David Pine (IEvangelist) · Oct 27, 2026 · Oct 27, 2026 · Oct 27, 2026 · Oct 27, 2026
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ infer from context — e.g. a fresh release with no page → `draft`).
 
 | Modality | Alias | Purpose | Spec | Edits content? |
 |----------|-------|---------|------|----------------|
-| `draft` | `scaffold`, `init` | Stand up branch, draft PR, skeleton MDX, banner, sidebar, version constants. **Structure only.** | [`01-draft-scaffold.md`](./references/01-draft-scaffold.md) | Skeleton only |
+| `draft` | `scaffold`, `init` | Stand up branch, draft PR, skeleton MDX, release badge, banners, sidebar, version constants. **Structure only.** | [`01-draft-scaffold.md`](./references/01-draft-scaffold.md) | Skeleton only |
 | `research` | — | Enumerate every change into an impact-focused **dossier**, then **author the first-draft prose** into the MDX from it. | [`02-research.md`](./references/02-research.md) | **Yes — drafts the body** |
 | `critique` | — | Content-quality **self-review** of draft vs dossier; severity-ranked findings. | [`03-critique.md`](./references/03-critique.md) | **No — reports only** |
 | `validate` | — | **Ralph loop** with `doc-pr-reviewer` until 100% factual; samples/links/assets. **No `bun run build`.** | [`04-validate.md`](./references/04-validate.md) | Fixes only |
@@ -86,9 +86,10 @@ infer from context — e.g. a fresh release with no page → `draft`).
 | What | Path |
 |------|------|
 | What's-new pages | `src/frontend/src/content/docs/whats-new/aspire-N-N.mdx` (JA under `.../ja/whats-new/`) |
-| Version constants | `src/frontend/config/aspire-versions.mjs` (`currentAspireMajorMinorVersion`, `currentAspireVersion`, `currentAspireReleaseDate`, `currentAspirePreviewVersion`) |
+| Version constants | `src/frontend/config/aspire-versions.mjs` (`currentAspireMajorMinorVersion`, `currentAspireVersion`, `currentAspireReleaseDate`, `latestAspireReleaseVersion`, `currentAspirePreviewVersion`) |
+| Homepage release badge | `src/frontend/src/components/home/HomeHero.astro` (reads `latestAspireReleaseVersion` and links to the exact `microsoft/aspire` GitHub release tag) |
 | Sidebar | `src/frontend/config/sidebar/docs.topics.ts` (What's-new `items`) |
-| Announcement banner | `banner:` frontmatter on `src/frontend/src/content/docs/index.mdx`, `src/frontend/src/content/docs/docs.mdx`, `src/frontend/src/content/docs/community/index.mdx`, and each `src/frontend/src/content/docs/{locale}/index.mdx` (+ `.../ja/docs.mdx`); rendered by `src/frontend/src/components/starlight/Banner.astro` |
+| Announcement banner | `banner:` frontmatter on `src/frontend/src/content/docs/docs.mdx`, `src/frontend/src/content/docs/community/index.mdx`, each localized `src/frontend/src/content/docs/{locale}/index.mdx`, and `src/frontend/src/content/docs/ja/docs.mdx`; rendered by `src/frontend/src/components/starlight/Banner.astro` |
 | Assets | `src/frontend/src/assets/whats-new/aspire-<version>/` |
 | Container image data | `src/frontend/src/data/container-images.json` |
 | Diagnostics articles | `src/frontend/src/content/docs/diagnostics/aspire<area><NNN>.mdx` → `/diagnostics/aspire<NNN>/` |

@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@
 > Aliases: `draft`, `scaffold`, `init`. **Structure only — no researched content.**
 
 Stand up everything a new "What's new in Aspire N.N" page needs so the team can
-start iterating: the release branch, the skeleton MDX, the site banner, the sidebar
-entry, and the version constants — all **committed**, and only then a **draft PR**.
+start iterating: the release branch, the skeleton MDX, the homepage release badge,
+the site banners, the sidebar entry, and the version constants — all **committed**,
+and only then a **draft PR**.
 Idempotent — safe to re-run; detect and update what already exists instead of
 duplicating.
 
