diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-and-release.yml b/.github/workflows/build-and-release.yml
index 0998b97..abcc595 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-and-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-and-release.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
 name: Build and Release Plugin
 
 on:
+  pull_request:
+    paths:
+      - .github/workflows/build-and-release.yml
+      - package.json
+      - scripts/**
+      - vite.config.ts
+      - src/**
+      - backend/**
+      - public/**
   push:
     tags:
       - v*.*.*
@@ -11,7 +20,7 @@ env:
 
 
 jobs:
-  release:
+  plugin-artifact:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     permissions:
@@ -19,28 +28,40 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Check out Git repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Install Node.js
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v3
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: 20
 
       - name: Install Dependencies
         run: npm install
 
-      - name: Build 
-        run: npm run build
+      - name: Build release layout
+        run: npm run build:release
+
+      - name: Set artifact name
+        run: |
+          safe_ref="${GITHUB_REF_NAME//\//-}"
+          echo "PLUGIN_ARTIFACT=neuroglancer-plugin-${safe_ref}.zip" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
 
       - name: Archive Release
         uses: thedoctor0/zip-release@0.7.5
         with:
           type: 'zip'
-          filename: 'release.zip'
+          filename: ${{ env.PLUGIN_ARTIFACT }}
           directory: 'dist'
 
+      - name: Upload artifact for PR validation
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: ${{ env.PLUGIN_ARTIFACT }}
+          path: dist/${{ env.PLUGIN_ARTIFACT }}
+
       - name: Upload Release
+        if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
         uses: ncipollo/release-action@v1.12.0
         with:
-          artifacts: "dist/release.zip"
-          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
\ No newline at end of file
+          artifacts: dist/${{ env.PLUGIN_ARTIFACT }}
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1d9176e..be3ba61 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 This plugin integrates a Neuroglancer interface into the [Ouroboros](https://github.com/We-Gold/ouroboros) medical imaging software. 
 
-To install it, open Ouroboros, open the Plugin Manager (`Ouroboros > Manage Plugins`), and add a plugin from the GitHub releases url: `https://github.com/We-Gold/neuroglancer-plugin/releases`.
+To install it, open Ouroboros, open the Plugin Manager (`Ouroboros > Manage Plugins`), and add a plugin from the GitHub releases url: `https://github.com/ChengLabResearch/neuroglancer-plugin/releases`.
 
 Then restart the app and the plugin should be visible.
 
@@ -19,4 +19,22 @@ Make sure Docker is installed and running.
 1. `npm install`
 2. `npm run dev`
 
-To test in Ouroboros, run Ouroboros in development mode as well, and use the `Test Plugin` page to view the plugin.
\ No newline at end of file
+To test in Ouroboros, run Ouroboros in development mode as well, and use the `Test Plugin` page to view the plugin.
+
+### Release artifact
+
+Tagged releases publish `neuroglancer-plugin-<tag>.zip`. The archive root is the
+same layout that Ouroboros expects inside its plugin folder:
+
+- `package.json`
+- `index.html`
+- `ngrefactor.html`
+- `icon.svg`
+- `compose.yml`
+- frontend assets and runtime files
+- `plugin-release.json`
+
+For production package preinstalls, unpack the archive to
+`extra-resources/preinstalled-plugins/neuroglancer-plugin/` before building the
+Ouroboros app package. On first launch, Ouroboros copies that folder into the
+normal user-data plugin directory and detects it from `package.json`.
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c2d8233..8b94198 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 		"dev-backend": "node backend-dev.cjs",
 		"dev": "concurrently \"npm run dev-frontend\" \"npm run dev-backend\"",
 		"build": "tsc -b && vite build",
+		"build:release": "npm run build && node scripts/write-release-manifest.mjs",
 		"lint": "eslint . --ext ts,tsx --report-unused-disable-directives --max-warnings 0",
 		"preview": "vite preview"
 	},
diff --git a/scripts/write-release-manifest.mjs b/scripts/write-release-manifest.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a00704
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/write-release-manifest.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import { mkdir, readFile, writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises'
+import { join } from 'node:path'
+
+const root = process.cwd()
+const dist = join(root, 'dist')
+const packageJson = JSON.parse(await readFile(join(root, 'package.json'), 'utf8'))
+
+const manifest = {
+	name: packageJson.name,
+	pluginName: packageJson.pluginName,
+	version: packageJson.version,
+	index: packageJson.index,
+	icon: packageJson.icon,
+	dockerCompose: packageJson.dockerCompose,
+	artifactName: `${packageJson.name}-${packageJson.version}.zip`,
+	commit: process.env.GITHUB_SHA ?? null,
+	ref: process.env.GITHUB_REF_NAME ?? null
+}
+
+await mkdir(dist, { recursive: true })
+await writeFile(join(dist, 'plugin-release.json'), `${JSON.stringify(manifest, null, 2)}\n`)