diff --git a/flake.lock b/flake.lock
index 7956bcd..0f00751 100644
--- a/flake.lock
+++ b/flake.lock
@@ -7,11 +7,11 @@
         ]
       },
       "locked": {
-        "lastModified": 1776312396,
-        "narHash": "sha256-+kIlfrvisYdTgdix932MnQEKjq0yJsJL+vnG/I6QJ68=",
+        "lastModified": 1778107833,
+        "narHash": "sha256-q5XQep2mpgTPiWwuYB1+L2dsFeACT6sHx8J939iM+HE=",
         "owner": "dagger",
         "repo": "nix",
-        "rev": "851584fd8093ab942b4aa833cdef53050b27279b",
+        "rev": "873cc22ba46b73d4a6c1aa6c102ef3aabc736496",
         "type": "github"
       },
       "original": {
@@ -40,11 +40,11 @@
     },
     "nixpkgs": {
       "locked": {
-        "lastModified": 1776329215,
-        "narHash": "sha256-a8BYi3mzoJ/AcJP8UldOx8emoPRLeWqALZWu4ZvjPXw=",
+        "lastModified": 1779414690,
+        "narHash": "sha256-gOTcX/9MZVMUE0Xvb4IEcv+0TQJkZFNEnL757ljU360=",
         "owner": "NixOS",
         "repo": "nixpkgs",
-        "rev": "b86751bc4085f48661017fa226dee99fab6c651b",
+        "rev": "6dedf69f94d03cbe7bdde106f2d4c23ae2a853bf",
         "type": "github"
       },
       "original": {
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 2ed1623..547be45 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
         devShells.default = pkgs.mkShell {
           buildInputs = [
             pkgs.go_1_25
+            pkgs.gh
             pkgs.gotools
             pkgs.gnumake
             dagger.packages.${system}.dagger
@@ -29,4 +30,3 @@
       }
     );
 }
-
diff --git a/ghcontrib/README.md b/ghcontrib/README.md
index 89f3e5d..9b98812 100644
--- a/ghcontrib/README.md
+++ b/ghcontrib/README.md
@@ -3,21 +3,26 @@
 Various GitHub contribution utilities and standards conforming checks.
 
 Currently includes checks for:
-- required conventional PR title prefixes:
-  - `✨ feat: ` — new features
-  - `🔧 fix: ` — bug fixes
-  - `🧹 chore: ` — maintenance tasks
-  - `♻️ refactor: ` — refactors
-  - `🎨 design: ` — design and UX updates
-  - `📚 docs: ` — documentation updates
-  - `✏️ RFD: ` — requests for discussion
+- required conventional PR title format:
+  - `<emoji> <type>: <description>`
+  - `<emoji> <type>(scope): <description>`
+  - `<emoji> <type>!: <description>`
+  - `<emoji> <type>(scope)!: <description>`
+- allowed emoji/type pairs:
+  - `✨ feat` / `:sparkles: feat` — new features
+  - `🔧 fix` / `:wrench: fix` — bug fixes
+  - `🧹 chore` / `:broom: chore` — maintenance tasks
+  - `♻️ refactor` / `:recycle: refactor` — refactors
+  - `🎨 design` / `:art: design` — design and UX updates
+  - `📚 docs` / `:books: docs` — documentation updates
+  - `✏️ RFD` / `:pencil2: RFD` — requests for discussion
 - Linear magic-word references in the PR title or body, e.g. `fixes PCC-123` or `related to DES-456`.
   Must include a supported Paper Compute Co. Linear team.
