diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/01_bug_report.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/01_bug_report.yml
index 58243e06..a7e62222 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/01_bug_report.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/01_bug_report.yml
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ body:
     id: rustiq_version
     attributes:
       label: RustiQ version or commit
-      placeholder: v0.1.0-alpha.1 or commit SHA
+      placeholder: v0.1.0-beta.1 or commit SHA
     validations:
       required: true
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml
index dccfa305..89d93b60 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-smoke.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 name: Release artifact smoke test
 
 on:
+  pull_request:
+    branches: [main]
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       ref:
@@ -12,6 +14,10 @@ on:
 permissions:
   contents: read
 
+concurrency:
+  group: release-smoke-${{ github.event.pull_request.number || github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
 jobs:
   manual:
     uses: ./.github/workflows/build-release-manual.yml
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 1e6abc2f..bf96cdec 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ jobs:
 
   # Build and packages all the platform-specific things
   build-local-artifacts:
-    name: build-local-artifacts (${{ join(matrix.targets, ', ') }})
+    name: Build platform artifacts
     # Let the initial task tell us to not run (currently very blunt)
     needs:
       - plan
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0fd7d9f2..fc3391ae 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
-The following capabilities are intended for the first public beta, `v0.1.0-beta.1`.
+## [0.1.0-beta.1] - 2026-11-12
+
 
 ### Added
 
@@ -58,4 +59,5 @@ The following capabilities are intended for the first public beta, `v0.1.0-beta.
 - The MP2 workspace budget does not bound total process memory; AO integral
   storage can still grow rapidly with basis size.
 
-[Unreleased]: https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ/commits/main/
+[Unreleased]: https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ/compare/v0.1.0-beta.1...HEAD
+[0.1.0-beta.1]: https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ/releases/tag/v0.1.0-beta.1
diff --git a/CITATION.cff b/CITATION.cff
index 07cd686d..d25a8238 100644
--- a/CITATION.cff
+++ b/CITATION.cff
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ type: software
 authors:
   - family-names: Veril
     given-names: Mickael
-version: 0.1.0-alpha.1
-license: MIT OR Apache-2.0
+version: 0.1.0-beta.2.dev
+license:
+  - MIT
+  - Apache-2.0
 repository-code: https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ
-abstract: A Rust prototype for modern quantum chemistry software.
+abstract: Experimental quantum chemistry software written in Rust, providing a reusable scientific library and CLI. RustiQ-authored code is available under MIT OR Apache-2.0.
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index c15a6222..27d3d587 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -4675,7 +4675,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "rustiq-chem"
-version = "0.1.0-alpha.1.dev"
+version = "0.1.0-beta.2.dev"
 dependencies = [
  "anstream",
  "anstyle",
@@ -4719,7 +4719,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "rustiq-chem-core"
-version = "0.1.0-alpha.1.dev"
+version = "0.1.0-beta.2.dev"
 dependencies = [
  "approx",
  "bounded-vec-deque",
@@ -4727,6 +4727,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "const_format",
  "delegate",
  "factorial",
+ "itertools 0.14.0",
  "mendeleev",
  "miette",
  "nalgebra",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 9f62cfb7..8d37c391 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ tokio = { version = "1", default-features = false }
 name = "rustiq-chem"
 description = "A modern command-line application for quantum chemistry, written in Rust"
 authors.workspace = true
-version = "0.1.0-alpha.1.dev"
+version = "0.1.0-beta.2.dev"
 edition.workspace = true
 license.workspace = true
 repository.workspace = true
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ completions = ["dep:clap_complete", "dep:clap_complete_nushell", "dep:sysinfo"]
 
 [dependencies]
 bytesize.workspace = true
-rustiq-core = { package = "rustiq-chem-core", path = "crates/rustiq-core", version = "0.1.0-alpha.1.dev", default-features = false }
+rustiq-core = { package = "rustiq-chem-core", path = "crates/rustiq-core", version = "0.1.0-beta.2.dev", default-features = false }
 directories = "6"
 miette = { workspace = true, features = ["fancy"] }
 clap = { version = "4.6", features = ["cargo", "derive", "env"] }
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3a6bc891..8e5fd2a0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -34,12 +34,18 @@ and [the first H₂ calculation](https://mveril.github.io/RustiQ/getting-started
 Release archives contain the executable and licenses; obtain basis data and
 create calculation inputs as shown in those guides.
 
