diff --git a/coldstart-prompts/18-setup-release-pipeline.md b/coldstart-prompts/18-setup-release-pipeline.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..50c372a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/coldstart-prompts/18-setup-release-pipeline.md
@@ -0,0 +1,455 @@
+# Coldstart Prompt: Setup GitHub Release Pipeline
+
+## Objective
+Set up a production-grade release pipeline following GitHub best practices for automated releases, semantic versioning, changelog generation, and asset management.
+
+## Context
+This prompt guides you through establishing a comprehensive release automation workflow that:
+- Uses semantic versioning (SemVer)
+- Automates changelog generation from conventional commits
+- Creates GitHub releases with proper assets
+- Publishes to package registries (PyPI, npm, etc.)
+- Maintains release notes and documentation
+- Follows security and signing best practices
+
+## Prerequisites
+- Repository uses conventional commits (enforced via pre-commit hooks)
+- Repository has a clear versioning strategy
+- CI/CD pipelines are already configured
+- Branch protection rules are in place for main/master
+
+## Tasks
+
+### 1. Configure Semantic Release Automation
+
+**Create `.github/workflows/release.yml`:**
+
+```yaml
+name: Release
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+  issues: write
+  pull-requests: write
+  packages: write
+
+jobs:
+  release:
+    name: Create Release
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Setup Node.js
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: 'lts/*'
+
+      - name: Install semantic-release
+        run: |
+          npm install -g semantic-release @semantic-release/changelog @semantic-release/git @semantic-release/github
+
+      - name: Run semantic-release
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        run: npx semantic-release
+```
+
+### 2. Create Semantic Release Configuration
+
+**Create `.releaserc.json`:**
+
+```json
+{
+  "branches": ["main", "master"],
+  "plugins": [
+    "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer",
+    "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator",
+    [
+      "@semantic-release/changelog",
+      {
+        "changelogFile": "CHANGELOG.md"
+      }
+    ],
+    [
+      "@semantic-release/github",
+      {
+        "assets": [
+          {
+            "path": "dist/**",
+            "label": "Distribution files"
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    ],
+    [
+      "@semantic-release/git",
+      {
+        "assets": ["CHANGELOG.md", "package.json"],
+        "message": "chore(release): ${nextRelease.version} [skip ci]\n\n${nextRelease.notes}"
+      }
+    ]
+  ]
+}
+```
+
+### 3. Setup Package Publishing (Language-Specific)
+
+#### For Python Projects:
+
+**Create `.github/workflows/publish-pypi.yml`:**
+
+```yaml
+name: Publish to PyPI
+
+on:
+  release:
+    types: [published]
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  id-token: write
+
+jobs:
+  publish:
+    name: Publish to PyPI
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Set up Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.x'
+
+      - name: Install build dependencies
+        run: |
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+          pip install build twine
+
+      - name: Build package
+        run: python -m build
+
+      - name: Publish to PyPI
+        uses: pypa/gh-action-pypi-publish@release/v1
+        with:
+          repository-url: https://upload.pypi.org/legacy/
+```
+
+#### For Node.js Projects:
+
+**Create `.github/workflows/publish-npm.yml`:**
+
+```yaml
+name: Publish to npm
+
+on:
+  release:
+    types: [published]
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  packages: write
+
+jobs:
+  publish:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: 'lts/*'
+          registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org'
+
+      - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm publish
+        env:
+          NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
+```
+
+### 4. Configure Release Drafter (Alternative/Complementary Approach)
+
+**Create `.github/release-drafter.yml`:**
+
+```yaml
+name-template: 'v$RESOLVED_VERSION'
+tag-template: 'v$RESOLVED_VERSION'
+categories:
+  - title: '🚀 Features'
+    labels:
+      - 'feature'
+      - 'enhancement'
+  - title: '🐛 Bug Fixes'
+    labels:
+      - 'fix'
+      - 'bugfix'
+      - 'bug'
+  - title: '🧰 Maintenance'
+    labels:
+      - 'chore'
+      - 'dependencies'
+  - title: '📚 Documentation'
+    labels:
+      - 'documentation'
+      - 'docs'
+  - title: '🔒 Security'
+    labels:
+      - 'security'
+change-template: '- $TITLE @$AUTHOR (#$NUMBER)'
+version-resolver:
+  major:
+    labels:
+      - 'major'
+      - 'breaking'
+  minor:
+    labels:
+      - 'minor'
+      - 'feature'
+  patch:
+    labels:
+      - 'patch'
+      - 'fix'
+      - 'bugfix'
+  default: patch
+template: |
+  ## Changes
+
+  $CHANGES
+
+  ## Contributors
+
+  $CONTRIBUTORS
+```
+
+**Create `.github/workflows/release-drafter.yml`:**
+
+```yaml
+name: Release Drafter
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+  pull_request:
+    types: [opened, reopened, synchronize]
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  pull-requests: write
+
+jobs:
+  update_release_draft:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: release-drafter/release-drafter@v6
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+```
+
+### 5. Add Release Signing and Provenance
