# Release Checklist

1. Update `CHANGELOG.md` with final release notes.
2. Bump `project.version` in `pyproject.toml`.
3. Run quality and build gates:
   - `make release-check`
   - `make check-default-model`
4. Ensure model promotion artifacts are current:
   - `benchmarks/results/latest.json` has the latest `winner_recommendation.name`
   - `benchmarks/model_artifacts.json` contains that winner with URL + SHA256
   - `make sync-default-model` (if constants drifted)
5. Build packaging artifacts:
   - `make package`
6. Verify artifacts:
   - `dist/*.whl`
   - `dist/*.tar.gz`
   - `dist/*.deb`
   - `dist/arch/PKGBUILD`
7. Tag release:
   - `git tag vX.Y.Z`
   - `git push origin vX.Y.Z`
8. Publish release and upload package artifacts from `dist/`.