");
+  logger.log("info", "  clean             Remove all containers and data ⚠️");
+  logger.log("info", "  help              Show this help message");
  console.log();

-  logger.log('note', 'Available Services:');
-  logger.log('info', '  • MongoDB (mongo) - Document database');
-  logger.log('info', '  • MinIO (s3) - S3-compatible object storage');
-  logger.log('info', '  • Elasticsearch (elasticsearch) - Search and analytics engine');
+  logger.log("note", "Available Services:");
+  logger.log("info", "  • MongoDB (mongo) - Document database");
+  logger.log("info", "  • MinIO (s3) - S3-compatible object storage");
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  • Elasticsearch (elasticsearch) - Search and analytics engine",
+  );
  console.log();

-  logger.log('note', 'Features:');
-  logger.log('info', '  • Auto-creates .nogit/env.json with smart defaults');
-  logger.log('info', '  • Random ports (20000-30000) for MongoDB/MinIO to avoid conflicts');
-  logger.log('info', '  • Elasticsearch uses standard port 9200');
-  logger.log('info', '  • Project-specific containers for multi-project support');
-  logger.log('info', '  • Preserves custom configuration values');
-  logger.log('info', '  • MongoDB Compass connection support');
+  logger.log("note", "Features:");
+  logger.log("info", "  • Auto-creates .nogit/env.json with smart defaults");
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  • Random ports (20000-30000) for MongoDB/MinIO to avoid conflicts",
+  );
+  logger.log("info", "  • Elasticsearch uses standard port 9200");
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  • Project-specific containers for multi-project support",
+  );
+  logger.log("info", "  • Preserves custom configuration values");
+  logger.log("info", "  • MongoDB Compass connection support");
  console.log();

-  logger.log('note', 'Examples:');
-  logger.log('info', '  gitzone services start               # Start all services');
-  logger.log('info', '  gitzone services start mongo         # Start only MongoDB');
-  logger.log('info', '  gitzone services start elasticsearch # Start only Elasticsearch');
-  logger.log('info', '  gitzone services stop                # Stop all services');
-  logger.log('info', '  gitzone services status              # Check service status');
-  logger.log('info', '  gitzone services config              # Show configuration');
-  logger.log('info', '  gitzone services compass             # Get MongoDB Compass connection');
-  logger.log('info', '  gitzone services logs elasticsearch  # Show Elasticsearch logs');
+  logger.log("note", "Examples:");
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  gitzone services start               # Start all services",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  gitzone services start mongo         # Start only MongoDB",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  gitzone services start elasticsearch # Start only Elasticsearch",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  gitzone services stop                # Stop all services",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  gitzone services status              # Check service status",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  gitzone services config              # Show configuration",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  gitzone services config --json       # Show configuration as JSON",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  gitzone services set mongodb,minio   # Configure services without prompts",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  gitzone services compass             # Get MongoDB Compass connection",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  gitzone services logs elasticsearch  # Show Elasticsearch logs",
+  );
  console.log();

-  logger.log('note', 'Global Commands (-g/--global):');
-  logger.log('info', '  list -g           List all registered projects');
-  logger.log('info', '  status -g         Show status across all projects');
-  logger.log('info', '  stop -g           Stop all containers across all projects');
-  logger.log('info', '  cleanup -g        Remove stale registry entries');
+  logger.log("note", "Global Commands (-g/--global):");
+  logger.log("info", "  list -g           List all registered projects");
+  logger.log("info", "  status -g         Show status across all projects");
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  stop -g           Stop all containers across all projects",
+  );
+  logger.log("info", "  cleanup -g        Remove stale registry entries");
  console.log();

-  logger.log('note', 'Global Examples:');
-  logger.log('info', '  gitzone services list -g    # List all registered projects');
-  logger.log('info', '  gitzone services status -g  # Show global container status');
-  logger.log('info', '  gitzone services stop -g    # Stop all (prompts for confirmation)');
+  logger.log("note", "Global Examples:");
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  gitzone services list -g    # List all registered projects",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  gitzone services status -g  # Show global container status",
+  );
+  logger.log(
+    "info",
+    "  gitzone services stop -g    # Stop all (prompts for confirmation)",
+  );
 }

 // ==================== Global Command Handlers ====================
@@ -280,23 +627,23 @@ async function handleGlobalCommand(command: string) {
  const globalRegistry = GlobalRegistry.getInstance();

  switch (command) {
-    case 'list':
+    case "list":
      await handleGlobalList(globalRegistry);
      break;

-    case 'status':
+    case "status":
      await handleGlobalStatus(globalRegistry);
      break;

-    case 'stop':
+    case "stop":
      await handleGlobalStop(globalRegistry);
      break;

-    case 'cleanup':
+    case "cleanup":
      await handleGlobalCleanup(globalRegistry);
      break;

-    case 'help':
+    case "help":
    default:
      showHelp();
      break;
@@ -304,13 +651,13 @@ async function handleGlobalCommand(command: string) {
 }

 async function handleGlobalList(globalRegistry: GlobalRegistry) {
-  helpers.printHeader('Registered Projects (Global)');
+  helpers.printHeader("Registered Projects (Global)");

  const projects = await globalRegistry.getAllProjects();
  const projectPaths = Object.keys(projects);

  if (projectPaths.length === 0) {
-    logger.log('note', 'No projects registered');
+    logger.log("note", "No projects registered");
    return;
  }

