diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index 52ff679..afcad50 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     permissions:
-      contents: read
+      contents: write # Required for creating releases
       id-token: write # Required for OIDC authentication with JSR
 
     steps:
@@ -37,3 +37,25 @@ jobs:
           else
             deno publish
           fi
+
+      - name: Create GitHub Release
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
+        with:
+          tag_name: ${{ github.ref }}
+          name: Release ${{ steps.get_version.outputs.version }}
+          body: |
+            ## Release ${{ steps.get_version.outputs.version }}
+
+            Published to JSR: [@theswanfactory/deno-hooks@${{ steps.get_version.outputs.version }}](https://jsr.io/@theswanfactory/deno-hooks@${{ steps.get_version.outputs.version }})
+
+            ### Installation
+
+            ```bash
+            deno add @theswanfactory/deno-hooks@${{ steps.get_version.outputs.version }}
+            ```
+
+            See [CHANGELOG.md](https://github.com/${{ github.repository }}/blob/${{ github.ref_name }}/CHANGELOG.md) for details.
+          draft: false
+          prerelease: ${{ contains(steps.get_version.outputs.version, '-dev.') }}
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 13e9655..b9b9f20 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 
 ### Added
 
+- Now properly creates releases
 - Self-contained hook scripts that work without deno-hooks installed
 - Support for any shell command in hooks (not just deno commands)
 - Success message "✓ All hooks passed" after successful hook execution
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index d613b1c..c45565d 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -207,16 +207,44 @@ deno task version patch  # 0.3.0 -> 0.3.1
 deno task version minor  # 0.3.0 -> 0.4.0
 deno task version major  # 0.3.0 -> 1.0.0
 
-# Create and push release tag
+# Create and push dev pre-release tag (timestamp-based, merge-safe)
+deno task version dev    # 0.3.0 -> 0.3.0-dev.1734293847
+
+# Reset from dev version to stable
+deno task version reset  # 0.3.0-dev.1734293847 -> 0.3.0
+
+# Create and push stable release tag
 deno task version tag
 
 # Show help
 deno task version help
 ```
 
+**Dev Versioning**: Dev releases use timestamp-based identifiers (epoch seconds)
+like `0.3.0-dev.1734293847`. This ensures monotonic, merge-safe versions that
+won't conflict when multiple branches create dev releases simultaneously.
+
 ### Release Workflow
 
-#### Option 1: Automated version bump
+#### Dev Pre-release (for testing)
+
+Use dev releases to test JSR publication before stable releases:
+
+1. Create dev release: `deno task version dev`
+   - Generates timestamp-based version (e.g., `0.3.0-dev.1734293847`)
+   - Commits, tags, and pushes automatically
+2. Test the dev release:
+   `deno run -A jsr:@theswanfactory/deno-hooks@0.3.0-dev.1734293847`
+3. Reset to stable: `deno task version reset`
+   - Removes `-dev.timestamp` suffix
+   - Commits and pushes automatically
+
+**Note**: You cannot bump versions while on a dev/prerelease version. You must
+reset to stable first.
