feat: Remove non-matrix mode, always generate single validate job

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Changed
 
+- **BREAKING: CI workflow generation always uses single validate job** (v0.19.0+)
+  - Removed non-matrix mode — `generate-workflow` now always produces a single `validate` job
+  - Matches local `pnpm validate` behavior: all steps run sequentially in one CI runner
+  - Setup steps (e.g., `npx playwright install`) now run before tests in CI, just like locally
+  - **Migration**: Run `npx vibe-validate generate-workflow` to regenerate your workflow file
+  - **API**: `useMatrix` option removed from `GenerateWorkflowOptions`
+
 - **BREAKING: TreeHashResult structure change** (v0.19.0+)
   - **Before**: `{ hash: string, components: Array<{path, treeHash}> }`
   - **After**: `{ hash: TreeHash, submoduleHashes?: Record<string, TreeHash> }`

docs/commands/watch-pr.md

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ The `watch-pr` command fetches complete PR check status from GitHub, including G
 1. **Fetches PR metadata** (title, branch, labels, linked issues, mergeable state)
 2. **Retrieves all checks** from GitHub (Actions + external checks like codecov/SonarCloud)
 3. **Classifies checks** into GitHub Actions vs external providers
-4. **Extracts errors** from failed GitHub Actions logs (matrix + non-matrix modes)
+4. **Extracts errors** from failed GitHub Actions logs (YAML extraction with raw output fallback)
 5. **Extracts summaries** from external checks (coverage %, quality gates)
 6. **Builds history summary** (last 10 runs, success rate, recent pattern)
 7. **Generates guidance** with severity-based next steps
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ cache:                      # ✅ NEW: Cache info
 ```
 
 **Key improvements:**
-- ✅ **Error extraction** (matrix + non-matrix modes)
+- ✅ **Error extraction** (YAML extraction with raw output fallback)
 - ✅ **Separate check types** (GitHub Actions vs external)
 - ✅ **History summary** (success rate, patterns)
 - ✅ **File changes** (insertions/deletions, top files)

docs/skill/SKILL.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 name: vibe-validate
-version: 0.19.0-rc.12 # Tracks vibe-validate package version
+version: 0.19.0-rc.13 # Tracks vibe-validate package version
 description: Expert guidance for vibe-validate, an LLM-optimized validation orchestration tool. Use when working with vibe-validate commands, configuration, pre-commit workflows, or validation orchestration in TypeScript projects.
 model: claude-sonnet-4-5
 tools:

docs/skill/resources/cli-reference.md

@@ -314,8 +314,8 @@ Generate GitHub Actions workflow from vibe-validate config
 **What it does:**
 
 Generates .github/workflows/validate.yml from config
-Supports matrix mode (multiple Node/OS versions)
-Supports non-matrix mode (separate jobs per phase)
+Generates single validate job matching local behavior
+Supports matrix strategy for multiple Node/OS versions
 Can check if workflow is in sync with config
 
 **Exit codes:**

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "vibe-validate",
-  "version": "0.19.0-rc.12",
+  "version": "0.19.0-rc.13",
   "type": "module",
   "private": true,
   "description": "Git-aware validation orchestration for vibe coding (LLM-assisted development)",

packages/cli/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@vibe-validate/cli",
-  "version": "0.19.0-rc.12",
+  "version": "0.19.0-rc.13",
   "description": "Command-line interface for vibe-validate validation framework",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "./dist/index.js",

packages/cli/src/bin.ts

@@ -355,8 +355,8 @@ function showComprehensiveHelp(program: Command): void {
     'generate-workflow': {
       whatItDoes: [
         'Generates .github/workflows/validate.yml from config',
-        'Supports matrix mode (multiple Node/OS versions)',
-        'Supports non-matrix mode (separate jobs per phase)',
+        'Generates single validate job matching local behavior',
+        'Supports matrix strategy for multiple Node/OS versions',
         'Can check if workflow is in sync with config'
       ],
       exitCodes: {