@@ -319,20 +666,20 @@ async function handleGlobalList(globalRegistry: GlobalRegistry) {
    const lastActive = new Date(project.lastActive).toLocaleString();

    console.log();
-    logger.log('ok', `📁 ${project.projectName}`);
-    logger.log('info', `   Path: ${project.projectPath}`);
-    logger.log('info', `   Services: ${project.enabledServices.join(', ')}`);
-    logger.log('info', `   Last Active: ${lastActive}`);
+    logger.log("ok", `📁 ${project.projectName}`);
+    logger.log("info", `   Path: ${project.projectPath}`);
+    logger.log("info", `   Services: ${project.enabledServices.join(", ")}`);
+    logger.log("info", `   Last Active: ${lastActive}`);
  }
 }

 async function handleGlobalStatus(globalRegistry: GlobalRegistry) {
-  helpers.printHeader('Global Service Status');
+  helpers.printHeader("Global Service Status");

  const statuses = await globalRegistry.getGlobalStatus();

  if (statuses.length === 0) {
-    logger.log('note', 'No projects registered');
+    logger.log("note", "No projects registered");
    return;
  }

@@ -341,28 +688,39 @@ async function handleGlobalStatus(globalRegistry: GlobalRegistry) {

  for (const project of statuses) {
    console.log();
-    logger.log('ok', `📁 ${project.projectName}`);
-    logger.log('info', `   Path: ${project.projectPath}`);
+    logger.log("ok", `📁 ${project.projectName}`);
+    logger.log("info", `   Path: ${project.projectPath}`);

    if (project.containers.length === 0) {
-      logger.log('note', '   No containers configured');
+      logger.log("note", "   No containers configured");
      continue;
    }

    for (const container of project.containers) {
      totalContainers++;
-      const statusIcon = container.status === 'running' ? '🟢' : container.status === 'exited' ? '🟡' : '⚪';
-      if (container.status === 'running') runningCount++;
-      logger.log('info', `   ${statusIcon} ${container.name}: ${container.status}`);
+      const statusIcon =
+        container.status === "running"
+          ? "🟢"
+          : container.status === "exited"
+            ? "🟡"
+            : "⚪";
+      if (container.status === "running") runningCount++;
+      logger.log(
+        "info",
+        `   ${statusIcon} ${container.name}: ${container.status}`,
+      );
    }
  }

  console.log();
-  logger.log('note', `Summary: ${runningCount}/${totalContainers} containers running across ${statuses.length} project(s)`);
+  logger.log(
+    "note",
+    `Summary: ${runningCount}/${totalContainers} containers running across ${statuses.length} project(s)`,
+  );
 }

 async function handleGlobalStop(globalRegistry: GlobalRegistry) {
-  helpers.printHeader('Stop All Containers (Global)');
+  helpers.printHeader("Stop All Containers (Global)");

  const statuses = await globalRegistry.getGlobalStatus();

@@ -370,64 +728,73 @@ async function handleGlobalStop(globalRegistry: GlobalRegistry) {
  let runningCount = 0;
  for (const project of statuses) {
    for (const container of project.containers) {
-      if (container.status === 'running') runningCount++;
+      if (container.status === "running") runningCount++;
    }
  }

  if (runningCount === 0) {
-    logger.log('note', 'No running containers found');
+    logger.log("note", "No running containers found");
    return;
  }

-  logger.log('note', `Found ${runningCount} running container(s) across ${statuses.length} project(s)`);
+  logger.log(
+    "note",
+    `Found ${runningCount} running container(s) across ${statuses.length} project(s)`,
+  );
  console.log();

  // Show what will be stopped
  for (const project of statuses) {
-    const runningContainers = project.containers.filter(c => c.status === 'running');
+    const runningContainers = project.containers.filter(
+      (c) => c.status === "running",
+    );
    if (runningContainers.length > 0) {
-      logger.log('info', `${project.projectName}:`);
+      logger.log("info", `${project.projectName}:`);
      for (const container of runningContainers) {
-        logger.log('info', `  • ${container.name}`);
+        logger.log("info", `  • ${container.name}`);
      }
    }
  }

  console.log();
-  const shouldContinue = await plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract.getCliConfirmation(
-    'Stop all containers?',
-    false
-  );
+  const shouldContinue =
+    await plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract.getCliConfirmation(
+      "Stop all containers?",
+      false,
+    );

  if (!shouldContinue) {
-    logger.log('note', 'Cancelled');
+    logger.log("note", "Cancelled");
    return;
  }

