diff --git a/CLI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md b/CLI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md
index 937fed0..36aa315 100644
--- a/CLI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md
+++ b/CLI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ useful a fix in **wallet-cli / wallet-core** (or clearer APIs) would be.
 
 Companions:
 - Android GUI → [`android-test/GUI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md`](./android-test/GUI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md)
-- Git / suite tree → [`VERSIONS.md`](./VERSIONS.md)
+- Git / suite tree → [`GIT-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md`](./GIT-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md)
 
 Scripts: `check_e2e.sh`, `check_goa_ladder.sh`, `taler-monitoring.sh`.
 
diff --git a/GIT-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md b/GIT-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..92da5d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/GIT-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+# Git / release notes — **taler-monitoring**
+
+How we commit, tag, and push this **standalone** suite  
+(`https://git.hacktivism.ch/hernani/taler-monitoring`).
+
+This file is **only** git/release/cadence for the suite tree.  
+**Do not confuse with:**
+
+| File | Topic |
+|------|--------|
+| [`android-test/GUI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md`](./android-test/GUI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md) | Android **GUI** automation |
+| [`CLI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md`](./CLI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md) | wallet-cli e2e pain points |
+
+Three different `*AUTOMATION-NOTES.md` files on purpose (GIT / GUI / CLI).
+
+---
+
+## Canonical tree
+
+| | |
+|--|--|
+| Clone | `~/src/taler-monitoring` |
+| Remote | `https://git.hacktivism.ch/hernani/taler-monitoring.git` |
+| Branch | `main` |
+| Tags | `vMAJOR.FEATURE.FIX` (see [`VERSIONS.md`](./VERSIONS.md)) |
+| Symlink (optional) | `~/taler-monitoring` → suite dir (`update-suite.sh`) |
+
+There is **no** `scripts/` subtree under an ops admin-log for this suite.  
+Host ops (Caddy, landings, day logs) stay in **koopa-admin-log** (separate repo).
+
+---
+
+## Commit / push cadence
+
+| Rule | Practice |
+|------|----------|
+| **Commits** | Prefer frequent small commits (`area: short description`) |
+| **Areas** | e.g. `host-agent: …`, `site-gen: …`, `monpages: …`, `docs: …`, `release: …` |
+| **Push** | At end of a work slice / session — not after every micro-commit |
+| **Tags** | After a fix/feature lands on `main`, tag + push tag (e.g. `v1.4.1`) |
+
+```bash
+cd ~/src/taler-monitoring
+git status -sb
+git add -A && git commit -m "area: description"
+# session end:
+git push origin main
+git tag -a v1.3.3 -m "v1.3.3: …"
+git push origin v1.3.3
+```
+
+### Push from koopa (HTTPS + Forgejo token)
+
+Laptop SSH keys often cannot push to Forgejo; on **koopa** a token file is used
+(ops-only, never commit it):
+
+```bash
+# example — do not print the token
+TOK=$(tr -d '\n\r ' < ~/.config/forgejo-taler-monitoring.token)
+git push "https://hernani:${TOK}@git.hacktivism.ch/hernani/taler-monitoring.git" main
+```
+
+Prefer `git push origin …` once `credential.helper` / remote URL is set up.
+
+### Host-agent auto-update
+
+`host-agent/update-suite.sh` does `git fetch` + `reset --hard` to `SUITE_GIT_REF`
+(default `main`). Local uncommitted suite edits under `~/src/taler-monitoring`
+can be wiped — keep work in a branch or commit first. Stack env lives only in
+`~/.config/taler-monitoring/env` (never overwritten by git).
+
+---
+
+## What the suite runs (no Android)
+
+| Phase | Needs |
+|-------|--------|
+| `urls` / `sanity` | public HTTPS |
+| `inside` / `versions` | SSH / podman on local stacks |
+| `monpages` | public FQDN of **monitoring HTML** (not merchant JSON code 21) |
+| `e2e` / `ladder` | `taler-wallet-cli` + secrets |
+| `surface` / `aptdeploy` | explicit only (timers on koopa) |
+
+```bash
+./taler-monitoring.sh -d hacktivism.ch urls monpages
+./taler-monitoring.sh -d stage.lefrancpaysan.ch e2e   # after secrets.env
+```
+
+Mobile / GUI → **GUI-AUTOMATION-NOTES** and `android-test/`.
+
+---
+
+## Related docs
+
+| Doc | Role |
+|-----|------|
+| [README.md](./README.md) | how to run `taler-monitoring.sh` |
+| [VERSIONS.md](./VERSIONS.md) | release tags |
+| [TESTS.md](./TESTS.md) | grouped check IDs |
+| [secrets.env.example](./secrets.env.example) | e2e secrets layout |
+| [host-agent/README.md](./host-agent/README.md) | systemd timers / install |
+| [android-test/GUI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md](./android-test/GUI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md) | Android GUI automation |
+| [CLI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md](./CLI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md) | wallet-cli automation issues |
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 18e9d9a..e9a0bcc 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ Report for the **GOA** stack with boxed severity badges and **grouped test IDs**
 IDs reset per **group** inside an area — so “too many www tests” become
 `www.exchange-*`, `www.bank-*`, `www.landing-*`, etc.  
 Catalog: **[TESTS.md](./TESTS.md)**.  
-Git / tags / suite tree: **[VERSIONS.md](./VERSIONS.md)**.  
+Git / tags / suite tree: **[GIT-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md](./GIT-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md)**.  
 GUI Android notes: **[android-test/GUI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md](./android-test/GUI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md)**.  
 CLI / wallet-cli recurring issues: **[CLI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md](./CLI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md)**.
 
diff --git a/android-test/GUI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md b/android-test/GUI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md
index 333179f..f35eda9 100644
--- a/android-test/GUI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md
+++ b/android-test/GUI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 Companion docs:
 - CLI / wallet-cli: [`../CLI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md`](../CLI-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md)
-- Git / tags / suite tree: [`../VERSIONS.md`](../VERSIONS.md)
+- Git / tags / suite tree: [`../GIT-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md`](../GIT-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md)
 
 Canonical notes for **graphical** Android wallet tests against GOA / stage.
 
diff --git a/android-test/README.md b/android-test/README.md
index 977ff0c..64e9d8a 100644
--- a/android-test/README.md
+++ b/android-test/README.md
@@ -108,4 +108,4 @@ Canonical notes (minimal variant, **flags**, Linux defaults):
 WINDOWED=1 ./start-android-emulator.sh --wait
 ```
 
-See also parent [VERSIONS.md](../VERSIONS.md).
+See also parent [GIT-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md](../GIT-AUTOMATION-NOTES.md).