diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 562e5bc..7959d1c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -13,11 +13,31 @@ on:
         required: false
         default: "scripts/ci/run-release-verification.sh"
         type: string
+      version-script:
+        description: Optional release version validation/update script path relative to the repository root
+        required: false
+        default: "scripts/ci/run-release-version.sh"
+        type: string
+      build-script:
+        description: Optional release artifact build script path relative to the repository root
+        required: false
+        default: "scripts/ci/run-release-build.sh"
+        type: string
       publish-script:
         description: Release publish script path relative to the repository root
         required: false
         default: "scripts/ci/run-release-publish.sh"
         type: string
+      release-notes-file:
+        description: Optional release notes file path produced before GitHub Release creation
+        required: false
+        default: "dist/release/RELEASE_NOTES.md"
+        type: string
+      default-branch:
+        description: Default release branch for new minor and major releases
+        required: false
+        default: "main"
+        type: string
       create-github-release:
         description: Create a GitHub release after publish succeeds
         required: false
@@ -52,6 +72,57 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
+      - name: Derive release metadata
+        id: release_meta
+        env:
+          RELEASE_TAG: ${{ github.ref_name }}
+          TAG_PREFIX: ${{ inputs.tag-prefix }}
+          DEFAULT_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.default-branch }}
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+
+          prefix="${TAG_PREFIX}"
+          tag="${RELEASE_TAG}"
+          escaped_prefix="$(printf '%s' "${prefix}" | sed 's/[][(){}.^$*+?|\\-]/\\&/g')"
+
+          semver_component='(0|[1-9][0-9]*)'
+          if [[ ! "${tag}" =~ ^${escaped_prefix}${semver_component}\.${semver_component}\.${semver_component}$ ]]; then
+            echo "Release tag '${tag}' does not match the required exact SemVer pattern '${prefix}X.Y.Z'." >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          major="${BASH_REMATCH[1]}"
+          minor="${BASH_REMATCH[2]}"
+          patch="${BASH_REMATCH[3]}"
+          commit="$(git rev-list -n 1 "${tag}")"
+
+          git fetch origin "+refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/origin/*" --prune
+
+          default_ref="origin/${DEFAULT_BRANCH}"
+          maintenance_ref="origin/release/${major}.${minor}"
+          allowed=false
+          if git merge-base --is-ancestor "${commit}" "${default_ref}"; then
+            allowed=true
+          elif git show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/remotes/${maintenance_ref}" &&
+             git merge-base --is-ancestor "${commit}" "${maintenance_ref}"; then
+            allowed=true
+          fi
+
+          if [[ "${allowed}" != "true" ]]; then
+            echo "Release tag '${tag}' must point at ${default_ref} or ${maintenance_ref}." >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          previous_tag="$(git tag --list "${prefix}[0-9]*.[0-9]*.[0-9]*" --sort=-v:refname | grep -v "^${tag}$" | head -n 1 || true)"
+
+          {
+            echo "tag=${tag}"
+            echo "major=${major}"
+            echo "minor=${minor}"
+            echo "patch=${patch}"
+            echo "commit=${commit}"
+            echo "previous_tag=${previous_tag}"
+          } >> "${GITHUB_OUTPUT}"
       - name: Verify release contract
         run: |
           if [[ ! -x "${{ inputs.verify-script }}" ]]; then
@@ -59,6 +130,20 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
           bash "${{ inputs.verify-script }}"
+      - name: Run release version hook
+        run: |
+          if [[ -x "${{ inputs.version-script }}" ]]; then
+            bash "${{ inputs.version-script }}"
+          else
+            echo "No executable release version hook is configured: ${{ inputs.version-script }}"
+          fi
+      - name: Build release artifacts
+        run: |
+          if [[ -x "${{ inputs.build-script }}" ]]; then
+            bash "${{ inputs.build-script }}"
+          else
+            echo "No executable release artifact build hook is configured: ${{ inputs.build-script }}"
+          fi
       - name: Publish release artifacts
         run: |
           if [[ ! -x "${{ inputs.publish-script }}" ]]; then
@@ -66,9 +151,27 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
           bash "${{ inputs.publish-script }}"
+      - name: Create GitHub release
+        if: ${{ inputs.create-github-release }}
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+        run: |
+          tag="${GITHUB_REF_NAME}"
+          if [[ -z "${tag}" ]]; then
+            echo "GITHUB_REF_NAME is required to create a GitHub release." >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          if [[ -s "${{ inputs.release-notes-file }}" ]]; then
+            gh release create "${tag}" --notes-file "${{ inputs.release-notes-file }}" ||
+              gh release edit "${tag}" --notes-file "${{ inputs.release-notes-file }}" --latest
+          else
+            gh release create "${tag}" --generate-notes ||
+              gh release edit "${tag}" --latest
+          fi
       - name: Promote floating SemVer tags
         env:
-          RELEASE_TAG: ${{ github.ref_name }}
+          RELEASE_TAG: ${{ steps.release_meta.outputs.tag }}
           TAG_PREFIX: ${{ inputs.tag-prefix }}
           UPDATE_MAJOR_TAG: ${{ inputs.update-major-tag }}
           UPDATE_MINOR_TAG: ${{ inputs.update-minor-tag }}
@@ -79,7 +182,8 @@ jobs:
           tag="${RELEASE_TAG}"
           escaped_prefix="$(printf '%s' "${prefix}" | sed 's/[][(){}.^$*+?|\\-]/\\&/g')"
 