-  logger.log('note', 'Stopping all containers...');
+  logger.log("note", "Stopping all containers...");
  const result = await globalRegistry.stopAll();

  if (result.stopped.length > 0) {
-    logger.log('ok', `Stopped: ${result.stopped.join(', ')}`);
+    logger.log("ok", `Stopped: ${result.stopped.join(", ")}`);
  }
  if (result.failed.length > 0) {
-    logger.log('error', `Failed to stop: ${result.failed.join(', ')}`);
+    logger.log("error", `Failed to stop: ${result.failed.join(", ")}`);
  }
 }

 async function handleGlobalCleanup(globalRegistry: GlobalRegistry) {
-  helpers.printHeader('Cleanup Registry (Global)');
+  helpers.printHeader("Cleanup Registry (Global)");

-  logger.log('note', 'Checking for stale registry entries...');
+  logger.log("note", "Checking for stale registry entries...");
  const removed = await globalRegistry.cleanup();

  if (removed.length === 0) {
-    logger.log('ok', 'No stale entries found');
+    logger.log("ok", "No stale entries found");
    return;
  }

-  logger.log('ok', `Removed ${removed.length} stale entr${removed.length === 1 ? 'y' : 'ies'}:`);
+  logger.log(
+    "ok",
+    `Removed ${removed.length} stale entr${removed.length === 1 ? "y" : "ies"}:`,
+  );
  for (const path of removed) {
-    logger.log('info', `  • ${path}`);
+    logger.log("info", `  • ${path}`);
  }
-}
+}
@@ -1,91 +1,250 @@
 /* -----------------------------------------------
 * executes as standard  task
 * ----------------------------------------------- */
-import * as plugins from './mod.plugins.js';
-import * as paths from '../paths.js';
+import * as plugins from "./mod.plugins.js";
+import * as paths from "../paths.js";
+import type { ICliMode } from "../helpers.climode.js";
+import { getCliMode, printJson } from "../helpers.climode.js";

-import { logger } from '../gitzone.logging.js';
+import { logger } from "../gitzone.logging.js";

-export let run = async () => {
-  console.log('');
-  console.log('╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮');
-  console.log('│  gitzone - Development Workflow CLI                         │');
-  console.log('╰─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯');
-  console.log('');
+type ICommandHelpSummary = {
+  name: string;
+  description: string;
+};
+
+const commandSummaries: ICommandHelpSummary[] = [
+  {
+    name: "commit",
+    description:
+      "Analyze changes and create semantic source commits",
+  },
+  { name: "release", description: "Create versioned releases from pending changelog entries" },
+  { name: "format", description: "Plan or apply project formatting changes" },
+  { name: "config", description: "Read and change .smartconfig.json settings" },
+  { name: "services", description: "Manage or configure development services" },
+  { name: "tools", description: "Manage the global @git.zone toolchain" },
+  { name: "template", description: "Create a project from a template" },
+  { name: "open", description: "Open project assets and CI pages" },
+  { name: "docker", description: "Run Docker-related maintenance tasks" },
+  {
+    name: "deprecate",
+    description: "Deprecate npm packages across registries",
+  },
+  { name: "meta", description: "Run meta-repository commands" },
+  { name: "start", description: "Prepare a project for local work" },
+  { name: "helpers", description: "Run helper utilities" },
+];
+
+export let run = async (argvArg: any = {}) => {
+  const mode = await getCliMode(argvArg);
+  const requestedCommandHelp =
+    argvArg._?.[0] === "help" ? argvArg._?.[1] : undefined;
+
+  if (mode.help || requestedCommandHelp) {
+    await showHelp(mode, requestedCommandHelp);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (!mode.interactive) {
+    await showHelp(mode);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log("");
+  console.log(
+    "╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮",
+  );
+  console.log(
+    "│  gitzone - Development Workflow CLI                         │",
+  );
+  console.log(
+    "╰─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯",
+  );
+  console.log("");

  const interactInstance = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
  const response = await interactInstance.askQuestion({
-    type: 'list',
-    name: 'action',
-    message: 'What would you like to do?',
-    default: 'commit',
+    type: "list",
+    name: "action",
+    message: "What would you like to do?",
+    default: "commit",
    choices: [
-      { name: 'Commit changes (semantic versioning)', value: 'commit' },
-      { name: 'Format project files', value: 'format' },
-      { name: 'Configure release settings', value: 'config' },
-      { name: 'Create from template', value: 'template' },
-      { name: 'Manage dev services (MongoDB, S3)', value: 'services' },
-      { name: 'Open project assets', value: 'open' },
-      { name: 'Show help', value: 'help' },
+      { name: "Commit changes", value: "commit" },
+      { name: "Release pending changes", value: "release" },
+      { name: "Format project files", value: "format" },
+      { name: "Configure release settings", value: "config" },
+      { name: "Create from template", value: "template" },
+      { name: "Manage dev services (MongoDB, S3)", value: "services" },
+      { name: "Manage global @git.zone tools", value: "tools" },
+      { name: "Open project assets", value: "open" },
+      { name: "Show help", value: "help" },
    ],
  });

  const action = (response as any).value;

