diff --git a/.github/workflows/bar-release.yml b/.github/workflows/bar-release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a89b68cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/bar-release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+name: Bar Release
+
+# Build and publish the macOS CCS Bar app to the floating `ccs-bar-latest`
+# release asset (what `ccs bar install` downloads).
+#
+# Scoped deliberately so it NEVER burdens other PRs or CI:
+#   - Triggers ONLY on push to `main` that changes `macos-bar/**`, or a manual
+#     run. Regular PRs, dev pushes, and non-bar changes do not start it.
+#   - Runs ONLY on the dedicated self-hosted macOS runner (label `ccs-bar` on
+#     kai-minim4). The Linux CI runners never match this job, and this job never
+#     competes for them.
+#
+# Version source: `macos-bar/VERSION` (single line semver). Bump it in the same
+# PR when you want a new number; the asset is always "latest" regardless.
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: [main]
+    paths:
+      - 'macos-bar/**'
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+# Least privilege: only the release-asset write the publish step needs.
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+
+# One release at a time; never cancel a publish midway.
+concurrency:
+  group: bar-release
+  cancel-in-progress: false
+
+jobs:
+  release:
+    name: Build and publish CCS Bar
+    runs-on: [self-hosted, macos, ccs-bar]
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Read bar version
+        id: ver
+        run: |
+          version="$(tr -d '[:space:]' < macos-bar/VERSION)"
+          if [ -z "$version" ]; then
+            echo "::error file=macos-bar/VERSION::macos-bar/VERSION is empty"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "version=$version" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "[i] CCS Bar version: $version"
+
+      - name: Build and package CCS Bar.app
+        working-directory: macos-bar
+        run: ./Scripts/package_app.sh "${{ steps.ver.outputs.version }}"
+
+      - name: Publish to ccs-bar-latest
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          VERSION: ${{ steps.ver.outputs.version }}
+        run: |
+          # gh lives in Homebrew on the self-hosted runner; ensure it is on PATH.
+          export PATH="/opt/homebrew/bin:/usr/local/bin:$PATH"
+          gh release upload ccs-bar-latest macos-bar/dist/CCS-Bar.app.zip --clobber
+          notes="$(mktemp)"
+          cat > "$notes" <<NOTES
+          CCS Bar v${VERSION}
+
+          Install or update: ccs bar install
+          Ad-hoc signed: first launch may need right-click then Open.
+
+          Built automatically from main when macos-bar changes.
+          NOTES
+          gh release edit ccs-bar-latest --title "CCS Bar v${VERSION}" --notes-file "$notes"
+          rm -f "$notes"
+          echo "[OK] Published CCS Bar v${VERSION} to ccs-bar-latest"
diff --git a/docs/ccs-bar.md b/docs/ccs-bar.md
index dccaf91a..cc9e12b3 100644
--- a/docs/ccs-bar.md
+++ b/docs/ccs-bar.md
@@ -117,3 +117,28 @@ The source lives in `macos-bar/`. Contributors can build and run the logic check
 swift build                 # build all targets, including the app
 swift run ccs-bar-check     # run the logic tests
 ```
+
+## Releasing
+
+The app ships as a single floating GitHub release asset, `CCS-Bar.app.zip` under the `ccs-bar-latest` tag, which is what `ccs bar install` downloads. The version comes from one file: `macos-bar/VERSION` (a single line of semver). Bump it in the same PR when you want a new number; the asset is always the latest build regardless.
+
+### Automatic (preferred)
+
+The `Bar Release` workflow (`.github/workflows/bar-release.yml`) builds and publishes the asset automatically. It is scoped tightly so it never affects other PRs or CI:
+
+- It runs only on a push to `main` that touches `macos-bar/**`, or a manual run from the Actions tab (`workflow_dispatch`).
+- It runs only on the dedicated self-hosted macOS runner (label `ccs-bar`); the Linux CI runners never pick it up and it never competes for them.
+
+So bar changes reach users when they land on `main` (the stable cadence). To cut a release without a code change, or to re-publish, trigger the workflow manually.
+
+### Manual fallback
+
+From a macOS machine with the Swift toolchain and `gh`:
+
+```bash
+cd macos-bar
+./Scripts/package_app.sh            # uses macos-bar/VERSION; pass a version to override
+gh release upload ccs-bar-latest dist/CCS-Bar.app.zip --clobber
+```
+
+Builds are ad-hoc signed by default. Developer ID notarization (for the no-prompt public install) is available via `CCS_BAR_SIGNING=developer-id` once a paid Apple cert is configured.
diff --git a/macos-bar/Scripts/package_app.sh b/macos-bar/Scripts/package_app.sh
index b4e17ca7..93b8d0a9 100755
--- a/macos-bar/Scripts/package_app.sh
+++ b/macos-bar/Scripts/package_app.sh
@@ -13,12 +13,19 @@
 #   CCS_BAR_SIGNING=developer-id CCS_BAR_SIGN_IDENTITY="Developer ID Application: ..." ./Scripts/package_app.sh 0.1.0
 set -euo pipefail
 
-VERSION="${1:-0.0.0}"
 SIGNING="${CCS_BAR_SIGNING:-adhoc}"
 APP_NAME="CCS Bar"
 EXEC_NAME="CCSBar"
 
 ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
+
+# Version precedence: explicit arg, else the committed `VERSION` file (the single
+# source of truth shared with the Bar Release CI workflow), else 0.0.0.
+VERSION="${1:-}"
+if [[ -z "$VERSION" && -f "$ROOT/VERSION" ]]; then
+  VERSION="$(tr -d '[:space:]' < "$ROOT/VERSION")"
+fi
+VERSION="${VERSION:-0.0.0}"
 DIST="$ROOT/dist"
 APP="$DIST/$APP_NAME.app"
 
diff --git a/macos-bar/VERSION b/macos-bar/VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bd8bf882
--- /dev/null
+++ b/macos-bar/VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+1.7.0