chore: simplify pre-release tag selection

Author: oliverlaz

.changeset/README.md

@@ -210,13 +210,12 @@ Pre-releases (beta/alpha/rc) are handled by two separate GitHub Actions workflow
 To publish beta releases:
 
 1. Maintainer triggers "Pre-release" workflow from GitHub Actions
-2. On first run: Workflow automatically enters pre-release mode (default: `beta`)
-3. Versions become: `1.40.0-beta.0`, `1.40.0-beta.1`, etc.
-4. Packages publish to npm with `beta` tag (not `latest`)
-5. For subsequent betas, just run the workflow again - it stays in pre-release mode
-6. Users install with: `yarn add @stream-io/video-client@beta`
-
-**Optional:** Change the pre-release tag (e.g., `alpha`, `rc`) via the workflow input.
+2. Select pre-release tag: `rc` (default), `beta`, or `alpha`
+3. On first run: Workflow automatically enters pre-release mode
+4. Versions become: `1.40.0-rc.0`, `1.40.0-rc.1`, etc.
+5. Packages publish to npm with selected tag (not `latest`)
+6. For subsequent releases, just run the workflow again - it stays in pre-release mode
+7. Users install with: `yarn add @stream-io/video-client@beta`
 
 ### Publishing Stable Release
 

.github/workflows/prerelease.yml

@@ -4,10 +4,14 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       tag:
-        description: 'Pre-release tag (e.g., beta, alpha, rc)'
-        required: false
-        type: string
-        default: 'beta'
+        description: 'Pre-release tag'
+        required: true
+        type: choice
+        options:
+          - rc
+          - beta
+          - alpha
+        default: rc
 
 permissions:
   contents: write

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ All PRs that change published packages **must include a changeset**. CI will fai
 
 **Stable releases:** The **Prepare Release** workflow runs automatically on every push to `main` and creates/updates a "Version Packages" PR. It automatically exits pre-release mode if needed. Review and merge the PR to publish.
 
-**Pre-releases:** Run the **Pre-release** workflow manually. First run publishes `beta.0`, subsequent runs publish `beta.1`, `beta.2`, etc. Change the tag input for `alpha` or `rc` releases.
+**Pre-releases:** Run the **Pre-release** workflow manually. Select tag: `rc` (default), `beta`, or `alpha`. First run publishes `rc.0`, subsequent runs publish `rc.1`, `rc.2`, etc.
 
 See [.changeset/README.md](./.changeset/README.md) for detailed workflow documentation.