-          if [[ ! "${tag}" =~ ^${escaped_prefix}([0-9]+)\.([0-9]+)\.([0-9]+)$ ]]; then
+          semver_component='(0|[1-9][0-9]*)'
+          if [[ ! "${tag}" =~ ^${escaped_prefix}${semver_component}\.${semver_component}\.${semver_component}$ ]]; then
             echo "Release tag '${tag}' does not match the required exact SemVer pattern '${prefix}X.Y.Z'." >&2
             exit 1
           fi
@@ -102,14 +206,3 @@ jobs:
             git tag -fa "${major_tag}" "${commit}" -m "Advance ${major_tag} to ${tag}"
             git push origin "refs/tags/${major_tag}" --force
           fi
-      - name: Create GitHub release
-        if: ${{ inputs.create-github-release }}
-        env:
-          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
-        run: |
-          tag="${GITHUB_REF_NAME}"
-          if [[ -z "${tag}" ]]; then
-            echo "GITHUB_REF_NAME is required to create a GitHub release." >&2
-            exit 1
-          fi
-          gh release create "${tag}" --generate-notes || gh release edit "${tag}" --latest
diff --git a/src/archetypes.ts b/src/archetypes.ts
index 21efbba..7186710 100644
--- a/src/archetypes.ts
+++ b/src/archetypes.ts
@@ -905,6 +905,14 @@ ${indentBlock(projectIdentityLines(manifest), 4)}
 }
 
 function fastChecksScript(manifest: BootstrapManifest): string {
+  if (manifest.ci.customScripts.fast) {
+    return `${dedent`
+      #!/usr/bin/env bash
+      set -euo pipefail
+
+    `}\n${manifest.ci.customScripts.fast.trimEnd()}\n`;
+  }
+
   const body =
     manifest.archetype.kind === "python-service"
       ? pythonFastChecks()
@@ -920,6 +928,14 @@ function fastChecksScript(manifest: BootstrapManifest): string {
 }
 
 function extendedChecksScript(manifest: BootstrapManifest): string {
+  if (manifest.ci.customScripts.extended) {
+    return `${dedent`
+      #!/usr/bin/env bash
+      set -euo pipefail
+
+    `}\n${manifest.ci.customScripts.extended.trimEnd()}\n`;
+  }
+
   const body =
     manifest.archetype.kind === "python-service"
       ? pythonExtendedChecks()
@@ -934,7 +950,15 @@ function extendedChecksScript(manifest: BootstrapManifest): string {
   `}\n${body}\n`;
 }
 
-function releaseVerificationScript(): string {
+function releaseVerificationScript(manifest: BootstrapManifest): string {
+  if (manifest.ci.customScripts.releaseVerification) {
+    return `${dedent`
+      #!/usr/bin/env bash
+      set -euo pipefail
+
+    `}\n${manifest.ci.customScripts.releaseVerification.trimEnd()}\n`;
+  }
+
   return `${dedent`
     #!/usr/bin/env bash
     set -euo pipefail
@@ -1096,32 +1120,44 @@ function workflowPaths(manifest: BootstrapManifest): { app: string[]; ci: string
     "docs/bootstrap/**"
   ];
 
