Document the source release workflow

README.md

@@ -21,13 +21,16 @@ The [consumer guide](docs/consumers/guide.md) links to two maintained examples:
 - [Command line reference](docs/cli.md)
 - [Consumer guide](docs/consumers/guide.md)
 - [Internal package overview](docs/internal/overview.md)
+- [Maintainer release procedure](docs/release.md)
 - [Architecture policy](docs/policy/architecture.md)
 - [Policy provenance](docs/policy/meta.md)
 
 ## Planning history and future work
 
 - [Initial delivery and deferred capabilities](docs/roadmap/initial.md)
-- [Completed implementation record](docs/roadmap/implementation.md)
+- [Completed initial implementation record](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/CommandKit/src/commit/3871d837489b9955998b362587a52b47282dc021/docs/roadmap/implementation.md)
+- [ReleaseKit adoption roadmap](docs/roadmap/releasekit.md)
+- [Release tooling implementation plan](docs/roadmap/implementation.md)
 - [Historical CLI planning](docs/roadmap/01-cli-plan.md)
 - [Completed dispatcher planning](docs/roadmap/02-dispatch.md)
 - [Completed backend planning](docs/roadmap/03-backend.md)

docs/development.md

@@ -53,16 +53,19 @@ canonical documentation owners.
 | Backend integration | [Internal overview](internal/overview.md), [adapter implementation](../internal/cobra/parse.go), and [ADR 0002](adr/0002-cobra-backend.md) |
 | Public facade or adapter boundaries | [Internal overview](internal/overview.md), [ADR 0003](adr/0003-public-facade.md), and the architecture policy |
 | Deferred capabilities and delivery scope | [Initial feature target](roadmap/initial.md#deferred-capability-targets) and [explicit deferrals](roadmap/initial.md#explicit-deferrals) |
-| Initial planning history | [CLI](roadmap/01-cli-plan.md), [dispatcher](roadmap/02-dispatch.md), [backend](roadmap/03-backend.md), [facade](roadmap/04-facade.md), and [completed staged plan](roadmap/implementation.md) |
+| Initial planning history | [CLI](roadmap/01-cli-plan.md), [dispatcher](roadmap/02-dispatch.md), [backend](roadmap/03-backend.md), [facade](roadmap/04-facade.md), and [completed initial implementation record](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/CommandKit/src/commit/3871d837489b9955998b362587a52b47282dc021/docs/roadmap/implementation.md) |
+| Release tooling | [Maintainer release procedure](release.md), [ReleaseKit adoption roadmap](roadmap/releasekit.md), and [release tooling implementation plan](roadmap/implementation.md) |
 | Licensing or incorporated material | [Project grant](../COPYRIGHT), [license texts](../LICENSE), and [attribution](oss/attribution.md) |
 | Policy provenance | [Policy provenance](policy/meta.md) |
 
 Read all applicable rows for cross-cutting work. Go declarations and GoDoc own
-current exported contracts; the CLI reference owns operator behavior. Numbered
-roadmaps are completed planning records. Retained illustrations and historical
-staged instructions are not current API references or assignments to restart
-implementation. Future capabilities remain explicitly identified in the feature
-roadmap.
+current exported contracts; the CLI reference owns operator behavior. The
+initial numbered roadmaps are completed planning records. The
+[ReleaseKit adoption roadmap](roadmap/releasekit.md) and its
+[implementation plan](roadmap/implementation.md) track current maintainer
+tooling work. Retained illustrations and historical staged instructions are not
+current API references or assignments to restart implementation. Future
+capabilities remain explicitly identified in their feature roadmaps.
 
 ## Documentation validation
 
@@ -86,9 +89,20 @@ references, not build dependencies. Implemented contracts belong in CommandKit
 under their canonical owners.
 
 Run `go test ./...` from the repository root to compile the module and run its
-deterministic tests. Format changed Go files with `gofmt`. The release procedure
-and publication tooling will be introduced with a releasable module under the
-release policy.
+deterministic tests. Format changed Go files with `gofmt`. The
+[maintainer release procedure](release.md) owns candidate preparation and
+publication commands.
+
+## Release tooling development
+
+The local publication exercise is opt-in and uses disposable Git repositories.
+Prepare the module cache before running it; ordinary tests do not bootstrap or
+publish a release:
+
+```sh
+GOWORK=off GOTOOLCHAIN=local go mod download
+COMMANDKIT_RELEASE_INTEGRATION=1 GOWORK=off GOTOOLCHAIN=local GOPROXY=off GONOPROXY=none GOSUMDB=off go test -mod=readonly -count=1 ./scripts -run '^TestReleaseIntegration$'
+```
 
 Follow the [local commit policy](policy/agents.md#git-commit-policy). Completed
 units receive local commits by default, subject to explicit user instructions.

docs/policy/release.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 **Base Policy Version:** 1.4
 
-**Last Updated**: 2026-10-06
+**Last Updated**: 2026-10-08
 
 **Upstream Source:** [release.md](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/policy/src/commit/d84a38ebab26f048cafbe59a2246700c35d29843/docs/policy/release.md)
 
@@ -20,13 +20,10 @@ policy and link to it rather than introduce additional release requirements.
 