 
 
 | Function | Description |
 |----------|-------------|
-| `check-pull-request` | Fetches a PR via `gh pr view` and validates that its title starts with a required prefix. Fails the pipeline if the PR is non-conforming. |
+| `check-pull-request` | Fetches a PR via `gh pr view` and validates that its title follows the required conventional title format. Fails the pipeline if the PR is non-conforming. |
 | `check-pull-request-linear-magic-word` | Fetches a PR via `gh pr view` and validates only the Linear magic-word reference. |
 
 
diff --git a/ghcontrib/go.mod b/ghcontrib/go.mod
index 7a84d3a..d71945c 100644
--- a/ghcontrib/go.mod
+++ b/ghcontrib/go.mod
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@ go 1.25.5
 require (
 	github.com/Khan/genqlient v0.8.1
 	github.com/dagger/otel-go v1.43.0
-	github.com/vektah/gqlparser/v2 v2.5.32
-	go.opentelemetry.io/otel v1.43.0
-	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace v1.43.0
+	github.com/vektah/gqlparser/v2 v2.5.33
+	go.opentelemetry.io/otel v1.44.0
+	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace v1.44.0
 )
 
 require (
-	dagger.io/dagger v0.20.6-0.20260415192040-7058e9313c72
-	github.com/99designs/gqlgen v0.17.89 // indirect
+	dagger.io/dagger v0.20.8
+	github.com/99designs/gqlgen v0.17.90 // indirect
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/otlplog/otlploggrpc v0.17.0 // indirect
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/otlplog/otlploghttp v0.17.0 // indirect
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/otlpmetric/otlpmetricgrpc v1.41.0 // indirect
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ require (
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracegrpc v1.41.0 // indirect
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracehttp v1.41.0 // indirect
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/log v0.17.0 // indirect
-	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v1.43.0 // indirect
+	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v1.44.0 // indirect
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk v1.43.0
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/log v0.17.0 // indirect
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric v1.43.0 // indirect
@@ -30,18 +30,20 @@ require (
 )
 
 require (
+	github.com/adrg/xdg v0.5.3 // indirect
 	github.com/cenkalti/backoff/v5 v5.0.3 // indirect
 	github.com/cespare/xxhash/v2 v2.3.0 // indirect
 	github.com/go-logr/logr v1.4.3 // indirect
 	github.com/go-logr/stdr v1.2.2 // indirect
 	github.com/google/uuid v1.6.0 // indirect
 	github.com/grpc-ecosystem/grpc-gateway/v2 v2.28.0 // indirect
+	github.com/mitchellh/go-homedir v1.1.0 // indirect
 	github.com/sosodev/duration v1.4.0 // indirect
 	go.opentelemetry.io/auto/sdk v1.2.1 // indirect