@@ -45,33 +46,40 @@ duplicating.
    The resource directory automatically includes the page as `release-notes` and
    reads its image and `publishDate`; no separate catalog entry is needed.
 3. **Version constants.** Update `src/frontend/config/aspire-versions.mjs`:
-   `currentAspireMajorMinorVersion = 'N.N'`, `currentAspireVersion` to the latest
-   stable `N.N.PATCH`, `currentAspireReleaseDate` to that patch's NuGet publish
-   date (`YYYY-MM-DD`, shown in the Install CLI dialog), and `currentAspirePreviewVersion` to the matching full
-   `N.N.PATCH-preview.*` package version. Set both package versions to the initial
-   release patch when N.N becomes current, then keep them aligned with the site
-   AppHost during servicing updates. These drive the Aspire version remark
-   placeholders site-wide.
-4. **Site-wide announcement banner.** The banner is **per-page frontmatter**, not a
+   - Set `currentAspireMajorMinorVersion = 'N.N'`.
+   - Keep `currentAspireVersion` and `currentAspireReleaseDate` aligned with the
+     stable SDK/package version used by the site AppHost. This is not necessarily
+     the latest public GitHub patch release.
+   - Set `latestAspireReleaseVersion` to the latest public `N.N.PATCH` release tag.
+     The homepage badge reads this value and links to the exact
+     `https://github.com/microsoft/aspire/releases/tag/vN.N.PATCH` release.
+   - Set `currentAspirePreviewVersion` to the matching full
+     `N.N.PATCH-preview.*` package version used by the site AppHost.
+
+   The AppHost-aligned constants drive version placeholders and the Install CLI
+   dialog. `latestAspireReleaseVersion` independently drives the homepage badge.
+4. **Homepage release badge.** Do not hand-edit badge markup or copy. Confirm
+   `latestAspireReleaseVersion` renders as the full point release and that the badge
+   links to its exact `microsoft/aspire` GitHub release tag and `/support/`.
+5. **Site-wide announcement banners.** The banner is **per-page frontmatter**, not a
    global config. Update the `banner.content` string **and its link** to point at
    `/whats-new/{SLUG}/` across every landing page that carries it, and set
    `bannerAutoDismissAfterDays: 14` (and `bannerExpiresOn` if used):
-   - English: `src/frontend/src/content/docs/index.mdx`, `docs.mdx`,
-     `community/index.mdx`.
+   - English: `src/frontend/src/content/docs/docs.mdx` and `community/index.mdx`.
    - Every locale: `src/frontend/src/content/docs/{locale}/index.mdx` (+
      `ja/docs.mdx`). Translate the announcement text per locale and point at the
      locale-appropriate whats-new path. (Grep `banner:` under
      `src/frontend/src/content/docs/` to enumerate current banner pages.)
-5. **Sidebar entry.** In `src/frontend/config/sidebar/docs.topics.ts`, add
+6. **Sidebar entry.** In `src/frontend/config/sidebar/docs.topics.ts`, add
    `{ label: 'Aspire N.N', slug: 'whats-new/{SLUG}' }` at the **top** of the What's-new
    `items`. Roll the now-older version into the "Previous versions" group per the
    existing pattern.
-6. **Assets.** Create `src/frontend/src/assets/whats-new/aspire-{VERSION_FULL}/`
+7. **Assets.** Create `src/frontend/src/assets/whats-new/aspire-{VERSION_FULL}/`
    only when adding actual screenshots. Do not create an empty directory or
    `.gitkeep`; reused shared artwork needs no release-specific folder.
-7. **Commit the scaffold.** Stage and commit all of the above on `release/{N.N}` so the
+8. **Commit the scaffold.** Stage and commit all of the above on `release/{N.N}` so the
    branch has a diff against the default branch (nothing to PR otherwise).
-8. **Draft PR.** *Now* open a **draft** PR from `release/{N.N}` into the repository's
+9. **Draft PR.** *Now* open a **draft** PR from `release/{N.N}` into the repository's
    **default branch** for the team to iterate on. Create it if missing; don't mark it
    ready here (that's {review}).
 
