diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e9218e5..977c72c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@ All notable changes to qmax-code. Versions follow [Semantic Versioning](https://
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [1.40.0] - 2026-10-17
+
 ### Changed
 - Go module path is now `github.com/Quality-Max/qmax-code`, matching the
   GitHub repository. The old lowercase path stopped the Go proxy and
-  pkg.go.dev from resolving the module. `go install
-  github.com/Quality-Max/qmax-code@latest` works from the next tagged release.
+  pkg.go.dev from resolving the module. Install this release with
+  `go install github.com/Quality-Max/qmax-code@v1.40.0`.
 
 ### Added
 - Gemma 4 vision sidecar for CLI backends, with `auto`, `always`, and `off`
diff --git a/docs/releases/v1.40.0.md b/docs/releases/v1.40.0.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e4cec36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/releases/v1.40.0.md
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+# qmax-code v1.40.0
+
+This release adds image descriptions for text-only CLI models, portable
+handoff notes, and an explicit Haiku 5.5 option to the QA terminal that can
+switch inference.
+
+## Images for text-only CLI models
+
+The Gemma 4 vision sidecar describes image attachments through Cerebras and
+passes the description to your selected CLI model. It requires a Cerebras
+API key. In the default `auto` mode, it runs only for known text-only
+OpenCode models on the Z.AI coding plan. Use `always` for every CLI backend
+or `off` to disable it:
+
+```bash
+qmax-code config set vision_sidecar auto
+```
+
+When the sidecar runs, image data is sent to Cerebras. The selected CLI
+model continues to handle reasoning and tools. Failure and cancellation
+paths preserve the existing attachment fallback behavior.
+
+## Carry rejected approaches across backend switches
+
+Record an approach and its supporting evidence before handing work to
+another backend:
+
+```text
+/handoff reject Retry without backoff | Repeated requests hit the rate limit
+/handoff
+/handoff forget 1
+```
+
+These explicit notes survive backend switches, history compaction, and
+session restarts. They are redacted and bounded to 12 KiB, with no extra
+model call. Backend switches can remind you to record uncovered work;
+notes are recorded only when you ask. The destination model is instructed
+to respect them and explain any justified retry; compliance is not enforced.
+
+Long-history handoffs also avoid repeatedly encoding entries that will be
+dropped. See the [handoff guide](https://github.com/Quality-Max/qmax-code/blob/v1.40.0/docs/HANDOFF.md)
+for details and the live evaluation procedure.
+
+## Opt in to Haiku 5.5
+
+Select Haiku 5.5 explicitly in `/orch`, or use:
+
+```text
+/model claude-haiku-5-5
+```
+
+It is available for Anthropic API and Claude Code workflows, with request
+settings and cost estimates. The `haiku` shorthand and automatic chat
+routing continue to use Haiku 4.5 until the upgrade is verified.
+
+## Coverage and Go tooling
+
+This release expands regression tests across commands, provider requests,
+agent loops, authentication, sessions, setup, the terminal UI, and VNC.
+CI now uploads coverage to Codecov.
+
+The Go module path now matches the repository's capitalization:
+
+```bash
+go install github.com/Quality-Max/qmax-code@v1.40.0
+```
+
+## Install or update
+
+```bash
+curl -sL https://qualitymax.io/static/install-qmax-code.txt | bash
+qmax-code --version
+```
+
+Download a single binary for macOS, Linux, or Windows on Intel or ARM.
+Every archive includes the Apache 2.0 license, copyright notice, and
+third-party dependency licenses.
+
+[Public downloads](https://github.com/Quality-Max/qmax-code-releases/releases/tag/v1.40.0)
+· [Full changelog](https://github.com/Quality-Max/qmax-code/blob/v1.40.0/CHANGELOG.md)
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 4939ea5..3e242ee 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 // Version is set at build time via -ldflags "-X main.Version=x.y.z"
-var Version = "1.38.0"
+var Version = "1.40.0"
 
 const Name = "qmax-code"