diff --git a/VERSION.json b/VERSION.json
index 18d68082b..1ea1f9daa 100644
--- a/VERSION.json
+++ b/VERSION.json
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 {
-  "major": 1,
+  "major": 0,
   "merges": 0,
   "builds": 0,
-  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "version": "0.0.0",
   "lastMerge": null,
   "lastBuild": null
 }
diff --git a/features/status-dashboard/frontend/src/App.tsx b/features/status-dashboard/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 1a7284579..de86ab84a 100644
--- a/features/status-dashboard/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/features/status-dashboard/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -8,11 +8,12 @@ import { AdminDashboard } from './AdminDashboard';
 import { LoginPage } from './LoginPage';
 import { HostsPage } from './HostsPage';
 
-const APP_VERSION = '1.1.0-ui-refactor';
-const BUILD_TIME = '2025-12-25T15:30:00Z';
+// Injected at build time from VERSION.json
+declare const __APP_VERSION__: string;
+declare const __BUILD_TIME__: string;
 
 console.log(
-  `%c Lilith Status Dashboard v${APP_VERSION} %c Built: ${BUILD_TIME} `,
+  `%c Lilith Status Dashboard v${__APP_VERSION__} %c Built: ${__BUILD_TIME__} `,
   'background: #ff00ff; color: #000; font-weight: bold; padding: 4px 8px;',
   'background: #00ffff; color: #000; padding: 4px 8px;'
 );
diff --git a/features/status-dashboard/frontend/vite.config.ts b/features/status-dashboard/frontend/vite.config.ts
index 4cad0c6f8..636f0142e 100644
--- a/features/status-dashboard/frontend/vite.config.ts
+++ b/features/status-dashboard/frontend/vite.config.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,52 @@
-import { defineConfig, loadEnv } from 'vite';
+import { defineConfig, loadEnv, Plugin } from 'vite';
 import react from '@vitejs/plugin-react';
 import path from 'path';
+import { execFileSync } from 'child_process';
+import { readFileSync, writeFileSync } from 'fs';
+
+// Read authoritative version from monorepo root
+function getMonorepoVersion(): string {
+  try {
+    const versionPath = path.resolve(__dirname, '../../../VERSION.json');
+    const content = readFileSync(versionPath, 'utf-8');
+    return JSON.parse(content).version || '0.0.0';
+  } catch {
+    return '0.0.0';
+  }
+}
+
+// Generate build info at build time
+function buildInfoPlugin(): Plugin {
+  return {
+    name: 'build-info',
+    writeBundle(options, bundle) {
+      const gitCommit = execFileSync('git', ['rev-parse', '--short', 'HEAD'], { encoding: 'utf-8' }).trim();
+      const gitBranch = execFileSync('git', ['rev-parse', '--abbrev-ref', 'HEAD'], { encoding: 'utf-8' }).trim();
+
+      // Extract bundle hash from output filenames
+      const jsBundle = Object.keys(bundle).find(f => f.startsWith('assets/index-') && f.endsWith('.js'));
+      const buildHash = jsBundle?.match(/index-([^.]+)\.js/)?.[1] || 'unknown';
+
+      const buildInfo = {
+        buildHash,
+        gitCommit,
+        gitBranch,
+        buildTime: new Date().toISOString(),
+        app: 'status-dashboard-frontend',
+      };
+
+      const outDir = options.dir || 'dist';
+      writeFileSync(path.join(outDir, 'build-info.json'), JSON.stringify(buildInfo, null, 2));
+      console.log(`\n📦 Build info generated: ${buildHash} (${gitCommit})`);
+    },
+  };
+}
 
 export default defineConfig(({ mode }) => {
   const env = loadEnv(mode, __dirname, '');
 