+  let paths: { app: string[]; ci: string[]; extended: string[] };
+
   switch (manifest.archetype.kind) {
     case "nextjs-web":
-      return {
+      paths = {
         app: [...common, "app/**", "components/**", "src/**", "public/**", "package.json", "tsconfig.json"],
         ci: [...common, ".env.example", "CODEOWNERS"],
         extended: ["tests/**", "playwright/**", "docker/**", "infra/**"]
       };
+      break;
     case "node-ts-service":
-      return {
+      paths = {
         app: [...common, "src/**", "tests/**", "package.json", "tsconfig.json"],
         ci: [...common, ".env.example", "CODEOWNERS"],
         extended: ["docker/**", "infra/**", "ops/**"]
       };
+      break;
     case "python-service":
-      return {
+      paths = {
         app: [...common, "src/**", "tests/**", "pyproject.toml", ".python-version"],
         ci: [...common, ".env.example", "CODEOWNERS"],
         extended: ["docker/**", "infra/**", "ops/**"]
       };
+      break;
     case "generic-empty":
-      return {
+      paths = {
         app: [...common, "README.md", "docs/**"],
         ci: [...common, ".env.example", "CODEOWNERS"],
         extended: ["infra/**", "ops/**"]
       };
+      break;
   }
+
+  return {
+    app: [...paths.app, ...manifest.ci.appPaths],
+    ci: [...paths.ci, ...manifest.ci.ciPaths],
+    extended: [...paths.extended, ...manifest.ci.extendedPaths]
+  };
 }
 
 function setupSteps(manifest: BootstrapManifest): string {
@@ -1785,7 +1821,7 @@ export function renderManagedFiles(manifest: BootstrapManifest): RenderedFile[]
           {
             path: "scripts/ci/run-release-verification.sh",
             reason: "Release verification entrypoint",
-            contents: releaseVerificationScript(),
+            contents: releaseVerificationScript(manifest),
             executable: true
           },
           {
diff --git a/src/manifest.ts b/src/manifest.ts
index 97d138a..d2746c1 100644
--- a/src/manifest.ts
+++ b/src/manifest.ts
@@ -141,6 +141,19 @@ const dependabotSchema = z.object({
   ecosystems: z.array(dependabotEcosystemSchema).optional()
 });
 
+const macosCheckSchema = z.object({
+  enabled: z.boolean().optional(),
+  paths: z.array(z.string().min(1)).optional(),
+  runsOn: z.array(z.string().min(1)).optional(),
+  command: z.string().min(1).optional()
+});
+
+const customScriptsSchema = z.object({
+  fast: z.string().min(1).optional(),
+  extended: z.string().min(1).optional(),
+  releaseVerification: z.string().min(1).optional()
+});
+
 const manifestSchema = z.object({
   version: z.literal(1).optional(),
   project: z.object({
@@ -199,6 +212,11 @@ const manifestSchema = z.object({
       extendedChecks: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
       nightlyCron: z.string().optional(),
       additionalWorkflows: z.array(additionalWorkflowSchema).optional(),
+      appPaths: z.array(z.string().min(1)).optional(),
+      ciPaths: z.array(z.string().min(1)).optional(),
+      extendedPaths: z.array(z.string().min(1)).optional(),
+      macosCheck: macosCheckSchema.optional(),
+      customScripts: customScriptsSchema.optional(),
       dependabot: dependabotSchema.optional(),
       aiAttestation: z
         .object({
@@ -385,6 +403,31 @@ function normalizeDependabot(
   };
 }
 
+function normalizePaths(paths: string[] | undefined): string[] {
+  return (paths ?? []).map((entry) => entry.replace(/\\/g, "/"));
+}
+
+function normalizeMacOSCheck(
+  check: z.input<typeof macosCheckSchema> | undefined
+): BootstrapManifest["ci"]["macosCheck"] {
+  return {
+    enabled: check?.enabled ?? false,
+    paths: normalizePaths(check?.paths),
+    runsOn: check?.runsOn ?? ["macos-14"],
+    command: check?.command ?? "xcodebuild -version"
+  };
+}
+
+function normalizeCustomScripts(
+  scripts: z.input<typeof customScriptsSchema> | undefined
+): BootstrapManifest["ci"]["customScripts"] {
+  return {
+    ...(scripts?.fast ? { fast: scripts.fast } : {}),
+    ...(scripts?.extended ? { extended: scripts.extended } : {}),
+    ...(scripts?.releaseVerification ? { releaseVerification: scripts.releaseVerification } : {})
+  };
+}
+
 export function normalizeManifest(raw: z.input<typeof manifestSchema>): BootstrapManifest {
   const parsed = manifestSchema.parse(raw);
   const reviewers = (parsed.github?.reviewers ?? []).map((reviewer) => reviewer.replace(/^@/, ""));
@@ -456,6 +499,11 @@ export function normalizeManifest(raw: z.input<typeof manifestSchema>): Bootstra
       extendedChecks: parsed.ci?.extendedChecks ?? ["integration", "release-readiness"],
       nightlyCron: parsed.ci?.nightlyCron ?? "0 7 * * *",
       additionalWorkflows: normalizeAdditionalWorkflows(parsed.ci?.additionalWorkflows),
+      appPaths: normalizePaths(parsed.ci?.appPaths),
+      ciPaths: normalizePaths(parsed.ci?.ciPaths),
+      extendedPaths: normalizePaths(parsed.ci?.extendedPaths),
+      macosCheck: normalizeMacOSCheck(parsed.ci?.macosCheck),
+      customScripts: normalizeCustomScripts(parsed.ci?.customScripts),
       dependabot: normalizeDependabot(parsed.ci?.dependabot),
       aiAttestation: {
         enabled: parsed.ci?.aiAttestation?.enabled ?? false,
diff --git a/src/types.ts b/src/types.ts
index d7b5ad2..0c8d2b7 100644
--- a/src/types.ts
+++ b/src/types.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,19 @@ export interface DependabotConfig {
   ecosystems: DependabotEcosystemConfig[];
 }
 
