chore(PLATFORM-1104): adding dependabot, update workflows references and action version bump [skip ci]

Author: lucian-iurasog-natterbox

.github/dependabot.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+version: 2
+
+updates:
+- package-ecosystem: "github-actions"
+  directory: "/"
+  schedule:
+    interval: "daily"
+    time: "09:00"
+    timezone: "UTC"
+  open-pull-requests-limit: 10
+  labels:
+  - "dependencies"
+  - "github-actions"
+  commit-message:
+    prefix: "chore(deps) [skip ci]"
+    include: "scope"
+  ignore:
+  # Ignore minor and patch for ALL redmatter/github-workflows paths (e.g. v1.16.0 → v1.36.1)
+  # Only major bumps (v1 → v2) should trigger a PR
+  - dependency-name: "redmatter/github-workflows*"
+    update-types:
+    - "version-update:semver-minor"
+    - "version-update:semver-patch"
+  groups:
+    # Matches full paths like redmatter/github-workflows/.github/workflows/gitflow.yml
+    redmatter-workflows:
+      patterns:
+      - "redmatter/github-workflows*"
+      update-types:
+      - "major"
+    third-party-actions:
+      patterns:
+      - "*"
+      exclude-patterns:
+      - "redmatter/github-workflows*"
+      update-types:
+      - "minor"
+      - "patch"

.github/workflows/gitflow.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+name: Generic Gitflow & Release Notes
+
+on:
+    workflow_dispatch:
+        inputs:
+            version_increment:
+                type: choice
+                required: false
+                description: 'BUMP TYPE: Select if you want an auto-increment the latest version (ignored if Manual Version is set)'
+                options:
+                  - minor
+                  - patch
+                  - major
+            version:
+                type: string
+                required: false
+                description: 'MANUAL VERSION: Enter a specific version (e.g., 1.2.3). Leaves empty to use Bump Type above.'
+
+    pull_request:
+        types:
+          - closed
+        branches:
+          - master
+          - develop
+
+jobs:
+    release_workflow:
+        uses: redmatter/github-workflows/.github/workflows/gitflow.yml@v1
+        with:
+            version: ${{ inputs.version }}
+            version_increment: ${{ inputs.version_increment }}
+        secrets: inherit

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ jobs:
   release:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
 
       - name: Verify tag matches distro.toml version
         run: |