diff --git a/.github/workflows/manual-release.yml b/.github/workflows/manual-release.yml
index d794655..44094ac 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/manual-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/manual-release.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ jobs:
     name: Build for ${{ matrix.os }}
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         include:
           - os: ubuntu-latest
@@ -169,27 +170,12 @@ jobs:
       with:
         path: artifacts
 
-    - name: Read RELEASE-GUIDE.md
-      id: release_guide
-      run: |
-        delimiter="$(openssl rand -hex 8)"
-        echo "RELEASE_GUIDE<<${delimiter}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-        cat RELEASE-GUIDE.md >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-        echo "${delimiter}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-
     - name: Create Release
       uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
       with:
         tag_name: ${{ github.event.inputs.tag }}
         name: ADJ Valet ${{ github.event.inputs.tag }}
-        body: |
-          ## What's Changed
-          
-          This release includes improvements to stability and performance.
-          
-          ---
-          
-          ${{ steps.release_guide.outputs.RELEASE_GUIDE }}
+        generate_release_notes: true
         files: artifacts/**/*
         draft: false
         prerelease: false
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 1928657..2d3d0bf 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# OS specific files
+# OS generated files
 .DS_Store
 .DS_Store?
 ._*
@@ -6,55 +6,74 @@
 .Trashes
 ehthumbs.db
 Thumbs.db
+Desktop.ini
 
-# IDEs and editors
+# IDE and Editor files
 .vscode/
 .idea/
-*.swp
-*.swo
-*~
 .zed/
-.claude/
+.vim/
+.netrwhist
+*~
+.swp
+.swo
+*.tmp
 
-# Environment variables
+# Environment and configuration
 .env
 .env.local
 .env.development.local
 .env.test.local
 .env.production.local
+.env/
 
-# Project specific
-adj/
-test-adj/
-CLAUDE.md
+# Dependencies
+node_modules/
+npm-debug.log*
+yarn-debug.log*
+yarn-error.log*
+pnpm-debug.log*
+.pnpm-debug.log*
 
-# Rust backend
-/backend/target/
-/backend/Cargo.lock
-/backend/.adj-valet-port
-/backend/*.log
-/backend/test*
-
-# Node.js frontend
-/adj-valet-front/node_modules/
-/adj-valet-front/dist/
-/adj-valet-front/build/
-/adj-valet-front/.vite/
-/adj-valet-front/npm-debug.log*
-/adj-valet-front/yarn-debug.log*
-/adj-valet-front/yarn-error.log*
-/adj-valet-front/pnpm-debug.log*
-/adj-valet-front/lerna-debug.log*
-/adj-valet-front/.eslintcache
-/adj-valet-front/frontend.log
-/adj-valet-front/frontend_test.log
-
-# Coverage reports
+# Frontend build artifacts
+dist/
+build/
+.vite/
+.next/
+.nuxt/
+.cache/
 coverage/
-*.lcov
-.nyc_output
+
+# Rust/Cargo
+target/
+Cargo.lock
+*.pdb
+
+# Python
+__pycache__/
+*.py[cod]
+*$py.class
+*.so
+.Python
+build/
+develop-eggs/
+dist/
+downloads/
+eggs/
+.eggs/
+lib/
+lib64/
+parts/
+sdist/
+var/
+wheels/
+*.egg-info/
+.installed.cfg
+*.egg
+MANIFEST
 
 # Logs
+logs/
 *.log
 npm-debug.log*
 yarn-debug.log*
@@ -63,20 +82,83 @@ lerna-debug.log*
 .pnpm-debug.log*
 
 # Runtime data
-pids
+pids/
 *.pid
 *.seed
 *.pid.lock
 
-# Temporary files
-*.tmp
-*.temp
+# Directory for instrumented libs generated by jscoverage/JSCover
+lib-cov/
+
+# Coverage directory used by tools like istanbul
+coverage/
+*.lcov
+
+# nyc test coverage
+.nyc_output/
+
+# Dependency directories
+jspm_packages/
+
+# TypeScript cache
+*.tsbuildinfo
+
+# Optional npm cache directory
+.npm
+
+# Optional eslint cache
+.eslintcache
+
+# Optional stylelint cache
+.stylelintcache
+
+# Microbundle cache
+.rpt2_cache/
+.rts2_cache_cjs/
+.rts2_cache_es/
+.rts2_cache_umd/
+
+# Optional REPL history
+.node_repl_history
+
+# Output of 'npm pack'
+*.tgz
+
+# Yarn Integrity file
+.yarn-integrity
+
+# parcel-bundler cache (https://parceljs.org/)
+.parcel-cache/
+
+# Stores VSCode versions used for testing VSCode extensions
+.vscode-test
+
+# Temporary folders
+tmp/
+temp/
+
+# Archives
+*.7z
+*.dmg
+*.gz
+*.iso
+*.jar
+*.rar
+*.tar
+*.zip
 
 # Nix
+*.nix
 result
 result-*
 
-# Backup files
-*.bak
-*.backup
-*~
+# Project specific
+/backend/.venew_jsonnew_json
+/release/
+
+# Claude AI
+CLAUDE.md
+.claude/
+
+# Port files
+backend/.adj-valet-port
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 40c9db4..56e6667 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -25,7 +25,21 @@ ADJ Valet is a web-based configuration management tool designed for the Hyperloo
 
 ## Quick Start
 
-### Option 1: Using the Run Script (Recommended)
+### Option 1: Download Pre-built Release (Easiest)
+
+1. **Download** the latest release for your platform from [Releases](https://github.com/HyperloopUPV-H8/adj-valet/releases)
+   - Windows (Intel/AMD): `adj-valet-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.zip`
+   - Windows (ARM): `adj-valet-aarch64-pc-windows-msvc.zip`
+   - macOS (Intel): `adj-valet-x86_64-apple-darwin.tar.gz`
+   - macOS (Apple Silicon): `adj-valet-aarch64-apple-darwin.tar.gz`
+   - Linux: `adj-valet-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu.tar.gz`
+
+2. **Extract** the archive
+3. **Run** the startup script:
+   - Windows: Double-click `start.bat`
+   - macOS/Linux: Double-click `start.sh` or run `./start.sh`
+
+### Option 2: Using the Run Script (Development)
 
 ```bash
 # Clone the repository
@@ -40,7 +54,7 @@ cd adj-valet
 ./run.sh frontend  # Frontend only
 ```
 
-### Option 2: Using Nix Shell
+### Option 3: Using Nix Shell
 
 ```bash
 # Enter the Nix development shell