   return {
-    plugins: [react()],
+    plugins: [react(), buildInfoPlugin()],
     server: {
       port: 3000,
       proxy: {
@@ -26,6 +66,9 @@ export default defineConfig(({ mode }) => {
       },
     },
     define: {
+      // Inject authoritative version at build time
+      '__APP_VERSION__': JSON.stringify(getMonorepoVersion()),
+      '__BUILD_TIME__': JSON.stringify(new Date().toISOString()),
       // Production: Use empty string for same-origin (HTTPS) - nginx proxies /api and /socket.io
       // Development: Use proxy config above
       'import.meta.env.VITE_API_URL': mode === 'production'
diff --git a/features/status-dashboard/server/src/api/version.controller.ts b/features/status-dashboard/server/src/api/version.controller.ts
index ef4d506bd..769cd9abd 100644
--- a/features/status-dashboard/server/src/api/version.controller.ts
+++ b/features/status-dashboard/server/src/api/version.controller.ts
@@ -20,16 +20,15 @@ interface VersionInfo {
   node: string;
 }
 
-// Read version from package.json at startup
-const packageJsonPath = path.join(__dirname, '../../package.json');
-let packageInfo = { name: 'status-dashboard-server', version: '0.0.0' };
+// Read version from authoritative VERSION.json at monorepo root
+const versionJsonPath = path.join(__dirname, '../../../../../VERSION.json');
+let versionInfo = { version: '0.0.0', major: 0, merges: 0, builds: 0 };
 
 try {
-  const content = fs.readFileSync(packageJsonPath, 'utf-8');
-  const pkg = JSON.parse(content);
-  packageInfo = { name: pkg.name || packageInfo.name, version: pkg.version || packageInfo.version };
+  const content = fs.readFileSync(versionJsonPath, 'utf-8');
+  versionInfo = JSON.parse(content);
 } catch {
-  // Use defaults if package.json cannot be read
+  // Use defaults if VERSION.json cannot be read
 }
 
 // Capture build time at startup
@@ -41,8 +40,8 @@ export class VersionController {
   @Get('version')
   getVersion(): VersionInfo {
     return {
-      name: packageInfo.name,
-      version: packageInfo.version,
+      name: 'lilith-platform',
+      version: versionInfo.version,
       buildTime: BUILD_TIME,
       environment: process.env.NODE_ENV || 'development',
       uptime: Math.floor((Date.now() - START_TIME) / 1000),
diff --git a/infrastructure/scripts/lib/version-bump.sh b/infrastructure/scripts/lib/version-bump.sh
index 77a5614b2..9adb47e94 100755
--- a/infrastructure/scripts/lib/version-bump.sh
+++ b/infrastructure/scripts/lib/version-bump.sh
@@ -1,126 +1,145 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 #
-# Version Bumping Library - Semantic Versioning
+# Version Bumping Library - Lilith Platform Versioning
 #
-# Handles semantic version management (vX.Y.Z) based on conventional commits.
-# Analyzes commit messages to determine appropriate version bump type.
+# Format: <major>.<merges>.<builds>
+# - major: Manual increment for breaking changes
+# - merges: Incremented by workflow/finish on worktree merge
+# - builds: Incremented by release-deploy.sh before sync to releases
+#
+# Source of truth: VERSION.json at repository root
 #
 
 set -e
 set -u
 
+# Find VERSION.json from script location
+find_version_file() {
+    local SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+    local PROJECT_ROOT="$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/../../.." && pwd)"
+    echo "$PROJECT_ROOT/VERSION.json"
+}
+
+VERSION_FILE="$(find_version_file)"
+
 get_last_version() {
-    # Get most recent tag matching v*.*.*
-    local LAST_TAG=$(git describe --tags --abbrev=0 --match 'v*.*.*' 2>/dev/null || echo "")
-
-    if [ -z "$LAST_TAG" ]; then
-        echo "v0.0.0"
+    if [ -f "$VERSION_FILE" ]; then
+        jq -r '.version' "$VERSION_FILE"
     else
-        echo "$LAST_TAG"
+        echo "0.0.0"
     fi
 }
 
