build(npm): add semantic-release, its plugins and configuration

configured to run on master branch; provide technical reference pdf and md as well as changelog as
assets to the release; also update these files in the repo

package.json

@@ -8,13 +8,61 @@
   },
   "license": "MIT",
   "devDependencies": {
-    "markdownlint-cli": "^0.23.1",
+    "@semantic-release/changelog": "^5.0.1",
+    "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer": "^8.0.1",
+    "@semantic-release/git": "^9.0.0",
+    "@semantic-release/gitlab-config": "^8.0.0",
+    "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator": "^9.0.1",
     "commitizen": "^4.1.2",
-    "cz-customizable": "^6.2.0"
+    "cz-customizable": "^6.2.0",
+    "markdownlint-cli": "^0.23.1",
+    "semantic-release": "^17.0.8"
   },
   "config": {
     "commitizen": {
       "path": "./node_modules/cz-customizable"
     }
+  },
+  "release": {
+    "plugins": [
+      "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer",
+      "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator",
+      [
+        "@semantic-release/changelog",
+        {
+          "changelogFile": "CHANGELOG.md"
+        }
+      ],
+      [
+        "@semantic-release/gitlab",
+        {
+          "gitlabUrl": "https://gitlab.gwdg.de",
+          "assets": [
+            {
+              "path": "technical-reference.pdf",
+              "label": "Technical Reference (PDF)"
+            },
+            {
+              "path": "technical-reference.md",
+              "label": "Technical Reference (MD)"
+            },
+            {
+              "path": "CHANGELOG.md",
+              "label": "Changelog"
+            }
+          ]
+        }
+      ],
+      [
+        "@semantic-release/git",
+        {
+          "assets": [
+            "technical-reference.pdf",
+            "technical-reference.md",
+            "CHANGELOG.md"
+          ]
+        }
+      ]
+    ]
   }
 }