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/otlptrace v1.41.0 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/net v0.51.0 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/sys v0.43.0 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/text v0.34.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/net v0.52.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.45.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/text v0.35.0 // indirect
 	google.golang.org/genproto/googleapis/api v0.0.0-20260226221140-a57be14db171 // indirect
 	google.golang.org/genproto/googleapis/rpc v0.0.0-20260226221140-a57be14db171 // indirect
 	google.golang.org/protobuf v1.36.11 // indirect
diff --git a/ghcontrib/go.sum b/ghcontrib/go.sum
index 8f7b38b..e1b5a9c 100644
--- a/ghcontrib/go.sum
+++ b/ghcontrib/go.sum
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 dagger.io/dagger v0.20.6-0.20260415192040-7058e9313c72 h1:s39e07WvaUU6tLhpojK8ZEIoIbOSn5hHOJra0waenxQ=
 dagger.io/dagger v0.20.6-0.20260415192040-7058e9313c72/go.mod h1:ZXg8+pQZaZUC8rAw4V/gPP8aKvKARIJZ+pfcV+RC1es=
-github.com/99designs/gqlgen v0.17.89 h1:KzEcxPiMgQoMw3m/E85atUEHyZyt0PbAflMia5Kw8z8=
-github.com/99designs/gqlgen v0.17.89/go.mod h1:GFqruTVGB7ZTdrf1uzOagpXbY7DrEt1pIxnTdhIbWvQ=
+dagger.io/dagger v0.20.8 h1:n+Xtzp9ufNwCH3Ftob92Smu3smfUDoQshDYM6Ys4yf0=
+dagger.io/dagger v0.20.8/go.mod h1:ZXg8+pQZaZUC8rAw4V/gPP8aKvKARIJZ+pfcV+RC1es=
+github.com/99designs/gqlgen v0.17.90 h1:wSv6blm/PoplU6QoNw83EcQpNtC0HX3/+44vITJOzpk=
+github.com/99designs/gqlgen v0.17.90/go.mod h1:GqYrEwYsqCG8VaOsq2kJUCUKwAE1T+u2i+Nj7NtXiVI=
 github.com/Khan/genqlient v0.8.1 h1:wtOCc8N9rNynRLXN3k3CnfzheCUNKBcvXmVv5zt6WCs=
 github.com/Khan/genqlient v0.8.1/go.mod h1:R2G6DzjBvCbhjsEajfRjbWdVglSH/73kSivC9TLWVjU=
+github.com/adrg/xdg v0.5.3 h1:xRnxJXne7+oWDatRhR1JLnvuccuIeCoBu2rtuLqQB78=
+github.com/adrg/xdg v0.5.3/go.mod h1:nlTsY+NNiCBGCK2tpm09vRqfVzrc2fLmXGpBLF0zlTQ=
 github.com/agnivade/levenshtein v1.2.1 h1:EHBY3UOn1gwdy/VbFwgo4cxecRznFk7fKWN1KOX7eoM=
 github.com/agnivade/levenshtein v1.2.1/go.mod h1:QVVI16kDrtSuwcpd0p1+xMC6Z/VfhtCyDIjcwga4/DU=
 github.com/andreyvit/diff v0.0.0-20170406064948-c7f18ee00883 h1:bvNMNQO63//z+xNgfBlViaCIJKLlCJ6/fmUseuG0wVQ=
@@ -29,6 +33,8 @@ github.com/google/uuid v1.6.0 h1:NIvaJDMOsjHA8n1jAhLSgzrAzy1Hgr+hNrb57e+94F0=
 github.com/google/uuid v1.6.0/go.mod h1:TIyPZe4MgqvfeYDBFedMoGGpEw/LqOeaOT+nhxU+yHo=
 github.com/grpc-ecosystem/grpc-gateway/v2 v2.28.0 h1:HWRh5R2+9EifMyIHV7ZV+MIZqgz+PMpZ14Jynv3O2Zs=
 github.com/grpc-ecosystem/grpc-gateway/v2 v2.28.0/go.mod h1:JfhWUomR1baixubs02l85lZYYOm7LV6om4ceouMv45c=
+github.com/mitchellh/go-homedir v1.1.0 h1:lukF9ziXFxDFPkA1vsr5zpc1XuPDn/wFntq5mG+4E0Y=
+github.com/mitchellh/go-homedir v1.1.0/go.mod h1:SfyaCUpYCn1Vlf4IUYiD9fPX4A5wJrkLzIz1N1q0pr0=
 github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0 h1:4DBwDE0NGyQoBHbLQYPwSUPoCMWR5BEzIk/f1lZbAQM=
 github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0/go.mod h1:iKH77koFhYxTK1pcRnkKkqfTogsbg7gZNVY4sRDYZ/4=
 github.com/sergi/go-diff v1.3.1 h1:xkr+Oxo4BOQKmkn/B9eMK0g5Kg/983T9DqqPHwYqD+8=