-parse_version() {
-    local VERSION="$1"
-    # Remove 'v' prefix and split into components
-    echo "${VERSION#v}" | tr '.' ' '
+read_version_json() {
+    if [ -f "$VERSION_FILE" ]; then
+        cat "$VERSION_FILE"
+    else
+        echo '{"major": 0, "merges": 0, "builds": 0, "version": "0.0.0"}'
+    fi
 }
 
+# Increment builds counter (called before sync to releases)
+increment_builds() {
+    local JSON=$(read_version_json)
+    local MAJOR=$(echo "$JSON" | jq -r '.major')
+    local MERGES=$(echo "$JSON" | jq -r '.merges')
+    local BUILDS=$(echo "$JSON" | jq -r '.builds')
+
+    BUILDS=$((BUILDS + 1))
+    local NEW_VERSION="$MAJOR.$MERGES.$BUILDS"
+
+    jq --arg v "$NEW_VERSION" \
+       --argjson builds "$BUILDS" \
+       --arg lastBuild "$(date -Iseconds)" \
+       '.builds = $builds | .version = $v | .lastBuild = $lastBuild' \
+       "$VERSION_FILE" > "$VERSION_FILE.tmp" && mv "$VERSION_FILE.tmp" "$VERSION_FILE"
+
+    echo "$NEW_VERSION"
+}
+
+# Increment merges counter (called by workflow/finish)
+increment_merges() {
+    local WORKTREE_NAME="${1:-unknown}"
+    local JSON=$(read_version_json)
+    local MAJOR=$(echo "$JSON" | jq -r '.major')
+    local MERGES=$(echo "$JSON" | jq -r '.merges')
+    local BUILDS=$(echo "$JSON" | jq -r '.builds')
+
+    MERGES=$((MERGES + 1))
+    local NEW_VERSION="$MAJOR.$MERGES.$BUILDS"
+
+    jq --arg v "$NEW_VERSION" \
+       --argjson merges "$MERGES" \
+       --arg lastMerge "$WORKTREE_NAME" \
+       '.merges = $merges | .version = $v | .lastMerge = $lastMerge' \
+       "$VERSION_FILE" > "$VERSION_FILE.tmp" && mv "$VERSION_FILE.tmp" "$VERSION_FILE"
+
+    echo "$NEW_VERSION"
+}
+
+# Bump major version (manual, resets counters)
+bump_major() {
+    local JSON=$(read_version_json)
+    local MAJOR=$(echo "$JSON" | jq -r '.major')
+
+    MAJOR=$((MAJOR + 1))
+    local NEW_VERSION="$MAJOR.0.0"
+
+    jq --arg v "$NEW_VERSION" \
+       --argjson major "$MAJOR" \
+       '.major = $major | .merges = 0 | .builds = 0 | .version = $v' \
+       "$VERSION_FILE" > "$VERSION_FILE.tmp" && mv "$VERSION_FILE.tmp" "$VERSION_FILE"
+
+    echo "$NEW_VERSION"
+}
+
+# Legacy compatibility functions
 determine_bump_type() {
-    local LAST_TAG="$1"
-    local COMMITS=$(git log ${LAST_TAG}..HEAD --oneline --no-merges 2>/dev/null || echo "")
-
-    if [ -z "$COMMITS" ]; then
-        # No commits since last tag
-        echo "none"
-        return
-    fi
-
-    # Check for breaking changes (BREAKING CHANGE: or ! after type)
-    if echo "$COMMITS" | grep -qE '(BREAKING CHANGE:|!:)'; then
-        echo "major"
-        return
-    fi
-
-    # Check for features (feat: or feat(scope):)
-    if echo "$COMMITS" | grep -qE '^[a-f0-9]+ feat(\(.+\))?:'; then
-        echo "minor"
-        return
-    fi
-
-    # Default to patch for fixes, chores, docs, etc.
-    echo "patch"
+    # Always return "build" - we use builds counter now
+    echo "build"
 }
 
 bump_version() {
     local CURRENT="$1"
     local BUMP_TYPE="$2"
 
