diff --git a/.claude/memory/rules.md b/.claude/memory/rules.md
index db3e4adf..acf15903 100644
--- a/.claude/memory/rules.md
+++ b/.claude/memory/rules.md
@@ -117,3 +117,14 @@ v3 is not part of acceptance. There is no `make test`. Hosted `make` is compile
 - The docs stage takes ~30 min here (the API reference); it outlasts the foreground limit and the tool
   moves it to the background (not an acceptance boot; no QEMU). Proofs need the HOL-Library heap
   (ci/runner-image's URL, checksum in its Dockerfile).
+
+## Releasing (Captain Bob, 2026-11-12)
+Order for alpha.5 and after: the protocol on everything -> push (on his word) -> merge the PR through the gate ->
+move what is left to the next milestone -> the release commit (version, CHANGELOG, README together, as
+93828e0e did for alpha.4) -> **the documentation review, the very last thing before the tag**: README.md,
+CHANGELOG.md, .claude/CLAUDE.md, docs/README.md, docs/INDEX.md, FABRIC-3, boards/BRINGUP.md, the plans --
+every claim, count and issue reference checked against the tree and the tracker as they then are, shown to
+him -> the tag, on his word.
+- The gate refuses unsigned builds (#174); a protocol run here is unsigned -- the gate's signing is CI's.
+- POST's floor is v4/system/POST_FLOOR (#173): raise it when POST grows; never lower it without him.
+- Kernel host tests: make -C kernel/tests test (docs/v4.0.0/plans/2026-11-12-kernel-host-tests.md).