diff --git a/.agents/skills/rea-changelog-update/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/rea-changelog-update/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7da966bce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/rea-changelog-update/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+---
+name: rea-changelog-update
+description: Prepare or rewrite REA release changelogs and GitHub release notes from pinned Git history, with verified contributor thanks and Release Please synchronization.
+---
+
+# REA changelog update
+
+Use this for release-note preparation and contributor attribution. Read
+[docs/releasing.md](../../../docs/releasing.md) from the repository root for
+publication authority and the existing checkpoint checks. This skill prepares
+notes; it does not authorize merging, tagging, or publishing.
+
+## Inventory before prose
+
+Fetch complete history and tags. Select the published baseline tag from
+`.release-please-manifest.json` on the release PR's **base branch**, and pin that
+branch's exact SHA as the editorial target. REA tags are `rea-agents-VERSION`.
+Use the proposed version, including its prerelease suffix; do not change the
+`always-bump-minor` strategy to imitate OpenClaw's calendar versions.
+
+```bash
+node scripts/release-notes.mjs inventory \
+  --repository morluto/rea --base rea-agents-PREVIOUS \
+  --target FULL_BASE_BRANCH_SHA --version VERSION \
+  --manifest /tmp/rea-VERSION.contributions.json
+node scripts/release-notes.mjs record \
+  --manifest /tmp/rea-VERSION.contributions.json \
+  --output /tmp/rea-VERSION.record.md
+```
+
+Read the inventory, not just the existing bot draft. It includes side-branch
+commits, GitHub-associated PRs whose merge commits are in the range, commit
+authors/co-authors, and confirmed closing issues with their reporters. GitHub
+connections are paginated. Network errors stop generation; rerun into a new
+output file after recovery. Existing output files are never overwritten.
+
+Unresolved commit identities are retained as names/emails with `user: null`;
+never guess a handle or thank the merger as a substitute. The report preserves
+unknowns. This is a reviewed metadata snapshot, not independent proof that a
+human authored a patch. For unattributed identities, unusual merge strategies,
+backports, reversions, or references that GitHub did not associate, inspect
+the source PRs and diffs and report the limitation. The current collector uses
+confirmed PR-closing relationships for issue-reporter credit; unrelated issue
+mentions are not automatically credited. Do not claim that merely inventoried
+work still ships after a revert.
+
+## Write for users and retain credit
+
+Rewrite only the newest `## [VERSION]` section in `CHANGELOG.md`, preserving its
+version/date/link heading. Use single-line Markdown list items under:
+
+- `### Highlights`: a few release-defining user outcomes; no quota for small releases.
+- `### Changes`: capabilities and meaningful behavior changes.
+- `### Fixes`: reliability, correctness, compatibility, and safety fixes.
+- `### ⚠ BREAKING CHANGES`: retain when applicable, with migrations and original
+  PR/commit references required by the existing checkpoint validator.
+
+Group related work by analyst workflow or user impact. Explain the resulting
+behavior; internal cleanup, tests, CI, and routine documentation generally
+belong only in the contribution record. Read ambiguous PRs/diffs before making
+claims. Distinguish simulated-provider checks from real-provider verification.
+
+Each bullet covering a PR carries its link and `Thanks @...` for its verified
+human author, known co-authors, and confirmed closing-issue reporters. Grouping
+must preserve **all** those credits in the same bullet. Include the issue
+links. Direct-commit bullets carry the commit link and known human credit.
+Exclude GitHub bots and known agent accounts. REA's observed Anthropic and
+Cursor co-author trailers resolve to `@claude` and `@cursoragent` with GitHub
+type `User`; the credit policy excludes them while retaining their metadata.
+Do not copy OpenClaw's maintainer-specific exclusions.
+Use explicit GitHub links for cross-repository references to avoid ambiguous
+`#NNN` numbers. Unknown handles stay unknown; they are not fabricated credit.
+
+Append the generated `### Complete contribution record` verbatim as the last
+section of this release. It accounts for every discovered in-range PR and
+direct contribution, including internal work omitted from the prose. Do not
+hand-edit generated credits to make validation pass. Refresh the inventory
+when product history changes; a prose-only correction can reuse the snapshot.
+
+## Finalize with Release Please
+
+Before changing the live release PR, have authorization for that PR update.
+Local preparation and validation can proceed independently.
+
+1. Add `rea:release-notes-finalized` to the selected open release PR **before**
+   editing its branch/body. Main proposal pushes respect this label. This is
+   our workflow guard, not Release Please's `autorelease: snooze` mechanism.
+   A proposal already running must finish before editing. Do not dispatch
+   manual preparation over finalized notes.
+2. On that release branch, save the reviewed inventory as
+   `docs/releases/VERSION.contributions.json`. This is durable public release
+   provenance, not a temporary planning file. Do not add credentials or local
+   environment dumps. Keep the existing version artifacts aligned.
+3. Run the existing checkpoint validator and the new checker:
+
+   ```bash
+   node scripts/release-notes.mjs check \
+     --manifest docs/releases/VERSION.contributions.json
+   node scripts/release-notes.mjs render \
+     --manifest docs/releases/VERSION.contributions.json \
+     --output /tmp/rea-VERSION.notes.md
+   ```
+
+   The checker supports inline PR bodies, including their surrounding metadata,
+   up to GitHub's 65,536-character limit. It fails on larger notes rather than
+   truncating credit; Release Please's overflow-link bodies are not integrated.
+
+4. Update the release PR body with the rendered section while preserving its
+   Release Please header/footer and component/version structure. Use a body
+   file for `gh pr edit --body-file`; changing only `CHANGELOG.md` does not
+   change Release Please's release body. Push only authorized changes.
+5. Freshly fetch the PR body to a file and run `check --pr-body FILE`. Review
+   the complete diff and wait for current CI. Publication checks the body
+   again before release creation. Avoid further body edits while publishing.
+
+The finalization label freezes bot refreshes, not main. New product changes
+after the inventory target require refreshing the notes before publication.
+The workflow checks target ancestry and allows only release metadata paths
+after that target. It also requires the inventory target to equal the reviewed
+merge's first parent, so intervening main commits require a fresh inventory.
+Review diffs within the allowed release metadata paths too: the path guard does
+not prove that package dependency/script edits are version-only changes.
+To resume automatic proposals, remove the finalization label and let the bot
+regenerate; expect editorial changes to be replaced.
+
+Existing releases without a contribution inventory retain their current
+publication path. Never retag or republish a package to correct release prose.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 77ef18839..c60f32a2c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -35,7 +35,21 @@ jobs:
       contents: write
       pull-requests: write
     steps:
+      - name: Respect finalized release notes
+        id: editorial
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_PLEASE_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          GH_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
+        run: |
+          finalized=$(gh api --paginate "repos/${GH_REPO}/pulls?state=open&base=main&per_page=100" \
+            --jq '.[] | select(.head.repo.full_name == .base.repo.full_name) | select(.head.ref | startswith("release-please--branches--main--")) | select(any(.labels[]; .name == "rea:release-notes-finalized")) | .number')
+          if [[ -n "${finalized}" ]]; then
+            echo "Finalized release notes on PR ${finalized}; automatic proposal refresh is paused." >> "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"
+            echo "frozen=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          fi
+
       - uses: googleapis/release-please-action@v4
+        if: steps.editorial.outputs.frozen != 'true'
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_PLEASE_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           target-branch: main
@@ -80,6 +94,16 @@ jobs:
           node scripts/verify-release-checkpoint.mjs \
             --phase publish --release-branch main --source-sha "$SOURCE_SHA"
 
+      - name: Validate finalized notes before release creation
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_PLEASE_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          GH_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
+          RELEASE_PR: ${{ github.event.pull_request.number }}
+          SOURCE_SHA: ${{ github.event.pull_request.merge_commit_sha }}
+        run: |
+          node scripts/release-notes.mjs publication --repository "$GH_REPO" \
+            --source "$SOURCE_SHA" --pr "$RELEASE_PR"
+
       - uses: googleapis/release-please-action@v4
         id: release
         with:
@@ -192,6 +216,16 @@ jobs:
           --phase "$RELEASE_PHASE" --release-branch "$RELEASE_BRANCH"
           --source-sha "$SOURCE_SHA"
 
+      - name: Validate manual finalized notes before release creation
+        if: inputs.phase == 'publish'
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_PLEASE_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          GH_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
+          SOURCE_SHA: ${{ steps.branch.outputs.sha }}
+        run: |
+          node scripts/release-notes.mjs publication --repository "$GH_REPO" \
+            --source "$SOURCE_SHA"
+
       - uses: googleapis/release-please-action@v4
         id: release
         with:
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 95a9b9b3b..f7a65be58 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -148,10 +148,15 @@ Generated fixtures and manifests remain ignored.