+Once the beta is published, install it from crates.io with
+`cargo install --locked rustiq-chem --version '=0.1.0-beta.1'`, or install the
+tagged flake’s default package with
+`nix profile install 'github:mveril/RustiQ/v0.1.0-beta.1'`.
+See the installation guide for prerequisites and supported Nix platforms.
+
 To build from source, install Git, Rust through [rustup](https://rustup.rs/), a
 C/C++ build toolchain, and CMake; see [manual setup](docs/src/development/manual-setup.md).
 Alternatively, enter `nix develop .#rust` after cloning:
 
 ```sh
-git clone https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
+git clone --branch develop --single-branch https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
 cd RustiQ
 cargo build --locked
 cargo run --locked -- basis import tests/data/sto-3g.json
diff --git a/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.sha256 b/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.sha256
index 260cd661..20cff1fa 100644
--- a/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.sha256
+++ b/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.sha256
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2fbcaed6277c0ee1532734dbf6474fea1965985e94c34c8fe07ab9ea0dbaf992  THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt
+3f1859908faa6531c31671624f15e6339819bd08c6ba0e70bc6c9cd6305d12d9  THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt
diff --git a/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt b/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt
index d065bf9f..107dec99 100644
--- a/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt
+++ b/THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-Cargo.lock SHA-256: 7f274ca9e7f738d58ec0e46d03be9802569df0512ec91892f4ccd1edbd90ad02
-Notice inputs SHA-256: 23de7d7b750a771f73732580c0542ac4047e5afd0d13789e3ec333efed68208c
-Corresponding source: https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ/releases/download/v0.1.0-alpha.1.dev/rustiq-corresponding-source.tar.gz
+Cargo.lock SHA-256: 2a1954c2ec99b6e87db533afbdd2e3d57caaaec25452083c8310ff2f821730ac
+Notice inputs SHA-256: 911b204bcfd6752d237e8ae735612b807bcbe52013a872b01f843c3897c6bc7b
+Corresponding source: https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ/releases/download/v0.1.0-beta.2.dev/rustiq-corresponding-source.tar.gz
 
 RustiQ third-party licenses
 ==========================
@@ -8220,8 +8220,8 @@ limitations under the License.
 Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0)
 
 Used by:
-  rustiq-chem 0.1.0-alpha.1.dev — https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ
-  rustiq-chem-core 0.1.0-alpha.1.dev — https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ
+  rustiq-chem 0.1.0-beta.2.dev — https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ
+  rustiq-chem-core 0.1.0-beta.2.dev — https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ
 
                               Apache License
                         Version 2.0, January 2004
diff --git a/crates/rustiq-core/Cargo.toml b/crates/rustiq-core/Cargo.toml
index 48482916..152c0a57 100644
--- a/crates/rustiq-core/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/rustiq-core/Cargo.toml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 name = "rustiq-chem-core"
 description = "A reusable Rust library for modern quantum chemistry software"
 authors.workspace = true
-version = "0.1.0-alpha.1.dev"
+version = "0.1.0-beta.2.dev"
 edition.workspace = true
 license.workspace = true
 repository.workspace = true
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ online = ["dep:reqwest", "dep:tokio"]
 bench = []
 
 [dependencies]
+itertools = { version = "0.14", default-features = false }
 miette.workspace = true
 reqwest = { version = "0.13", default-features = false, optional = true, features = [
   "json",
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ bounded-vec-deque = "0.1.1"
 thiserror.workspace = true
 rand.workspace = true
 rand_chacha = "0.10"
-petname = { version = "3.2", default-features = false }
+petname = { version = "3.1", default-features = false }
 rand_distr = "0.6"
 special = { version = "0.14", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
 factorial = "0.4.0"
diff --git a/docs/src/development/docker-setup.md b/docs/src/development/docker-setup.md
index 2b045483..a7d6372d 100644
--- a/docs/src/development/docker-setup.md
+++ b/docs/src/development/docker-setup.md
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ cross-architecture emulation into the comparison.
 Open a terminal on your computer and download the project:
 