 CommandKit releases source-only Go modules. Standard CLI behavior is exposed by
 consuming applications; CommandKit does not declare binary deliverables or a
-cross-platform build matrix. The publication procedure and its tooling will be
-introduced with a releasable module. Do not create a placeholder publisher or
-claim that a release command exists before implementation.
-
-ReleaseKit may provide future publication mechanics, but its integration has not
-been selected. Adopt concrete checks for CommandKit's risks; do not copy another
-repository's platform commitments or validation gates.
+cross-platform build matrix. ReleaseKit v0.2.0 is selected as the maintainer
+publication tool. The [release procedure](../release.md) owns its source-only
+workflow and repository-specific commands; the integration adds no application
+command family or runtime ReleaseKit import.
 
 ## Release Model And Completion
 

docs/release.md

@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+# CommandKit release procedure
+
+## Scope and prerequisites
+
+CommandKit publishes source-only Go module releases: an immutable annotated
+version tag for one committed candidate and its matching checked-in release
+note. This procedure does not publish a hosted release page, binaries,
+checksums, or other delivery assets, and it requires no delivery credentials.
+
+Use branch `main`, remote `origin`, and the expected effective push endpoint
+`https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/CommandKit.git`. The profile enforces that
+endpoint during publication. The maintainer needs a local Go toolchain
+compatible with the module's Go 1.25.5 minimum, Git with push access to `origin`,
+and a POSIX shell.
+
+This procedure follows the [release policy](policy/release.md); the release-note
+footer follows the [OSS discoverability policy](policy/oss.md#discoverability).
+
+ReleaseKit v0.2.0 owns candidate validation, publication guards, annotated tag
+creation, tag publication, and outcome reporting. The repository profile selects
+only its default candidate suite. The launcher bootstraps the module-selected
+native executable into ignored `.releasekit/` storage and invokes its `publish`
+command. The upstream [CLI reference](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ReleaseKit/src/commit/e030794969fb7787e647a90bbc4eb81bd0610f07/docs/cli.md),
+[profile reference](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ReleaseKit/src/commit/e030794969fb7787e647a90bbc4eb81bd0610f07/docs/config.md),
+and [publication guide](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ReleaseKit/src/commit/e030794969fb7787e647a90bbc4eb81bd0610f07/docs/consumers/publish.md)
+own detailed command, profile, and status contracts.
+
+## Prepare and publish a candidate
+
+Choose a fresh, unused stable Semantic Version tag in the form
+`vMAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`, with no leading zeroes. Before `v1.0.0`, a minor release
+may change a documented contract if its note explains the impact and consumer
+action; a patch release must not intentionally break contracts within its
+minor line. Never reuse a version previously published through any release
+channel. The first version is selected during release preparation, not embedded
+in the tool or profile.
+
+Start from `main` and prepare a note at `docs/releases/<version>.md`. Begin with
+a heading containing `CommandKit` and the exact version. Include a useful
+summary and any compatibility impact or upgrade instructions. End it with the
+license and attribution links at that version's immutable source tag, replacing
+`VERSION` with the selected tag:
+
+```markdown
+[COPYRIGHT](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/CommandKit/src/tag/VERSION/COPYRIGHT) |
+[LICENSE](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/CommandKit/src/tag/VERSION/LICENSE) |
+[ATTRIBUTION](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/CommandKit/src/tag/VERSION/docs/oss/attribution.md)
+```
+
+Review these paths in the candidate; the future tag URLs do not need to resolve
+before publication.
+
+Prepare dependencies separately from the offline candidate suite:
+
+Run these commands in the same shell session so the version variable remains
+set:
+
+```sh
+commandkit_version=vX.Y.Z
+GOWORK=off GOTOOLCHAIN=local go mod download
+```
+
+If dependency preparation changes `go.mod` or `go.sum`, review and commit those
+changes with the candidate. Commit the note and all candidate changes on `main`,
+then publish that commit to `origin`:
+
+```sh
+git push origin HEAD:refs/heads/main
+./scripts/release "$commandkit_version"
+```
+
+The launcher builds the ReleaseKit version selected by the module in readonly
+mode. After preflight, `publish` runs the offline default Go suite once, checks
+the candidate and remote guards, creates an annotated tag from the committed
+note, and pushes only that tag object. The launcher does not push `main`; push
+the candidate first. Do not require a separate `check` before `publish` or repeat
+the same suite. Successful source publication does not wait for CI, module
+availability, or consumer installation.
+
+## Completion and statuses
+
+Publication is complete when the intended annotated tag is successfully pushed
+to the expected endpoint, or when an exact tag-object query confirms that push
+after an error. Status 0 reports confirmed publication. Status 1 reports a
+known failure or conflict; status 2 reports invalid input or profile; status 3
+means the push outcome remains unresolved. See the upstream [CLI status
+contract](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ReleaseKit/src/commit/e030794969fb7787e647a90bbc4eb81bd0610f07/docs/cli.md).
+
+For a failed or ambiguous push, use the exact endpoint, version, and annotated
+tag object reported by the invocation. Confirm that Git still resolves the
+captured endpoint to itself before querying only that tag ref:
+
+```sh
+releasekit_endpoint='COPY THE CAPTURED ENDPOINT EXACTLY'
+releasekit_version='vX.Y.Z'
+releasekit_tag_object='COPY THE REPORTED TAG OBJECT ID'
+releasekit_ref="refs/tags/$releasekit_version"
+
+releasekit_resolved_endpoint=$(git ls-remote --get-url -- "$releasekit_endpoint") || {
+    printf '%s\n' 'publication state is unresolved: endpoint resolution failed' >&2
+    exit 1
+}
+if [ "$releasekit_resolved_endpoint" != "$releasekit_endpoint" ]; then
+    printf '%s\n' 'publication state is unresolved: endpoint resolution changed' >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+releasekit_remote_tag=$(git ls-remote --refs -- "$releasekit_endpoint" "$releasekit_ref") || {
+    printf '%s\n' 'publication state is unresolved: remote query failed' >&2
+    exit 1
+}
+printf '%s\n' "$releasekit_remote_tag"
+```
+
+`--refs` returns the annotated tag object's ID, not its peeled commit. Compare
+that ID with `releasekit_tag_object`: an exact match confirms publication; a
+different object is a conflict; successful output with no matching ref proves
+absence at the captured endpoint. A failed query or changed URL resolution is
+unresolved, never evidence of absence. Do not query a different fetch URL or
+follow a rewritten endpoint to infer the captured destination's state.
+
+ReleaseKit retains a local tag after a failed push, so the tag blocks an ordinary
+retry. After proving the tag absent at the captured endpoint,
+confirm that it was never published or used by another release channel before
+deliberately removing the unpublished local tag:
+
+```sh
+git tag -d "$releasekit_version"
+```
+
+Do not move, overwrite, recreate, or delete a published tag. If the exact tag
+object is present remotely, keep it. Resolve conflicts with a fresh version;
+corrections to published source require a new version. A transport failure
+alone does not require a new version.

