release: v0.3.6 - Simplified GitHub Actions Workflows

Updated documentation to reflect comprehensive workflow modernization:

• docs/project-status.md: Updated with v0.3.6 simplified workflows release status
• CHANGELOG.md: Enhanced with detailed workflow simplification achievements
• Timeline: 2025-08-25 6:30 AM EDT release timestamp
• Focus: Maintainable, clean CI/CD pipeline over complex resilience patterns

Documentation reflects successful third iteration of v0.3.6 with lessons 
learned from previous optimization attempts applied.

Author: doublegate

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -14,14 +14,22 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Script/plugin manager UI
 - Event-driven scripting API
 
-## [0.3.6] - 2025-08-25 (GitHub Actions YAML Compliance & Workflow Resilience)
+## [0.3.6] - 2025-08-25 (Simplified GitHub Actions Workflows)
 
 ### Summary
-GitHub Actions YAML Compliance & Workflow Resilience - This release resolves the critical build/clippy execution order issue that caused the failed v0.3.6 pipeline attempt. Fixed parallel build/clippy execution causing "can't find crate for iced" errors by implementing proper job dependency chain where clippy runs after successful build completion. Enhanced workflow YAML compliance across all files with systematic fixes and maintained all existing resilience features from v0.3.5.
+Simplified GitHub Actions Workflows - This release modernizes and streamlines the CI/CD pipeline by removing complex resilience patterns in favor of maintainable, clean workflows. Applied comprehensive lessons learned from previous optimization attempts to create reliable, easy-to-maintain GitHub Actions configuration with proper execution order and YAML compliance.
 
-### Critical Fixes
+### Major Changes
+
+#### Workflow Simplification & Modernization
+- **Simplified CI Pipeline**: Streamlined ci.yml with focused job matrix for PR testing
+- **Enhanced Release Process**: Improved release.yml with better artifact handling
+- **Modernized Security Audit**: Updated security-audit.yml with JSON output and dependency management
+- **Streamlined Master Pipeline**: Added smoke tests with proper build flow sequence
+- **Removed Complex Resilience**: Eliminated complex sccache HTTP 400 fallback patterns for maintainability
+- **YAML Compliance**: Fixed all yamllint validation issues across all workflow files
 
-#### Master Pipeline Execution Order Resolution
+#### Critical Execution Order Fixes
 - **Build/Clippy Dependency Chain**: Fixed critical parallel execution causing crate resolution failures
   - Clippy job now properly depends on successful Build job completion
   - Resolved "can't find crate for iced" error (exit code 101) from premature clippy execution

docs/project-status.md

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # RustIRC Project Status
 
-**Last Updated**: 2025-08-24 6:30 PM EDT  
-**Current Phase**: Phase 1-3 Complete + v0.3.6 yamllint Compliance Release + Ready for Phase 4  
-**Overall Progress**: Phases 1-3 complete with FULL FUNCTIONAL IRC CLIENT + v0.3.6 comprehensive GitHub Actions YAML compliance + workflow resilience enhancements + artifact naming optimization + cache strategy improvements + sccache optimizations + migration-ready runner versions + performance monitoring + 100% Phase 1-3 verification complete + zero placeholders/stubs + enterprise-grade security + 118 total tests (53 unit + 65 doctests) + comprehensive documentation + ready for Phase 4 development
+**Last Updated**: 2025-08-25 6:30 AM EDT  
+**Current Phase**: Phase 1-3 Complete + v0.3.6 Simplified GitHub Actions Workflows Release + Ready for Phase 4  
+**Overall Progress**: Phases 1-3 complete with FULL FUNCTIONAL IRC CLIENT + v0.3.6 simplified and modernized GitHub Actions workflows + enhanced maintainability + streamlined CI/CD pipeline + proper build execution order + complete YAML compliance + 100% Phase 1-3 verification complete + zero placeholders/stubs + enterprise-grade security + 118 total tests (53 unit + 65 doctests) + comprehensive documentation + ready for Phase 4 development
 
 ## Overview