 ```sh
-git clone https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
+git clone --branch develop --single-branch https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
 cd RustiQ
 ```
 
diff --git a/docs/src/development/manual-setup.md b/docs/src/development/manual-setup.md
index d0ec5b66..7d8c90be 100644
--- a/docs/src/development/manual-setup.md
+++ b/docs/src/development/manual-setup.md
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ Install Git and Rust through [`rustup`](https://rustup.rs/), then use Cargo
 directly on Linux, macOS, or Windows:
 
 ```sh
-git clone https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
+git clone --branch develop --single-branch https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
 cd RustiQ
 rustup show
 cargo build --locked
diff --git a/docs/src/development/nix-packages.md b/docs/src/development/nix-packages.md
index 992060bb..fef796cd 100644
--- a/docs/src/development/nix-packages.md
+++ b/docs/src/development/nix-packages.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 The flake also exposes `legacyPackages.<system>.cpuTarget`, a function accepting
 an LLVM CPU name and returning a CPU-specific RustiQ package. See the
-[installation guide](../getting-started/installation.md#install-with-nix) for
+[Nix installation guide](../getting-started/installation-nix.md#optional-cpu-specific-build) for
 commands and portability considerations. The default package remains portable.
 
 The packages below are declared in [`flake.nix`](https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ/blob/main/flake.nix). All four
@@ -96,7 +96,10 @@ The flake also exposes `nix build .#book` to build this manual,
 `nix build .#cargo-artifacts` for cached Cargo dependency artifacts, and
 `nix build .#pyscf-environment` for the base PySCF environment. These are build
 outputs rather than development shells. The default package is the RustiQ CLI
-binary, available through `nix build`. Its online manual follows the Cargo
+binary, available through `nix build` or explicitly through `nix build .#default`.
+Install a tagged version with `nix profile install github:mveril/RustiQ/vVERSION`,
+replacing `vVERSION` with a published tag. Both development and release revisions
+use this default package. Its online manual follows the Cargo
 version: a `dev` prerelease identifier selects development documentation;
 other versions select the matching versioned manual. No release flag is needed.
 See [releasing](releasing.md#preparing-a-release).
diff --git a/docs/src/development/nix-setup.md b/docs/src/development/nix-setup.md
index 9061249e..00c8e01c 100644
--- a/docs/src/development/nix-setup.md
+++ b/docs/src/development/nix-setup.md
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ Install Nix with flakes enabled, clone the repository, and enter the development
 shell manually:
 
 ```sh
-git clone https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
+git clone --branch develop --single-branch https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
 cd RustiQ
 nix develop
 ```
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ nix build
 Install both Nix and `direnv`, enable the direnv hook for your shell, then run:
 
 ```sh
-git clone https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
+git clone --branch develop --single-branch https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
 cd RustiQ
 direnv allow
 ```
diff --git a/docs/src/development/releasing.md b/docs/src/development/releasing.md
index 5013d9d5..20782557 100644
--- a/docs/src/development/releasing.md
+++ b/docs/src/development/releasing.md
@@ -33,13 +33,17 @@ out-of-date generated workflow. Keep the pin synchronized with the intended
 upload-artifact release when updating the workflow or cargo-dist. Preserve the
 custom `build-manual` job, the local-build dependency on it, and the download
 into `manual/html/` when regenerating the release workflow; generated defaults do
-not contain this offline-manual integration.
+not contain this offline-manual integration. Preserve the static local-build job
+name, `Build platform artifacts`, so pull requests that skip artifact builds
+display a readable name before the target matrix is expanded.
 
 ### Release rehearsal
 
-Run **Actions → Release artifact smoke test → Run workflow** and select the
-commit, branch, or tag to rehearse. The manually triggered workflow builds the
-configured target archive with the pinned dist version on each target's native
+The **Release artifact smoke test** workflow runs automatically on pull requests
+targeting `main`, testing the prospective merge commit. To rehearse another
+revision, run **Actions → Release artifact smoke test → Run workflow** and select
+the commit, branch, or tag. New runs cancel older rehearsals for the same pull
+request or selected workflow ref. The workflow builds the configured target archive with the pinned dist version on each target's native
 GitHub-hosted runner. It extracts that archive, verifies its dist-generated
 SHA-256 checksum, starts the packaged `rustiq` executable, checks `--help`,
 and runs the checked-in H2/STO-3G regression with a copied local basis fixture
@@ -68,12 +72,12 @@ system installations. The rehearsal requires the combined `sha256.sum` generated
 dist build and verifies each tested archive against it. A checksum made during a rehearsal does not independently validate
 a published release.
 
