> **Plain-language companion:** [v0.98.1.md](v0.98.1.md)

## v0.98.1 — Qualified interim baseline

**Status: In progress.** This release qualifies the frozen v0.98.0 safety
baseline and publishes one exact candidate.

### Qualification items

| ID | Title | Status |
|----|-------|--------|
| QUAL-1 | Candidate-bound release evidence | ✅ Done |
| QUAL-2 | Correctness and admission qualification | ✅ Done |
| QUAL-3 | Upgrade and package qualification | ✅ Done |
| QUAL-4 | Seven-day longevity and optional soak contract | ✅ Done |
| QUAL-5 | Performance qualification contract | ✅ Done |
| QUAL-6 | Public contract and release-boundary freeze | ✅ Done |

### Exit criteria

- [ ] `python3 scripts/v0_98_qualification_gate.py` passes.
- [ ] `just check-version-sync` passes.
- [ ] `just check-upgrade-all` passes.
- [ ] Required candidate-bound suites have fresh `passed` evidence.
- [ ] PR checks pass on the exact candidate commit.
- [ ] The release tag is published only after the PR is merged.