diff --git a/packages/genkit_llamadart/doc/usage.md b/packages/genkit_llamadart/doc/usage.md
index 7fdbeade3..3d2aac7d9 100644
--- a/packages/genkit_llamadart/doc/usage.md
+++ b/packages/genkit_llamadart/doc/usage.md
@@ -426,8 +426,10 @@ block; zero closes the block immediately. Enable thinking separately with
 `startTag`/`endTag` from the selected template; custom delimiters and
 `forcedMessage` pass through unchanged, except that on Qwen3-Coder XML
 templates (Qwen3.5) with no `endTag` set, a `\n` is appended to `forcedMessage`
-before `</think>`. Budgets need runtime support and cannot
-be combined with media or speculative decoding.
+before `</think>`; an unset `forcedMessage` becomes a lone `\n`. Backends that
+take chat messages, such as LiteRT-LM, close the thought themselves and get no
+`\n`. Budgets need runtime support and cannot be combined with media or
+speculative decoding.
 
 `reusePromptPrefix: false` disables native llama.cpp prefix reuse. It does not
 create an isolated conversation: always pass the complete history. The adapter
diff --git a/packages/genkit_llamadart/test/integration/genkit/actions/model_action/uses_structured_generation_for_constrained_json_output_test.dart b/packages/genkit_llamadart/test/integration/genkit/actions/model_action/uses_structured_generation_for_constrained_json_output_test.dart
index fc382ed84..0719e9dc3 100644
--- a/packages/genkit_llamadart/test/integration/genkit/actions/model_action/uses_structured_generation_for_constrained_json_output_test.dart
+++ b/packages/genkit_llamadart/test/integration/genkit/actions/model_action/uses_structured_generation_for_constrained_json_output_test.dart
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ void main() {
         ..templateResult = const llama.LlamaChatTemplateResult(
           prompt: 'prompt',
           format: 0,
+          grammar: 'root ::= "answer"',
           grammarTriggers: [
             llama.GrammarTrigger(type: 0, value: '<json>'),
             llama.GrammarTrigger(type: 1, value: '42', token: 42),
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ void main() {
 
       expect(runtime.chatTemplateCallCount, 1);
       expect(runtime.generateCallCount, 1);
+      expect(runtime.lastGenerationParams!.grammar, 'root ::= "answer"');
       expect(
         runtime.lastGenerationParams!.grammarTriggers.map(
           (trigger) => trigger.triggerType,
diff --git a/test/ci/test_genkit_release.py b/test/ci/test_genkit_release.py
index 9609093b4..c7e3297f3 100644
--- a/test/ci/test_genkit_release.py
+++ b/test/ci/test_genkit_release.py
@@ -188,6 +188,14 @@ def test_version_or_changelog_mismatch_fails(self):
             (self.root / "packages/genkit_llamadart/CHANGELOG.md").write_text(heading + "\n")
             self.run_step("Validate release state", success=False)
 
+    def test_changelog_date_must_be_iso(self):
+        self.env.update(GITHUB_REF_TYPE="tag", GITHUB_REF_NAME="genkit_llamadart-v1.5.0", GITHUB_REF="refs/tags/genkit_llamadart-v1.5.0")
+        changelog = self.root / "packages/genkit_llamadart/CHANGELOG.md"
+        for heading in ["## 1.5.0 - 2026-9-28", "## 1.5.0 - soon", "## 1.5.0 - 2026-09-28T00:00", "## 1.5.0 - 2026-09-28 extra"]:
+            changelog.write_text(heading + "\n")
+            self.run_step("Validate release state", success=False)
+            self.run_step("Verify package-specific stable tag", success=False, workflow="publish_genkit_pubdev.yml")
+
     def test_published_version_requires_tag_and_skips_dispatch(self):
         self.scenario["pub_http"] = "200"
         self.run_step("Validate release state", success=False)
diff --git a/test/unit/hook/build_hook_litert_lm_integration_test.dart b/test/unit/hook/build_hook_litert_lm_integration_test.dart
index 491144d3e..53cecbd21 100644
--- a/test/unit/hook/build_hook_litert_lm_integration_test.dart
+++ b/test/unit/hook/build_hook_litert_lm_integration_test.dart
@@ -1081,9 +1081,19 @@ dependency_overrides: {llamadart_llama_cpp_flutter: {path: resolved companion}}
   final previousTemplateIsCurrent =
       hookTemplateHash('_previousLiteRtLmCompanionManifestTemplateSha256') ==
       hookTemplateHash('_liteRtLmCompanionManifestTemplateSha256');
-  final previousFixtureOnCoreLine = previousFixturePin.startsWith(
-    '$coreUpstream-',
+  final previousFixtureRebuild = _rebuildOnLine(
+    previousFixturePin,
+    coreUpstream,
   );
+  final previousFixtureOnCoreLine = previousFixtureRebuild != null;
+
+  test('a bare tag is rebuild 0 of its own release line only', () {
+    expect(_rebuildOnLine('v0.20.0', 'v0.20.0'), 0);
+    expect(_rebuildOnLine('v0.20.0-3', 'v0.20.0'), 3);
+    expect(_rebuildOnLine('v0.20.1', 'v0.20.0'), isNull);
+    expect(_rebuildOnLine('v0.20.10', 'v0.20.1'), isNull);
+    expect(_rebuildOnLine('v0.20.1-2', 'v0.20.0'), isNull);
+  });
 
