diff --git a/CONTEXT.md b/CONTEXT.md
index edb735c0c..22729b294 100644
--- a/CONTEXT.md
+++ b/CONTEXT.md
@@ -261,3 +261,48 @@ After stripping prose @-refs, some command `<process>` blocks retained bolded "*
 `WORKSTREAM.NAME.POLICY.cjs-module=get-shit-done/bin/lib/workstream-name-policy.cjs owns toWorkstreamSlug + active-name/path-segment validation`
 `WORKSTREAM.POINTER.SEAM.sdk-module=sdk/src/query/active-workstream-store.ts owns read/write self-heal for .planning/active-workstream`
 `CONFIG.SEAM.loadConfig-context=loadConfig(cwd,{workstream}) replaces env-mutation fallback; no temporary process.env GSD_WORKSTREAM rewrites`
+
+---
+
+## Release Notes Standard (2026-05-09, machine-oriented)
+
+`RELEASE-NOTES.SCOPE=GitHub Releases body for tags vX.Y.Z, vX.Y.Z-rcN; not CHANGELOG.md (changeset workflow owns that)`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.DEFAULT-STATE=auto-generated body is "What's Changed" PR list + Full Changelog link; treat as draft, not final`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.GATE.hotfix=manual edit required; auto-generated body for vX.Y.{Z>0} is "Full Changelog only" and must be replaced with structured body`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.GATE.rc=manual edit recommended; auto-generated PR list is acceptable for early RCs but final RC before vX.Y.0 should match standard`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.GATE.minor=auto-generated body acceptable when PR titles are clean; promote to structured body when >20 PRs or contains feature+refactor+fix mix`
+
+`RELEASE-NOTES.STANDARD.taxonomy=Keep-a-Changelog 1.1.0: Added | Changed | Deprecated | Removed | Fixed | Security | Documentation`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.STANDARD.heading-level=## for category, ### for subgroup (area), - for bullet`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.STANDARD.bullet-shape=**Bold user-visible change** — explanation of what was broken or what's new, leading with symptom not implementation. Trailing (#NNN) PR ref.`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.STANDARD.subgroups=phase-planning-state | workstream | query-dispatch-cli | code-review | install | capture | docs | architecture | security`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.STANDARD.footer.hotfix=Install/upgrade: \`npx get-shit-done-cc@latest\``
+`RELEASE-NOTES.STANDARD.footer.rc=Install for testing: \`npx get-shit-done-cc@next\` (per branch->dist-tag policy)`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.STANDARD.footer.canary=Install: \`npx get-shit-done-cc@canary\``
+`RELEASE-NOTES.STANDARD.footer.full-changelog=**Full Changelog**: https://github.com/gsd-build/get-shit-done/compare/<prev>...<this>`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.STANDARD.intro=optional one-paragraph framing for RC/feature releases; omit for pure-fix hotfixes`
+
+`RELEASE-NOTES.SOURCE.commits=git log <prev-tag>..<this-tag> --pretty=format:'%s%n%n%b' --no-merges`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.SOURCE.changesets=.changeset/*.md (frontmatter pr: + body bullets)`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.SOURCE.pr-bodies=gh pr view <NNN> --json title,body for fixes lacking a changeset`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.SOURCE.precedence=changeset body > commit body > PR body > commit subject (prefer authored content over auto-generated)`
+
+`RELEASE-NOTES.WORKFLOW.edit=gh release edit <tag> --notes-file <path>`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.WORKFLOW.view=gh release view <tag> --json body --jq .body`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.WORKFLOW.token=must use .envrc GITHUB_TOKEN per project CLAUDE.md; never ambient gh auth`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.WORKFLOW.idempotency=gh release edit overwrites body wholesale; safe to re-run after refining`
+
+`RELEASE-NOTES.ANTI-PATTERN=raw "What's Changed" PR list as final body for hotfix or feature release; "Full Changelog only" body for tagged release with >0 user-facing fixes`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.ANTI-PATTERN.implementation-first=do not lead bullet with file path or function name; lead with symptom/user-visible behavior`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.ANTI-PATTERN.risk-commentary=do not include "may break", "be careful", "test thoroughly" - per global CLAUDE.md no-risk-commentary rule`
+
+`RELEASE-NOTES.EXAMPLE.hotfix=v1.41.1 (https://github.com/gsd-build/get-shit-done/releases/tag/v1.41.1) - 14 fixes grouped by 6 subgroups`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.EXAMPLE.rc=v1.42.0-rc1 (https://github.com/gsd-build/get-shit-done/releases/tag/v1.42.0-rc1) - intro + Added/Changed/Fixed/Documentation taxonomy`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.EXAMPLE.minor-auto-acceptable=v1.41.0 - kept auto-generated body; many small fixes with clean conventional-commit titles`
+
+`RELEASE-NOTES.TEMPLATE.hotfix=## Fixed\n\n### <subgroup>\n- **<bold change>** — <explanation>. (#<PR>)\n\n---\n\nInstall/upgrade: \`npx get-shit-done-cc@latest\`\n\n**Full Changelog**: <compare-url>`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.TEMPLATE.rc=<one-paragraph intro>\n\n## Added\n### <subgroup>\n- **<change>** — <explanation>. (#<PR>)\n\n## Changed\n### Architecture\n- **<refactor>** — <user-visible benefit>. (#<PR>)\n\n## Fixed\n### <subgroup>\n- **<fix>** — <explanation>. (#<PR>)\n\n## Documentation\n- **<docs change>** — <reason>. (#<PR>)\n\n---\n\nThis is a release candidate. Install for testing:\n\`\`\`bash\nnpx get-shit-done-cc@next\n\`\`\`\n\n**Full Changelog**: <compare-url>`
+
+`RELEASE-NOTES.RELEASE-STREAM.dev-branch=canary dist-tag (only); install via @canary`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.RELEASE-STREAM.main-branch=next (RCs) + latest (stable); install via @next or @latest`
+`RELEASE-NOTES.RELEASE-STREAM.rule=streams do not mix; do not document @canary install in RC notes or @next in canary notes`