Inconsistent git tag naming convention: 'v' prefix added in new release script

[ihabadham]

Summary

The release script introduced in PR #1856 creates git tags with a v prefix (e.g., v16.2.0.beta.1), but all historical tags from version 2.0.0 through 16.1.2 do NOT have the v prefix (e.g., 16.1.1).

This inconsistency caused a broken CHANGELOG link (fixed in PR #2263) where Claude assumed 16.1.1 should be v16.1.1 to match the new tag pattern.

Details

Old release process (16.1.1 and earlier):

• Used release-it npm tool
• release-it auto-detected tag format from existing tags
• Created tags WITHOUT 'v' prefix: 16.0.0, 16.1.0, 16.1.1

New release process (16.2.0.beta.0 onwards):

• PR Modernize release process for monorepo #1856 replaced release-it with manual git commands
• Explicitly adds 'v' prefix: git tag v#{actual_gem_version}
• Creates tags WITH 'v' prefix: v16.2.0.beta.0, v16.2.0.rc.0

Tag inventory

WITHOUT 'v' prefix (versions 2.0.0 - 16.1.2):
  2.0.0, 3.0.0, 4.0.0, ..., 16.0.0, 16.1.0, 16.1.1, 16.1.2

WITH 'v' prefix (versions 16.2.0+):
  v16.2.0.beta.0, v16.2.0.beta.1, ..., v16.2.0.rc.0

Note: Very early versions (0.x, 1.x) had mixed conventions with some 'v' prefixed tags.

Recommendation

Pick one convention and stick to it:

Option A: Remove 'v' prefix (match historical convention)

• Change rakelib/release.rake line 254 from git tag v#{actual_gem_version} to git tag #{actual_gem_version}
• More consistent with 9+ years of existing tags (2.0.0 through 16.1.2)

Option B: Keep 'v' prefix (new convention)

• Document this as the new convention going forward
• Accept that CHANGELOG links crossing the 16.1.x → 16.2.x boundary will need mixed formats

References

• PR Modernize release process for monorepo #1856 introduced the 'v' prefix (replaced release-it with manual git commands)
• PR Fix release script after pnpm monorepo restructure #2173 carried forward the 'v' prefix during monorepo restructure
• PR Fix version link formatting in CHANGELOG.md #2263 fixed the broken CHANGELOG link caused by this inconsistency