  switch (action) {
-    case 'commit': {
-      const modCommit = await import('../mod_commit/index.js');
-      await modCommit.run({ _: ['commit'] });
+    case "commit": {
+      const modCommit = await import("../mod_commit/index.js");
+      await modCommit.run({ _: ["commit"] });
      break;
    }
-    case 'format': {
-      const modFormat = await import('../mod_format/index.js');
+    case "release": {
+      const modRelease = await import("../mod_release/index.js");
+      await modRelease.run({ _: ["release"] });
+      break;
+    }
+    case "format": {
+      const modFormat = await import("../mod_format/index.js");
      await modFormat.run({ interactive: true });
      break;
    }
-    case 'config': {
-      const modConfig = await import('../mod_config/index.js');
-      await modConfig.run({ _: ['config'] });
+    case "config": {
+      const modConfig = await import("../mod_config/index.js");
+      await modConfig.run({ _: ["config"] });
      break;
    }
-    case 'template': {
-      const modTemplate = await import('../mod_template/index.js');
-      await modTemplate.run({ _: ['template'] });
+    case "template": {
+      const modTemplate = await import("../mod_template/index.js");
+      await modTemplate.run({ _: ["template"] });
      break;
    }
-    case 'services': {
-      const modServices = await import('../mod_services/index.js');
-      await modServices.run({ _: ['services'] });
+    case "services": {
+      const modServices = await import("../mod_services/index.js");
+      await modServices.run({ _: ["services"] });
      break;
    }
-    case 'open': {
-      const modOpen = await import('../mod_open/index.js');
-      await modOpen.run({ _: ['open'] });
+    case "tools": {
+      const modTools = await import("../mod_tools/index.js");
+      await modTools.run({ _: ["tools"] });
      break;
    }
-    case 'help':
-      showHelp();
+    case "open": {
+      const modOpen = await import("../mod_open/index.js");
+      await modOpen.run({ _: ["open"] });
+      break;
+    }
+    case "help":
+      await showHelp(mode);
      break;
  }
 };