+
+#### Stable Release
+
+##### Option 1: Automated version bump
 
 1. Update version: `deno task version major` (for v1.0.0)
 2. Update `CHANGELOG.md` (move changes from `[Unreleased]` to new version)
@@ -224,7 +252,7 @@ deno task version help
 4. Push: `git push`
 5. Create tag: `deno task version tag`
 
-#### Option 2: Manual version in deno.json
+##### Option 2: Manual version in deno.json
 
 1. Edit `deno.json` to change version manually
 2. Update `CHANGELOG.md` (move changes from `[Unreleased]` to new version)
diff --git a/deno.json b/deno.json
index 1231351..78b6658 100644
--- a/deno.json
+++ b/deno.json
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
     "@std/path": "jsr:@std/path@^1.0.8",
     "@std/fs": "jsr:@std/fs@^1.0.8",
     "@std/expect": "jsr:@std/expect@^1.0.8",
+    "@std/semver": "jsr:@std/semver@^1.0.3",
     "deno-hooks": "./src/mod.ts"
   },
   "__comments": {
diff --git a/scripts/version.ts b/scripts/version.ts
index 361051c..9d5e602 100644
--- a/scripts/version.ts
+++ b/scripts/version.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
  */
 
 import { join } from "@std/path";
+import { format, increment, parse } from "@std/semver";
 
 interface DenoConfig {
   version: string;
@@ -58,40 +59,42 @@ async function getCurrentVersion(): Promise<string> {
   return config.version;
 }
 
-function parseVersion(
-  version: string,
-): { major: number; minor: number; patch: number } {
-  const match = version.match(/^(\d+)\.(\d+)\.(\d+)$/);
-  if (!match) {
-    throw new Error(`Invalid version format: ${version}`);
-  }
-  return {
-    major: parseInt(match[1]),
-    minor: parseInt(match[2]),
-    patch: parseInt(match[3]),
-  };
+function isDev(version: string): boolean {
+  return /^.+-dev\.\d+$/.test(version);
 }
 
-function bumpVersion(version: string, type: BumpType): string {
-  const { major, minor, patch } = parseVersion(version);
+function getStableBase(version: string): string {
+  const devMatch = version.match(/^(.+)-dev\.(\d+)$/);
+  return devMatch ? devMatch[1] : version;
+}
 
-  switch (type) {
-    case "major":
-      return `${major + 1}.0.0`;
-    case "minor":
-      return `${major}.${minor + 1}.0`;
-    case "patch":
-      return `${major}.${minor}.${patch + 1}`;
+function parseSemVerOrThrow(version: string) {
+  try {
+    return parse(version);
+  } catch {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid semver in deno.json: ${version}`);
   }
 }
 
-async function updateVersion(newVersion: string): Promise<void> {
-  const { config, path } = await getConfig();
-  config.version = newVersion;
+function bumpStableVersion(version: string, type: BumpType): string {
+  // We intentionally disallow bumping while on a prerelease/dev version to avoid surprises.
+  if (version.includes("-")) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Cannot bump a prerelease/dev version (${version}). Reset to a stable version first (deno task version reset).`,
+    );
+  }
 
-  // Write back with pretty formatting
-  const configText = JSON.stringify(config, null, 2) + "\n";
-  await Deno.writeTextFile(path, configText);
+  const sem = parseSemVerOrThrow(version);
+  const bumped = increment(sem, type);
+  return format(bumped);
+}
+
+function getTimestampDevVersion(currentVersion: string): string {
+  // Always generate a monotonic, merge-safe dev identifier.
+  // Use seconds to keep it short and avoid leading zeros.
+  const base = getStableBase(currentVersion);
+  const epochSeconds = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000);
+  return `${base}-dev.${epochSeconds}`;
 }
 
 async function checkGitStatus(): Promise<boolean> {
@@ -110,9 +113,7 @@ async function displayVersion(): Promise<void> {
   const version = await getCurrentVersion();
   console.log(version);
 
-  // Check if it's a dev version
-  const isDevVersion = version.match(/^(.+)-dev\.(\d+)$/);
-  if (isDevVersion) {
+  if (isDev(version)) {
     console.log("\n⚠️  Current version is a dev pre-release.");
     console.log("To reset to stable version, run: deno task version reset");
   }
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ async function displayVersion(): Promise<void> {
 
 async function bump(type: BumpType): Promise<void> {
   const currentVersion = await getCurrentVersion();
-  const newVersion = bumpVersion(currentVersion, type);
+  const newVersion = bumpStableVersion(currentVersion, type);
 
