diff --git a/.github/workflows/docker.yml b/.github/workflows/docker.yml
index 0eb4e4e..1e91a3b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docker.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docker.yml
@@ -38,18 +38,62 @@ jobs:
 
   build:
     name: "Build"
-    needs: ["test"]
-    if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/master'
-    uses: dockette/.github/.github/workflows/docker.yml@master
-    secrets: inherit
-    with:
-      image: "dockette/pound"
-      tag: "latest"
-      context: "."
+    needs: test
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v7
+
+      - name: Read VERSION
+        id: version
+        run: cat VERSION >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
+      - name: Set up QEMU
+        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v4
+
+      - name: Set up Docker Buildx
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v4
+
+      - name: Login to DockerHub
+        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/master'
+        uses: docker/login-action@v4
+        with:
+          username: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}
+          password: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Build and push
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@v7
+        with:
+          context: .
+          platforms: linux/amd64,linux/arm64
+          push: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' }}
+          tags: |
+            dockette/pound:latest
+            dockette/pound:${{ steps.version.outputs.VERSION }}
+          cache-from: type=gha
+          cache-to: type=gha,mode=max
+
+  release:
+    name: "Release"
+    needs: build
+    if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' && github.event_name == 'push'
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v7
+
+      - name: Create release
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+        run: |
+          . ./VERSION
+          gh release view "$VERSION" || gh release create "$VERSION" --generate-notes
 
   docs:
     name: "Docs"
-    needs: ["build"]
+    needs: build
     if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/master'
     uses: dockette/.github/.github/workflows/dockerhub-description.yml@master
     secrets: inherit
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 8786368..35948b0 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -10,13 +10,14 @@ Dockette Pound builds `dockette/pound`, a legacy Pound HTTP/HTTPS reverse proxy
 - Build context: repository root `.` with `Dockerfile` and `pound/pound.cfg`.
 - Base image: `debian:trixie-slim`.
 - The image installs the Debian Trixie `pound` package and starts `pound -f /etc/pound/config.cfg`.
-- GitHub Actions builds `linux/amd64` for tests, then publishes `linux/amd64,linux/arm64` through the shared Dockette Docker workflow on `master` and the weekly schedule.
+- GitHub Actions builds `linux/amd64` for tests, then publishes `linux/amd64,linux/arm64` in one build job on `master` and the weekly schedule; other branches only build.
 
 ## Commands
 
 - `make build` builds `${DOCKER_IMAGE}:${DOCKER_TAG}` from `.`.
 - `make test` runs `pound -V` and validates `/etc/pound/config.cfg` with `pound -c -f` inside the built image.
 - `make run` starts the image locally with `80:80` published.
+- `VERSION` is a key=value file with the release date (`VERSION=...`); `make release` sets today's date. CI pushes `latest` also as `<VERSION>` and creates the GitHub release.
 
 ## Testing Notes
 
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 6dbb47d..df24ffc 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 DOCKER_IMAGE=dockette/pound
 DOCKER_TAG?=latest
 
+include VERSION
+
 .PHONY: build
 build:
 	docker build -t ${DOCKER_IMAGE}:${DOCKER_TAG} .
@@ -13,3 +15,12 @@ test:
 .PHONY: run
 run:
 	docker run --rm -it -p 80:80 ${DOCKER_IMAGE}:${DOCKER_TAG}
+
+.PHONY: version
+version:
+	@echo ${VERSION}
+
+.PHONY: release
+release:
+	@sed -i.bak "s/^VERSION=.*/VERSION=$$(date -u +%Y.%m.%d)/" VERSION && rm VERSION.bak
+	@cat VERSION
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b50d069..425b6e4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,43 +13,45 @@
 
 -----
 
-## Usage
-
-```bash
-docker run --rm -it \
-  -p 80:80 \
-  dockette/pound:latest
-```
+Legacy image, kept close to the original setup. It uses the official `debian:trixie-slim` base image and the Debian
+Trixie `pound` package, so changes stay focused on keeping the image buildable and testable.
 
-The image starts Pound in the foreground with `/etc/pound/config.cfg`.
+## Features
 
-## Configuration
+- Pound from the Debian Trixie package on `debian:trixie-slim`
+- Starts Pound in the foreground with `/etc/pound/config.cfg`
+- Bundled configuration listens on port `80` and forwards requests with host headers matching `*.local.dev` to backend
+  host `app` on port `80`
 
-The bundled configuration listens on port `80` and forwards requests with host headers matching `*.local.dev` to backend host `app` on port `80`.
+## Usage
 
-To use your own configuration:
+```sh
+docker run --rm -it -p 80:80 dockette/pound:latest
 
-```bash
-docker run --rm -it \
-  -p 80:80 \
-  -v "$(pwd)/pound.cfg:/etc/pound/config.cfg:ro" \
-  dockette/pound:latest
+# use your own configuration
+docker run --rm -it -p 80:80 -v "$(pwd)/pound.cfg:/etc/pound/config.cfg:ro" dockette/pound:latest
 ```
 
-## Legacy Constraints
+## Versions
 
-This image is intentionally kept close to the original legacy setup. It uses the official `debian:trixie-slim` base image and Debian Trixie `pound` package, so changes should stay focused on keeping the existing image buildable and testable.
+| Version | Release |
+|---------|---------|
+| `dockette/pound:YYYY.MM.DD` | release `YYYY.MM.DD` |
+| `dockette/pound:latest` | latest build of `master` |
 
-## Development
+Releases are listed on [GitHub](https://github.com/dockette/pound/releases).
 
-Build a local image before running tests or starting the container:
+## Development
 
-```bash
-make build
-make test
-make run
+```sh
+make build          # build the image
+make test           # check pound -V and the bundled config
+make run            # run Pound on port 80
+make version        # print VERSION
+make release        # set today's date in VERSION
 ```
 
 ## Maintenance
 
-See [how to contribute](https://github.com/dockette/.github/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md) to this package. Consider to [support](https://github.com/sponsors/f3l1x) **f3l1x**. Thank you for using this package.
+See [how to contribute](https://github.com/dockette/.github/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md) to this package. Consider to
+[support](https://github.com/sponsors/f3l1x) **f3l1x**. Thank you for using this package.
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c353908
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+VERSION=2026.10.23