+export interface MacOSCheckConfig {
+  enabled: boolean;
+  paths: string[];
+  runsOn: string[];
+  command: string;
+}
+
+export interface CustomScriptsConfig {
+  fast?: string;
+  extended?: string;
+  releaseVerification?: string;
+}
+
 export interface OrganizationSecurityDefaults {
   dependabotAlerts: boolean;
   dependabotSecurityUpdates: boolean;
@@ -112,6 +125,11 @@ export interface BootstrapManifest {
     extendedChecks: string[];
     nightlyCron: string;
     additionalWorkflows: AdditionalWorkflowConfig[];
+    appPaths: string[];
+    ciPaths: string[];
+    extendedPaths: string[];
+    macosCheck: MacOSCheckConfig;
+    customScripts: CustomScriptsConfig;
     dependabot: DependabotConfig;
     aiAttestation: {
       enabled: boolean;
diff --git a/tests/reusable-workflows.test.ts b/tests/reusable-workflows.test.ts
index 80e0e70..18d4fdc 100644
--- a/tests/reusable-workflows.test.ts
+++ b/tests/reusable-workflows.test.ts
@@ -22,9 +22,35 @@ describe("reusable workflows", () => {
     expect(workflow.name).toBe("Reusable Release");
     expect((workflow.on as any).workflow_call.inputs["runs-on"].default).toBe('["ubuntu-latest"]');
     expect((workflow.on as any).workflow_call.inputs["verify-script"].default).toContain("run-release-verification");
+    expect((workflow.on as any).workflow_call.inputs["version-script"].default).toContain("run-release-version");
+    expect((workflow.on as any).workflow_call.inputs["build-script"].default).toContain("run-release-build");
+    expect((workflow.on as any).workflow_call.inputs["release-notes-file"].default).toBe(
+      "dist/release/RELEASE_NOTES.md"
+    );
     expect((workflow.on as any).workflow_call.inputs["tag-prefix"].default).toBe("v");
     expect((workflow.on as any).workflow_call.inputs["update-major-tag"].default).toBe(true);
-    expect((workflow.jobs as any).release).toBeTruthy();
+    const releaseJob = (workflow.jobs as any).release;
+    expect(releaseJob).toBeTruthy();
+    const stepNames = releaseJob.steps.map((step: any) => step.name).filter(Boolean);
+    expect(stepNames).toEqual([
+      "Derive release metadata",
+      "Verify release contract",
+      "Run release version hook",
+      "Build release artifacts",
+      "Publish release artifacts",
+      "Create GitHub release",
+      "Promote floating SemVer tags"
+    ]);
+    const deriveMetadata = releaseJob.steps.find((step: any) => step.name === "Derive release metadata");
+    const promoteTags = releaseJob.steps.find((step: any) => step.name === "Promote floating SemVer tags");
+    expect(deriveMetadata.run).toContain("semver_component='(0|[1-9][0-9]*)'");
+    expect(promoteTags.run).toContain("semver_component='(0|[1-9][0-9]*)'");
+    expect(deriveMetadata.run).toContain(
+      "^${escaped_prefix}${semver_component}\\.${semver_component}\\.${semver_component}$"
+    );
+    expect(promoteTags.run).toContain(
+      "^${escaped_prefix}${semver_component}\\.${semver_component}\\.${semver_component}$"
+    );
   });
 
   it("defines the reusable AI attestation workflow contract", () => {