feat: added semantic-release support and pull request template

.github/pull_request_template.md

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+# Description
+### Summary:
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+### Changes and type of changes (quick overview):
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+---
+
+# Checklist:
+
+### Code related
+- [ ] I have made corresponding changes to the documentation (i.e.: function/class, script header, README.md)
+- [ ] I have commented hard-to-understand code 
+- [ ] I have added tests that prove my fix is effective or that my feature works
+- [ ] All tests pass locally with my changes (Check `tests/README.md` for local testing procedure) 
+- [ ] My commit messages follow the [conventional commits](https://www.conventionalcommits.org) specification. See `commit_msg_reference.md` in the repository root for details
+
+### PR creation related 
+- [ ] My pull request `base ref` branch is set to the `dev` branch (the _build-system_ won't be triggered otherwise) 
+- [ ] My pull request branch is up-to-date with the `dev` branch (the _build-system_ will reject it otherwise)
+
+### PR description related 
+- [ ] I have included a quick summary of the changes
+- [ ] I have indicated the related issue's id with `# <issue-id>` if changes are of type `fix`
+
+ ## Note for repository admins
+ ### Release PR related
+- Only repository admins have the privilege to `push/merge` on the default branch (ie: `main`) and the `release` branch.
+- Keep PR in `draft` mode until all the release reviewers are ready to push the release. 
+- Once a PR from `release` -> `main` branch is created (not in draft mode), it triggers the _build-system_ test
+- On merge to the `main` branch, it triggers the _semantic-release automation_