@@ -37,12 +43,12 @@ github.com/sosodev/duration v1.4.0 h1:35ed0KiVFriGHHzZZJaZLgmTEEICIyt8Sx0RQfj9Ij
 github.com/sosodev/duration v1.4.0/go.mod h1:RQIBBX0+fMLc/D9+Jb/fwvVmo0eZvDDEERAikUR6SDg=
 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.11.1 h1:7s2iGBzp5EwR7/aIZr8ao5+dra3wiQyKjjFuvgVKu7U=
 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.11.1/go.mod h1:wZwfW3scLgRK+23gO65QZefKpKQRnfz6sD981Nm4B6U=
-github.com/vektah/gqlparser/v2 v2.5.32 h1:k9QPJd4sEDTL+qB4ncPLflqTJ3MmjB9SrVzJrawpFSc=
-github.com/vektah/gqlparser/v2 v2.5.32/go.mod h1:c1I28gSOVNzlfc4WuDlqU7voQnsqI6OG2amkBAFmgts=
+github.com/vektah/gqlparser/v2 v2.5.33 h1:lRp8aIeNUNbimf/axZd7ETg24q06hBtPaas+TcvI/7E=
+github.com/vektah/gqlparser/v2 v2.5.33/go.mod h1:c1I28gSOVNzlfc4WuDlqU7voQnsqI6OG2amkBAFmgts=
 go.opentelemetry.io/auto/sdk v1.2.1 h1:jXsnJ4Lmnqd11kwkBV2LgLoFMZKizbCi5fNZ/ipaZ64=
 go.opentelemetry.io/auto/sdk v1.2.1/go.mod h1:KRTj+aOaElaLi+wW1kO/DZRXwkF4C5xPbEe3ZiIhN7Y=
-go.opentelemetry.io/otel v1.43.0 h1:mYIM03dnh5zfN7HautFE4ieIig9amkNANT+xcVxAj9I=
-go.opentelemetry.io/otel v1.43.0/go.mod h1:JuG+u74mvjvcm8vj8pI5XiHy1zDeoCS2LB1spIq7Ay0=
+go.opentelemetry.io/otel v1.44.0 h1:JjwHmHpA4iZ3wBxluu2fbbE7j4kqlE8jXyAyPXH7HqU=
+go.opentelemetry.io/otel v1.44.0/go.mod h1:BMgjTHL9WPRlRjL2oZCBTL4whCGtXch2H4BhOPIAyYc=
 go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/otlplog/otlploggrpc v0.16.0 h1:ZVg+kCXxd9LtAaQNKBxAvJ5NpMf7LpvEr4MIZqb0TMQ=
 go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/otlplog/otlploggrpc v0.16.0/go.mod h1:hh0tMeZ75CCXrHd9OXRYxTlCAdxcXioWHFIpYw2rZu8=
 go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/otlplog/otlploghttp v0.16.0 h1:djrxvDxAe44mJUrKataUbOhCKhR3F8QCyWucO16hTQs=
@@ -59,8 +65,8 @@ go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracehttp v1.41.0 h1:inYW9
 go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/otlp/otlptrace/otlptracehttp v1.41.0/go.mod h1:Izur+Wt8gClgMJqO/cZ8wdeeMryJ/xxiOVgFSSfpDTY=
 go.opentelemetry.io/otel/log v0.16.0 h1:DeuBPqCi6pQwtCK0pO4fvMB5eBq6sNxEnuTs88pjsN4=
 go.opentelemetry.io/otel/log v0.16.0/go.mod h1:rWsmqNVTLIA8UnwYVOItjyEZDbKIkMxdQunsIhpUMes=
-go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v1.43.0 h1:d7638QeInOnuwOONPp4JAOGfbCEpYb+K6DVWvdxGzgM=
-go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v1.43.0/go.mod h1:RDnPtIxvqlgO8GRW18W6Z/4P462ldprJtfxHxyKd2PY=
+go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v1.44.0 h1:1w0gILTcHdr3YI+ixLyjemwrVnsMURbTZFrSYCdDdmc=
+go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v1.44.0/go.mod h1:8O7hanEPBNgEMmybD3s2VBKcgWOCsA6tzHBPODAiquo=
 go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk v1.43.0 h1:pi5mE86i5rTeLXqoF/hhiBtUNcrAGHLKQdhg4h4V9Dg=
 go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk v1.43.0/go.mod h1:P+IkVU3iWukmiit/Yf9AWvpyRDlUeBaRg6Y+C58QHzg=
 go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/log v0.16.0 h1:e/b4bdlQwC5fnGtG3dlXUrNOnP7c8YLVSpSfEBIkTnI=
@@ -69,20 +75,20 @@ go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/log/logtest v0.16.0 h1:/XVkpZ41rVRTP4DfMgYv1nEtNmf6