-The rehearsal has read-only repository permissions and only a
-`workflow_dispatch` trigger. It does not run dist's `host` command, upload
+The rehearsal has read-only repository permissions and supports `pull_request`
+events targeting `main` and manual `workflow_dispatch` runs. It does not run dist's `host` command, upload
 release assets, create a GitHub Release, create tags, or publish crates. It
 complements `.github/workflows/release.yml`, whose dispatched release path builds
-and publishes the release assets; ordinary pull requests continue to use the
-generated plan-only check.
+and publishes the release assets. Pull requests targeting `develop` continue
+to use the generated plan-only check without the six-target rehearsal.
 
 Each executable archive includes `rustiq` (named `rustiq.exe` on Windows),
 the README, `LICENSE-MIT`, `LICENSE-APACHE`, `COPYING`, `DISTRIBUTION.md`, and
@@ -268,7 +272,7 @@ if the Nixpkgs package differs:
 cargo install cargo-dist --version 0.34.0 --locked
 ```
 
-Development takes place on the default `develop` branch. Use a version ending
+Development takes place on the `develop` branch. Use a version ending
 in `.dev`, keeping both crate versions and the internal dependency synchronized.
 Prepare a release on a `chore/*` task branch from `develop`: remove the development
 identifier, finalize the dated changelog, and update `Cargo.lock`.
diff --git a/docs/src/getting-started/first-calculation.md b/docs/src/getting-started/first-calculation.md
index 3ba87fca..3b969aa9 100644
--- a/docs/src/getting-started/first-calculation.md
+++ b/docs/src/getting-started/first-calculation.md
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 # First H₂ calculation
 
-## Using only the release binary
+## Using an installed release
 
-Copy the following geometry into a file named `h2.xyz` in your working
-directory. It is the same geometry used by the checked-in sample:
+The following commands work after installing a release from a GitHub archive,
+Cargo, or Nix. Copy the following geometry into a file named `h2.xyz` in your
+working directory. It is the same geometry used by the checked-in sample:
 
 ```text
 {{#include ../../../samples/h2/molecule.xyz}}
diff --git a/docs/src/getting-started/installation-nix.md b/docs/src/getting-started/installation-nix.md
index a9709ea0..5860c286 100644
--- a/docs/src/getting-started/installation-nix.md
+++ b/docs/src/getting-started/installation-nix.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Installing with Nix
 
+Nix is one of the three release installation channels, alongside a
+[GitHub Releases archive](installation.md#install-a-prebuilt-release-binary)
+and the [Cargo package](installation.md#install-with-cargo). This page covers
+the Nix-specific choices.
+
 Install [Nix](https://nixos.org/download/) and enable the `nix-command` and
 `flakes` experimental features. The flake supports x86-64 Linux, ARM64 Linux,
 and Apple Silicon macOS. On Windows, use Nix inside WSL2 to run the Linux
@@ -12,6 +17,13 @@ nix profile install github:mveril/RustiQ
 rustiq --version
 ```
 
+The unqualified `github:mveril/RustiQ` reference follows GitHub's default
+branch, `main`. That branch contains released versions only. To keep a fixed
+version, use a release tag (for example,
+`github:mveril/RustiQ/v0.1.0-beta.1`) or a commit revision instead.
+An unqualified reference is captured only when a consuming configuration's
+`flake.lock` is updated; a tag makes the selected release explicit.
+
 ## Home Manager without a configuration flake
 
 If your Home Manager configuration uses `home.nix` directly, create a
@@ -24,7 +36,7 @@ let
 in
 {
   home.packages = [
-    (rustiq.legacyPackages.${pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.system}.cpuTarget "native")
+    rustiq.packages.${pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.system}.default
   ];
 }
 ```
@@ -38,11 +50,11 @@ imports = [ ./rustiq.nix ];
 Apply the configuration using your usual command. For Home Manager integrated
 as a NixOS module, run `sudo nixos-rebuild switch --impure`; for standalone Home
 Manager, run `home-manager switch --impure`. The unlocked GitHub reference
-requires impure evaluation. Check `rustiq --version` afterward. The reference tracks the default branch
-and is not pinned by a configuration `flake.lock`; use a revision in the URL
-for a fixed version. See the [CPU-specific build](#optional-cpu-specific-build)
-caveats before using `native`. To use the standard package, replace the entry
-in `home.packages` with `rustiq.packages.${pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.system}.default`.
+requires impure evaluation. Check `rustiq --version` afterward. The reference tracks
+the release-only default branch, `main`, and is not pinned by a configuration
+`flake.lock`; use a revision in the URL
+for a fixed version. The standard package is portable across machines of the
+same supported platform.
 