 Use the [release guide](docs/releasing.md). Main pushes automatically refresh a
 Release Please PR with the next version and changelog. Review its migration
 notes, wait for the current CI checks to pass, and merge it into main to publish.
+
 The Release workflow validates and tags that merge; both publishers build its
 exact SHA. Ordinary main pushes cannot publish packages. An optional manual
 `release/VERSION` checkpoint retains explicit preparation and publication.
 
+For grouped release notes with verified contributor thanks, use the repository's
+`rea-changelog-update` skill in `.agents/skills/rea-changelog-update/`. Its inventory,
+credit checks, and finalization process are described in the release guide.
+
 Keep new implementation commits on main for the next release. The workflow
 owns packaged-artifact verification, npm publication, the published CLI/MCP
 canary, and MCP Registry publication. Sync manual checkpoint metadata back to
diff --git a/docs/releasing.md b/docs/releasing.md
index 5019bbfe2..fbe8ca5c1 100644
--- a/docs/releasing.md
+++ b/docs/releasing.md
@@ -15,6 +15,48 @@ the original run after a partial publication.
 For a release that needs an independently frozen application checkpoint, use
 the optional manual path below. It retains explicit prepare and publish phases.
 
+## Contributor-aware release notes
+
+Use [the rea-changelog-update skill](https://github.com/morluto/rea/blob/main/.agents/skills/rea-changelog-update/SKILL.md)
+to turn the bot draft into grouped Highlights, Changes, and Fixes with inline
+`Thanks @...` credit. `npm run release:notes -- inventory` collects the full
+selected Git range and paginated GitHub PR/author/closing-issue metadata;
+`record` produces the complete contribution record, `check` validates credits
+and optional PR-body equality, and `render` writes the verified release section.
+Run a subcommand without its required options to see its usage. GitHub reads
+require an authenticated `gh`; record/check/render work offline from the saved
+inventory and complete local Git history.
+
+Save a finalized inventory on the release branch at
+`docs/releases/VERSION.contributions.json`. Review unknown identities and
+reverted/backported work explicitly; GitHub metadata does not establish the
+quality of a user-facing claim. Preserve the existing breaking-change section
+and checkpoint checks. The contribution inventory is a reviewed snapshot, not
+a signed attestation; the offline checker verifies local range coverage and
+credit consistency, not GitHub's authorship independently.
+
+Before editing the live PR, add `rea:release-notes-finalized` to prevent ordinary
+main-push proposals from overwriting the editorial notes. Wait for any already
+running proposal to finish. The guard applies to main-push automation; do not
+run manual checkpoint preparation over finalized notes. Remove the label to
+resume bot regeneration. The label does not freeze the base branch: new base
+commits require re-inventorying and re-reviewing the notes.
+
+Update both the release branch's `CHANGELOG.md` and the PR body, preserving
+Release Please's surrounding metadata. Before creating a release, the workflow
+checks an inventory when present, requires its target to equal the reviewed
+merge's first parent, and compares the freshly fetched PR body to the changelog.
+It rejects changes outside the release metadata paths and stale credit records
+before any tag or publication. Review the diffs within allowed metadata paths
+as well, especially package dependencies and scripts. Existing candidates without inventories retain their current
+checks. Merging still starts publication; a notes edit does not authorize a
+merge or release by itself.
+
+The checker supports inline Release Please PR bodies up to GitHub's 65,536
+character limit, including the surrounding header/footer. Overflow-link PR
+bodies need a separate integration and fail explicitly; credits are never
+silently truncated.
+
 ## 1. Select a source for a manual checkpoint
 
 Use the next minor version proposed by Release Please, including releases with
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f045fe8de..0592256db 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@
     "third_party/pwndbg/LICENSE.md"
   ],
   "scripts": {
+    "release:notes": "node scripts/release-notes.mjs",
     "deps:check": "node scripts/check-dependency-install.mjs",
     "metadata:generate": "node scripts/run-exclusive.mjs artifacts node scripts/generate-package-metadata.mjs",
     "metadata:check": "node scripts/generate-package-metadata.mjs --check",
diff --git a/scripts/lib/release-notes-github.mjs b/scripts/lib/release-notes-github.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..05b1eabc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/lib/release-notes-github.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+import { z } from "zod";
+import {
+  releaseAuthorSchema as author,
+  releaseIssueSchema as issue,
+  releasePullRequestSchema,
+} from "./release-notes.mjs";
+
+const pageInfo = z.object({
+  hasNextPage: z.boolean(),
+  endCursor: z.string().nullable(),
+});
+const connection = (node) => z.object({ nodes: z.array(node), pageInfo });
+const associated = z.object({
+  number: z.number().int().positive(),
+  mergeCommit: z.object({ oid: z.string() }).nullable(),
+});
+const pr = releasePullRequestSchema.omit({ issues: true }).extend({
+  closingIssuesReferences: connection(issue),
+});
+const PAGE = "pageInfo { hasNextPage endCursor }";
+const ACTOR = "login __typename";
+const AUTHORS = `authors(first:100, after:$cursor) { nodes { name email user { ${ACTOR} } } ${PAGE} }`;
+const ASSOCIATED = `associatedPullRequests(first:100, after:$cursor) { nodes { number mergeCommit { oid } } ${PAGE} }`;
+const ISSUES = `closingIssuesReferences(first:100, after:$cursor) { nodes { number url author { ${ACTOR} } repository { nameWithOwner } } ${PAGE} }`;
+
+async function query(run, repository, selection, cursor = null) {
+  const [owner, name] = repository.split("/");
+  const response = JSON.parse(
+    await run(
+      "gh",
+      ["api", "graphql", "--input", "-"],
+      JSON.stringify({
+        query: `query($owner:String!,$name:String!,$cursor:String) { repository(owner:$owner,name:$name) { ${selection} } }`,
+        variables: { owner, name, cursor },
+      }),
+    ),
+  );
+  if (response.errors?.length)
+    throw new Error(
+      `GitHub inventory query failed: ${JSON.stringify(response.errors)}`,
+    );
+  if (!response.data?.repository)
+    throw new Error(`GitHub repository unavailable: ${repository}`);
+  return response.data.repository;
+}
+
+async function remainingPages(run, repository, selection, field) {
+  const initial = field.initial;
+  const nodes = [...initial.nodes];
+  let page = initial;
+  const cursors = new Set();
+  while (page.pageInfo.hasNextPage) {
+    const cursor = page.pageInfo.endCursor;
+    if (!cursor || cursors.has(cursor))
+      throw new Error(`GitHub returned a non-advancing ${field.name} cursor`);
+    cursors.add(cursor);
+    const response = await query(run, repository, selection, cursor);
+    page = field.schema.parse(response.item?.[field.name]);
+    nodes.push(...page.nodes);
+  }
+  return nodes;
+}
+
+/** GitHub's commit authors include co-authors; unresolved identities remain explicit. */
+export async function collectGitHubCredits(run, repository, commits) {
+  const shipped = new Set(commits.map((commit) => commit.sha));
+  const numbers = new Set();
+  const result = [];
+  // Small query batches limit transient GraphQL work, never the history examined.