+
+**Create `.github/workflows/release-provenance.yml`:**
+
+```yaml
+name: Generate SLSA Provenance
+
+on:
+  release:
+    types: [published]
+
+permissions:
+  actions: read
+  id-token: write
+  contents: write
+
+jobs:
+  provenance:
+    uses: slsa-framework/slsa-github-generator/.github/workflows/generator_generic_slsa3.yml@v1.9.0
+    with:
+      base64-subjects: "${{ needs.build.outputs.digests }}"
+      upload-assets: true
+```
+
+### 6. Create Release Documentation
+
+**Create `docs/RELEASE_PROCESS.md`:**
+
+```markdown
+# Release Process
+
+## Overview
+This project uses automated semantic releases based on conventional commits.
+
+## Release Types
+
+- **Major (X.0.0)**: Breaking changes (commit prefix: `feat!:` or `fix!:`)
+- **Minor (x.Y.0)**: New features (commit prefix: `feat:`)
+- **Patch (x.y.Z)**: Bug fixes (commit prefix: `fix:`)
+
+## Automated Release Workflow
+
+1. Commits are merged to `main` branch
+2. Semantic-release analyzes commit messages
+3. Version is automatically determined
+4. CHANGELOG.md is updated
+5. Git tag is created
+6. GitHub Release is published
+7. Package is published to registry
+
+## Manual Release Trigger
+
+To manually trigger a release:
+```bash
+gh workflow run release.yml
+```
+
+## Pre-release Process
+
+For beta/alpha releases:
+```bash
+git checkout -b beta
+git push origin beta
+```
+
+Then update `.releaserc.json` to include beta branch.
+
+## Hotfix Process
+
+1. Create hotfix branch from latest release tag
+2. Apply fix with conventional commit
+3. Merge to main with expedited review
+4. Release automation handles versioning
+
+## Rollback Procedure
+
+To rollback a release:
+```bash
+# Delete the tag locally and remotely
+git tag -d v1.2.3
+git push origin :refs/tags/v1.2.3
+
+# Delete the GitHub release
+gh release delete v1.2.3 --yes
+
+# Revert the release commit
+git revert <release-commit-sha>
+git push origin main
+```
+```
+
+### 7. Setup Release Checklist Template
+
+**Create `.github/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md`:**
+
+```markdown
+# Release Checklist
+
+## Pre-Release
+- [ ] All tests passing on main branch
+- [ ] Documentation is up to date
+- [ ] CHANGELOG.md reflects all changes
+- [ ] Security vulnerabilities addressed
+- [ ] Dependencies are up to date
+- [ ] Version number follows SemVer
+- [ ] Migration guide written (if breaking changes)
+
+## Release
+- [ ] Release workflow triggered
+- [ ] GitHub Release created successfully
+- [ ] Package published to registry
+- [ ] Release assets uploaded
+- [ ] Provenance attestation generated
+
+## Post-Release
+- [ ] Release announcement published
+- [ ] Documentation site updated
+- [ ] Social media announcement (if applicable)
+- [ ] Dependent projects notified
+- [ ] Issue/PR milestones closed
+- [ ] Monitor for regression reports
+```
+
+### 8. Configure Branch Protection for Releases
+
+**Required settings via GitHub UI or API:**
+
+```bash
+# Enable branch protection for main
+gh api repos/:owner/:repo/branches/main/protection \
+  --method PUT \
+  --field required_status_checks='{"strict":true,"contexts":["test","lint","build"]}' \
+  --field enforce_admins=true \
+  --field required_pull_request_reviews='{"dismissal_restrictions":{},"dismiss_stale_reviews":true,"require_code_owner_reviews":true,"required_approving_review_count":1}' \
+  --field restrictions=null
+```
+
+## Success Criteria
+
+- ✅ Releases are created automatically on merge to main
+- ✅ Version numbers follow semantic versioning
+- ✅ CHANGELOG.md is automatically updated
+- ✅ GitHub Releases include proper release notes
+- ✅ Packages are published to registry automatically
+- ✅ Release assets are signed and verifiable
+- ✅ Documentation is clear for contributors
+- ✅ Rollback procedure is documented and tested
+
+## Testing the Pipeline
+
+1. Create a test commit with conventional commit message:
+   ```bash
+   git commit -m "feat: add test feature for release pipeline"
+   ```
+
+2. Push to main (or create PR and merge)
+
+3. Verify:
+   - GitHub Actions workflow runs successfully
+   - New release appears in GitHub Releases
+   - CHANGELOG.md is updated
+   - Package version is bumped
+   - Registry contains new version
+
+## Maintenance
+
+- Review release workflow quarterly
+- Update semantic-release plugins regularly
+- Monitor GitHub Actions usage and costs
+- Audit release permissions and tokens
+- Test rollback procedure annually
+
+## Resources
+
+- [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/)
+- [Conventional Commits](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/)
+- [GitHub Actions: Publishing packages](https://docs.github.com/en/actions/publishing-packages)
+- [SLSA Framework](https://slsa.dev/)
+- [Sigstore for signing](https://www.sigstore.dev/)
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Release workflow fails
+- Check conventional commit format
+- Verify GITHUB_TOKEN permissions
+- Review semantic-release configuration
+
+### Package publish fails
+- Verify registry credentials
+- Check package name availability
+- Review version conflict errors
+
+### Version not incrementing
+- Ensure commits use conventional format
+- Check branch configuration in .releaserc.json
+- Verify no `[skip ci]` in commit messages
diff --git a/coldstart-prompts/README.md b/coldstart-prompts/README.md
index 9688dd26..8a27b502 100644
--- a/coldstart-prompts/README.md
+++ b/coldstart-prompts/README.md
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # AgentReady Coldstart Implementation Prompts
 