 ## Home Manager and NixOS
 
@@ -97,8 +109,8 @@ specialArgs = { inherit inputs; };
 ```
 
 Merge this with any existing `specialArgs`. Create `rustiq.nix` beside your
-`configuration.nix`. This complete NixOS module installs a RustiQ build
-optimized for the build machine's CPU:
+`configuration.nix`. This complete NixOS module installs the standard portable
+RustiQ package:
 
 ```nix
 {{#include rustiq.nix}}
@@ -114,13 +126,6 @@ Then import it in the existing `configuration.nix`, preserving any other imports
 ```
 
 Alternatively, add `./rustiq.nix` to the `modules` list in `nixosSystem`.
-See the CPU caveats below before using `native`. To use the standard package,
-replace the expression inside the list with:
-
-```nix
-inputs.rustiq.packages.${pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.system}.default
-```
-
 From the configuration directory, apply it with
 `sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#YOUR_HOST` and check `rustiq --version`.
 Replace `YOUR_HOST` with your NixOS configuration name. See the
@@ -128,8 +133,9 @@ Replace `YOUR_HOST` with your NixOS configuration name. See the
 
 ## Optional CPU-specific build
 
-The NixOS module above uses this expression. For Home Manager, you can also
-replace the standard package entry in `home.packages` with it:
+The examples above use the portable standard package. For NixOS or Home
+Manager, replace that package expression with this one only when a build tied
+to the build machine's CPU is appropriate:
 