-function showHelp(): void {
-  console.log('');
-  console.log('Usage: gitzone <command> [options]');
-  console.log('');
-  console.log('Commands:');
-  console.log('  commit      Create a semantic commit with versioning');
-  console.log('  format      Format and standardize project files');
-  console.log('  config      Manage release registry configuration');
-  console.log('  template    Create a new project from template');
-  console.log('  services    Manage dev services (MongoDB, S3/MinIO)');
-  console.log('  open        Open project assets (GitLab, npm, etc.)');
-  console.log('  docker      Docker-related operations');
-  console.log('  deprecate   Deprecate a package on npm');
-  console.log('  meta        Run meta commands');
-  console.log('  start       Start working on a project');
-  console.log('  helpers     Run helper utilities');
-  console.log('');
-  console.log('Run gitzone <command> --help for more information on a command.');
-  console.log('');
+export async function showHelp(
+  mode: ICliMode,
+  commandName?: string,
+): Promise<void> {
+  if (commandName) {
+    const handled = await showCommandHelp(commandName, mode);
+    if (handled) {
+      return;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (mode.json) {
+    printJson({
+      name: "gitzone",
+      usage: "gitzone <command> [options]",
+      commands: commandSummaries,
+      globalFlags: [
+        { flag: "--help, -h", description: "Show help output" },
+        {
+          flag: "--json",
+          description: "Emit machine-readable JSON when supported",
+        },
+        {
+          flag: "--plain",
+          description: "Use plain text output when supported",
+        },
+        {
+          flag: "--agent",
+          description: "Prefer non-interactive machine-friendly output",
+        },
+        {
+          flag: "--no-interactive",
+          description: "Disable prompts and interactive menus",
+        },
+        {
+          flag: "--no-check-updates",
+          description: "Skip the update check banner",
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Usage: gitzone <command> [options]");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Commands:");
+  for (const commandSummary of commandSummaries) {
+    console.log(
+      `  ${commandSummary.name.padEnd(11)} ${commandSummary.description}`,
+    );
+  }
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Global flags:");
+  console.log("  --help, -h            Show help output");
+  console.log(
+    "  --json                Emit machine-readable JSON when supported",
+  );
+  console.log("  --plain               Use plain text output when supported");
+  console.log(
+    "  --agent               Prefer non-interactive machine-friendly output",
+  );
+  console.log("  --no-interactive      Disable prompts and interactive menus");
+  console.log("  --no-check-updates    Skip the update check banner");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Examples:");
+  console.log("  gitzone help commit");
+  console.log("  gitzone config show --json");
+  console.log("  gitzone commit recommend --json");
+  console.log("  gitzone release --plan");
+  console.log("  gitzone format plan --json");
+  console.log("  gitzone services set mongodb,minio");
+  console.log("  gitzone tools update");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Run gitzone <command> --help for command-specific usage.");
+  console.log("");
+}
+
+async function showCommandHelp(
+  commandName: string,
+  mode: ICliMode,
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  switch (commandName) {
+    case "commit": {
+      const modCommit = await import("../mod_commit/index.js");
+      modCommit.showHelp(mode);
+      return true;
+    }
+    case "release": {
+      const modRelease = await import("../mod_release/index.js");
+      modRelease.showHelp(mode);
+      return true;
+    }
+    case "config": {
+      const modConfig = await import("../mod_config/index.js");
+      modConfig.showHelp(mode);
+      return true;
+    }
+    case "format": {
+      const modFormat = await import("../mod_format/index.js");
+      modFormat.showHelp(mode);
+      return true;
+    }
+    case "services": {
+      const modServices = await import("../mod_services/index.js");
+      modServices.showHelp(mode);
+      return true;
+    }
+    case "tools": {
+      const modTools = await import("../mod_tools/index.js");
+      modTools.showHelp(mode);
+      return true;
+    }
+    default:
+      return false;
+  }
 }
@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+import * as plugins from "./mod.plugins.js";
+
+export interface IInstalledPackage {
+  name: string;
+  version: string;
+}
+
+export interface IPackageUpdateInfo {
+  name: string;
+  currentVersion: string;
+  latestVersion: string;
+  needsUpdate: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface IPackageManagerInfo {
+  available: boolean;
+  currentVersion: string;
+  latestVersion: string | null;
+  needsUpdate: boolean;
+}
+
+export class PackageManagerUtil {
+  private shell = new plugins.smartshell.Smartshell({
+    executor: "bash",
+  });
+
+  public async detectPnpm(): Promise<boolean> {
+    try {
+      const result = await this.shell.execSilent("pnpm --version 2>/dev/null");
+      return result.exitCode === 0 && Boolean(result.stdout.trim());
+    } catch {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  public async getPnpmVersionInfo(): Promise<IPackageManagerInfo> {
+    const available = await this.detectPnpm();
+    if (!available) {
+      return {
+        available: false,
+        currentVersion: "unknown",
+        latestVersion: null,
+        needsUpdate: false,
+      };
+    }
+
+    const currentVersion = await this.getCurrentPnpmVersion();
+    const latestVersion = await this.getLatestVersion("pnpm", ["https://registry.npmjs.org"]);
+
+    return {
+      available: true,
+      currentVersion,
+      latestVersion,
+      needsUpdate: latestVersion ? this.isNewerVersion(currentVersion, latestVersion) : false,
+    };
+  }
+
+  public async getInstalledPackages(): Promise<IInstalledPackage[]> {
+    const packages: IInstalledPackage[] = [];
+
+    try {
+      const result = await this.shell.execSilent("pnpm list -g --depth=0 --json 2>/dev/null || true");
+      const output = result.stdout.trim();