+  for (let offset = 0; offset < commits.length; offset += 20) {
+    const batch = commits.slice(offset, offset + 20);
+    const selection = batch
+      .map(
+        (commit, index) =>
+          `c${index}: object(oid:${JSON.stringify(commit.sha)}) { ... on Commit { oid ${AUTHORS} ${ASSOCIATED} } }`,
+      )
+      .join("\n");
+    const response = await query(run, repository, selection);
+    for (const [index, commit] of batch.entries()) {
+      const value = z
+        .object({
+          oid: z.literal(commit.sha),
+          authors: connection(author),
+          associatedPullRequests: connection(associated),
+        })
+        .parse(response[`c${index}`]);
+      const select = (fields) =>
+        `item: object(oid:${JSON.stringify(commit.sha)}) { ... on Commit { ${fields} } }`;
+      const authors = await remainingPages(run, repository, select(AUTHORS), {
+        name: "authors",
+        schema: connection(author),
+        initial: value.authors,
+      });
+      const associations = await remainingPages(
+        run,
+        repository,
+        select(ASSOCIATED),
+        {
+          name: "associatedPullRequests",
+          schema: connection(associated),
+          initial: value.associatedPullRequests,
+        },
+      );
+      const pullRequests = [
+        ...new Set(
+          associations
+            .filter((item) => shipped.has(item.mergeCommit?.oid))
+            .map((item) => item.number),
+        ),
+      ];
+      for (const number of pullRequests) numbers.add(number);
+      result.push({ ...commit, authors, pullRequests });
+    }
+  }
+  const pullRequests = [];
+  const sorted = [...numbers].sort((a, b) => a - b);
+  for (let offset = 0; offset < sorted.length; offset += 20) {
+    const batch = sorted.slice(offset, offset + 20);
+    const fields = `number title url author { ${ACTOR} } mergeCommit { oid } ${ISSUES}`;
+    const response = await query(
+      run,
+      repository,
+      batch
+        .map(
+          (number, index) =>
+            `p${index}: pullRequest(number:${number}) { ${fields} }`,
+        )
+        .join("\n"),
+    );
+    for (const [index, number] of batch.entries()) {
+      const value = pr.parse(response[`p${index}`]);
+      if (value.number !== number || !shipped.has(value.mergeCommit.oid))
+        throw new Error(`PR #${number} changed outside the selected history`);
+      const issues = await remainingPages(
+        run,
+        repository,
+        `item: pullRequest(number:${number}) { ${ISSUES} }`,
+        {
+          name: "closingIssuesReferences",
+          schema: connection(issue),
+          initial: value.closingIssuesReferences,
+        },
+      );
+      const { closingIssuesReferences: _connection, ...metadata } = value;
+      pullRequests.push({ ...metadata, issues });
+    }
+  }
+  return { commits: result, pullRequests };
+}
diff --git a/scripts/lib/release-notes-publication.mjs b/scripts/lib/release-notes-publication.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8d4779053
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/lib/release-notes-publication.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+import { valid } from "semver";
+import { z } from "zod";
+import {
+  releaseInventorySchema,
+  verifyInventoryHistory,
+  verifyReleaseNotes,
+} from "./release-notes.mjs";
+
+const sha = z.string().regex(/^[a-f0-9]{40}$/u);
+const repository = z.string().regex(/^[\w.-]+\/[\w.-]+$/u);
+const pullRequest = z.object({
+  number: z.number().int().positive(),
+  body: z.string(),
+  merged_at: z.string().nullable(),
+  merge_commit_sha: sha.nullable(),
+  head: z.object({
+    ref: z.string(),
+    repo: z.object({ full_name: z.string() }).nullable(),
+  }),
+  labels: z.array(z.object({ name: z.string() })),
+});
+
+/** Read the reviewed Git snapshot and live PR before Release Please can mutate tags. */
+export async function verifyNotesPublication(run, options) {
+  const repo = repository.parse(options.repository);
+  const source = sha.parse(
+    (
+      await run("git", [
+        "rev-parse",
+        "--verify",
+        "--end-of-options",
+        `${options.source}^{commit}`,
+      ])
+    ).trim(),
+  );
+  const read = (path) => run("git", ["show", `${source}:${path}`]);
+  const { version } = z
+    .object({ version: z.string() })
+    .parse(JSON.parse(await read("package.json")));
+  if (valid(version) !== version || version.includes("+"))
+    throw new Error("Invalid reviewed package version");
+  let candidates;
+  if (options.pr !== undefined) {
+    const number = z.coerce.number().int().positive().parse(options.pr);
+    candidates = [
+      pullRequest.parse(
+        JSON.parse(await run("gh", ["api", `repos/${repo}/pulls/${number}`])),
+      ),
+    ];
+  } else {
+    candidates = z
+      .array(z.array(pullRequest))
+      .parse(
+        JSON.parse(
+          await run("gh", [
+            "api",
+            "--paginate",
+            "--slurp",
+            `repos/${repo}/commits/${source}/pulls?per_page=100`,
+          ]),
+        ),
+      )
+      .flat();
+  }
+  const matching = candidates.filter(
+    (pr) =>
+      pr.merged_at !== null &&
+      pr.merge_commit_sha === source &&
+      pr.head.repo?.full_name.toLowerCase() === repo.toLowerCase() &&
+      pr.head.ref.startsWith("release-please--branches--"),
+  );
+  if (matching.length !== 1)
+    throw new Error(
+      "Expected exactly one merged Release Please PR for the reviewed source",
+    );
+  const pr = matching[0];
+  const path = `docs/releases/${version}.contributions.json`;
+  const present =
+    (
+      await run("git", ["ls-tree", "--name-only", source, "--", path])
+    ).trim() === path;
+  if (!present) {
+    if (pr.labels.some((label) => label.name === "rea:release-notes-finalized"))
+      throw new Error(
+        "Finalized release PR is missing its contribution inventory",
+      );
+    return { status: "legacy", version, pullRequest: pr.number };
+  }
+  const inventory = releaseInventorySchema.parse(JSON.parse(await read(path)));
+  if (
+    inventory.version !== version ||
+    inventory.repository.toLowerCase() !== repo.toLowerCase()
+  )
+    throw new Error(
+      "Contribution inventory differs from the reviewed release version or repository",
+    );
+  const baseline = z
+    .object({ ".": z.string() })
+    .parse(
+      JSON.parse(
+        await run("git", ["show", `${source}^1:.release-please-manifest.json`]),
+      ),
+    )["."];
+  if (valid(baseline) !== baseline || baseline.includes("+"))
+    throw new Error("Invalid release baseline version");
+  const baselineSha = (
