diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a88c7c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+name: Release
+
+on:
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - "v*"
+
+env:
+  CARGO_TERM_COLOR: always
+
+jobs:
+  publish:
+    name: Publish to crates.io
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
+
+      - uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
+
+      - name: Validate tag version matches Cargo.toml
+        run: |
+          TAG_VERSION="${GITHUB_REF_NAME#v}"
+          CARGO_VERSION=$(cargo metadata --no-deps --format-version 1 | python -c 'import json,sys;print(next(p["version"] for p in json.load(sys.stdin)["packages"] if p["name"]=="ripdiff"))')
+          if [ "$TAG_VERSION" != "$CARGO_VERSION" ]; then
+            echo "Tag version ($TAG_VERSION) does not match Cargo.toml version ($CARGO_VERSION)"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+      - name: Package check
+        run: cargo package --allow-dirty
+
+      - name: Publish crate
+        env:
+          CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}
+        run: cargo publish --locked
+
+      - name: Generate release notes
+        run: |
+          {
+            echo "## ripdiff $GITHUB_REF_NAME"
+            echo
+            echo "Published to crates.io from tag \\`$GITHUB_REF_NAME\\`."
+            echo
+            echo "Install with:"
+            echo "\\`\\`\\`bash"
+            echo "cargo install ripdiff"
+            echo "\\`\\`\\`"
+          } > release-notes.md
+
+      - name: Create GitHub release
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
+        with:
+          body_path: release-notes.md
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 3ffd16d..f4ad587 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -2,12 +2,26 @@
 name = "ripdiff"
 version = "0.1.0"
 edition = "2021"
+rust-version = "1.85"
 default-run = "ripdiff"
+description = "Terminal UI for watching and reviewing agent progress"
+license = "MIT"
+repository = "https://github.com/martinabeleda/ripdiff"
+homepage = "https://github.com/martinabeleda/ripdiff"
+documentation = "https://docs.rs/ripdiff"
+readme = "README.md"
+keywords = ["git", "diff", "tui", "review", "agent"]
+categories = ["command-line-utilities", "development-tools"]
+include = ["src/**", "Cargo.toml", "README.md", "LICENSE"]
 
 [[bin]]
 name = "ripdiff"
 path = "src/main.rs"
 
+[[bin]]
+name = "rd"
+path = "src/main.rs"
+
 [dependencies]
 ratatui = "0.29"
 crossterm = "0.28"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 16d51ff..dd991cf 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,17 +12,35 @@
                 ░░░░░
 ```
 
-A terminal UI for navigating git diffs, designed for a tmux panel workflow where you monitor AI agent changes on one side while working on the other.
+A terminal UI for watching and reviewing agent progress, designed for a tmux panel workflow where you monitor agent changes on one side while working on the other.
 
 Uses [difftastic](https://difftastic.wilfred.me/) for structural, syntax-aware diffs with ANSI color output via an in-process Rust dependency.
 
 ## Install
 
+### Install from crates.io
+
+```bash
+cargo install ripdiff
 ```
+
+This installs `ripdiff` into `~/.cargo/bin/`.
+
+### Install from source (local checkout)
+
+```bash
 cargo install --path .
 ```
 
-This puts `ripdiff` in `~/.cargo/bin/`.
+For best results, install difftastic:
+
+```bash
+cargo install difftastic
+```
+
+## Releasing
+
+Maintainer release instructions live in [RELEASING.md](/home/mabeleda/Development/ripdiff/RELEASING.md).
 
 ## Usage
 
diff --git a/RELEASING.md b/RELEASING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b2b4764
--- /dev/null
+++ b/RELEASING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+# Releasing
+
+This document describes the maintainer release process for `ripdiff`.
+
+## Versioning
+
+`ripdiff` follows [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/) (`MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`):
+
+- `PATCH` for bug fixes and internal improvements.
+- `MINOR` for backwards-compatible features.
+- `MAJOR` for breaking changes.
+
+## Release Workflow
+
+Releases are driven by git tags.
+
+The GitHub Actions workflow in [.github/workflows/release.yml](/home/mabeleda/Development/ripdiff/.github/workflows/release.yml#L1) runs when a tag matching `v*` is pushed. It:
+
+1. Checks that the tag version matches `Cargo.toml`.
+2. Verifies the crate can be packaged.
+3. Publishes the crate to crates.io.
+4. Creates a GitHub release for the tag.
+
+To publish from CI, the repository must have a `CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN` secret containing a crates.io API token.
+
+## Recommended Process
+
+Use [`cargo-release`](https://github.com/crate-ci/cargo-release) to bump the crate version and create the matching tag in one step.
+
+Releases should only be cut from `main`. This keeps each published version tied to the reviewed, canonical branch state and avoids accidentally releasing from an unmerged branch or local-only commit. The repository's `cargo-release` configuration enforces this with `allow-branch = ["main"]`.
+
+Install it once:
+
+```bash
+cargo install cargo-release
+```
+
+Preview a release:
+
+```bash
+cargo release patch
+```
+
+Run a release:
+
+```bash
+cargo release patch --execute
+```
+
+Replace `patch` with `minor` or `major` as needed.
+
+With the repository configured for `cargo-release`, the executed command should:
+
+1. Update `Cargo.toml` to the next version.
+2. Create a release commit.
+3. Create a matching tag like `v0.1.1`.
+4. Push the commit and tag to `origin`.
+
+After the tag is pushed, GitHub Actions performs the actual crates.io publish and creates the GitHub release.
+
+## Maintainer Checklist
+
+1. Ensure CI is green locally or on `main`:
+   ```bash
+   cargo fmt
+   cargo clippy --all-targets --all-features
+   cargo test
+   cargo build
+   ```
+2. Run a dry run:
+   ```bash
+   cargo release patch
+   ```
+3. Execute the release:
+   ```bash
+   cargo release patch --execute
+   ```
+4. Verify the GitHub Actions release workflow succeeds.
+5. Verify the new version appears on crates.io.
diff --git a/release.toml b/release.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e1c0fd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+allow-branch = ["main"]
+consolidate-commits = true
+
+tag-name = "v{{version}}"
+tag-message = "ripdiff {{version}}"
+
+pre-release-commit-message = "release: {{version}}"
+push-remote = "origin"
+
+publish = false
+push = true
+tag = true