   console.log(`📦 Version Bump (${type})\n`);
   console.log(`Current version: ${currentVersion}`);
@@ -153,31 +154,24 @@ async function bump(type: BumpType): Promise<void> {
   console.log("5. Tag: deno task version tag");
 }
 
-function getNextDevVersion(currentVersion: string): string {
-  // Check if already a dev version (e.g., "0.2.1-dev.2")
-  const devMatch = currentVersion.match(/^(.+)-dev\.(\d+)$/);
-
-  if (devMatch) {
-    // Increment existing dev number
-    const baseVersion = devMatch[1];
-    const devNumber = parseInt(devMatch[2]);
-    return `${baseVersion}-dev.${devNumber + 1}`;
-  } else {
-    // Start new dev sequence from stable version
-    return `${currentVersion}-dev.1`;
-  }
+async function updateVersion(newVersion: string): Promise<void> {
+  const { config, path } = await getConfig();
+  config.version = newVersion;
+
+  // Write back with pretty formatting
+  const configText = JSON.stringify(config, null, 2) + "\n";
+  await Deno.writeTextFile(path, configText);
 }
 
 async function resetFromDev(): Promise<void> {
   const currentVersion = await getCurrentVersion();
-  const devMatch = currentVersion.match(/^(.+)-dev\.(\d+)$/);
 
-  if (!devMatch) {
+  if (!isDev(currentVersion)) {
     console.log("✅ Current version is already stable:", currentVersion);
     return;
   }
 
-  const stableVersion = devMatch[1];
+  const stableVersion = getStableBase(currentVersion);
   console.log("🔄 Resetting from Dev to Stable Version\n");
   console.log(`📦 Current Version: ${currentVersion}`);
   console.log(`📦 Stable Version:  ${stableVersion}`);
@@ -233,9 +227,20 @@ async function resetFromDev(): Promise<void> {
 
 async function tagDev(): Promise<void> {
   const currentVersion = await getCurrentVersion();
-  const devVersion = getNextDevVersion(currentVersion);
+  const devVersion = getTimestampDevVersion(currentVersion);
   const tagName = `v${devVersion}`;
 
+  // Check if tag already exists (very unlikely with timestamp-based dev versions, but still safe)
+  console.log(`\n🔍 Checking if tag ${tagName} exists...`);
+  const tagExists = await checkTagExists(tagName);
+  if (tagExists) {
+    console.error(
+      `\n❌ Tag ${tagName} already exists. Re-run to generate a new timestamped dev version.`,
+    );
+    Deno.exit(1);
+  }
+  console.log(`✅ Tag ${tagName} does not exist yet`);
+
   console.log("🏷️  Creating Dev Pre-release Tag\n");
   console.log(`📦 Current Version: ${currentVersion}`);
   console.log(`📦 New Dev Version: ${devVersion}`);
@@ -322,21 +327,21 @@ async function tagDev(): Promise<void> {
 
 async function tag(): Promise<void> {
   const version = await getCurrentVersion();
-  const tagName = `v${version}`;
 
-  // Check if it's a dev version
-  const devMatch = version.match(/^(.+)-dev\.(\d+)$/);
-  if (devMatch) {
+  if (isDev(version)) {
+    const stableBase = getStableBase(version);
     console.error(
       "❌ Cannot create stable release tag for dev version:",
       version,
     );
     console.error("\nYou must reset to a stable version first.");
     console.error("Run: deno task version reset");
-    console.error(`\nThis will reset from ${version} to ${devMatch[1]}`);
+    console.error(`\nThis will reset from ${version} to ${stableBase}`);
     Deno.exit(1);
   }
 
+  const tagName = `v${version}`;
+
   console.log("🏷️  Creating Git Tag for Release\n");
   console.log(`📦 Version: ${version}`);
 
@@ -412,7 +417,7 @@ Usage:
   deno task version patch        Bump patch version (0.2.0 -> 0.2.1)
   deno task version minor        Bump minor version (0.2.0 -> 0.3.0)
   deno task version major        Bump major version (0.2.0 -> 1.0.0)
-  deno task version reset        Reset from dev version to stable (0.2.1-dev.1 -> 0.2.1)
+  deno task version reset        Reset from dev version to stable (0.2.1-dev.<epoch> -> 0.2.1)
   deno task version tag          Create and push git tag for current version
   deno task version dev          Create and push dev pre-release tag
   deno task version help         Show this help message
@@ -425,7 +430,7 @@ Examples:
   deno task version patch
   git commit -am "Bump version to $(deno task version)"
 
-  # Create dev pre-release for testing (use 'deno task tag-dev' to run tests first)
+  # Create dev pre-release for testing (timestamp-based, merge-safe)
   deno task version dev
 
   # Reset to stable version after dev testing