+    await run("git", ["rev-parse", `refs/tags/rea-agents-${baseline}^{commit}`])
+  ).trim();
+  if (inventory.base !== baselineSha)
+    throw new Error(
+      "Contribution inventory does not start at the published baseline tag",
+    );
+  await verifyInventoryHistory(run, inventory, source);
+  return {
+    status: "verified",
+    ...verifyReleaseNotes(inventory, await read("CHANGELOG.md"), pr.body),
+  };
+}
diff --git a/scripts/lib/release-notes.mjs b/scripts/lib/release-notes.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5078cbb07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/lib/release-notes.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,415 @@
+import { valid } from "semver";
+import { z } from "zod";
+
+const sha = z.string().regex(/^[a-f0-9]{40}$/u);
+const actor = z.object({
+  login: z.string().regex(/^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9-]*(?:\[bot\])?$/u),
+  __typename: z.string(),
+});
+const author = z.object({
+  name: z.string(),
+  email: z.string(),
+  user: actor.nullable(),
+});
+const commit = z.object({
+  sha,
+  subject: z.string(),
+  body: z.string(),
+  parents: z.array(sha),
+  authors: z.array(author),
+  pullRequests: z.array(z.number().int().positive()),
+});
+const issue = z.object({
+  number: z.number().int().positive(),
+  url: z.url(),
+  author: actor.nullable(),
+  repository: z.object({ nameWithOwner: z.string() }),
+});
+const pullRequest = z.object({
+  number: z.number().int().positive(),
+  title: z.string(),
+  url: z.url(),
+  author: actor.nullable(),
+  mergeCommit: z.object({ oid: sha }),
+  issues: z.array(issue),
+});
+export {
+  author as releaseAuthorSchema,
+  issue as releaseIssueSchema,
+  pullRequest as releasePullRequestSchema,
+};
+export const releaseInventorySchema = z.object({
+  schemaVersion: z.literal(1),
+  repository: z.string().regex(/^[\w.-]+\/[\w.-]+$/u),
+  version: z
+    .string()
+    .refine(
+      (value) => valid(value) === value && !value.includes("+"),
+      "Expected exact release SemVer",
+    ),
+  base: sha,
+  target: sha,
+  commits: z.array(commit),
+  pullRequests: z.array(pullRequest),
+});
+
+export async function readReleaseHistory(run, base, target) {
+  if (
+    (await run("git", ["rev-parse", "--is-shallow-repository"])).trim() !==
+    "false"
+  )
+    throw new Error(
+      "Release inventory requires complete Git history; fetch --unshallow first",
+    );
+  const resolve = async (ref) =>
+    sha.parse(
+      (
+        await run("git", [
+          "rev-parse",
+          "--verify",
+          "--end-of-options",
+          `${ref}^{commit}`,
+        ])
+      ).trim(),
+    );
+  const baseSha = await resolve(base);
+  const targetSha = await resolve(target);
+  await run("git", ["merge-base", "--is-ancestor", baseSha, targetSha]);
+  const text = await run("git", [
+    "log",
+    "--reverse",
+    "--topo-order",
+    "-z",
+    "--format=%H%x00%s%x00%B%x00%P",
+    `${baseSha}..${targetSha}`,
+  ]);
+  const fields = text.split("\0");
+  if (fields.pop() !== "" || fields.length % 4)
+    throw new Error("Malformed Git release history");
+  const commits = [];
+  for (let index = 0; index < fields.length; index += 4) {
+    commits.push({
+      sha: sha.parse(fields[index]),
+      subject: fields[index + 1],
+      body: fields[index + 2],
+      parents: fields[index + 3].split(" ").filter(Boolean),
+    });
+  }
+  return { base: baseSha, target: targetSha, commits };
+}
+
+// REA history maps Anthropic and Cursor's agent trailers to ordinary User actors.
+// Keep those source identities in the inventory while excluding automation credit.
+const AGENT_ACCOUNTS = new Set(["claude", "cursoragent"]);
+const human = (value) =>
+  value?.__typename === "User" &&
+  !value.login.endsWith("[bot]") &&
+  !AGENT_ACCOUNTS.has(value.login.toLowerCase())
+    ? value.login
+    : undefined;
+const unique = (values) =>
+  [...new Set(values.filter(Boolean))].sort((a, b) =>
+    a.toLowerCase().localeCompare(b.toLowerCase()),
+  );
+
+function prCredits(inventory, pr) {
+  return unique([
+    human(pr.author),
+    ...pr.issues.map((item) => human(item.author)),
+    ...inventory.commits
+      .filter(
+        (item) =>
+          item.parents.length === 1 && item.pullRequests.includes(pr.number),
+      )
+      .flatMap((item) => item.authors.map((identity) => human(identity.user))),
+  ]);
+}
+
+function thanks(handles) {
+  return handles.length
+    ? ` Thanks ${handles.map((handle) => `@${handle}`).join(", ")}.`
+    : "";
+}
+
+export function contributionRecord(raw) {
+  const inventory = releaseInventorySchema.parse(raw);
+  const lines = [
+    "### Complete contribution record",
+    "",
+    `History: \`${inventory.base}..${inventory.target}\`; ${inventory.pullRequests.length} merged PRs, ${inventory.commits.length} commits examined.`,
+    "",
+  ];
+  for (const pr of inventory.pullRequests) {
+    const issues = pr.issues
+      .map(
+        (item) =>
+          `[${item.repository.nameWithOwner}#${item.number}](${item.url})`,
+      )
+      .join(", ");
+    lines.push(
+      `- **PR [#${pr.number}](${pr.url})**${issues ? ` Related ${issues}.` : ""}${thanks(prCredits(inventory, pr))}`,
+    );
+  }
+  const direct = inventory.commits.filter(
+    (item) => item.pullRequests.length === 0 && item.parents.length <= 1,
+  );
+  if (direct.length) {
+    lines.push("", "#### Direct contributions", "");
+    for (const item of direct)
+      lines.push(
+        `- [${item.sha.slice(0, 7)}](https://github.com/${inventory.repository}/commit/${item.sha})${thanks(unique(item.authors.map((identity) => human(identity.user))))}`,
+      );
+  }
+  return `${lines.join("\n")}\n`;
+}
+
+export function selectedReleaseNotes(text, version) {
+  const headings = [...text.matchAll(/^## \[([^\]]+)\].*$/gmu)];
+  if (headings[0]?.[1] !== version)
+    throw new Error(`Notes must start with release [${version}]`);
+  return text
+    .slice(headings[0].index, headings[1]?.index ?? text.length)
+    .trim();
+}
+
+// Notes have one Markdown list item per line; fenced examples are never credit sources.
+function proseBullets(text) {
+  let fence;
+  return text.split("\n").filter((line) => {
+    const marker = /^\s*(`{3,}|~{3,})/u.exec(line)?.[1];
+    if (marker) {
+      if (!fence) fence = marker;
+      else if (marker[0] === fence[0] && marker.length >= fence.length)
+        fence = undefined;
+      return false;
+    }
+    return !fence && /^[-*] /u.test(line);
+  });
+}
+
+function bulletPrs(bullet, repository) {
+  // Resolve explicit links first so cross-repository numbers cannot acquire local credit.
