fix(version): mark untagged 1.0.0 as pre-release (1.0.0-rc)

pacs declared a released, stable v1.0.0 while no v1.0.0 git tag exists
(highest is v0.1.0). Keep project(VERSION 1.0.0) numeric and the exported
package version (SemVer compatibility for find_package consumers), but add
PACS_VERSION_STAGE="rc" so human-facing surfaces (build summary, README)
read 1.0.0-rc (untagged). Clear the stage marker in the same commit that
cuts the v1.0.0 git tag (#1095).

Closes #1190

Author: kcenon

CMakeLists.txt

@@ -6,6 +6,13 @@ project(pacs_system
     LANGUAGES CXX
 )
 
+# Pre-release stage marker. The numeric PROJECT_VERSION (1.0.0) is the target
+# v1.0 API contract, but no v1.0.0 git tag exists yet (highest tag is v0.1.0),
+# so human-facing surfaces append this stage to avoid advertising a released,
+# stable 1.0.0. Bump to a clean 1.0.0 by clearing this marker (set to "") in
+# the same commit that cuts the v1.0.0 git tag (#1095).
+set(PACS_VERSION_STAGE "rc")
+
 ##################################################
 # C++ Standard and Build Configuration
 ##################################################

README.md

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ A modern C++20 PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) implementation
 
 ## Project Status
 
-**Current Version**: 1.0.0 — Stable Public API
+**Current Version**: 1.0.0-rc — release candidate, not yet tagged (v1.0.0 tag pending #1095)
 **Project Phase**: Phase 4 Complete — Advanced Services & Production Hardening
 
 The v1.0 contract freezes the public header surface under `include/kcenon/pacs/`, the
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ pacs_system/
 ├── examples/             # Tutorials (5 progressive learning steps)
 ├── tools/                # CLI utility binaries (32 apps)
 ├── docs/                 # Documentation (87 markdown files)
-└── CMakeLists.txt        # Build configuration (v1.0.0)
+└── CMakeLists.txt        # Build configuration (v1.0.0-rc)
 ```
 
 > For the full file-level directory tree, see [Project Structure](docs/PROJECT_STRUCTURE.md).
@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ cmake --build build --target run_full_benchmarks
 | **Example Programs** | 6 apps |
 | **Documentation** | 87 markdown files |
 | **CI/CD Workflows** | 15 workflows |
-| **Version** | 1.0.0 |
+| **Version** | 1.0.0-rc (untagged) |
 | **Last Updated** | 2026-05-13 |
 
 <!-- STATS_END -->

cmake/summary.cmake

@@ -4,7 +4,11 @@
 
 message(STATUS "")
 message(STATUS "========================================")
-message(STATUS "PACS System v${PROJECT_VERSION}")
+if(PACS_VERSION_STAGE)
+    message(STATUS "PACS System v${PROJECT_VERSION}-${PACS_VERSION_STAGE} (untagged)")
+else()
+    message(STATUS "PACS System v${PROJECT_VERSION}")
+endif()
 message(STATUS "========================================")
 message(STATUS "")
 message(STATUS "Dependency Chain (Tier 5):")