 go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/log/logtest v0.16.0/go.mod h1:iOOPgQr5MY9oac/F5W86mXdeyWZGleIx3uXO98X2R6Y=
 go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric v1.43.0 h1:S88dyqXjJkuBNLeMcVPRFXpRw2fuwdvfCGLEo89fDkw=
 go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric v1.43.0/go.mod h1:C/RJtwSEJ5hzTiUz5pXF1kILHStzb9zFlIEe85bhj6A=
-go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace v1.43.0 h1:BkNrHpup+4k4w+ZZ86CZoHHEkohws8AY+WTX09nk+3A=
-go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace v1.43.0/go.mod h1:/QJhyVBUUswCphDVxq+8mld+AvhXZLhe+8WVFxiFff0=
+go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace v1.44.0 h1:jxF5CsGYCe74MCRx2X4g7WsY/VBKRqqpNvXlX/6gtIk=
+go.opentelemetry.io/otel/trace v1.44.0/go.mod h1:oLl1jrMQAVo6v3GAggN+1VH9VIz9iUSvW53sW1Q8PIE=
 go.opentelemetry.io/proto/otlp v1.9.0 h1:l706jCMITVouPOqEnii2fIAuO3IVGBRPV5ICjceRb/A=
 go.opentelemetry.io/proto/otlp v1.9.0/go.mod h1:xE+Cx5E/eEHw+ISFkwPLwCZefwVjY+pqKg1qcK03+/4=
 go.uber.org/goleak v1.3.0 h1:2K3zAYmnTNqV73imy9J1T3WC+gmCePx2hEGkimedGto=
 go.uber.org/goleak v1.3.0/go.mod h1:CoHD4mav9JJNrW/WLlf7HGZPjdw8EucARQHekz1X6bE=
-golang.org/x/net v0.51.0 h1:94R/GTO7mt3/4wIKpcR5gkGmRLOuE/2hNGeWq/GBIFo=
-golang.org/x/net v0.51.0/go.mod h1:aamm+2QF5ogm02fjy5Bb7CQ0WMt1/WVM7FtyaTLlA9Y=
+golang.org/x/net v0.52.0 h1:He/TN1l0e4mmR3QqHMT2Xab3Aj3L9qjbhRm78/6jrW0=
+golang.org/x/net v0.52.0/go.mod h1:R1MAz7uMZxVMualyPXb+VaqGSa3LIaUqk0eEt3w36Sw=
 golang.org/x/sync v0.20.0 h1:e0PTpb7pjO8GAtTs2dQ6jYa5BWYlMuX047Dco/pItO4=
 golang.org/x/sync v0.20.0/go.mod h1:9xrNwdLfx4jkKbNva9FpL6vEN7evnE43NNNJQ2LF3+0=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.43.0 h1:Rlag2XtaFTxp19wS8MXlJwTvoh8ArU6ezoyFsMyCTNI=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.43.0/go.mod h1:4GL1E5IUh+htKOUEOaiffhrAeqysfVGipDYzABqnCmw=
-golang.org/x/text v0.34.0 h1:oL/Qq0Kdaqxa1KbNeMKwQq0reLCCaFtqu2eNuSeNHbk=
-golang.org/x/text v0.34.0/go.mod h1:homfLqTYRFyVYemLBFl5GgL/DWEiH5wcsQ5gSh1yziA=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.45.0 h1:dO4czNzziLiiXplLQgBCEpCvXQ3dnkn0SdaZSYdQ+FY=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.45.0/go.mod h1:4GL1E5IUh+htKOUEOaiffhrAeqysfVGipDYzABqnCmw=
+golang.org/x/text v0.35.0 h1:JOVx6vVDFokkpaq1AEptVzLTpDe9KGpj5tR4/X+ybL8=
+golang.org/x/text v0.35.0/go.mod h1:khi/HExzZJ2pGnjenulevKNX1W67CUy0AsXcNubPGCA=
 gonum.org/v1/gonum v0.16.0 h1:5+ul4Swaf3ESvrOnidPp4GZbzf0mxVQpDCYUQE7OJfk=
 gonum.org/v1/gonum v0.16.0/go.mod h1:fef3am4MQ93R2HHpKnLk4/Tbh/s0+wqD5nfa6Pnwy4E=
 google.golang.org/genproto/googleapis/api v0.0.0-20260226221140-a57be14db171 h1:tu/dtnW1o3wfaxCOjSLn5IRX4YDcJrtlpzYkhHhGaC4=
diff --git a/ghcontrib/pr.go b/ghcontrib/pr.go
index 2d55658..c4c635f 100644
--- a/ghcontrib/pr.go
+++ b/ghcontrib/pr.go
@@ -8,33 +8,12 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 )
 
-// validPRPrefixes defines the set of allowed PR title prefixes.