+  const local = [];
+  const withoutLinks = bullet.replace(
+    /\[([^\]]*)\]\(https:\/\/github\.com\/([^/]+\/[^/]+)\/(?:pull|issues)\/(\d+)\)/gu,
+    (_match, _label, repo, number) => {
+      if (repo.toLowerCase() === repository.toLowerCase())
+        local.push(Number(number));
+      return "";
+    },
+  );
+  for (const match of withoutLinks.matchAll(/(?<![\w/])#(\d+)\b/gu))
+    local.push(Number(match[1]));
+  return new Set(local);
+}
+
+function requiredCredits(inventory, bullet, references) {
+  const required = [];
+  for (const pr of inventory.pullRequests.filter((item) =>
+    references.has(item.number),
+  )) {
+    for (const handle of prCredits(inventory, pr))
+      required.push({ handle, context: `PR #${pr.number}` });
+  }
+  for (const issue of inventory.pullRequests.flatMap((item) => item.issues)) {
+    const mentioned =
+      (issue.repository.nameWithOwner.toLowerCase() ===
+        inventory.repository.toLowerCase() &&
+        references.has(issue.number)) ||
+      bullet.includes(`](${issue.url})`);
+    const handle = human(issue.author);
+    if (mentioned && handle)
+      required.push({
+        handle,
+        context: `issue ${issue.repository.nameWithOwner}#${issue.number}`,
+      });
+  }
+  for (const match of bullet.matchAll(
+    /https:\/\/github\.com\/([^/]+\/[^/]+)\/commit\/([a-f0-9]{7,40})\b/gu,
+  )) {
+    if (match[1].toLowerCase() !== inventory.repository.toLowerCase()) continue;
+    const matches = inventory.commits.filter((item) =>
+      item.sha.startsWith(match[2]),
+    );
+    if (matches.length !== 1)
+      throw new Error(`Unknown or ambiguous release commit ${match[2]}`);
+    if (matches[0].parents.length > 1) continue;
+    for (const identity of matches[0].authors) {
+      const handle = human(identity.user);
+      if (handle) required.push({ handle, context: `commit ${match[2]}` });
+    }
+  }
+  return required;
+}
+
+function verifyEditorialCredits(inventory, prose) {
+  const known = new Set(inventory.pullRequests.map((pr) => pr.number));
+  const issues = new Set(
+    inventory.pullRequests.flatMap((pr) =>
+      pr.issues
+        .filter(
+          (item) =>
+            item.repository.nameWithOwner.toLowerCase() ===
+            inventory.repository.toLowerCase(),
+        )
+        .map((item) => item.number),
+    ),
+  );
+  const eligible = new Set(
+    unique([
+      ...inventory.pullRequests.flatMap((pr) => prCredits(inventory, pr)),
+      ...inventory.commits.flatMap((item) =>
+        item.authors.map((identity) => human(identity.user)),
+      ),
+    ]).map((handle) => handle.toLowerCase()),
+  );
+  const errors = [];
+  for (const bullet of proseBullets(prose)) {
+    const references = bulletPrs(bullet, inventory.repository);
+    const start = bullet.indexOf("Thanks ");
+    const thanked = new Set(
+      [
+        ...bullet
+          .slice(start < 0 ? bullet.length : start)
+          .matchAll(/@([A-Za-z0-9-]+(?:\[bot\])?)/gu),
+      ].map((match) => match[1].toLowerCase()),
+    );
+    for (const number of references)
+      if (!known.has(number) && !issues.has(number))
+        errors.push(`Unknown release reference #${number}`);
+    for (const { handle, context } of requiredCredits(
+      inventory,
+      bullet,
+      references,
+    )) {
+      if (!thanked.has(handle.toLowerCase()))
+        errors.push(`Missing Thanks @${handle} in bullet for ${context}`);
+    }
+    for (const handle of thanked)
+      if (!eligible.has(handle))
+        errors.push(`Unverified human credit @${handle}`);
+  }
+  return errors;
+}
+
+export function verifyReleaseNotes(raw, text, body) {
+  const inventory = releaseInventorySchema.parse(raw);
+  const notes = selectedReleaseNotes(text, inventory.version);
+  // Release Please's inline issue/PR body limit (pull-request-overflow-handler).
+  if (notes.length > 65_536 || (body !== undefined && body.length > 65_536))
+    throw new Error(
+      "Release notes exceed GitHub's inline PR body limit; overflow-link bodies are not supported by this checker",
+    );
+  if (notes.length > 125_000 || Buffer.byteLength(notes) > 125_000)
+    throw new Error(
+      "Release notes exceed GitHub's body budget; shorten prose without dropping credit",
+    );
+  const record = contributionRecord(inventory).trim();
+  const start = notes.indexOf("### Complete contribution record");
+  if (start < 0 || notes.slice(start).trim() !== record)
+    throw new Error(
+      "Contribution record differs from inventory; regenerate it with release-notes record",
+    );
+  const prose = notes.slice(0, start);
+  const errors = verifyEditorialCredits(inventory, prose);
+  for (const heading of ["Highlights", "Changes", "Fixes"])
+    if (!prose.includes(`### ${heading}\n`))
+      errors.push(`Missing ${heading} section`);
+  if (body !== undefined) {
+    const bodyNotes = selectedReleaseNotes(body, inventory.version)
+      .replace(
+        /\n---\nThis PR was generated with \[Release Please\][\s\S]*$/u,
+        "",
+      )
+      .trim();
+    if (bodyNotes !== notes)
+      errors.push("Release PR body differs from CHANGELOG.md");
+  }
+  if (errors.length) throw new Error(errors.join("\n"));
+  return {
+    version: inventory.version,
+    pullRequests: inventory.pullRequests.length,
+    commits: inventory.commits.length,
+    unresolvedAuthors: inventory.commits.flatMap((item) =>
+      item.authors
+        .filter((identity) => identity.user === null)
+        .map((identity) => ({ sha: item.sha, ...identity })),
+    ),
+  };
+}
+
+/** Reject stale inventories and product changes made after the editorial target. */
+export async function verifyInventoryHistory(run, raw, source) {
+  const inventory = releaseInventorySchema.parse(raw);
+  const history = await readReleaseHistory(
+    run,
+    inventory.base,
+    inventory.target,
+  );
+  const original = inventory.commits.map(
+    ({ authors: _authors, pullRequests: _prs, ...item }) => item,
+  );
+  if (JSON.stringify(history.commits) !== JSON.stringify(original))
+    throw new Error("Inventory does not match complete local Git history");
+  const shas = new Set(history.commits.map((item) => item.sha));
+  const numbers = new Set();
+  for (const pr of inventory.pullRequests) {
+    if (numbers.has(pr.number) || !shas.has(pr.mergeCommit.oid))
+      throw new Error(`Duplicate or out-of-range PR #${pr.number}`);
+    numbers.add(pr.number);
+  }
+  for (const item of inventory.commits)
+    for (const number of item.pullRequests)
+      if (!numbers.has(number))
+        throw new Error(`Commit refers to missing PR #${number}`);
+  if (source !== undefined) {
+    const resolved = sha.parse(
+      (
+        await run("git", [
+          "rev-parse",
+          "--verify",
+          "--end-of-options",
+          `${source}^{commit}`,
+        ])
+      ).trim(),
+    );
+    const parent = (await run("git", ["rev-parse", `${resolved}^1`])).trim();
+    if (parent !== inventory.target)
+      throw new Error(
+        "Release base moved after notes target; regenerate inventory for the reviewed merge's first parent",
+      );
+    await run("git", [
+      "merge-base",
+      "--is-ancestor",
+      inventory.target,
+      resolved,
+    ]);
+    const allowed = new Set([
+      "CHANGELOG.md",
+      ".release-please-manifest.json",
+      "package.json",
+      "package-lock.json",
+      "server.json",
+      "src/generatedPackageMetadata.ts",
+      "docs/installation.md",
+      `docs/releases/${inventory.version}.contributions.json`,
+    ]);
+    const paths = (
+      await run("git", [
+        "diff",
+        "--name-only",
+        "--no-renames",
+        "-z",
+        inventory.target,
+        resolved,
+      ])
+    )
+      .split("\0")
+      .filter(Boolean);
+    const product = paths.filter((path) => !allowed.has(path));
+    if (product.length)
+      throw new Error(
+        `Product changed after notes target; regenerate inventory: ${product.join(", ")}`,
+      );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/scripts/release-notes.mjs b/scripts/release-notes.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2893559e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/release-notes.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+import { execFile } from "node:child_process";
+import { readFile, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { parseArgs, promisify } from "node:util";
+import { collectGitHubCredits } from "./lib/release-notes-github.mjs";
+import { verifyNotesPublication } from "./lib/release-notes-publication.mjs";
+import {
+  contributionRecord,
+  readReleaseHistory,
+  releaseInventorySchema,
+  selectedReleaseNotes,
+  verifyInventoryHistory,
+  verifyReleaseNotes,
+} from "./lib/release-notes.mjs";
+
+const execFileAsync = promisify(execFile);
+async function run(command, args, input) {
+  const pending = execFileAsync(command, args, {
+    encoding: "utf8",
+    maxBuffer: 64 * 1024 * 1024,
+  });
+  pending.child.stdin.end(input);
+  return (await pending).stdout;
+}
+
+async function createInventory(values) {
+  if (!values.repository || !values.base || !values.target || !values.version)
+    throw new Error(
+      "inventory requires --repository, --base, --target and --version",
+    );
+  // Parse caller-selected boundaries before making network requests.