@@ -83,9 +91,10 @@ duplicating.
 ## Exit criteria
 
 - Page exists and is structurally sound (frontmatter + imports + section skeleton).
-- Sidebar resolves the new slug; banner points at the new article across locales.
+- Sidebar resolves the new slug; the homepage badge shows the full point release
+  and links to the exact GitHub release; banners point at the new article across locales.
 - Release-specific screenshots exist and `resourceImage` resolves to them, or
   their capture is explicitly tracked as incomplete. The resource directory
   discovers one release-notes entry with the expected metadata.
-- Version constants updated; draft PR is open.
+- AppHost and latest-release version constants updated; draft PR is open.
 - **No researched prose yet** — only structure and placeholders.
@@ -32,8 +32,10 @@ then **fix → re-review → repeat** until it converges clean:
   image/asset reference exists. For links **into `release/{N.N}`** that may not be
   merged yet: **block on truly-broken**, **warn on not-yet-merged `docs-from-code`**
   targets.
-- **Banner + version wiring:** banner points at the new article across locales; version
-  constants in `aspire-versions.mjs` are correct.
+- **Release badge + banner + version wiring:** the homepage badge shows
+  `latestAspireReleaseVersion`, links to the exact `microsoft/aspire` GitHub release
+  tag and `/support/`, banners point at the new article across locales, and
+  AppHost-aligned version constants remain correct.
 - **Resource directory:** `resourceImage` is present and every configured image
   resolves to a newly captured screenshot of a feature introduced in this release.
   Verify capture provenance (product version, scenario, and actual UI state);
@@ -58,4 +60,4 @@ good technical read.
 - `doc-pr-reviewer` converges with **no** factual findings.
 - All `twoslash` samples pass; all links/assets resolve (or are explicitly
   warn-listed as pending `docs-from-code`).
-- MDX/frontmatter valid; sidebar/banner/version wiring correct.
+- MDX/frontmatter valid; sidebar/release-badge/banner/version wiring correct.
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ handoff. **Re-run [`{validate}`](./04-validate.md)** on the changed article and
 
 - `doc-pr-reviewer` surfaces **no** new factual findings on the edited prose.
 - `twoslash-validator` passes on any changed/regenerated `twoslash` blocks.
-- MDX/frontmatter still valid; all links/assets still resolve; sidebar/banner/version
-  wiring intact.
+- MDX/frontmatter still valid; all links/assets still resolve; sidebar/release-badge/
+  banner/version wiring intact.
 
 `{polish}` is **not done** until this final `{validate}` pass is green (`{review}`
 re-confirms it).

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ export const currentAspireMajorMinorVersion = '13.6';
 export const currentAspireVersion = '13.6.0';
 // Release date (YYYY-MM-DD) of currentAspireVersion; update together with the version.
 export const currentAspireReleaseDate = '2026-09-29';
+export const latestAspireReleaseVersion = '13.6.4';
 export const currentAspirePreviewVersion = '13.6.0-preview.1.26479.8';
 
 export const aspireVersionPlaceholders = Object.freeze({

@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@ import heroImage from '@assets/aspire-hero.png';
 import AppHostBuilder from '@components/AppHostBuilder.astro';
 import { localizedHref } from '@utils/helpers';
 import { getLocaleFromPath } from '@utils/locale-routes';
+import { latestAspireReleaseVersion } from '../../../config/aspire-versions.mjs';
 
 const t = Astro.locals.t;
 const locale = getLocaleFromPath(Astro.url.pathname);
+const releaseHref = `https://github.com/microsoft/aspire/releases/tag/v${latestAspireReleaseVersion}`;
 ---
 