-var validPRPrefixes = []string{
-	// Literal emojis
-	"✨ feat: ",
-	"🔧 fix: ",
-	"🧹 chore: ",
-	"♻️ refactor: ",
-	"🎨 design: ",
-	"📚 docs: ",
-	"✏️ RFD: ",
-
-	// Colon based emoji derivatives
-	":sparkles: feat: ",
-	":wrench: fix: ",
-	":broom: chore: ",
-	":recycle: refactor: ",
-	":art: design: ",
-	":books: docs: ",
-	":pencil2: RFD: ",
-}
-
 // Linear's magic words compiled from:
 // https://linear.app/docs/github#link-through-pull-requests
 var linearMagicWordPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)\b(?:close|closes|closed|closing|closing fix|fix|fixes|fixed|fixing|resolve|resolves|resolved|resolving|complete|completes|completed|completing|implements|implemented|implementing|ref|refs|references|part of|related to|contributes to|toward|towards)\s+(?-i:(?:PCC|DES|REL|CTO)-[0-9]+)\b`)
 
 // CheckPullRequest validates that a pull request conforms to project standards.
-// It checks that the PR title starts with one of the required prefixes.
+// It checks that the PR title follows the required emoji conventional format.
 //
 // This is intended to be called from a GitHub Actions workflow where the
 // GitHub token and PR metadata are available.
@@ -107,26 +86,6 @@ func (m *Ghcontrib) CheckPullRequestLinearMagicWord(
 	return fmt.Sprintf("✅ PR #%d has a valid Linear magic word", number), nil
 }
 
-func validatePullRequestTitle(title string, number int) error {
-	for _, prefix := range validPRPrefixes {
-		if strings.HasPrefix(title, prefix) {
-			return nil
-		}
-	}
-
-	prefixList := make([]string, len(validPRPrefixes))
-	for i, p := range validPRPrefixes {
-		prefixList[i] = fmt.Sprintf("  - %q", p)
-	}
-
-	return fmt.Errorf(
-		"PR #%d title %q does not match any required prefix.\n\nTitle must start with one of:\n%s",
-		number,
-		title,
-		strings.Join(prefixList, "\n"),
-	)
-}
-
 func validatePullRequestLinearMagicWord(title, body string, number int) error {
 	if linearMagicWordPattern.MatchString(title) || linearMagicWordPattern.MatchString(body) {
 		return nil
diff --git a/ghcontrib/pr_test.go b/ghcontrib/pr_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb8ec4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ghcontrib/pr_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+package main
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestValidatePullRequestTitleAcceptsValidTitles(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	tests := []string{
+		"✨ feat: add the percolator",
+		"✨ feat!: replace the percolator",
+		"✨ feat(percolator): add the percolator",
+		"✨ feat(percolator)!: add the percolator",
+		":sparkles: feat(percolator): add the percolator",
+		"🔧 fix: the build was not working on tuesdays",
+		"🔧 fix(percolator): the build was not working on tuesday",
+		":wrench: fix(percolator): the build was not working on tuesday",
+		"🧹 chore(ci): update workflow dependencies",
+		"♻️ refactor(api.v2): simplify request routing",
+		"🎨 design(console-ui): tighten spacing",
+		"📚 docs(readme): describe installation",
+		"✏️ RFD(agent-runtime): propose sandbox lifecycle",
+	}
+
+	for _, title := range tests {
+		title := title
+		t.Run(title, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			if err := validatePullRequestTitle(title, 42); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("expected title to be valid: %v", err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidatePullRequestTitleRejectsInvalidTitles(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	tests := []string{
+		"feat: add the percolator",
+		"🔧 feat: add the percolator",
+		"✨ fix: add the percolator",
+		"🔧 fix(percolator):",
+		"🔧 fix(): add the percolator",
+		"🔧 fix(Percolator): add the percolator",
+		"🔧 fix(percolator) add the percolator",
+		"🔧 fix(percolator/subsystem): add the percolator",
+		"🐛 fix: add the percolator",
+		":bug: fix: add the percolator",
+	}
+
+	for _, title := range tests {
+		title := title
+		t.Run(title, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			if err := validatePullRequestTitle(title, 42); err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected title to be invalid")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/ghcontrib/pr_title.go b/ghcontrib/pr_title.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85c5b01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ghcontrib/pr_title.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+type prTitleSpec struct {
+	Type   string
+	Tokens []string
+}
+
+type prTitlePattern struct {
+	Format string
+	Regexp *regexp.Regexp
+}
+
+// validPRTitleSpecs defines the allowed PR title emoji/type pairs.