+      if (!output) {
+        return packages;
+      }
+
+      const data = JSON.parse(output);
+      const dataArray = Array.isArray(data) ? data : [data];
+      for (const item of dataArray) {
+        const dependencies = item.dependencies || {};
+        for (const [name, info] of Object.entries(dependencies)) {
+          if (!name.startsWith("@git.zone/")) {
+            continue;
+          }
+          packages.push({
+            name,
+            version: (info as any).version || "unknown",
+          });
+        }
+      }
+    } catch {
+      return packages;
+    }
+
+    return packages;
+  }
+
+  public async getLatestVersion(
+    packageName: string,
+    registries = ["https://verdaccio.lossless.digital", "https://registry.npmjs.org"],
+  ): Promise<string | null> {
+    for (const registry of registries) {
+      const latest = await this.getLatestVersionFromRegistry(registry, packageName);
+      if (latest) {
+        return latest;
+      }
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  public async installLatest(packageName: string): Promise<boolean> {
+    const packageSpecifier = `${packageName}@latest`;
+    console.log(`  Installing ${packageSpecifier} via pnpm...`);
+
+    try {
+      const result = await this.shell.exec(`pnpm add -g ${shellQuote(packageSpecifier)}`);
+      return result.exitCode === 0;
+    } catch {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  public isNewerVersion(current: string, latest: string): boolean {
+    const currentParts = normalizeSemver(current);
+    const latestParts = normalizeSemver(latest);
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < Math.max(currentParts.length, latestParts.length); i++) {
+      const currentPart = currentParts[i] || 0;
+      const latestPart = latestParts[i] || 0;
+      if (latestPart > currentPart) return true;
+      if (latestPart < currentPart) return false;
+    }
+
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  private async getCurrentPnpmVersion(): Promise<string> {
+    try {
+      const result = await this.shell.execSilent("pnpm --version 2>/dev/null");
+      const versionMatch = result.stdout.trim().match(/(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)/);
+      return versionMatch?.[1] || "unknown";
+    } catch {
+      return "unknown";
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async getLatestVersionFromRegistry(
+    registry: string,
+    packageName: string,
+  ): Promise<string | null> {
+    const encodedName = packageName.replace("/", "%2f");
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    const timeout = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), 8000);
+
+    try {
+      const response = await fetch(`${registry}/${encodedName}`, {
+        signal: controller.signal,
+        headers: {
+          accept: "application/json",
+        },
+      });
+      if (!response.ok) {
+        return null;
+      }
+      const data = await response.json();
+      const latest = (data as any)["dist-tags"]?.latest;
+      return typeof latest === "string" && latest.length > 0 ? latest : null;
+    } catch {
+      return null;
+    } finally {
+      clearTimeout(timeout);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function normalizeSemver(version: string): number[] {
+  return version
+    .replace(/^[^\d]*/, "")
+    .split(".")
+    .map((part) => parseInt(part, 10) || 0);
+}
+
+function shellQuote(value: string): string {
+  return `'${value.replaceAll("'", "'\\''")}'`;
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,359 @@
+import * as plugins from "./mod.plugins.js";
+import { commitinfo } from "../00_commitinfo_data.js";
+import type { ICliMode } from "../helpers.climode.js";
+import { getCliMode, printJson } from "../helpers.climode.js";
+import {
+  PackageManagerUtil,
+  type IInstalledPackage,
+  type IPackageUpdateInfo,
+} from "./classes.packagemanager.js";
+
+export const GITZONE_PACKAGES = [
+  "@git.zone/cli",
+  "@git.zone/tsdoc",
+  "@git.zone/tsbuild",
+  "@git.zone/tstest",
+  "@git.zone/tspublish",
+  "@git.zone/tsbundle",
+  "@git.zone/tsdocker",
+  "@git.zone/tsview",
+  "@git.zone/tswatch",
+  "@git.zone/tsrust",
+];
+
+export const run = async (argvArg: any = {}): Promise<void> => {
+  const mode = await getCliMode(argvArg);
+  const command = argvArg._?.[1] || "help";
+
+  if (mode.help || command === "help") {
+    showHelp(mode);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  switch (command) {
+    case "update":
+      await runUpdate(argvArg, mode);
+      break;
+    case "install":
+      await runInstall(argvArg, mode);
+      break;
+    default:
+      showHelp(mode);
+      break;
+  }
+};
+
+async function runUpdate(argvArg: any, mode: ICliMode): Promise<void> {
+  const verbose = Boolean(argvArg.v || argvArg.verbose);
+  const pmUtil = new PackageManagerUtil();
+
+  console.log("Scanning for installed @git.zone packages...\n");
+
+  const pnpmInfo = await pmUtil.getPnpmVersionInfo();
+  if (!pnpmInfo.available) {
+    console.log("pnpm is required for gitzone tools update, but it was not found.");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log("Package manager:\n");
+  console.log("  Name     Current     Latest      Status");
+  console.log("  ----------------------------------------------");
+  const latestPnpm = (pnpmInfo.latestVersion || "unknown").padEnd(12);
+  const pnpmStatus = pnpmInfo.latestVersion === null
+    ? "? Version unknown"
+    : pnpmInfo.needsUpdate
+      ? "Update available"
+      : "Up to date";
+  console.log(`  ${"pnpm".padEnd(9)}${pnpmInfo.currentVersion.padEnd(12)}${latestPnpm}${pnpmStatus}`);
+  console.log("");
+
+  if (verbose) {
+    console.log("Using pnpm as the supported global package manager.\n");
+  }
+
+  const selfUpdated = await handleSelfUpdate(pmUtil, mode);
+  if (selfUpdated) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const installedPackages = await pmUtil.getInstalledPackages();
+  const packageInfos = await getPackageUpdateInfos(pmUtil, installedPackages);
+
+  if (packageInfos.length === 0) {
+    console.log("No managed @git.zone packages found installed globally.");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log("Installed @git.zone packages:\n");
+  console.log("  Package                      Current     Latest      Status");