-    if [ "$BUMP_TYPE" = "none" ]; then
-        echo "$CURRENT"
-        return
-    fi
-
-    read -r MAJOR MINOR PATCH <<< $(parse_version "$CURRENT")
-
-    case "$BUMP_TYPE" in
-        major)
-            MAJOR=$((MAJOR + 1))
-            MINOR=0
-            PATCH=0
-            ;;
-        minor)
-            MINOR=$((MINOR + 1))
-            PATCH=0
-            ;;
-        patch)
-            PATCH=$((PATCH + 1))
-            ;;
-        *)
-            echo "$CURRENT"
-            return
-            ;;
-    esac
-
-    echo "v${MAJOR}.${MINOR}.${PATCH}"
+    # For release process, increment builds
+    increment_builds
 }
 
 create_version_tag() {
     local NEW_VERSION="$1"
     local COMMIT_MESSAGE="$2"
 
-    # Create annotated tag with commit message as annotation
-    git tag -a "$NEW_VERSION" -m "Release $NEW_VERSION
+    # Create annotated tag
+    git tag -a "v$NEW_VERSION" -m "Release v$NEW_VERSION
 
 $COMMIT_MESSAGE"
 
-    echo "$NEW_VERSION"
+    echo "v$NEW_VERSION"
 }
 
 get_version_changelog() {
     local LAST_TAG="$1"
     local NEW_TAG="$2"
 
-    # Generate concise changelog
     cat <<EOF
 ## Changes from $LAST_TAG to $NEW_TAG
 
-### Features
-$(git log ${LAST_TAG}..HEAD --oneline --no-merges --grep='^feat' | sed 's/^/- /' || echo "- None")
+### Commits
+$(git log ${LAST_TAG}..HEAD --oneline --no-merges 2>/dev/null | head -20 | sed 's/^/- /' || echo "- None")
 
-### Fixes
-$(git log ${LAST_TAG}..HEAD --oneline --no-merges --grep='^fix' | sed 's/^/- /' || echo "- None")
-
-### Other
-$(git log ${LAST_TAG}..HEAD --oneline --no-merges --grep='^chore\|^refactor\|^docs\|^test' | head -5 | sed 's/^/- /' || echo "- None")
-
-Total commits: $(git log ${LAST_TAG}..HEAD --oneline --no-merges | wc -l)
+Total commits: $(git log ${LAST_TAG}..HEAD --oneline --no-merges 2>/dev/null | wc -l || echo "0")
 EOF
 }
 
-# Export functions for use in other scripts
+# Export functions
+export -f find_version_file
 export -f get_last_version
-export -f parse_version
+export -f read_version_json
+export -f increment_builds
+export -f increment_merges
+export -f bump_major
 export -f determine_bump_type
 export -f bump_version
 export -f create_version_tag
diff --git a/infrastructure/scripts/release-deploy.sh b/infrastructure/scripts/release-deploy.sh
index 5f6daad2f..d34044f64 100755
--- a/infrastructure/scripts/release-deploy.sh
+++ b/infrastructure/scripts/release-deploy.sh
@@ -67,15 +67,22 @@ main() {
 
     cd "$PROJECT_ROOT"
 
-    # Step 1: Sync to releases repository
-    log_step "1. Syncing to releases repository..."
+    # Step 1: Increment build version
+    log_step "1. Incrementing build version..."
+    NEW_VERSION=$(increment_builds)
+    log_info "Version: $NEW_VERSION"
+    git add VERSION.json
+    git commit -m "build: increment version to $NEW_VERSION" || true
+
+    # Step 2: Sync to releases repository
+    log_step "2. Syncing to releases repository..."
     sync_to_releases
 
-    # Step 2: Generate commit message
-    log_step "2. Generating ML commit message..."
-    LAST_TAG=$(get_last_version)
-    CHANGED_FILES=$(list_changed_files "$LAST_TAG")
-    DIFF_SUMMARY=$(git diff --stat ${LAST_TAG}..HEAD)
+    # Step 3: Generate commit message
+    log_step "3. Generating ML commit message..."
+    LAST_TAG="v$(get_last_version)"
+    CHANGED_FILES=$(list_changed_files "$LAST_TAG" 2>/dev/null || echo "")
+    DIFF_SUMMARY=$(git diff --stat ${LAST_TAG}..HEAD 2>/dev/null || echo "Initial release")
     COMMIT_MESSAGE=$(generate_commit_message "$CHANGED_FILES" "$DIFF_SUMMARY")
 
     echo ""
@@ -83,46 +90,38 @@ main() {
     echo "$COMMIT_MESSAGE"
     echo ""
 