 <section
@@ -21,10 +23,22 @@ const locale = getLocaleFromPath(Astro.url.pathname);
     <div class="home-hero-grid" aria-hidden="true"></div>
 
     <div class="home-hero-copy">
-      <p class="home-hero-eyebrow">
-        <span aria-hidden="true"></span>
-        {t('home.hero.eyebrow')}
-      </p>
+      <nav class="home-hero-release" aria-label={`Aspire ${latestAspireReleaseVersion}`}>
+        <a
+          class="home-release-link"
+          href={releaseHref}
+          target="_blank"
+          rel="noopener noreferrer"
+          aria-label={`Aspire ${latestAspireReleaseVersion}`}
+          title={`View the Aspire ${latestAspireReleaseVersion} release on GitHub`}
+          data-tooltip-placement="top"
+          data-tippy-allowhtml="false"
+        >
+          <span class="home-release-version">v{latestAspireReleaseVersion}</span>
+          <Icon name="external" class="home-release-external" size="0.7rem" />
+        </a>
+        <a class="home-release-support" href="/support/">{t('footer.support')}</a>
+      </nav>
       <h1 id="_top" set:html={t('home.hero.title')} />
       <p class="home-hero-summary">
         {t('home.hero.summary')}
@@ -231,23 +245,77 @@ const locale = getLocaleFromPath(Astro.url.pathname);
     will-change: transform, opacity;
   }
 
-  .home-hero-eyebrow {
+  .home-hero-release {
     display: inline-flex;
     align-items: center;
-    gap: 0.65rem;
+    gap: 0.125rem;
     margin: 0 0 1.25rem;
+    padding: 0.125rem;
+    overflow: hidden;
+    border: 0.0625rem solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--home-purple) 24%, var(--home-border));
+    border-radius: 999rem;
     color: var(--home-muted);
-    font: 600 0.76rem/1.2 var(--__sl-font-mono);
-    letter-spacing: 0.12em;
-    text-transform: uppercase;
+    background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--home-purple) 11%, var(--home-surface));
+    box-shadow:
+      inset 0 0.0625rem 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--home-surface) 88%, transparent),
+      0 0.3rem 0.9rem color-mix(in srgb, var(--home-purple) 7%, transparent);
+    font-size: 0.625rem;
+    font-weight: 650;
+    line-height: 1;
   }
 
-  .home-hero-eyebrow span {
-    width: 0.55rem;
-    height: 0.55rem;
-    border-radius: 50%;
-    background: #4cb782;
-    box-shadow: 0 0 0 0.3rem rgba(76, 183, 130, 0.14);
+  .home-hero-release a {
+    box-sizing: border-box;
+    height: 1.375rem;
+    display: inline-flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 0.25rem;
+    padding: 0.3125rem 0.5rem;
+    color: inherit;
+    text-decoration: none;
+  }
+
+  .home-hero-release .home-release-link {
+    color: var(--home-purple);
+  }
+
+  .home-release-version {
+    position: relative;
+    top: 0.0625rem;
+    font-family: var(--__sl-font-mono);
+    font-weight: 750;
+  }
+
+  .home-release-link :global(.home-release-external) {
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+  }
+
+  .home-hero-release .home-release-support {
+    height: 1.375rem;
+    padding: 0.25rem 0.5rem;
+    border: 0.0625rem solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--home-purple) 20%, var(--home-border));
+    border-radius: 999rem;
+    color: var(--home-muted);
+    background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--home-surface) 90%, transparent);
+    box-shadow:
+      inset 0 0.0625rem 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--home-surface) 95%, transparent),
+      0 0.0625rem 0.125rem color-mix(in srgb, var(--home-purple) 10%, transparent);
+    font-size: 0.625rem;
+    font-weight: 500;
+  }
+
+  .home-hero-release .home-release-link:hover {
+    color: var(--home-purple-bright);
+  }
+
+  .home-hero-release .home-release-support:hover {
+    color: var(--home-purple);
+    border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--home-purple) 42%, var(--home-border));
+  }
+
+  .home-hero-release a:focus-visible {
+    outline: 0.1875rem solid var(--aspire-action-focus, var(--home-purple));
+    outline-offset: -0.1875rem;
   }
 