   test('previous companion template fixture matches the hook hash and, on the '
       'core release line, is an earlier rebuild', () {
@@ -1099,10 +1109,9 @@ dependency_overrides: {llamadart_llama_cpp_flutter: {path: resolved companion}}
     ).firstMatch(hookSource)!.group(1);
     expect(sha256.convert(utf8.encode(template)).toString(), expected);
 
-    if (previousFixtureOnCoreLine) {
+    if (previousFixtureRebuild != null) {
       expect(
-        int.parse(previousFixturePin.substring(coreUpstream.length + 1)) <
-            coreRebuild,
+        previousFixtureRebuild < coreRebuild,
         isTrue,
         reason:
             'the fixture pins $previousFixturePin, not an earlier build of '
@@ -2936,3 +2945,9 @@ Future<void> _writeBundleLibraries(
     await File(path.join(bundleDir.path, name)).writeAsString('fake-$name');
   }
 }
+
+int? _rebuildOnLine(String pin, String upstream) {
+  if (pin == upstream) return 0;
+  if (!pin.startsWith('$upstream-')) return null;
+  return int.tryParse(pin.substring(upstream.length + 1));
+}
diff --git a/test/unit/tooling/ci_workflow_selection_test.dart b/test/unit/tooling/ci_workflow_selection_test.dart
index 0ef2938c9..5a27fef5b 100644
--- a/test/unit/tooling/ci_workflow_selection_test.dart
+++ b/test/unit/tooling/ci_workflow_selection_test.dart
@@ -1536,13 +1536,42 @@ for event,flag,native,cancel,good,main in itertools.product(('push','pull_reques
       {'run': 'npx playwright install-deps'},
       {'uses': 'awalsh128/cache-apt-pkgs-action@v1'},
       {'uses': 'ConorMacBride/install-linux-deps@v1'},
+      {
+        'uses': 'ConorMacBride/install-package@v1',
+        'with': {'apt': 'libfoo'},
+      },
+      {
+        'uses': 'some/setup@v1',
+        'with': {'pre-script': 'sudo apt-get update'},
+      },
     ]) {
       expect(_installsSystemPackages(step), isTrue, reason: '$step');
     }
+    final root = Directory.systemTemp.createTempSync('apt_action_');
+    addTearDown(() => root.deleteSync(recursive: true));
+    Directory('${root.path}/local').createSync();
+    File('${root.path}/local/action.yml').writeAsStringSync('''
+runs:
+  using: composite
+  steps:
+    - run: echo ok
+    - run: sudo apt-get install -y libfoo
+      shell: bash
+''');
+    expect(
+      _installsSystemPackages({'uses': './local'}, root: root.path),
+      isTrue,
+    );
     for (final step in <Map>[
       {'run': 'npx playwright install chromium'},
       {'uses': 'actions/checkout@v7'},
       {'uses': 'subosito/flutter-action@v2'},
+      {'uses': 'actions/setup-captain@v1'},
+      {
+        'uses': 'actions/checkout@v7',
+        'with': {'path': 'notes'},
+      },
+      {'uses': './.github/actions/companion-package'},
     ]) {
       expect(_installsSystemPackages(step), isFalse, reason: '$step');
     }
@@ -1889,8 +1918,37 @@ for event,flag,native,cancel,good,main in itertools.product(('push','pull_reques
 /// against.
 const _pinnedCoverageVersion = '1.16.0';
 