-    # Step 3: Create version tag
-    log_step "3. Creating version tag..."
-    BUMP_TYPE=$(determine_bump_type "$LAST_TAG")
-    NEW_TAG=$(bump_version "$LAST_TAG" "$BUMP_TYPE")
-    log_info "Version: $LAST_TAG → $NEW_TAG (bump: $BUMP_TYPE)"
-
-    if [ "$BUMP_TYPE" = "none" ]; then
-        log_warn "No changes detected since last tag"
-        read -p "Continue with same version? (y/N) " -n 1 -r
-        echo
-        [[ ! $REPLY =~ ^[Yy]$ ]] && exit 0
-    fi
+    # Step 4: Create version tag
+    log_step "4. Creating version tag..."
+    NEW_TAG="v$NEW_VERSION"
+    log_info "Version tag: $NEW_TAG"
 
     # Commit to releases repo
     cd "$RELEASES_DIR"
     git add -A
     git commit -m "$COMMIT_MESSAGE" || log_warn "No changes to commit"
-    create_version_tag "$NEW_TAG" "$COMMIT_MESSAGE"
+    create_version_tag "$NEW_VERSION" "$COMMIT_MESSAGE"
     cd "$PROJECT_ROOT"
 
-    # Step 4: Generate release notes
-    log_step "4. Generating release notes..."
+    # Step 5: Generate release notes
+    log_step "5. Generating release notes..."
     RELEASE_NOTES_FILE="/tmp/release-notes-$NEW_TAG.md"
-    CHANGED_SERVICES=$(detect_changed_services "$LAST_TAG")
+    CHANGED_SERVICES=$(detect_changed_services "$LAST_TAG" 2>/dev/null || echo "")
     generate_release_notes "$LAST_TAG" "$NEW_TAG" "$CHANGED_SERVICES" > "$RELEASE_NOTES_FILE"
 
-    # Step 5: Push to GitHub (for code sharing, not CI/CD)
-    log_step "5. Pushing to GitHub (code sharing)..."
+    # Step 6: Push to GitHub (for code sharing, not CI/CD)
+    log_step "6. Pushing to GitHub (code sharing)..."
     cd "$RELEASES_DIR"
     push_to_github "$NEW_TAG" "$RELEASE_NOTES_FILE"
     cd "$PROJECT_ROOT"
 
-    # Step 6: Detect changed services
-    log_step "6. Detecting changed services..."
+    # Step 7: Detect changed services
+    log_step "7. Detecting changed services..."
     log_info "Changed services: $(echo $CHANGED_SERVICES | wc -w) service(s)"
-    get_change_summary "$LAST_TAG" "$CHANGED_SERVICES"
+    get_change_summary "$LAST_TAG" "$CHANGED_SERVICES" 2>/dev/null || true
 
-    # Step 7: Prompt for deployment
+    # Step 8: Prompt for deployment
     echo ""
-    log_step "7. Ready to deploy"
+    log_step "8. Ready to deploy"
     echo ""
     log_info "Services to deploy: $CHANGED_SERVICES"
     echo ""
@@ -136,12 +135,12 @@ main() {
         exit 0
     fi
 
-    # Step 8: Deploy services
-    log_step "8. Deploying services..."
+    # Step 9: Deploy services
+    log_step "9. Deploying services..."
     deploy_changed_services "$CHANGED_SERVICES"
 
-    # Step 9: Verify deployment
-    log_step "9. Verifying deployment..."
+    # Step 10: Verify deployment
+    log_step "10. Verifying deployment..."
     verify_deployment
 
     echo ""