 ```nix
 (inputs.rustiq.legacyPackages.${pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.system}.cpuTarget "native")
@@ -162,6 +168,15 @@ nix build
 ./result/bin/rustiq --version
 ```
 
+For development, clone `develop` explicitly because the default branch is
+release-only:
+
+```sh
+git clone --branch develop --single-branch https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
+cd RustiQ
+nix develop
+```
+
 The package includes the offline manual and shell completions. Run `rustiq docs`
 after installing, or `./result/bin/rustiq docs` from the checkout. See the
 [manual instructions](installation.md#consult-the-manual) and the
@@ -169,6 +184,6 @@ after installing, or `./result/bin/rustiq docs` from the checkout. See the
 
 The package enables online basis downloads but does not bundle sample inputs or basis sets.
 Download or import a basis before running a calculation; see
-[make basis sets available](installation.md#make-basis-sets-available) and the
+[obtaining a basis after installation](installation.md#after-installation-obtain-a-basis-and-run-a-calculation) and the
 [first calculation](first-calculation.md). For development shells, see
 [Nix setup](../development/nix-setup.md).
diff --git a/docs/src/getting-started/installation.md b/docs/src/getting-started/installation.md
index 4da57ce8..73f36987 100644
--- a/docs/src/getting-started/installation.md
+++ b/docs/src/getting-started/installation.md
@@ -1,14 +1,20 @@
 # Installation
 
-## Install with Nix
+After a release promotion completes, RustiQ is distributed through a prebuilt
+archive on GitHub Releases, the Cargo registry, and the Nix flake. The three
+publications run independently, so use the channel where the release is listed.
+They are all built from the same release tag.
 
-See [installing with Nix](installation-nix.md) for the supported platforms,
-profile installation, and CPU-specific builds.
+| Method | Choose it when | Platforms and manual |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| [GitHub Releases archive](#install-a-prebuilt-release-binary) | You want a runnable executable without installing Rust or Nix. | The six target platforms listed below; includes the offline manual. |
+| [Cargo](#install-with-cargo) | You already use Rust and Cargo, or want Cargo to build RustiQ locally. | Native Cargo-supported platforms; uses the online manual. |
+| [Nix](installation-nix.md) | You already use Nix or want declarative installation and a pinned package environment. | Linux x86_64/ARM64 and Apple Silicon macOS; includes the offline manual. |
 
 ## Install a prebuilt release binary
 
-When a release is available, ordinary users can download the archive for their
-operating system and CPU from the [GitHub Releases page](https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ/releases).
+Download the archive for your operating system and CPU from the
+[GitHub Releases page](https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ/releases).
 Archives are named `rustiq-chem-<target>.tar.gz` on Unix and
 `rustiq-chem-<target>.zip` on Windows. Supported targets are
 `x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu` (Linux Intel/AMD),
@@ -51,15 +57,47 @@ Write-Host "SHA-256 verified: $archive"
 The [release guide](../development/releasing.md#binary-releases) has the full
 platform-specific verification instructions. For Windows ARM64, replace the
 archive filename with `rustiq-chem-aarch64-pc-windows-msvc.zip`. Extract the
-archive only after the checksum comparison succeeds, then run
-`./rustiq --help` from its directory on Linux or macOS, or
-`.\rustiq.exe --help` from that directory in PowerShell. To use `rustiq` from
-any directory, add the directory containing `rustiq` or `rustiq.exe` to `PATH`
-and open a new terminal.
+archive only after the checksum comparison succeeds. From the directory holding
+the download, extract it with one of the following commands:
+
+```sh
+tar -xzf rustiq-chem-<target>.tar.gz  # Linux or macOS
+```
+
+```powershell
+Expand-Archive rustiq-chem-<target>.zip -DestinationPath .\rustiq-chem
+```
+
+Open a terminal in the extracted directory and run `./rustiq --help` on Linux
+or macOS, or `.\rustiq.exe --help` in PowerShell. This works without changing
+`PATH`. To run `rustiq` from any directory, add the directory containing
+`rustiq` or `rustiq.exe` to `PATH` and open a new terminal.
 
 The Cargo package is named `rustiq-chem`; the executable is named `rustiq` (or
 `rustiq.exe` on Windows).
 
+## Install with Cargo
+
+Install the released Cargo package from crates.io from any directory. No source
+checkout is needed. This builds RustiQ from source and requires Rust and Cargo,
+a C/C++ toolchain, and CMake; see [manual setup](../development/manual-setup.md#install-and-build)
+for platform prerequisites, but do not follow that page's checkout commands
+unless you intend to contribute.
+
+```sh
+cargo install --locked rustiq-chem --version '=0.1.0-beta.1'
+rustiq --help
+```
+
+Ensure Cargo's binary directory is on `PATH`. Cargo-only installations use the
+online manual, as described below.
+
+## Install with Nix
+
+See [installing with Nix](installation-nix.md) for the supported platforms,
+profile and declarative installation, and CPU-specific builds. That page uses
+the repository's default branch, `main`, which contains released versions only.
+
 ## Consult the manual
 
 Release archives contain an offline HTML manual in `manual/html/` beside the
@@ -100,15 +138,16 @@ If browser launching fails, the diagnostic includes the target and the
 `--print-path` route. RustiQ uses the operating system's default browser opener.
 PDF export is future work and `--pdf` is not supported.
 
-## Make basis sets available
+## After installation: obtain a basis and run a calculation
 
-The archive contains neither sample inputs nor basis data. With network access,
-download a basis using `rustiq basis download sto-3g`. This command is available
-in online builds and requires network access. To work offline, import a local
-Basis Set Exchange JSON file with `rustiq basis import /path/to/basis.json`;
-import does not access the network. See the
-[basis-set guide](../user-guide/basis-sets.md) and the
-[first calculation](first-calculation.md) for a complete binary-only example.
+Run `rustiq --version` to confirm the installation. Installed release packages
+do not include sample inputs or basis data. With network access, download a
+basis using `rustiq basis download sto-3g`. This command is available in online
+builds and requires network access. To work offline, import a local Basis Set
+Exchange JSON file with `rustiq basis import /path/to/basis.json`; import does
+not access the network. The [first calculation](first-calculation.md) works
+with an archive, Cargo, or Nix installation. See the
+[basis-set guide](../user-guide/basis-sets.md) for basis-data details.
 
 ## Build and install from source
 
@@ -118,11 +157,21 @@ parent directory, then run Cargo commands from the checkout root. For complete
 prerequisite and platform details, see the [manual setup](../development/manual-setup.md#install-and-build).
 