docs/roadmap/01-cli-plan.md

@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ Original review: 2026-10-06. Reconciled: 2026-10-07.
 This document preserves the initial command-suite review and identifies remaining
 future work. Its completed implementation tasks and obsolete contract drafts
 have been retired. The [initial feature target](initial.md) and
-[completed implementation plan](implementation.md) record delivery scope and
-execution history.
+[completed initial implementation record](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/CommandKit/src/commit/3871d837489b9955998b362587a52b47282dc021/docs/roadmap/implementation.md)
+record delivery scope and execution history.
 
 The [CLI reference](../cli.md) owns implemented commands, syntax, formats, and
 outcomes. Go declarations and GoDoc own exact exported APIs; the

docs/roadmap/02-dispatch.md

@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ Original planning: 2026-10-06. Reconciled: 2026-10-07.
 registry, and typed-input decisions and rationale. The
 [architecture policy](../policy/architecture.md) owns responsibility boundaries.
 This document records completion of the initial dispatcher design; the
-[implementation plan](implementation.md) preserves its execution history.
+[completed initial implementation record](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/CommandKit/src/commit/3871d837489b9955998b362587a52b47282dc021/docs/roadmap/implementation.md)
+preserves its execution history.
 
 The registry, typed inputs, command/group APIs, invocation coordination, and
 outcomes are implemented. Their exact contracts are owned by Go declarations

docs/roadmap/03-backend.md

@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ The [CLI reference](../cli.md) owns observable syntax and presentation.
 The initial implementation translated registered metadata through a neutral
 bridge, rebuilt backend state for each invocation, and adapted backend routing,
 local flags, operands, presence, help, and syntax failures to selected semantics.
-The [completed plan](implementation.md) records these stages and their checks.
+The [completed initial implementation record](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/CommandKit/src/commit/3871d837489b9955998b362587a52b47282dc021/docs/roadmap/implementation.md)
+records these stages and their checks.
 
