v0.9.0 Release acceptance matrix: required checks before tagging

[Hmbown]

Problem

v0.9.0 is large enough that “tests pass” is not a complete release criterion. The release needs an explicit acceptance matrix covering core stability, provider routing, UI, Model Lab, WhaleFlow, docs, packaging, and rollback.

Required matrix sections

• Core build/test:
  • fmt, clippy, workspace tests, release build
  • provider registry drift check
  • packaging smoke for Cargo/npm/GitHub release flow
• Provider/model/auth:
  • DeepSeek V4
  • Xiaomi MiMo token-plan and pay-as-you-go
  • Arcee Trinity Thinking
  • Hugging Face route
  • OpenRouter/Novita/Fireworks/Volcengine provider env behavior
• Runtime stability:
  • Windows input/render smoke or documented manual verification
  • large-repo startup smoke
  • sub-agent timeout/completion smoke
  • long-running command/live-state smoke
• UI/UX:
  • first-look screen
  • slash picker readability
  • transcript tool-collapse
  • sidebar popovers
  • plan review/handoff
• v0.9.0 feature gates:
  • WhaleFlow MVP if included
  • HF/Model Lab MVP if included
  • HarnessProfile MVP if included
  • codebase_search MVP if included
• Remote workbench:
  • explicitly included, experimental, or deferred
  • if included: VM install + Telegram bridge smoke
• Docs and migration:
  • README/config/docs agree
  • release notes list breaking changes/deprecations
  • upgrade/rollback steps exist

Acceptance criteria

• The matrix is checked off before any v0.9.0 tag/release.
• Each unchecked item has an owner and explicit defer/ship decision.
• Manual smoke results include dates, environment, provider/model, and redacted config info.
• The final release prompt points agents to this issue first.

[Hmbown]

Progress update: #2843 (2bb24d0c6) added docs/V0_9_0_RELEASE_ACCEPTANCE.md and linked it from docs/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md.

The matrix now covers:

• core build/package gates;
• provider/model/auth smokes;
• runtime stability and GUI token/read-only checks;
• UI/workflow UX gates;
• WhaleFlow, Model Lab, HarnessProfile, codebase_search, and external-memory feature decisions;
• remote-workbench include/experimental/defer decisions;
• docs, migration, rollback, live release credits, and contributor-credit hygiene.

Verification for the docs PR: git diff --check and ./scripts/release/check-versions.sh.

Leaving this issue open because the matrix still has to be filled in with evidence, owners, and explicit ship/defer decisions before any v0.9.0 tag or publish action.

[Hmbown]

Acceptance-matrix update: #2845 is merged as e22a7da53. The HarnessProfile row now records the current ship/defer decision: ship the schema/config foundation for v0.9, defer runtime resolver, seed-profile selection, telemetry, and status display until separately verified.\n\nVerification for the slice: git diff --check, ./scripts/release/check-versions.sh, ./scripts/release/check-ohos-deps.sh, and a stale-link scan for V0_9_0_EXECUTION_MAP. Keeping this issue open until all matrix rows have evidence/owners/defer wording before tagging.