-bool _installsSystemPackages(Map step) =>
-    RegExp(
-      r'\bapt(-get)?\b|dpkg|install-deps|--with-deps',
-    ).hasMatch('${step['run']}') ||
-    RegExp(r'apt|dpkg|install-.*deps').hasMatch('${step['uses']}');
+final _systemPackageCommand = RegExp(
+  r'\bapt(-get)?\b|\bdpkg\b|install-deps|--with-deps',
+);
+final _systemPackageAction = RegExp(
+  r'(^|[/@_-])(apt|apt-get|dpkg)([/@_-]|$)|install-.*deps',
+);
+
+/// Whether [step] installs system packages through a command, an action name,
+/// an `apt`-style `with:` input or a local composite action.
+bool _installsSystemPackages(Map step, {String root = '.'}) {
+  if (_systemPackageCommand.hasMatch('${step['run']}')) return true;
+  final uses = '${step['uses'] ?? ''}';
+  if (_systemPackageAction.hasMatch(uses)) return true;
+  final inputs = step['with'];
+  if (inputs is Map) {
+    for (final entry in inputs.entries) {
+      if (_systemPackageAction.hasMatch('${entry.key}') ||
+          _systemPackageCommand.hasMatch('${entry.value}')) {
+        return true;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  if (uses.startsWith('./')) {
+    final action = File('$root/$uses/action.yml');
+    if (!action.existsSync()) return false;
+    final steps =
+        (loadYaml(action.readAsStringSync()) as Map)['runs']?['steps'];
+    return steps is List &&
+        steps.any(
+          (nested) => _installsSystemPackages(nested as Map, root: root),
+        );
+  }
+  return false;
+}
diff --git a/website/docs/guides/generation-and-streaming.md b/website/docs/guides/generation-and-streaming.md
index 1d0432b2c..38d153651 100644
--- a/website/docs/guides/generation-and-streaming.md
+++ b/website/docs/guides/generation-and-streaming.md
@@ -354,8 +354,8 @@ forced text is a line break before the end delimiter, as llama.cpp forces it.
 On native llama.cpp, a grammar that takes the template-opened thought itself
 (its root starts with `think-body`, as for `responseFormat` on Qwen3.5) stays
 applied while the model reasons, so it also constrains the reply after a spent
-budget. Any other grammar, including a caller `grammar` or a lazy grammar,
-waits until the thought closes. WebGPU still pauses every grammar during
+budget. Other grammars, such as a typical caller `grammar` or a lazy grammar,
+wait until the thought closes. WebGPU still pauses every grammar during
 budgeted reasoning
 ([#1954](https://github.com/leehack/llamadart/issues/1954)).
 Native llama.cpp, WebGPU bridges that report `thinkingBudget` and native
diff --git a/website/docs/maintainers/release-workflow.md b/website/docs/maintainers/release-workflow.md
index 9c85393a9..b3c1188ee 100644
--- a/website/docs/maintainers/release-workflow.md
+++ b/website/docs/maintainers/release-workflow.md
@@ -497,13 +497,15 @@ pub.dev rejects an upload whose `CHANGELOG.md`, `README.md`, `LICENSE` or
 Example-tab file is over 256 KiB (262,144 bytes, `maxContentLength` in
 pub-dev's `pub_package_reader`), and it does so only after the release tag is
 pushed: `v0.19.2` was tagged but never published for this reason. It likewise
-rejects a `pubspec.yaml` over 128 KiB (131,072 bytes, `maxPubspecLength`).
+rejects a `pubspec.yaml` over 128 KiB (131,072 bytes, an inline `128 * 1024`
+in the same reader).
 `verify_release_docs_versions.dart` checks those files in the core, every
 Apple companion and `genkit_llamadart`, in PR CI and in
 `release_on_prep_merge.yml` before any tag. It fails a file over the limit and
 warns above 90% of it. Genkit joins only this size check: its version and
-release routing stay independent
-([Genkit package](./genkit-package.md)).
+release routing stay independent ([Genkit package](./genkit-package.md)). A
+genkit-only PR and a genkit release do not run it, so check the
+`genkit_llamadart` sizes by hand when preparing its release.
 
 `CHANGELOG.md` keeps every release from 0.10.0 on; older ones are in
 `doc/changelog_archive.md`, which pub does not package (`/doc/` is in