+  console.log("  ------------------------------------------------------------");
+  for (const packageInfo of packageInfos) {
+    const status = packageInfo.latestVersion === "unknown"
+      ? "? Version unknown"
+      : packageInfo.needsUpdate
+        ? "Update available"
+        : "Up to date";
+    console.log(
+      `  ${packageInfo.name.padEnd(28)}${packageInfo.currentVersion.padEnd(12)}${packageInfo.latestVersion.padEnd(12)}${status}`,
+    );
+  }
+  console.log("");
+
+  await printMissingPackages(pmUtil, installedPackages);
+
+  const packagesToUpdate = packageInfos.filter((packageInfo) => packageInfo.needsUpdate);
+  if (packagesToUpdate.length === 0) {
+    console.log("All managed packages are up to date.");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log(`Found ${packagesToUpdate.length} package(s) with available updates.\n`);
+
+  if (!mode.yes && !mode.interactive) {
+    console.log("Run gitzone tools update -y to update without prompts.");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  let shouldUpdate = mode.yes;
+  if (!shouldUpdate) {
+    const interactInstance = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
+    const answer = await interactInstance.askQuestion({
+      type: "confirm",
+      name: "confirmUpdate",
+      message: "Do you want to update these packages?",
+      default: true,
+    });
+    shouldUpdate = answer.value === true;
+  }
+
+  if (!shouldUpdate) {
+    console.log("Update cancelled.");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  await installPackages(pmUtil, packagesToUpdate.map((packageInfo) => packageInfo.name), "updated");
+}
+
+async function runInstall(argvArg: any, mode: ICliMode): Promise<void> {
+  const verbose = Boolean(argvArg.v || argvArg.verbose);
+  const pmUtil = new PackageManagerUtil();
+
+  console.log("Scanning for missing @git.zone packages...\n");
+
+  const pnpmAvailable = await pmUtil.detectPnpm();
+  if (!pnpmAvailable) {
+    console.log("pnpm is required for gitzone tools install, but it was not found.");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (verbose) {
+    console.log("Using pnpm as the supported global package manager.\n");
+  }
+
+  const installedPackages = await pmUtil.getInstalledPackages();
+  const installedNames = new Set(installedPackages.map((packageInfo) => packageInfo.name));
+  const missingPackages = GITZONE_PACKAGES.filter((packageName) => !installedNames.has(packageName));
+
+  if (missingPackages.length === 0) {
+    console.log("All managed @git.zone packages are already installed.");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log(`Found ${missingPackages.length} missing package(s).\n`);
+
+  if (!mode.yes && !mode.interactive) {
+    await printPackageListWithLatest(pmUtil, missingPackages);
+    console.log("Run gitzone tools install -y to install all missing packages without prompts.");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  let selectedPackages = missingPackages;
+  if (!mode.yes) {
+    const choicesWithVersions: Array<{ name: string; value: string }> = [];
+    for (const packageName of missingPackages) {
+      const latest = await pmUtil.getLatestVersion(packageName);
+      choicesWithVersions.push({
+        name: `${packageName}${latest ? `@${latest}` : ""}`,
+        value: packageName,
+      });
+    }
+
+    const interactInstance = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
+    const answer = await interactInstance.askQuestion({
+      type: "checkbox",
+      name: "packages",
+      message: "Select packages to install:",
+      default: missingPackages,
+      choices: choicesWithVersions,
+    });
+
+    selectedPackages = answer.value as string[];
+    if (selectedPackages.length === 0) {
+      console.log("No packages selected. Nothing to install.");
+      return;
+    }
+  }
+
+  await installPackages(pmUtil, selectedPackages, "installed");
+}
+
+async function handleSelfUpdate(
+  pmUtil: PackageManagerUtil,
+  mode: ICliMode,
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  console.log("Checking for gitzone self-update...\n");
+  const currentVersion = commitinfo.version;
+  const latestVersion = await pmUtil.getLatestVersion("@git.zone/cli");
+
+  if (!latestVersion || !pmUtil.isNewerVersion(currentVersion, latestVersion)) {
+    console.log(`  @git.zone/cli  ${currentVersion}  Up to date\n`);
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  console.log(`  @git.zone/cli  ${currentVersion} -> ${latestVersion}  Update available\n`);
+
+  if (!mode.yes && !mode.interactive) {
+    console.log("Run gitzone tools update -y to update gitzone first.");
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  let shouldUpdate = mode.yes;
+  if (!shouldUpdate) {
+    const interactInstance = new plugins.smartinteract.SmartInteract();
+    const answer = await interactInstance.askQuestion({
+      type: "confirm",
+      name: "confirmSelfUpdate",
+      message: "Do you want to update gitzone itself first?",
+      default: true,
+    });
+    shouldUpdate = answer.value === true;
+  }
+
+  if (!shouldUpdate) {
+    console.log("Skipping gitzone self-update.\n");
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  const success = await pmUtil.installLatest("@git.zone/cli");
+  if (!success) {
+    console.log("\ngitzone self-update failed. Continuing with the current version.\n");
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  console.log("\ngitzone has been updated. Re-run gitzone tools update to check remaining packages.");
+  return true;
+}
+
+async function getPackageUpdateInfos(
+  pmUtil: PackageManagerUtil,
+  installedPackages: IInstalledPackage[],
+): Promise<IPackageUpdateInfo[]> {
+  const packageInfos: IPackageUpdateInfo[] = [];
+  for (const installedPackage of installedPackages) {
+    if (!GITZONE_PACKAGES.includes(installedPackage.name)) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    const latestVersion = await pmUtil.getLatestVersion(installedPackage.name);
+    packageInfos.push({
+      name: installedPackage.name,
+      currentVersion: installedPackage.version,
+      latestVersion: latestVersion || "unknown",
+      needsUpdate: latestVersion
+        ? pmUtil.isNewerVersion(installedPackage.version, latestVersion)
+        : false,
+    });
+  }
+  return packageInfos;
+}
+
+async function printMissingPackages(