 ```sh
-git clone https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
+git clone --branch develop --single-branch https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
 cd RustiQ
 cargo build --locked
 ```
 
+The default branch, `main`, is reserved for released versions. Use `develop`
+for an active development checkout; a checkout intended to reproduce a release
+should instead use its release tag.
+
+For example, to reproduce the `0.1.0-beta.1` release source, clone its tag:
+
+```sh
+git clone --branch v0.1.0-beta.1 --single-branch https://github.com/mveril/RustiQ.git
+```
+
 `cargo build` does not add the executable to `PATH`. To run without installing,
 prefix commands with `cargo run --locked --`, for example
 `cargo run --locked -- --help`. To install the package executable into Cargo's
@@ -133,7 +182,5 @@ cargo install --locked --path .
 rustiq --help
 ```
 
-The registry package is also named `rustiq-chem`; install from crates.io only
-when the relevant version has been published. See the
-[development environments](../development/environments.md) page for Nix,
+See the [development environments](../development/environments.md) page for Nix,
 Docker, and other supported contributor setups.
diff --git a/docs/src/getting-started/rustiq.nix b/docs/src/getting-started/rustiq.nix
index d02128da..c5edc15c 100644
--- a/docs/src/getting-started/rustiq.nix
+++ b/docs/src/getting-started/rustiq.nix
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@
 { pkgs, inputs, ... }:
 {
   environment.systemPackages = [
-    (inputs.rustiq.legacyPackages.${pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.system}.cpuTarget "native")
+    inputs.rustiq.packages.${pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.system}.default
   ];
 }
diff --git a/docs/src/reference/cli.md b/docs/src/reference/cli.md
index 2e1f7188..d353ac39 100644
--- a/docs/src/reference/cli.md
+++ b/docs/src/reference/cli.md
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ For example, the grouped output has this shape (unknown optional fields are
 omitted and the values depend on the build):
 
 ```text
-rustiq 0.1.0-alpha.1
+rustiq 0.1.0-beta.1
 
 SOURCE
   Git commit          <full commit hash>
diff --git a/tools/check-release.py b/tools/check-release.py
index f1cc3b14..9f95ee70 100644
--- a/tools/check-release.py
+++ b/tools/check-release.py
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ def candidate(root):
         raise ValueError("workspace package versions differ")
     if manifest["dependencies"]["rustiq-core"]["version"].removeprefix("=") != version:
         raise ValueError("internal dependency must match release version")
+    citation = (root / "CITATION.cff").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    if re.findall(r"^version:\s*(\S+)\s*$", citation, re.MULTILINE) != [version]:
+        raise ValueError("citation version must match release version")
     return version
 
 
diff --git a/tools/release_smoke.py b/tools/release_smoke.py
index 5c793ce1..cdba11cd 100644
--- a/tools/release_smoke.py
+++ b/tools/release_smoke.py
@@ -174,6 +174,9 @@ def validate(
                 f"EXTRACTION_FAILURE: expected one rustiq executable in archive, found {len(binaries)}"
             )
         binary = binaries[0]
+        for name in ("LICENSE-MIT", "LICENSE-APACHE", "COPYING", "DISTRIBUTION.md", "THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt"):
+            if not any(p.is_file() for p in extracted.rglob(name)):
+                raise ValueError(f"EXTRACTION_FAILURE: archive lacks {name}")
         if os.name != "nt":
             binary.chmod(binary.stat().st_mode | 0o111)
         clean_path = os.pathsep.join(
diff --git a/tools/test_prepare_release.py b/tools/test_prepare_release.py
index bc001136..f4f6554d 100644
--- a/tools/test_prepare_release.py
+++ b/tools/test_prepare_release.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
 def manifests(root, version, core=None, dependency=None):
     (root / "crates/rustiq-core").mkdir(parents=True)
+    (root / "CITATION.cff").write_text(f"version: {version}\n")
     (root / "Cargo.toml").write_text(
         f'[package]\nversion = "{version}"\n[dependencies]\nrustiq-core = {{version = "{dependency or version}"}}\n'
     )
@@ -87,3 +88,10 @@ def lookup(url, token=None):
     monkeypatch.setitem(available.__globals__, "lookup", lookup)
     with pytest.raises(OSError, match="unavailable"):
         available("1.2.3", "mveril/RustiQ")
+
+
+def test_rejects_mismatched_citation(tmp_path):
+    manifests(tmp_path, "1.2.3")
+    (tmp_path / "CITATION.cff").write_text("version: 1.2.2\n")
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="citation version"):
+        candidate(tmp_path)
diff --git a/tools/test_publish_docs.py b/tools/test_publish_docs.py
index f70d2941..9ade81fb 100644
--- a/tools/test_publish_docs.py
+++ b/tools/test_publish_docs.py
@@ -225,6 +225,7 @@ def git(*args):
     (tmp_path / "crates/rustiq-core/Cargo.toml").write_text(
         f'[package]\nversion = "{release_version}"\n'
     )
+    (tmp_path / "CITATION.cff").write_text(f"version: {release_version}\n")
 
     git("add", ".")
     git("commit", "-m", "Initial main")
diff --git a/tools/test_release_smoke.py b/tools/test_release_smoke.py
index c00d7bfa..c414e1be 100644
--- a/tools/test_release_smoke.py
+++ b/tools/test_release_smoke.py
@@ -33,9 +33,13 @@ def setUp(self):
             "mermaid-init-test.js",
         ]:
             (manual / name).write_text("controlled manual asset")
+        for name in ("LICENSE-MIT", "LICENSE-APACHE", "COPYING", "DISTRIBUTION.md", "THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt"):
+            (content / name).write_text("document")
         with tarfile.open(self.archive, "w:gz") as bundle:
             bundle.add(content / "rustiq", arcname="rustiq")
             bundle.add(manual, arcname="manual/html")
+            for name in ("LICENSE-MIT", "LICENSE-APACHE", "COPYING", "DISTRIBUTION.md", "THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt"):
+                bundle.add(content / name, arcname=name)
         self.checksum = self.root / "bundle.tar.gz.sha256"
         self.checksum.write_text(
             hashlib.sha256(self.archive.read_bytes()).hexdigest() + "  bundle.tar.gz\n"
@@ -119,6 +123,8 @@ def test_missing_manual_is_rejected(self):
         binary = self.root / "archive-content/rustiq"
         with tarfile.open(self.archive, "w:gz") as bundle:
             bundle.add(binary, arcname="rustiq")
+            for name in ("LICENSE-MIT", "LICENSE-APACHE", "COPYING", "DISTRIBUTION.md", "THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt"):
+                bundle.add(binary.parent / name, arcname=name)
         self.checksum.write_text(hashlib.sha256(self.archive.read_bytes()).hexdigest())
         with self.assertRaisesRegex(ValueError, "lacks the complete offline manual"):
             self.validate()
@@ -277,6 +283,18 @@ def test_nonfinite_reference_energy_is_rejected(self):
                 command_runner=self.runner(),
             )
 
+    def test_missing_distribution_documents(self):
+        for missing in ("LICENSE-MIT", "LICENSE-APACHE", "COPYING", "DISTRIBUTION.md", "THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt"):
+            with self.subTest(missing=missing):
+                content = self.root / "archive-content"
+                with tarfile.open(self.archive, "w:gz") as bundle:
+                    for path in content.iterdir():
+                        if path.name != missing:
+                            bundle.add(path, arcname=path.name)
+                self.checksum.write_text(hashlib.sha256(self.archive.read_bytes()).hexdigest() + "  bundle.tar.gz\n")
+                with self.assertRaisesRegex(ValueError, missing):
+                    self.validate()
+
     def test_success(self):
         result = self.validate()
         self.assertEqual(result["checksum"], "verified")