+  const history = await readReleaseHistory(run, values.base, values.target);
+  releaseInventorySchema.omit({ commits: true, pullRequests: true }).parse({
+    schemaVersion: 1,
+    repository: values.repository,
+    version: values.version,
+    base: history.base,
+    target: history.target,
+  });
+  const credits = await collectGitHubCredits(
+    run,
+    values.repository,
+    history.commits,
+  );
+  const inventory = releaseInventorySchema.parse({
+    schemaVersion: 1,
+    repository: values.repository,
+    version: values.version,
+    base: history.base,
+    target: history.target,
+    ...credits,
+  });
+  await verifyInventoryHistory(run, inventory);
+  await writeFile(values.manifest, `${JSON.stringify(inventory, null, 2)}\n`, {
+    flag: "wx",
+  });
+  process.stdout.write(
+    `Inventoried ${inventory.commits.length} commits and ${inventory.pullRequests.length} merged PRs. Saved ${values.manifest}\n`,
+  );
+}
+
+async function main() {
+  const { values, positionals } = parseArgs({
+    allowPositionals: true,
+    options: {
+      repository: { type: "string" },
+      pr: { type: "string" },
+      base: { type: "string" },
+      target: { type: "string" },
+      version: { type: "string" },
+      manifest: { type: "string" },
+      notes: { type: "string", default: "CHANGELOG.md" },
+      "pr-body": { type: "string" },
+      source: { type: "string" },
+      output: { type: "string" },
+    },
+  });
+  const [command] = positionals;
+  if (command === "publication" && positionals.length === 1) {
+    if (!values.repository || !values.source)
+      throw new Error(
+        "publication requires --repository and --source; --pr selects the merged release PR",
+      );
+    process.stdout.write(
+      `${JSON.stringify(await verifyNotesPublication(run, values), null, 2)}\n`,
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+  if (
+    positionals.length !== 1 ||
+    !["inventory", "record", "check", "render"].includes(command) ||
+    !values.manifest
+  )
+    throw new Error(
+      "Usage: release-notes inventory|record|check|render --manifest FILE [--repository OWNER/REPO --base TAG --target SHA --version VERSION] [--notes FILE --pr-body FILE --source SHA --output FILE]",
+    );
+  if (command === "inventory") {
+    await createInventory(values);
+    return;
+  }
+  const inventory = releaseInventorySchema.parse(
+    JSON.parse(await readFile(values.manifest, "utf8")),
+  );
+  await verifyInventoryHistory(run, inventory, values.source);
+  if (command === "record") {
+    if (values.output)
+      await writeFile(values.output, contributionRecord(inventory), {
+        flag: "wx",
+      });
+    else process.stdout.write(contributionRecord(inventory));
+    return;
+  }
+  const notes = await readFile(values.notes, "utf8");
+  const body = values["pr-body"]
+    ? await readFile(values["pr-body"], "utf8")
+    : undefined;
+  const report = verifyReleaseNotes(inventory, notes, body);
+  if (command === "check") {
+    process.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify(report, null, 2)}\n`);
+    return;
+  }
+  if (!values.output)
+    throw new Error(
+      "render requires --output (an existing file is never overwritten)",
+    );
+  const rendered = selectedReleaseNotes(notes, inventory.version);
+  await writeFile(values.output, `${rendered}\n`, { flag: "wx" });
+}
+
+await main().catch((error) => {
+  process.stderr.write(
+    `Release notes failed: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}\n`,
+  );
+  process.exitCode = 1;
+});
diff --git a/tests/boundary/filesystem/releaseNotes.test.ts b/tests/boundary/filesystem/releaseNotes.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cbbe2b1ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/boundary/filesystem/releaseNotes.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
+import { access, chmod, mkdir, readFile, writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { delimiter, join } from "node:path";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+import { expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { z } from "zod";
+import { createTestTempDirectory } from "../../fixtures/temporaryDirectory.js";
+import {
+  executeWorkflowFixture as exec,
+  workflowGit as git,
+} from "../../support/workflowGit.js";
+
+const cli = fileURLToPath(
+  new URL("../../../scripts/release-notes.mjs", import.meta.url),
+);
+const actor = (login: string, __typename = "User") => ({ login, __typename });
+const author = (login: string | null, type = "User") => ({
+  name: login ?? "Unknown",
+  email: "public@example.invalid",
+  user: login === null ? null : actor(login, type),
+});
+const page = (nodes: unknown[], cursor: string | null = null) => ({
+  nodes,
+  pageInfo: { hasNextPage: cursor !== null, endCursor: cursor },
+});
+
+async function fixture() {
+  const directory = await createTestTempDirectory("rea-release-notes-");
+  await git(directory, ["init", "--initial-branch=main"]);
+  await writeFile(join(directory, "product.txt"), "base");
+  await writeFile(
+    join(directory, "package.json"),
+    JSON.stringify({ version: "6.3.0" }),
+  );
+  await writeFile(
+    join(directory, ".release-please-manifest.json"),
+    JSON.stringify({ ".": "6.3.0" }),
+  );
+  await git(directory, ["add", "."]);
+  await git(directory, ["commit", "-m", "chore: baseline"]);
+  const base = await git(directory, ["rev-parse", "HEAD"]);
+  await git(directory, ["tag", "rea-agents-6.3.0"]);
+  await git(directory, ["switch", "-c", "feature"]);
+  await writeFile(join(directory, "feature.txt"), "capability");
+  await git(directory, ["add", "."]);
+  await git(directory, ["commit", "-m", "feat: useful capability (#101)"]);
+  const feature = await git(directory, ["rev-parse", "HEAD"]);
+  await git(directory, ["switch", "main"]);
+  await writeFile(join(directory, "direct.txt"), "direct fix");
+  await git(directory, ["add", "."]);
+  await git(directory, ["commit", "-m", "fix: direct improvement"]);
+  const direct = await git(directory, ["rev-parse", "HEAD"]);
+  await git(directory, [
+    "merge",
+    "--no-ff",
+    "feature",
+    "-m",
+    "Merge pull request #101",
+  ]);
+  const target = await git(directory, ["rev-parse", "HEAD"]);
+  const bin = join(directory, "bin");
+  await mkdir(bin);
+  const issue = (number: number, login: string) => ({
+    number,
+    url: `https://github.com/fixture/rea/issues/${number}`,
+    author: actor(login),
+    repository: { nameWithOwner: "fixture/rea" },
+  });
+  const metadata = {
+    commits: {
+      [feature]: {
+        oid: feature,
+        authors: page([author("alice")], "authors-2"),
+        associatedPullRequests: page(
+          [{ number: 999, mergeCommit: null }],
+          "prs-2",
+        ),
+      },
+      [direct]: {
+        oid: direct,
+        authors: page([
+          author("dana"),
+          author("automation[bot]"),
+          author("platformbot", "Bot"),
+          author("claude"),
+          author("cursoragent"),
+        ]),
+        associatedPullRequests: page([]),
+      },
+      [target]: {
+        oid: target,
+        authors: page([author("merger")]),
+        associatedPullRequests: page([
+          { number: 101, mergeCommit: { oid: target } },
+        ]),
+      },
+    },
+    prs: {
+      101: {
+        number: 101,
+        title: "feat: useful capability",
+        url: "https://github.com/fixture/rea/pull/101",
+        author: actor("alice"),
+        mergeCommit: { oid: target },
+        closingIssuesReferences: page([issue(51, "reporter")], "issues-2"),
+      },
+    },
+    continuations: {
+      "authors-2": { authors: page([author("bob"), author(null)]) },
+      "prs-2": {
+        associatedPullRequests: page([
+          { number: 101, mergeCommit: { oid: target } },
+        ]),
+      },
+      "issues-2": {
+        closingIssuesReferences: page([issue(52, "second-reporter")]),
+      },
+    },
+  };
+  await writeFile(join(directory, "github.json"), JSON.stringify(metadata));
+  await writeFile(
+    join(bin, "gh"),
+    `#!${process.execPath}
+import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+if (!process.argv.includes('graphql')) {
+  const pr = JSON.parse(readFileSync(new URL('../.git/release-pr.json', import.meta.url), 'utf8'));
+  process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify(process.argv.includes('--slurp') ? [[pr]] : pr));
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+let input = ''; for await (const chunk of process.stdin) input += chunk;
+const request = JSON.parse(input);