+  pmUtil: PackageManagerUtil,
+  installedPackages: IInstalledPackage[],
+): Promise<void> {
+  const installedNames = new Set(installedPackages.map((packageInfo) => packageInfo.name));
+  const missingPackages = GITZONE_PACKAGES.filter((packageName) => !installedNames.has(packageName));
+  if (missingPackages.length === 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log("Not installed (managed @git.zone packages):\n");
+  await printPackageListWithLatest(pmUtil, missingPackages);
+  console.log("Run gitzone tools install to install missing packages.\n");
+}
+
+async function printPackageListWithLatest(
+  pmUtil: PackageManagerUtil,
+  packageNames: string[],
+): Promise<void> {
+  console.log("  Package                      Latest");
+  console.log("  ----------------------------------------");
+  for (const packageName of packageNames) {
+    const latest = await pmUtil.getLatestVersion(packageName);
+    console.log(`  ${packageName.padEnd(28)}  ${latest || "unknown"}`);
+  }
+  console.log("");
+}
+
+async function installPackages(
+  pmUtil: PackageManagerUtil,
+  packageNames: string[],
+  action: "installed" | "updated",
+): Promise<void> {
+  let successCount = 0;
+  let failCount = 0;
+
+  for (const packageName of packageNames) {
+    const success = await pmUtil.installLatest(packageName);
+    if (success) {
+      console.log(`  ${packageName} ${action} successfully`);
+      successCount++;
+    } else {
+      console.log(`  ${packageName} failed`);
+      failCount++;
+    }
+  }
+
+  console.log("");
+  if (failCount === 0) {
+    console.log(`All ${successCount} package(s) ${action} successfully.`);
+  } else {
+    console.log(`${successCount} package(s) ${action}, ${failCount} failed.`);
+  }
+}
+
+export function showHelp(mode?: ICliMode): void {
+  if (mode?.json) {
+    printJson({
+      name: "gitzone tools",
+      usage: "gitzone tools <command> [options]",
+      commands: [
+        { name: "update", description: "Check and update globally installed @git.zone packages" },
+        { name: "install", description: "Install missing managed @git.zone packages" },
+      ],
+      flags: [
+        { flag: "-y, --yes", description: "Run without confirmation prompts" },
+        { flag: "-v, --verbose", description: "Show package manager diagnostics" },
+      ],
+      packageManager: "pnpm",
+      managedPackages: GITZONE_PACKAGES,
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Usage: gitzone tools <command> [options]");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Commands:");
+  console.log("  update             Check and update globally installed @git.zone packages");
+  console.log("  install            Install missing managed @git.zone packages");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Options:");
+  console.log("  -y, --yes          Run without confirmation prompts");
+  console.log("  -v, --verbose      Show package manager diagnostics");
+  console.log("");
+  console.log("Examples:");
+  console.log("  gitzone tools update");
+  console.log("  gitzone tools update -y");
+  console.log("  gitzone tools install");
+  console.log("");
+}
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export * from "../plugins.js";
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
jkunz	358d677e72	v2.16.0 Default (tags) / security (push) Failing after 1s Details Default (tags) / test (push) Failing after 1s Details Default (tags) / release (push) Has been skipped Details Default (tags) / metadata (push) Has been skipped Details	2026-05-10 11:05:17 +00:00
jkunz	f421c5851d	feat(cli): add toolchain management command	2026-05-10 11:04:57 +00:00
jkunz	a420157287	v2.15.0 Default (tags) / security (push) Failing after 1s Details Default (tags) / test (push) Failing after 1s Details Default (tags) / release (push) Has been skipped Details Default (tags) / metadata (push) Has been skipped Details	2026-05-10 10:01:18 +00:00
jkunz	0e27d54ad2	feat(cli): split commit and release into target-based workflows	2026-05-10 10:01:09 +00:00
jkunz	738fbaa64f	v2.14.3 Default (tags) / security (push) Failing after 1s Details Default (tags) / test (push) Failing after 1s Details Default (tags) / release (push) Has been skipped Details Default (tags) / metadata (push) Has been skipped Details	2026-04-30 13:03:04 +00:00
jkunz	fe7a9d93d1	fix(test): move test workspace into .nogit and add bundled fixture project files	2026-04-30 13:03:04 +00:00
jkunz	9a4c8795d4	v2.14.2 Default (tags) / security (push) Failing after 1s Details Default (tags) / test (push) Failing after 1s Details Default (tags) / release (push) Has been skipped Details Default (tags) / metadata (push) Has been skipped Details	2026-04-30 12:59:00 +00:00
jkunz	faee6a1698	fix(package): correct package entry point extension and align test scripts with pnpm	2026-04-30 12:59:00 +00:00
jkunz	9a1044783d	v2.14.1 Default (tags) / security (push) Failing after 0s Details Default (tags) / test (push) Failing after 0s Details Default (tags) / release (push) Has been skipped Details Default (tags) / metadata (push) Has been skipped Details	2026-04-16 19:44:17 +00:00
jkunz	b16eb75d81	fix(repo): no changes to commit	2026-04-16 19:44:17 +00:00
jkunz	261f7ee6b2	v2.14.0 Default (tags) / security (push) Failing after 0s Details Default (tags) / test (push) Failing after 0s Details Default (tags) / release (push) Has been skipped Details Default (tags) / metadata (push) Has been skipped Details	2026-04-16 18:54:07 +00:00
jkunz	fd7a73398c	feat(cli): add machine-readable CLI help, recommendation, and configuration flows	2026-04-16 18:54:07 +00:00
jkunz	f43f88a3cb	v2.13.16 Default (tags) / security (push) Failing after 0s Details Default (tags) / test (push) Failing after 0s Details Default (tags) / release (push) Has been skipped Details Default (tags) / metadata (push) Has been skipped Details	2026-04-16 13:05:47 +00:00
jkunz	4c86ad62fb	fix(mod_format): stop package.json formatter from modifying buildDocs and dependency entries	2026-04-16 13:05:47 +00:00
jkunz	4214a1fdf1	v2.13.15 Default (tags) / security (push) Failing after 0s Details Default (tags) / test (push) Failing after 0s Details Default (tags) / release (push) Has been skipped Details Default (tags) / metadata (push) Has been skipped Details	2026-03-24 19:59:26 +00:00
jkunz	1c33735799	fix(repo): no changes to commit	2026-03-24 19:59:26 +00:00