diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index a59b63be..a52b439c 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ See the corresponding [memory](.serena/memories/adding_new_language_support_guid
 
 You can install a virtual environment with the required as follows
 
-1. Create a new virtual environment: `uv venv`
+1. Create a new virtual environment: `uv venv -p 3.13`
 2. Activate the environment:
     * On Linux/Unix/macOS or Windows with Git Bash: `source .venv/bin/activate`
     * On Windows outside of Git Bash: `.venv\Scripts\activate.bat` (in cmd/ps) or `source .venv/Scripts/activate` (in git-bash) 
diff --git a/README-dev.md b/README-dev.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..958e4893
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README-dev.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Developer Instructions
+
+## Python Environment & Development Tools
+
+See [the contributing guide](CONTRIBUTING.md) for instructions on setting up your development environment
+and tools for formatting and type checking.
+
+## Release Process
+
+1. Ensure clean git status
+2. Set version for release, e.g.
+   
+       python scripts/bump_version.py --patch
+       python scripts/bump_version.py --minor
+
+   This also creates the git tag.
+3. Push to GitHub, triggering the release process.
+
+       git push --tags
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/bump_version.py b/scripts/bump_version.py
index ec4de118..9a54e70b 100644
--- a/scripts/bump_version.py
+++ b/scripts/bump_version.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import logging
+import os
 import re
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Literal
@@ -8,6 +9,7 @@ from typing import Literal
 import click
 
 from serena.constants import REPO_ROOT
+from serena.util.git import get_git_status
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -27,6 +29,10 @@ _UNRELEASED_HEADER = "# Unreleased (main)\n"
 @click.option("--version", "-v", "target_version", metavar="X.Y.Z", help="Set an explicit version instead of bumping.")
 @click.option("--dry-run", is_flag=True, help="Show what would change without writing any files.")
 def bump_version(major: bool, minor: bool, patch: bool, target_version: str | None, dry_run: bool) -> None:
+    git_status = get_git_status()
+    if not git_status.is_clean:
+        raise click.ClickException("Working directory is not clean. Please commit or stash your changes first.")
+
     log.info("bump_version called: major=%s, minor=%s, patch=%s, target_version=%s", major, minor, patch, target_version)
     version_part = resolve_version_selection(major=major, minor=minor, patch=patch, target_version=target_version)
     log.info("Resolved version_part=%s", version_part)
@@ -39,6 +45,9 @@ def bump_version(major: bool, minor: bool, patch: bool, target_version: str | No
         click.echo(f"Dry run complete. Version would be bumped to {new_version}")
     else:
         click.echo(f"Bumped version to {new_version}")
+        os.system("git add -u")
+        os.system(f'git commit -m "Release v{new_version}"')
+        os.system(f"git tag v{new_version}")
 
 
 def find_repo_root() -> Path: