diff --git a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
index fe06904..2c4ca66 100644
--- a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -58,6 +58,31 @@ document in the same change (see `AGENTS.md`):
 - `docs/adr/` — hard-to-reverse architectural decisions.
 - `skills/wire-lang/` — user-facing authoring instructions and syntax guidance.
 
+## Package releases
+
+Packages have independent versions. Bump only packages whose published contents
+or dependency requirements changed, and record the affected package names and
+versions in `CHANGELOG.md`. Do not bump every package for a browser-only change.
+
+After merging the version change and passing `pnpm release:check`, tag the commit
+with the package directory and version, for example `browser@0.5.0`, and push that
+tag. Supported prefixes are `core`, `cli`, `browser`, `markdown`, and `wire-lang`.
+The release workflow validates the tag against that package's manifest and
+publishes only that package. Global `v*` tags no longer trigger publishing.
+Manual branch runs are dry runs with an explicit package choice; real publishes
+require a matching package tag.
+
+Workspace dependencies resolve to each dependency's own version during packing.
+Publish required dependency versions first. A core change does not automatically
+release every consumer: assess which consumers need the new core version.
+Browser bundles core, so delivering a core fix to browser users requires a browser
+release too. The aggregate CLI reports the installed CLI package's version.
+The SVG language metadata is independent of browser, CLI, and Markdown versions.
+
+Trusted publishers continue to use `publish.yml` and the `release` environment
+for each npm package. Each tag releases one package; retry only unpublished
+versions, since npm does not allow overwriting an existing version.
+
 ## Diagnostics are a contract
 
 Diagnostic `code` strings in `packages/core/src/diagnostics.ts` are a public
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index efe38e2..a6a9282 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -3,9 +3,24 @@ name: Release
 on:
   push:
     tags:
-      - "v*"
+      - "core@*"
+      - "cli@*"
+      - "browser@*"
+      - "markdown@*"
+      - "wire-lang@*"
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
+      package:
+        description: "Package for a dry run on a branch; package tags select their own target"
+        required: true
+        default: "browser"
+        type: choice
+        options:
+          - core
+          - cli
+          - browser
+          - markdown
+          - wire-lang
       mode:
         description: "Run a dry-run publish check, or publish to npm"
         required: true
@@ -34,6 +49,13 @@ jobs:
         with:
           persist-credentials: false
 
+      - name: Select and validate release target
+        id: target
+        env:
+          RELEASE_PACKAGE: ${{ inputs.package }}
+          RELEASE_MODE: ${{ inputs.mode }}
+        run: node scripts/release-target.mjs
+
       - name: Install pnpm
         uses: pnpm/action-setup@0977fd99725f1db4007ccb2928dbb4e90d06cc86 # v6.0.10
 
@@ -61,19 +83,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run release checks
         run: pnpm release:check
 
-      # Publish with pnpm, not `npm publish <tarball>`. pnpm runs the publish
-      # from each package directory (rewriting workspace:* deps to real
-      # versions), which is what lets npm's OIDC trusted-publishing token
-      # exchange engage. Publishing a pre-packed tarball via `npm publish` skips
-      # OIDC entirely and fails with a misleading ENEEDAUTH/E404.
       - name: Dry-run publish
-        run: pnpm -r publish --dry-run --no-git-checks --access public --tag "${{ inputs.npm_tag || 'latest' }}"
-
-      - name: Require tag for real publish
-        if: (github.event_name == 'push' || inputs.mode == 'publish') && !startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
-        run: |
-          echo "Real publish must run from a v* tag, for example refs/tags/v0.2.0." >&2
-          exit 1
+        env:
+          RELEASE_PACKAGE: ${{ steps.target.outputs.name }}
+          NPM_DIST_TAG: ${{ inputs.npm_tag || 'latest' }}
+        run: pnpm --filter "$RELEASE_PACKAGE" publish --dry-run --no-git-checks --access public --tag "$NPM_DIST_TAG"
 
       - name: Verify trusted publishing environment
         if: github.event_name == 'push' || inputs.mode == 'publish'
@@ -95,10 +109,11 @@ jobs:
       # OIDC token exchange engage; npm attaches provenance automatically.
       - name: Publish to npm
         if: github.event_name == 'push' || inputs.mode == 'publish'
+        env:
+          RELEASE_DIRECTORY: ${{ steps.target.outputs.directory }}
+          NPM_DIST_TAG: ${{ inputs.npm_tag || 'latest' }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
           node scripts/pin-workspace-deps.mjs
-          tag="${{ inputs.npm_tag || 'latest' }}"
-          for pkg in core cli browser markdown wire-lang; do
-            ( cd "packages/$pkg" && npm publish --provenance --access public --tag "$tag" )
-          done
+          cd "packages/$RELEASE_DIRECTORY"
+          npm publish --provenance --access public --tag "$NPM_DIST_TAG"
diff --git a/docs/MVP.md b/docs/MVP.md
index f3146d0..37c988c 100644
--- a/docs/MVP.md
+++ b/docs/MVP.md
@@ -1,5 +1,19 @@
 # Wire Lang MVP
 
+## Package release contract
+
+Public packages use independent versions. A `<directory>@<version>` tag selects
+exactly one package for publication and must match its package manifest. Supported
+directories are `core`, `cli`, `browser`, `markdown`, and `wire-lang`. Global `v*`
+tags are historical and no longer trigger releases. Manual publication also
+requires a package tag; branch runs can only perform a selected-package dry run.
+All repository release checks still run before publishing. Workspace dependencies
+are pinned to their own local versions, which must be published before consumers.
+Browser embeds core and needs its own release to distribute core changes. Package
+versions need not match language metadata or the installed CLI version.
+
+See `.github/CONTRIBUTING.md` for the release procedure.
+
 This document defines the first useful version of Wire Lang: a JavaScript/TypeScript library and minimal developer CLI for turning textual electronic schematic descriptions into readable SVG diagrams.
 
 Wire Lang is not a breadboard tool, PCB layout tool, simulator, BOM manager, or visual editor in the MVP. It is a documentation-oriented schematic renderer with strong authoring feedback for humans, editors, and AI agents.
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 34c973a..c4d3fd3 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     "skill:publish": "skills add eduardozf/wire-lang --skill wire-lang --agent codex --global --copy --yes",
     "pack:dry-run": "pnpm --filter @wire-lang/core pack --dry-run && pnpm --filter @wire-lang/cli pack --dry-run && pnpm --filter @wire-lang/browser pack --dry-run && pnpm --filter @wire-lang/markdown pack --dry-run && pnpm --filter wire-lang pack --dry-run",
     "package:smoke": "node scripts/package-smoke-test.mjs",
-    "release:check": "pnpm lint && pnpm docs:check && pnpm typecheck && pnpm test && pnpm build && pnpm audit --prod && pnpm pack:dry-run && pnpm package:smoke",
+    "release:check": "node --test scripts/release-target.test.mjs && pnpm lint && pnpm docs:check && pnpm typecheck && pnpm test && pnpm build && pnpm audit --prod && pnpm pack:dry-run && pnpm package:smoke",
     "examples:update": "node scripts/update-examples.mjs",
     "bench": "node tools/symbol-bench/server.mjs",
     "clean": "tsc -b --clean && rimraf packages/*/dist packages/*/*.tsbuildinfo"
diff --git a/scripts/package-smoke-test.mjs b/scripts/package-smoke-test.mjs
index 348664c..8e80cc8 100644
--- a/scripts/package-smoke-test.mjs
+++ b/scripts/package-smoke-test.mjs
@@ -43,10 +43,19 @@ function tarball(packDir, fileName) {
 }
 
 async function main() {
-  const packageJson = JSON.parse(
-    await readFile(new URL("../packages/wire-lang/package.json", import.meta.url), "utf8"),
+  const versions = {};
+  for (const directory of ["core", "cli", "browser", "markdown", "wire-lang"]) {
+    const manifest = JSON.parse(
+      await readFile(new URL(`../packages/${directory}/package.json`, import.meta.url), "utf8"),
+    );
+    versions[directory] = manifest.version;
+  }
+  const modelSource = await readFile(
+    new URL("../packages/core/src/model/types.ts", import.meta.url),
+    "utf8",
   );
-  const version = packageJson.version;
+  const LANGUAGE_VERSION = /export const LANGUAGE_VERSION = "([^"]+)"/.exec(modelSource)?.[1];
+  if (!LANGUAGE_VERSION) throw new Error("Language version declaration missing");
   const workspace = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), "wire-lang-package-smoke-"));
   const packDir = join(workspace, "tarballs");
   const consumerDir = join(workspace, "consumer");
@@ -66,11 +75,11 @@ async function main() {
         "install",
         "--no-audit",
         "--no-fund",
-        tarball(packDir, `wire-lang-core-${version}.tgz`),
-        tarball(packDir, `wire-lang-cli-${version}.tgz`),
-        tarball(packDir, `wire-lang-markdown-${version}.tgz`),
-        tarball(packDir, `wire-lang-browser-${version}.tgz`),
-        tarball(packDir, `wire-lang-${version}.tgz`),
+        tarball(packDir, `wire-lang-core-${versions.core}.tgz`),
+        tarball(packDir, `wire-lang-cli-${versions.cli}.tgz`),
+        tarball(packDir, `wire-lang-markdown-${versions.markdown}.tgz`),
+        tarball(packDir, `wire-lang-browser-${versions.browser}.tgz`),
+        tarball(packDir, `wire-lang-${versions["wire-lang"]}.tgz`),
       ],
       { cwd: consumerDir },
     );
@@ -94,7 +103,7 @@ if (!compiled.ok) {
   throw new Error("compile returned fatal diagnostics");
 }
 const svg = renderSvg(source);
-if (!svg.startsWith("<svg") || !svg.includes(${JSON.stringify(`data-wire-lang-version="${version}"`)})) {
+if (!svg.startsWith("<svg") || !svg.includes(${JSON.stringify(`data-wire-lang-version="${LANGUAGE_VERSION}"`)})) {
   throw new Error("renderSvg did not return the expected standalone SVG");
 }
 `,
@@ -184,8 +193,10 @@ void result;
     );
 
     const wireBin = join(consumerDir, "node_modules", ".bin", binName);
-    const versionResult = await run(wireBin, ["--version"], { cwd: consumerDir });
-    if (versionResult.stdout.trim() !== version) {
+    const versionResult = await run(wireBin, ["--version"], {
+      cwd: consumerDir,
+    });
+    if (versionResult.stdout.trim() !== versions.cli) {
       throw new Error(`wire --version returned ${JSON.stringify(versionResult.stdout.trim())}`);
     }
 
diff --git a/scripts/release-target.mjs b/scripts/release-target.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..75480fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/release-target.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { appendFileSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
+
+export function releaseTarget(ref, selected, realPublish, readManifest) {
+  const match = /^refs\/tags\/(core|cli|browser|markdown|wire-lang)@([0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+)$/.exec(
+    ref,
+  );
+  if (realPublish && !match)
+    throw new Error("Publishing requires a package tag such as browser@0.5.0");
+  const directory = match?.[1] ?? selected;
+  if (!["core", "cli", "browser", "markdown", "wire-lang"].includes(directory)) {
+    throw new Error("Select one package to release");
+  }
+  const manifest = readManifest(directory);
+  if (match && match[2] !== manifest.version)
+    throw new Error("Tag version does not match package.json");
+  return { directory, name: manifest.name, version: manifest.version };
+}
+
+if (process.argv[1] === fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)) {
+  const target = releaseTarget(
+    process.env.GITHUB_REF ?? "",
+    process.env.RELEASE_PACKAGE,
+    process.env.GITHUB_EVENT_NAME === "push" || process.env.RELEASE_MODE === "publish",
+    (directory) =>
+      JSON.parse(
+        readFileSync(new URL(`../packages/${directory}/package.json`, import.meta.url), "utf8"),
+      ),
+  );
+  console.log(`Release target: ${target.name}@${target.version}`);
+  appendFileSync(
+    process.env.GITHUB_OUTPUT,
+    `directory=${target.directory}\nname=${target.name}\nversion=${target.version}\n`,
+  );
+}
diff --git a/scripts/release-target.test.mjs b/scripts/release-target.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bbcc854
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/release-target.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import test from "node:test";
+import { releaseTarget } from "./release-target.mjs";
+
+const manifest = (directory) => ({
+  name: `@wire-lang/${directory}`,
+  version: "0.5.0",
+});
+test("a browser tag selects only browser", () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(releaseTarget("refs/tags/browser@0.5.0", "core", true, manifest), {
+    directory: "browser",
+    name: "@wire-lang/browser",
+    version: "0.5.0",
+  });
+});
+test("manual dry runs select one package without a tag", () => {
+  assert.equal(releaseTarget("refs/heads/main", "markdown", false, manifest).directory, "markdown");
+});
+test("rejects global tags, branches, unknown packages and mismatched versions", () => {
+  for (const ref of [
+    "refs/tags/v0.5.0",
+    "refs/heads/main",
+    "refs/tags/unknown@0.5.0",
+    "refs/tags/browser@0.6.0",
+  ]) {
+    assert.throws(() => releaseTarget(ref, "browser", true, manifest));
+  }
+  assert.throws(() => releaseTarget("refs/heads/main", "../core", false, manifest));
+});