+const fixture = JSON.parse(readFileSync(new URL('../github.json', import.meta.url), 'utf8'));
+if (fixture.errors) { process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({ errors: fixture.errors })); process.exit(0); }
+const result = {};
+if (request.variables.cursor) result.item = fixture.continuations[request.variables.cursor];
+else {
+  for (const match of request.query.matchAll(/(c\\d+): object\\(oid:"([a-f0-9]+)"\\)/g)) result[match[1]] = fixture.commits[match[2]];
+  for (const match of request.query.matchAll(/(p\\d+): pullRequest\\(number:(\\d+)\\)/g)) result[match[1]] = fixture.prs[match[2]];
+}
+if (!Object.keys(result).length || Object.values(result).some(value => !value)) throw new Error('Unmodeled GitHub query');
+process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({data:{repository:result}}));
+`,
+  );
+  await chmod(join(bin, "gh"), 0o755);
+  const manifest = join(directory, "inventory.json");
+  const invoke = (args: string[]) =>
+    exec(process.execPath, [cli, ...args], {
+      cwd: directory,
+      env: {
+        ...process.env,
+        PATH: `${bin}${delimiter}${process.env.PATH ?? ""}`,
+      },
+    });
+  await invoke([
+    "inventory",
+    "--repository",
+    "fixture/rea",
+    "--base",
+    base,
+    "--target",
+    target,
+    "--version",
+    "6.4.0",
+    "--manifest",
+    manifest,
+  ]);
+  const { stdout: record } = await invoke(["record", "--manifest", manifest]);
+  const bullet =
+    "- Added the capability (#101; fixes #51, #52). Thanks @alice, @bob, @reporter, @second-reporter.";
+  const notes = `## [6.4.0]\n\n### Highlights\n\n${bullet}\n\n### Changes\n\n### Fixes\n\n${record}`;
+  await writeFile(join(directory, "CHANGELOG.md"), notes);
+  return { directory, base, target, manifest, invoke, notes, record, bullet };
+}
+
+it("inventories side branches and paginated credits, then checks and renders synchronized notes", async () => {
+  const f = await fixture();
+  const inventory = z
+    .object({
+      commits: z.array(z.object({ sha: z.string() })),
+      pullRequests: z.array(z.object({ number: z.number() })),
+    })
+    .parse(JSON.parse(await readFile(f.manifest, "utf8")));
+  expect(inventory.commits).toHaveLength(3);
+  expect(inventory.pullRequests.map((pr) => pr.number)).toEqual([101]);
+  expect(f.record).toContain(
+    "Thanks @alice, @bob, @reporter, @second-reporter.",
+  );
+  expect(f.record).toContain("Thanks @dana.");
+  expect(f.record).not.toMatch(
+    /@(?:merger|automation|platformbot|claude|cursoragent)/u,
+  );
+  const body = join(f.directory, "body.md");
+  await writeFile(
+    body,
+    `## 🤖 I have created a release beep boop\n\n${f.notes}\n---\nThis PR was generated with [Release Please](https://github.com/googleapis/release-please).\n`,
+  );
+  const report = await f.invoke([
+    "check",
+    "--manifest",
+    f.manifest,
+    "--pr-body",
+    body,
+  ]);
+  expect(JSON.parse(report.stdout)).toMatchObject({
+    commits: 3,
+    pullRequests: 1,
+    unresolvedAuthors: [{ name: "Unknown", user: null }],
+  });
+  const output = join(f.directory, "rendered.md");
+  await f.invoke(["render", "--manifest", f.manifest, "--output", output]);
+  expect(await readFile(output, "utf8")).toBe(f.notes.trim() + "\n");
+  await expect(
+    f.invoke(["render", "--manifest", f.manifest, "--output", output]),
+  ).rejects.toMatchObject({ stderr: expect.stringContaining("EEXIST") });
+  await expect(
+    f.invoke([
+      "inventory",
+      "--repository",
+      "fixture/rea",
+      "--base",
+      f.base,
+      "--target",
+      f.target,
+      "--version",
+      "6.4.0",
+      "--manifest",
+      f.manifest,
+    ]),
+  ).rejects.toMatchObject({ stderr: expect.stringContaining("EEXIST") });
+});
+
+it("rejects lost grouped credits, fabricated references, bots, and stale PR bodies", async () => {
+  const f = await fixture();
+  const directLink =
+    /\[[a-f0-9]{7}\]\(https:\/\/github\.com\/fixture\/rea\/commit\/[a-f0-9]+\)/u.exec(
+      f.record,
+    )?.[0];
+  if (!directLink)
+    throw new Error("Fixture is missing its direct contribution");
+  for (const [replacement, error] of [
+    [f.bullet.replace(", @bob", ""), "Missing Thanks @bob"],
+    [f.bullet + " (#999)", "Unknown release reference #999"],
+    [f.bullet + "a".repeat(65_536), "inline PR body limit"],
+    [f.bullet + "汉".repeat(43_000), "GitHub's body budget"],
+    [
+      f.bullet + `\n- Fixed direct behavior (${directLink}).`,
+      "Missing Thanks @dana",
+    ],
+    [
+      f.bullet + "\n- Fixed the reported problem (#51).",
+      "Missing Thanks @reporter",
+    ],
+    [
+      f.bullet + " Thanks @automation[bot].",
+      "Unverified human credit @automation[bot]",
+    ],
+  ]) {
+    await writeFile(
+      join(f.directory, "CHANGELOG.md"),
+      f.notes.replace(f.bullet, replacement!),
+    );
+    await expect(
+      f.invoke(["check", "--manifest", f.manifest]),
+    ).rejects.toMatchObject({ stderr: expect.stringContaining(error!) });
+  }
+  await writeFile(
+    join(f.directory, "CHANGELOG.md"),
+    f.notes.replace(
+      f.bullet,
+      f.bullet + "\n- See [#101](https://github.com/other/repo/pull/101).",
+    ),
+  );
+  await f.invoke(["check", "--manifest", f.manifest]);
+  await writeFile(join(f.directory, "CHANGELOG.md"), f.notes);
+  const body = join(f.directory, "body.md");
+  await writeFile(
+    body,
+    f.notes.replace("Added the capability", "Stale capability"),
+  );
+  await expect(
+    f.invoke(["check", "--manifest", f.manifest, "--pr-body", body]),
+  ).rejects.toMatchObject({
+    stderr: expect.stringContaining("PR body differs"),
+  });
+  await writeFile(
+    join(f.directory, "CHANGELOG.md"),
+    f.notes.replace("### Complete contribution record", "### Missing record"),
+  );
+  await expect(
+    f.invoke(["check", "--manifest", f.manifest]),
+  ).rejects.toMatchObject({
+    stderr: expect.stringContaining("Contribution record differs"),
+  });
+});
+
+it("binds publication to complete recorded history and the reviewed base", async () => {
+  const f = await fixture();
+  await git(f.directory, ["add", "CHANGELOG.md"]);
+  await git(f.directory, ["commit", "-m", "chore: release notes"]);
+  const source = await git(f.directory, ["rev-parse", "HEAD"]);
+  await f.invoke(["check", "--manifest", f.manifest, "--source", source]);
+  await writeFile(join(f.directory, "product.txt"), "later product change");
+  await git(f.directory, ["add", "product.txt"]);
+  await git(f.directory, ["commit", "-m", "fix: later product change"]);
+  await expect(
+    f.invoke(["check", "--manifest", f.manifest, "--source", "HEAD"]),
+  ).rejects.toMatchObject({ stderr: expect.stringContaining("base moved") });
+  const value = z
+    .object({ commits: z.array(z.unknown()) })
+    .passthrough()
+    .parse(JSON.parse(await readFile(f.manifest, "utf8")));
+  value.commits.pop();
+  await writeFile(f.manifest, JSON.stringify(value));
+  await expect(
+    f.invoke(["check", "--manifest", f.manifest]),
+  ).rejects.toMatchObject({
+    stderr: expect.stringContaining("complete local Git history"),
+  });
+});
+
+it("checks the live merged PR and exact Git snapshot before either publication route", async () => {
+  const f = await fixture();
+  await mkdir(join(f.directory, "docs/releases"), { recursive: true });
+  await writeFile(
+    join(f.directory, "docs/releases/6.4.0.contributions.json"),
+    await readFile(f.manifest),
+  );
+  await writeFile(
+    join(f.directory, "package.json"),
+    JSON.stringify({ version: "6.4.0" }),
+  );
+  await git(f.directory, [
+    "add",
+    "CHANGELOG.md",
+    "package.json",
+    "docs/releases/6.4.0.contributions.json",
+  ]);
+  await git(f.directory, ["commit", "-m", "chore: release 6.4.0"]);
+  const source = await git(f.directory, ["rev-parse", "HEAD"]);
+  const pr = {
+    number: 1399,
+    body: f.notes,
+    merged_at: "2026-10-11T00:00:00Z",
+    merge_commit_sha: source,
+    head: {
+      ref: "release-please--branches--main--components--rea-agents",
+      repo: { full_name: "fixture/rea" },
+    },
+    labels: [{ name: "rea:release-notes-finalized" }],
+  };
+  const prFile = join(f.directory, ".git/release-pr.json");
+  await writeFile(prFile, JSON.stringify(pr));
+  for (const selector of [[], ["--pr", "1399"]]) {
+    const result = await f.invoke([
+      "publication",
+      "--repository",
+      "fixture/rea",
+      "--source",
+      source,
+      ...selector,
+    ]);
+    expect(JSON.parse(result.stdout)).toMatchObject({
+      status: "verified",
+      version: "6.4.0",
+      commits: 3,
+    });
+  }
+  // Worktree edits cannot substitute for the reviewed source.
