fix: use conditional check for npm version update (preferred approach)

- Only run npm version when package.json version differs from tag
- Skip npm version command when versions already match
- Add debug step to show GITHUB_REF and package.json version
- More efficient than --allow-same-version (skips unnecessary command)

Author: Test User

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -76,9 +76,23 @@ jobs:
           echo "version=$VERSION" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           echo "Publishing version: $VERSION"
 
+      - name: Debug version
+        run: |
+          echo "GITHUB_REF: $GITHUB_REF"
+          echo "Resolved version: ${GITHUB_REF#refs/tags/v}"
+          node -e "console.log('package.json version =', require('./package.json').version)"
+
       - name: Update package.json version
         run: |
-          npm version "${{ steps.get_version.outputs.version }}" --no-git-tag-version --allow-same-version
+          TAG_VERSION="${{ steps.get_version.outputs.version }}"
+          echo "Tag version: $TAG_VERSION"
+          CURRENT=$(node -e "console.log(require('./package.json').version)")
+          echo "Current package.json version: $CURRENT"
+          if [ "$CURRENT" = "$TAG_VERSION" ]; then
+            echo "Version already matches tag — skipping npm version"
+          else
+            npm version "$TAG_VERSION" --no-git-tag-version
+          fi
 
       - name: Verify package.json
         run: |