 **Generated**: 2025-11-21
-**Total Prompts**: 17
-**Source**: BACKLOG.md
+**Total Prompts**: 18
+**Source**: BACKLOG.md + Community Contributions
 
 ---
 
@@ -43,13 +43,14 @@ These prompts are designed to be "drop in and go" - an AI agent or developer can
 | 12 | [12-improve-test-coverage-and-edge-case-handling.md](12-improve-test-coverage-and-edge-case-handling.md) | Improve Test Coverage and Edge Case Handling | 6.5K | 🔴 Not Started |
 | 14 | [14-align-subcommand-automated-remediation.md](14-align-subcommand-automated-remediation.md) | Align Subcommand (Automated Remediation) | 12K | 🔴 Not Started |
 
-### P2 (Medium) - 3 Items
+### P2 (Medium) - 4 Items
 
 | # | File | Title | Size | Status |
 |---|------|-------|------|--------|
 | 13 | [13-add-security-quality-improvements-from-code-review.md](13-add-security-quality-improvements-from-code-review.md) | Add Security & Quality Improvements from Code Review | 5.7K | 🔴 Not Started |
 | 15 | [15-interactive-dashboard-with-automated-remediation.md](15-interactive-dashboard-with-automated-remediation.md) | Interactive Dashboard with Automated Remediation | 11K | 🔴 Not Started |
 | 16 | [16-github-app-integration-badge-status-checks.md](16-github-app-integration-badge-status-checks.md) | GitHub App Integration (Badge & Status Checks) | 11K | 🔴 Not Started |
+| 18 | [18-setup-release-pipeline.md](18-setup-release-pipeline.md) | Setup GitHub Release Pipeline | 24K | 🟡 In Progress |
 
 ### P3 (Important) - 2 Items
 
@@ -161,14 +162,14 @@ python scripts/backlog_to_issues.py --all
 
 ## Statistics
 
-- **Total Features**: 17
+- **Total Features**: 18
 - **P0 (Critical)**: 6 features
 - **P1 (High)**: 3 features
-- **P2 (Medium)**: 3 features
+- **P2 (Medium)**: 4 features
 - **P3 (Important)**: 2 features
 - **P4 (Enhancement)**: 3 features
-- **Total Prompt Size**: ~138 KB
-- **Avg Prompt Size**: ~8.1 KB
+- **Total Prompt Size**: ~162 KB
+- **Avg Prompt Size**: ~9.0 KB
 
 ---