+var validPRTitleSpecs = []prTitleSpec{
+	{Type: "feat", Tokens: []string{"✨", ":sparkles:"}},
+	{Type: "fix", Tokens: []string{"🔧", ":wrench:"}},
+	{Type: "chore", Tokens: []string{"🧹", ":broom:"}},
+	{Type: "refactor", Tokens: []string{"♻️", ":recycle:"}},
+	{Type: "design", Tokens: []string{"🎨", ":art:"}},
+	{Type: "docs", Tokens: []string{"📚", ":books:"}},
+	{Type: "RFD", Tokens: []string{"✏️", ":pencil2:"}},
+}
+
+var validPRTitlePatterns = buildPRTitlePatterns(validPRTitleSpecs)
+
+func validatePullRequestTitle(title string, number int) error {
+	for _, pattern := range validPRTitlePatterns {
+		if pattern.Regexp.MatchString(title) {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	formatList := make([]string, 0, len(validPRTitlePatterns))
+	for _, pattern := range validPRTitlePatterns {
+		formatList = append(formatList, "  - "+pattern.Format)
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Errorf(
+		"PR #%d title %q does not match the required title format.\n\nTitle must follow: <emoji> <type>[(scope)]: <description>\nAllowed formats:\n%s",
+		number,
+		title,
+		strings.Join(formatList, "\n"),
+	)
+}
+
+func buildPRTitlePatterns(specs []prTitleSpec) []prTitlePattern {
+	patterns := make([]prTitlePattern, 0, len(specs)*2)
+	for _, spec := range specs {
+		for _, token := range spec.Tokens {
+			patterns = append(patterns, prTitlePattern{
+				Format: fmt.Sprintf("%s %s[(scope)]: description", token, spec.Type),
+				Regexp: regexp.MustCompile(fmt.Sprintf(
+					`^%s %s(?:\([a-z0-9][a-z0-9._-]*\))?!?: .+$`,
+					regexp.QuoteMeta(token),
+					regexp.QuoteMeta(spec.Type),
+				)),
+			})
+		}
+	}
+	return patterns
+}
diff --git a/ghrelease/README.md b/ghrelease/README.md
index 321592e..55844a4 100644
--- a/ghrelease/README.md
+++ b/ghrelease/README.md
@@ -2,6 +2,18 @@
 
 GitHub release management.
 
+Create inspects commit subjects since the latest `v*` tag to choose the next
+semantic version and generate release notes. Scoped conventional subjects are
+classified the same as their unscoped form:
+
+| Commit subject | Release behavior |
+|----------------|------------------|
+| `✨ feat: ...` or `✨ feat(scope): ...` | Minor bump, Features section |
+| `🔧 fix: ...` or `🔧 fix(scope): ...` | Patch bump, Fixes section |
+| `🧹 chore: ...` or `🧹 chore(scope): ...` | Patch bump, Chores section |
+| `♻️ refactor: ...` or `♻️ refactor(scope): ...` | Patch bump, Refactors section |
+| `feat!: ...`, `fix!: ...`, `chore!: ...`, or `refactor!: ...` | Major bump, Breaking Changes section |
+
 Upload takes a directory of build artifacts to a release.
