chore(release): bump version to 2.5.0

[GrammaTonic]

Release v2.5.0

Bumps VERSION to 2.5.0 and adds the v2.5.0 changelog entry.

Changes since v2.4.0

Runner Updates

• Bump GitHub Actions runner to 2.332.0 (chore: update GitHub Actions Runner to 2.332.0 #1116)

Performance & CI/CD

• Optimize CI/CD pipeline for speed and cost — faster builds, reduced runner minutes (perf: optimize CI/CD pipeline for speed and cost #1111)
• Strip trailing whitespace across YAML workflow files for yamllint compliance

Security & Reliability

• Fix critical and high priority security workflow optimizations (fix(security): critical and high priority workflow optimizations #1112)
• Improve maintenance workflow reliability, cache cleanup, and issue automation (fix: improve maintenance workflow reliability, cache cleanup, and issue automation #1115)
• Replace push trigger with workflow_run in seed-trivy-sarif workflow (fix: replace push trigger with workflow_run in seed-trivy-sarif #1118)

Workflow & Process

• Switch to dual merge strategy — squash to develop, regular merge to main (docs: switch to dual merge strategy #1119)
• Streamline PR template and copilot instructions for dual merge workflow

Checklist

• VERSION bumped to 2.5.0
• CHANGELOG.md updated with v2.5.0 entry
• All changes already merged to develop

[gemini-code-assist]

Summary of Changes

Hello, I'm Gemini Code Assist¹! I'm currently reviewing this pull request and will post my feedback shortly. In the meantime, here's a summary to help you and other reviewers quickly get up to speed!

This pull request performs a routine release chore, bumping the project's version to 2.5.0 and comprehensively documenting all changes since the previous release in the changelog. It integrates various improvements spanning CI/CD efficiency, security posture, and overall workflow processes, ensuring the project's readiness for the new version.

Highlights

• Version Bump: The project version has been updated to 2.5.0.
• Runner Updates: GitHub Actions runner was bumped to version 2.332.0.
• CI/CD Optimization: The CI/CD pipeline was optimized for speed and cost, resulting in faster builds and reduced runner minutes.
• Security Enhancements: Critical and high priority security workflow optimizations were implemented.
• Workflow Reliability: Maintenance workflow reliability was improved, including cache cleanup and issue automation.
• Workflow Trigger Change: The push trigger was replaced with workflow_run in the seed-trivy-sarif workflow.
• Code Quality: Trailing whitespace was stripped across YAML workflow files for yamllint compliance.
• Merge Strategy: A dual merge strategy was adopted: squash to develop and regular merge to main.
• Documentation Streamlining: The PR template and Copilot instructions were streamlined for the new dual merge workflow.

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Changelog

• VERSION
  • Updated the project version from 2.4.0 to 2.5.0.
• docs/releases/CHANGELOG.md
  • Added a new changelog entry for v2.5.0.
  • Included updates for GitHub Actions runner version.
  • Documented CI/CD pipeline optimizations for speed and cost.
  • Listed fixes for critical and high priority security workflows.
  • Added improvements for maintenance workflow reliability, cache cleanup, and issue automation.
  • Noted the switch to a dual merge strategy.
  • Recorded the replacement of push trigger with workflow_run in the seed-trivy-sarif workflow.
  • Mentioned stripping trailing whitespace for yamllint compliance.
  • Included streamlining of PR template and Copilot instructions.

Activity

• No human activity has been recorded on this pull request yet.

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[gemini-code-assist]

Code Review

This pull request handles the version bump to 2.5.0. The changes in the VERSION file and the CHANGELOG.md are appropriate for a release. I have one minor suggestion to improve the consistency of the changelog.

[gemini-code-assist]

For consistency with other entries in this changelog and the PR description, please consider adding the corresponding PR number (#1116) to this line.

Suggested change

	- Bump GitHub Actions runner to **2.332.0**.
	- Bump GitHub Actions runner to **2.332.0** (#1116).