diff --git a/.github/copilot-instructions.md b/.github/copilot-instructions.md
index 5c1503db..a5260a4e 100644
--- a/.github/copilot-instructions.md
+++ b/.github/copilot-instructions.md
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ The library is structured around three core concepts:
 ## Build Instructions
 
 ### Prerequisites
-- Java 17+ (CI builds with Temurin; `docs.yml` uses Java 25, `release.yml` uses Java 17 — either works locally, but match `maven.compiler.release=17` for compatibility)
-- Maven
+- Java 17+ to compile/run the library; Java 25 for generating and checking shared catalogs (CI documentation, validation, and release jobs use Temurin 25; `maven.compiler.release=17` preserves runtime compatibility)
+- Maven (release publication uses pinned Maven 3.9.16 to keep local metadata out of Central bundles)
 - Node.js + npm (for the documentation site only)
 
 ### Maven Build Commands
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index d3bb7614..ad959485 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -49,7 +49,9 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/setup-java@v5
         with:
           distribution: temurin
-          java-version: 17
+          # Match the Javadoc toolchain used by validation and shared catalogs.
+          # maven.compiler.release still targets Java 17 for the library.
+          java-version: 25
           cache: maven
           server-id: central
           server-username: MAVEN_USERNAME
@@ -90,11 +92,6 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Require current catalogs and assemble offline examples
         run: |
-          # The release job uses the Java 17 toolchain for Maven Central
-          # signing. Javadoc can normalize generated reference metadata on a
-          # different JDK, so refresh derived compatibility files before the
-          # read-only gate instead of publishing stale JSON.
-          python3 scripts/browser-compatibility.py
           python3 scripts/browser-compatibility.py --check
           python3 scripts/release-catalogs.py --check
           python3 scripts/release-catalogs.py --archive dist/scratch-catalogs.zip