 The earlier discussion of rejecting repeated singletons was superseded by the
 accepted last-occurrence rule in [ADR 0006](../adr/0006-command-grammar.md).

docs/roadmap/04-facade.md

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ the [consumer guide](../consumers/guide.md) explains their use. The
 [internal overview](../internal/overview.md) owns the actual package inventory,
 and [go.mod](../../go.mod) owns dependency versions.
 
-The [initial target](initial.md) and [completed implementation plan](implementation.md)
+The [initial target](initial.md) and [completed initial implementation record](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/CommandKit/src/commit/3871d837489b9955998b362587a52b47282dc021/docs/roadmap/implementation.md)
 record the chosen layout and delivered API work. The initial implementation
 requires no further facade package construction.
 

docs/roadmap/implementation.md

@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ the stage.
 
 ## Stage 5: document operation and reconcile release navigation
 
-**Status:** pending. **Prerequisite:** Stage 4.
+**Status:** complete. **Prerequisite:** Stage 4.
 
 **Files:** new `docs/release.md`; `docs/policy/release.md`, README,
 `docs/development.md`; historical roadmap references listed below; and stage
@@ -444,6 +444,18 @@ licensing footer navigation, intended release URL paths, changed historical
 references, provenance, and Markdown whitespace. No publisher invocation on
 CommandKit or another full test suite is needed for these prose edits.
 
+Observed 2026-10-08: added `docs/release.md` with source-only preparation,
+publication, status, and exact-object recovery instructions. The runbook was
+reviewed against the profile, launcher, release policy, OSS policy, and ReleaseKit
+v0.2.0 references. The policy retains its base version and upstream provenance
+with an updated local date. README and developer navigation link to the runbook;
+the developer guide records the optional local exercise. Historical references
+now use the immutable initial-plan snapshot, while current ReleaseKit work links
+to its roadmap and this plan. A link check found 228 valid local destinations and
+fragments across 11 affected documents; Markdown whitespace checks passed. The
+README's licensing and attribution footer remains intact. No real publication
+or full test suite was run for this prose stage.
+
 **Completion:** implemented tooling has one canonical runbook, policy status is
 accurate, and old library history is distinguishable from current ReleaseKit
 work. Commit the stage.

docs/roadmap/initial-plan.md

@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@ Status: roadmap preparation and implementation-plan handoff complete.
 Date: 2026-10-07.
 
 The [feature roadmap](initial.md) records the selected initial target and its
-completion. The [implementation plan](implementation.md) was prepared from that
-review and has been executed. Checked entries below record the completed
-preparation process; they are not assignments to restart planning.
+completion. The [completed initial implementation record](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/CommandKit/src/commit/3871d837489b9955998b362587a52b47282dc021/docs/roadmap/implementation.md)
+was prepared from that review and has been executed. Checked entries below
+record the completed preparation process; they are not assignments to restart
+planning.
 
 ## Historical preparation process
 

docs/roadmap/initial.md

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Date: 2026-10-07.
 This document defines the selected initial target for the library: packages,
 features, integration contracts, dependencies, and completion evidence. It was
 prepared using [the agreed checklist](initial-plan.md). Implementation steps and
-stage evidence belong in [the completed implementation plan](implementation.md).
+stage evidence belong in the [completed initial implementation record](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/CommandKit/src/commit/3871d837489b9955998b362587a52b47282dc021/docs/roadmap/implementation.md).
 Detailed specifications below preserve the selected design baseline; they are
 planning history, not a parallel current API or operator reference. The included
 target is implemented; the table below records feature status.
@@ -592,11 +592,11 @@ framework, general dependency injection, concurrent-dispatch guarantees, and
 implementation of additional library families. None is needed to prove the
 initial selected feature target. Application-owned commands remain extensible.
 
-Consumer migrations, release publication, and ReleaseKit integration are separate
-work. Initial implementation should be a usable module with maintained examples;
-source-release tooling is planned under the release policy when preparing a
-releasable candidate. Do not create placeholder publisher commands or a binary
-build matrix.
+Consumer migrations and source publication were kept outside the initial
+library target. Current ReleaseKit adoption is tracked in the
+[adoption roadmap](releasekit.md) and its [implementation plan](implementation.md).
+The initial implementation targeted a usable module with maintained examples;
+it did not create placeholder publisher commands or a binary build matrix.
 
 ## Completion criteria
 

docs/roadmap/remediation.md

@@ -138,7 +138,8 @@ labeled the retained process and outline as historical.
 
 ## D-06: clarify completed feature and implementation records
 
-Owners: [initial.md](initial.md) and [implementation.md](implementation.md).
+Owners: [initial.md](initial.md) and the
+[completed initial implementation record](https://gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/CommandKit/src/commit/3871d837489b9955998b362587a52b47282dc021/docs/roadmap/implementation.md).
 
 - [x] Replace ownership statements written in future tense in the feature roadmap with
   links to the existing GoDoc and CLI reference. Clearly identify detailed