+  await writeFile(join(f.directory, "CHANGELOG.md"), "unreviewed working text");
+  await f.invoke([
+    "publication",
+    "--repository",
+    "fixture/rea",
+    "--source",
+    source,
+  ]);
+  await writeFile(
+    prFile,
+    JSON.stringify({
+      ...pr,
+      body: f.notes.replace("Added the capability", "Different release"),
+    }),
+  );
+  await expect(
+    f.invoke([
+      "publication",
+      "--repository",
+      "fixture/rea",
+      "--source",
+      source,
+    ]),
+  ).rejects.toMatchObject({
+    stderr: expect.stringContaining("PR body differs"),
+  });
+  await writeFile(prFile, JSON.stringify(pr));
+  await git(f.directory, ["rm", "docs/releases/6.4.0.contributions.json"]);
+  await git(f.directory, ["commit", "-m", "chore: remove inventory"]);
+  const missing = await git(f.directory, ["rev-parse", "HEAD"]);
+  await writeFile(prFile, JSON.stringify({ ...pr, merge_commit_sha: missing }));
+  await expect(
+    f.invoke([
+      "publication",
+      "--repository",
+      "fixture/rea",
+      "--source",
+      missing,
+    ]),
+  ).rejects.toMatchObject({
+    stderr: expect.stringContaining("missing its contribution inventory"),
+  });
+  await writeFile(
+    prFile,
+    JSON.stringify({ ...pr, merge_commit_sha: missing, labels: [] }),
+  );
+  const legacy = await f.invoke([
+    "publication",
+    "--repository",
+    "fixture/rea",
+    "--source",
+    missing,
+  ]);
+  expect(JSON.parse(legacy.stdout)).toMatchObject({ status: "legacy" });
+});
+
+it("fails closed on partial GitHub errors and non-advancing pagination without saving an inventory", async () => {
+  const f = await fixture();
+  const metadataFile = join(f.directory, "github.json");
+  const metadata = JSON.parse(await readFile(metadataFile, "utf8")) as Record<
+    string,
+    unknown
+  >;
+  await writeFile(
+    metadataFile,
+    JSON.stringify({ ...metadata, errors: [{ message: "quota exceeded" }] }),
+  );
+  const output = join(f.directory, "failed.json");
+  const args = [
+    "inventory",
+    "--repository",
+    "fixture/rea",
+    "--base",
+    f.base,
+    "--target",
+    f.target,
+    "--version",
+    "6.4.0",
+    "--manifest",
+    output,
+  ];
+  await expect(f.invoke(args)).rejects.toMatchObject({
+    stderr: expect.stringContaining("quota exceeded"),
+  });
+  await expect(access(output)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: "ENOENT" });
+  const cyclic = {
+    ...metadata,
+    continuations: {
+      "authors-2": { authors: page([author("bob")], "authors-2") },
+    },
+  };
+  await writeFile(metadataFile, JSON.stringify(cyclic));
+  await expect(f.invoke(args)).rejects.toMatchObject({
+    stderr: expect.stringContaining("non-advancing authors cursor"),
+  });
+  await expect(access(output)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: "ENOENT" });
+});
diff --git a/tests/boundary/filesystem/releaseWorkflow.test.ts b/tests/boundary/filesystem/releaseWorkflow.test.ts
index ceadf525f..0bfebd1d2 100644
--- a/tests/boundary/filesystem/releaseWorkflow.test.ts
+++ b/tests/boundary/filesystem/releaseWorkflow.test.ts
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ it("keeps main pushes proposal-only and gates merged-release automation", async
     "skip-github-release": true,
   });
   expect(action?.with?.["skip-github-pull-request"]).not.toBe(true);
+  expect(action?.if).toBe("steps.editorial.outputs.frozen != 'true'");
+  expect(proposal.steps[0]?.run).toContain("rea:release-notes-finalized");
+  expect(proposal.steps[0]?.run).toContain("--paginate");
   const merged = workflow.jobs["merged-release"];
   expect(merged.if).toContain("github.event.pull_request.merged == true");
   expect(merged.if).toContain("github.repository");
@@ -147,6 +150,12 @@ it("validates the reviewed merge before creating its release", async () => {
     SOURCE_SHA: "${{ github.event.pull_request.merge_commit_sha }}",
     RELEASE_SHA: "${{ steps.release.outputs.sha }}",
   });
+  const notesIndex = steps.findIndex((step) =>
+    step.run?.includes("release-notes.mjs publication"),
+  );
+  expect(notesIndex).toBeGreaterThan(steps.indexOf(checkpoint!));
+  expect(notesIndex).toBeLessThan(steps.indexOf(release!));
+  expect(steps[notesIndex]?.run).toContain('--pr "$RELEASE_PR"');
 });
 
 it("keeps frozen candidate preparation and publication explicit", async () => {
@@ -171,6 +180,17 @@ it("keeps frozen candidate preparation and publication explicit", async () => {
     "skip-github-release": "${{ inputs.phase == 'prepare' }}",
     "skip-github-pull-request": "${{ inputs.phase == 'publish' }}",
   });
+  const steps = workflow.jobs["release-please"].steps;
+  const notesIndex = steps.findIndex((step) =>
+    step.run?.includes("release-notes.mjs publication"),
+  );
+  expect(notesIndex).toBeGreaterThan(
+    steps.findIndex((step) =>
+      step.run?.includes("verify-release-checkpoint.mjs"),
+    ),
+  );
+  expect(notesIndex).toBeLessThan(steps.indexOf(release!));
+  expect(steps[notesIndex]?.if).toBe("inputs.phase == 'publish'");
   const catalogValidation = workflow.jobs["release-please"].steps.find(
     (step) => step.name === "Validate generated release documentation",
   );