 Artifacts can optionally be flattened from an
 `<os>/<arch>/<filename>` layout into a flat directory with files renamed
diff --git a/ghrelease/create-release.sh b/ghrelease/create-release.sh
index 609d9cf..5e027fb 100644
--- a/ghrelease/create-release.sh
+++ b/ghrelease/create-release.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
 set -e
 
-cd /src
+cd "${SRC_DIR:-/src}"
 
 # --- Determine the latest semver tag ---
 LAST_TAG=$(git tag --list 'v*' --sort=-version:refname | head -n1)
@@ -29,30 +29,56 @@ BREAKING=""
 FEATURES=""
 FIXES=""
 CHORES=""
+REFACTORS=""
 OTHER=""
 
+commit_type() {
+  SUBJECT="$1"
+
+  case "$SUBJECT" in
+    "⚠️ breaking:"*|":warning: breaking:"*) echo "breaking"; return ;;
+    "✨ feat"*|":sparkles: feat"*) SUBJECT="feat${SUBJECT#* feat}" ;;
+    "🔧 fix"*|":wrench: fix"*) SUBJECT="fix${SUBJECT#* fix}" ;;
+    "🧹 chore"*|":broom: chore"*) SUBJECT="chore${SUBJECT#* chore}" ;;
+    "♻️ refactor"*|":recycle: refactor"*) SUBJECT="refactor${SUBJECT#* refactor}" ;;
+  esac
+
+  case "$SUBJECT" in
+    "breaking:"*|"feat!:"*|"feat("*")!:"*|"fix!:"*|"fix("*")!:"*|"chore!:"*|"chore("*")!:"*|"refactor!:"*|"refactor("*")!:"*) echo "breaking" ;;
+    "feat:"*|"feat("*"):"*) echo "feat" ;;
+    "fix:"*|"fix("*"):"*) echo "fix" ;;
+    "chore:"*|"chore("*"):"*) echo "chore" ;;
+    "refactor:"*|"refactor("*"):"*|"refactor!:"*|"refactor("*")!:"*) echo "refactor" ;;
+    *) echo "other" ;;
+  esac
+}
+
 IFS='
 '
 for LINE in $COMMITS; do
-  case "$LINE" in
-    *"⚠️ breaking:"*|*":warning: breaking:"*|*"breaking:"*)
+  case "$(commit_type "$LINE")" in
+    breaking)
       BUMP="major"
       BREAKING="${BREAKING}
 - ${LINE}"
       ;;
-    *"✨ feat:"*|*":sparkles: feat:"*|*"feat:"*)
+    feat)
       if [ "$BUMP" != "major" ]; then
         BUMP="minor"
       fi
       FEATURES="${FEATURES}
 - ${LINE}"
       ;;
-    *"🔧 fix:"*|*":wrench: fix:"*|*"fix:"*)
+    fix)
       FIXES="${FIXES}
 - ${LINE}"
       ;;
-    *"🧹 chore:"*|*":broom: chore:"*|*"chore:"*)
+    chore)
       CHORES="${CHORES}
+- ${LINE}"
+      ;;
+    refactor)
+      REFACTORS="${REFACTORS}
 - ${LINE}"
       ;;
     *)
@@ -119,6 +145,13 @@ ${CHORES}
 "
 fi
 
+if [ -n "$REFACTORS" ]; then
+  NOTES="${NOTES}## ♻️ Refactors
+${REFACTORS}
+
+"
+fi
+
 if [ -n "$OTHER" ]; then
   NOTES="${NOTES}## 📦 Other Changes
 ${OTHER}
diff --git a/ghrelease/main.go b/ghrelease/main.go
index 58a4c62..c7f7d0e 100644
--- a/ghrelease/main.go
+++ b/ghrelease/main.go
@@ -124,9 +124,9 @@ func (m *Ghrelease) WithDryRun() *Ghrelease {
 // version, generates categorized release notes, and creates a new GitHub
 // release. Commits since the last tag are classified as follows:
 //
-//   - "⚠️ breaking:" → major bump
-//   - "✨ feat:" → minor bump
-//   - "🔧 fix:", "🧹 chore:", and everything else → patch bump
+//   - "⚠️ breaking:" or a conventional "!" marker on feat/fix/chore/refactor → major bump
+//   - "✨ feat:" or "✨ feat(scope):" → minor bump
+//   - "🔧 fix:", "🧹 chore:", "♻️ refactor:", and everything else → patch bump
 //
 // The highest-priority bump wins. WithSource must be called before Create.
 // Chain WithDryRun before Create to skip the actual release creation.