Release v1.8.0: Docker publishing pipeline fix

- Fixed Issue #146: Docker image publishing pipeline failures
- Added automated Docker Hub publishing to release workflow
- Enhanced release gates with Docker build validation
- Improved containerized deployment reliability

Author: Michael-A-Kuykendall

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,30 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [1.8.0] - 2025-12-08
+
+### 🐳 **DOCKER PUBLISHING PIPELINE** - Containerized Deployments Fixed
+
+This release resolves critical Docker image publishing failures that prevented containerized shimmy deployments. The fix ensures reliable automated Docker Hub publishing for all future releases.
+
+### 🏆 **HEADLINE ACHIEVEMENTS**
+
+**🚀 DOCKER PUBLISHING AUTOMATION**
+- **FIXED**: Issue #146 - Docker image publishing pipeline failures
+- Implemented automated Docker Hub publishing in release workflow
+- Added comprehensive Docker build validation in release gates
+- **Result**: Containerized shimmy deployments now work reliably
+
+**🔧 INFRASTRUCTURE RELIABILITY**
+- Enhanced release gate validation with Docker build verification
+- Strengthened CI/CD pipeline with container deployment testing
+- Improved deployment automation for cloud-native environments
+
+### 📦 **CHANGES**
+- Fixed Docker publishing workflow configuration
+- Added Docker build validation to release gates
+- Enhanced containerized deployment reliability
+
 ## [1.7.3] - 2025-10-12
 
 ### 🎯 **SYSTEMATIC ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE** - Production Quality Release

Cargo.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "shimmy"
-version = "1.7.4"
+version = "1.8.0"
 edition = "2021"
 license = "MIT"
 description = "Lightweight sub-5MB Ollama alternative with native SafeTensors support. No Python dependencies, 2x faster loading. Now with GitHub Spec-Kit integration for systematic development."