From 505fe655824d2cd126c78ee52176e916f9dce8ba Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Roger Chappel <miscanalysis@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:09:33 +1000
Subject: [PATCH 1/4] Document release readiness checklist

---
 docs/release-readiness.md | 24 ++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 24 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 docs/release-readiness.md

diff --git a/docs/release-readiness.md b/docs/release-readiness.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f9d80ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/release-readiness.md
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Release readiness
+
+Use this checklist before cutting a release or asking for a release review.
+
+## Local verification
+
+```sh
+npm install
+npm run check
+npm run test
+npm run smoke
+npm run package:smoke
+npm run release:check
+```
+
+## Package contents
+
+Run `npm run package:smoke` when available and review the dry-run file list for only the built runtime, README, license, and other intentional release assets.
+
+## Notes
+
+- Keep README examples aligned with the fixture-backed smoke command.
+- Do not publish until CI is green on the release branch.
+- Update CHANGELOG.md with user-facing changes before tagging.

From d348cf3117679524504f0b1a714b985203e1acb2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Roger Chappel <miscanalysis@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:14:07 +1000
Subject: [PATCH 2/4] Link README to release checklist

---
 README.md | 4 ++++
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+)

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a048ccb..1f36405 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -92,6 +92,10 @@ npm run smoke
 bash scripts/validate.sh
 ```
 
+## Release readiness
+
+Use [docs/release-readiness.md](docs/release-readiness.md) before opening release PRs or tagging a release.
+
 ## License
 
 MIT

From 89f58bc070535668f1d3407aade69008ffd227fa Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Roger Chappel <miscanalysis@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:14:07 +1000
Subject: [PATCH 3/4] Index release checklist in docs

---
 docs/README.md | 4 ++++
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+)

diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
index bea55e4..1fdd192 100644
--- a/docs/README.md
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -6,3 +6,7 @@
 - `orchestration.json` gives machine-readable factory metadata.
 
 Generated audit reports can be written here with `scriptaudit scan . --out docs/SCRIPTS.md`.
+
+## Contents
+
+- [Release readiness](release-readiness.md)

From e5a44970593b07d10133a284921ba686b266c225 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Roger Chappel <miscanalysis@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:14:07 +1000
Subject: [PATCH 4/4] Record release checklist in changelog

---
 CHANGELOG.md | 2 ++
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+)

diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 549b311..d6d52aa 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ format and uses semantic versioning when versioned releases are published.
 
 ### Added
 
+- Added a release-readiness checklist for local verification and package review.
+
 - Initial project setup.
 
 ## Release Links