   .home-hero-copy h1 {
@@ -545,10 +613,9 @@ const locale = getLocaleFromPath(Astro.url.pathname);
       padding-top: 2rem;
     }
 
-    .home-hero-eyebrow {
-      margin-bottom: 1rem;
+    .home-hero-release {
+      margin-bottom: 1.125rem;
       font-size: var(--aspire-text-meta);
-      letter-spacing: 0.08em;
     }
 
     .home-hero-summary {
@@ -609,6 +676,7 @@ const locale = getLocaleFromPath(Astro.url.pathname);
     .home-hero-action:hover {
       transform: none;
     }
+
   }
 
   @media (forced-colors: active) {
@@ -624,9 +692,8 @@ const locale = getLocaleFromPath(Astro.url.pathname);
       background: ButtonFace;
     }
 
-    .home-hero-eyebrow span {
-      background: Highlight;
-      box-shadow: none;
+    .home-hero-release {
+      border-color: CanvasText;
     }
   }
 </style>
@@ -9,10 +9,6 @@ template: splash
 editUrl: false
 prev: false
 next: false
-banner:
-  content: |
-    <strong>✨ Aspire 13.6 is available!</strong> — <a href="/whats-new/aspire-13-6/">Explore the latest features and improvements</a>
-bannerAutoDismissAfterDays: 14
 hero:
   title: Compose distributed apps in code.
   tagline: Model, run, observe, and deploy distributed applications from one code-first control plane.

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ editUrl: false
 
 import { Badge } from '@astrojs/starlight/components';
 
-<Badge text="📆 Last updated: October 20, 2026" variant="tip" size="large" />
+<Badge text="📆 Last updated: October 24, 2026" variant="tip" size="large" />
 
 ## Microsoft support for Aspire
 
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ The following table lists Aspire versions that are actively supported:
 
 | Version     | Original release date | Latest patch version | Patch release date | End of support                               |
 | ----------- | --------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------ | -------------------------------------------- |
-| Aspire 13.6 | September 29, 2026    | 13.6.2               | October 20, 2026    | When next major or minor version is released. |
+| Aspire 13.6 | September 29, 2026    | 13.6.4               | October 24, 2026    | When next major or minor version is released. |
 
 ### Out of support versions
 

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { expect, test, type Page } from '@playwright/test';
 
 const MS_PER_DAY = 86_400_000;
+const BANNER_PAGE = '/docs/';
 
 /**
  * Abort every script request so only inline scripts run. Anything the banner does after that is
@@ -28,13 +29,13 @@ test.describe('announcement banner', () => {
   });
 
   test('is in the first paint, so showing it cannot shift the page', async ({ page }) => {
-    await page.goto('/');
+    await page.goto(BANNER_PAGE);
 
     await expect(page.locator('[data-aspire-banner]')).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test('stays hidden for a reader who dismissed it', async ({ page }) => {
-    await page.goto('/');
+    await page.goto(BANNER_PAGE);
     const { dismissKey } = await bannerKeys(page);
 
     await page.evaluate((key) => localStorage.setItem(key, 'true'), dismissKey);
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ test.describe('announcement banner', () => {
   });
 
   test('stays hidden once its auto-dismiss window has elapsed', async ({ page }) => {
-    await page.goto('/');
+    await page.goto(BANNER_PAGE);
     const { firstSeenKey } = await bannerKeys(page);
 
     await page.evaluate(
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ test.describe('announcement banner', () => {
   });
 
   test('stays visible inside its auto-dismiss window', async ({ page }) => {
-    await page.goto('/');
+    await page.goto(BANNER_PAGE);
     const { firstSeenKey } = await bannerKeys(page);
 
     await page.evaluate(