chore: ensure pre-releases can't be run from the main branch

Author: oliverlaz

.changeset/README.md

@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ Choose the appropriate version bump type:
 
 ```typescript
 // Adding a new method
-call.setMaxVideoBitrate(1000);  ← New feature, backwards compatible
+call.setMaxVideoBitrate(1000); // ← New feature, backwards compatible
 ```
 
 ### Patch (Bug Fixes)
@@ -218,13 +218,17 @@ The release workflow runs automatically on every push to `main`:
 
 **Workflow:** `.github/workflows/release.yml` (manual trigger)
 
+**Important:** Pre-releases can only be published from non-main branches (feature or release branches).
+
 To publish pre-releases:
 
-1. Go to **Actions** → **Release**
-2. Click **Run workflow**
-3. Select release type: `prerelease`
-4. Select pre-release tag: `rc` (default), `beta`, or `alpha`
-5. Click **Run workflow**
+1. Switch to a feature or release branch (not `main`)
+2. Go to **Actions** → **Release**
+3. Click **Run workflow**
+4. Select the current branch
+5. Select release type: `prerelease`
+6. Select pre-release tag: `rc` (default), `beta`, or `alpha`
+7. Click **Run workflow**
 
 The workflow will:
 

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -61,6 +61,17 @@ jobs:
             echo "type=${{ github.event.inputs.release_type }}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
           fi
 
+      - name: Validate Pre-release Branch
+        if: steps.release_type.outputs.type == 'prerelease'
+        run: |
+          BRANCH="${{ github.ref_name }}"
+          if [ "$BRANCH" = "main" ]; then
+            echo "❌ Pre-releases cannot be published from the main branch"
+            echo "💡 Please run pre-releases from a feature or release branch"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "✅ Running pre-release from branch: $BRANCH"
+
       - name: Exit Pre-release Mode (stable releases only)
         if: steps.release_type.outputs.type == 'stable'
         run: |

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ All PRs that change published packages **must include a changeset**. CI will fai
 
 **Stable releases:** The **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:** Manually trigger the **Release** workflow, select `prerelease` type and choose tag: `rc` (default), `beta`, or `alpha`. First run publishes `rc.0`, subsequent runs publish `rc.1`, `rc.2`, etc.
+**Pre-releases:** From a non-main branch, manually trigger the **Release** workflow, select `prerelease` type and choose tag: `rc` (default), `beta`, or `alpha`. First run publishes `rc.0`, subsequent runs publish `rc.1`, `rc.2`, etc. Note: Pre-releases are restricted to non-main branches only.
 
 See [.changeset/README.md](./.changeset/README.md) for detailed workflow documentation.