@@ -15,8 +15,46 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [1.7.1] - 2026-06-19
+
 ### Fixed
 
+- **ROM-close GPU abort fixed (#1).** In a release build `Gfx::render_with_overlay`'s
+  `debug_assert_eq!` size check is compiled out, so when `close_rom` set
+  `emu.nes = None` and the render path handed an empty `present_staging` slice to
+  `queue.write_texture`, wgpu validation aborted the process ("Copy ... would end
+  up overrunning the bounds of the Source buffer of size 0"). `render_with_overlay`
+  (the framebuffer + `index` upload branches) and `render_hd_with_overlay` now skip
+  the `write_texture` upload when the supplied pixel slice length does not match
+  `width * height * bytes_per_texel`, keeping the previously-uploaded texture; the
+  `debug_assert` stays for dev builds. `close_rom` now seeds `present_staging` with
+  a valid zeroed `NES_W * NES_H * 4` frame, so closing a ROM presents a clean blank
+  (black) window rather than a frozen last frame or a crash. Frontend-only;
+  byte-identical when never closing a ROM.
+- **Clean pause / unpause — no spurious pacing spike, zero audio underruns (#6).**
+  Two paused-state glitches fixed. (1) Pacing: on resume `set_paused` rebased
+  `next_frame_time` to "now" so the producer does not burst-catch-up, but the
+  produced/presented interval rings still held the pre-pause `last` timestamp, so
+  the next `record_produced` logged the whole pause duration as a single giant
+  `produced_max_ms` spike (675 ms / 1395 ms in captured logs). `set_paused` now also
+  calls `perf.break_phase()` on resume so the paused wall-clock gap is dropped
+  instead of counted as a produced/presented frame interval. (2) Audio: while paused
+  the producer stops pushing and the cpal callback drained the ring, then logged an
+  underrun and re-gated on resume. A new sticky pause flag
+  (`SampleQueue::gate_for_pause()` / `resume_from_pause()`) outputs silence WITHOUT
+  consuming the buffered tail and takes precedence over the `start_threshold`
+  auto-reopen (which previously re-opened the gate on the very next callback because
+  the full ring satisfied `avail >= start_threshold`), so a clean pause/unpause now
+  yields zero underruns. Frontend-only; byte-identical when never pausing.
+- **Help -> Documentation pane overhaul (#4).** Three fixes to `doc_panel.rs`
+  (emulation core untouched). (1) Word-wrap at any UI scale: the content pane was a
+  `ScrollArea::both`, which gives the inner UI unbounded horizontal width so
+  `Label::wrap` had nothing to wrap against and text only reflowed after a manual
+  resize at x4 scale; it is now a vertical-only `ScrollArea` with the content column
+  pinned to `available_width`, so bodies wrap to the pane's real width at x1-x4 and
+  any pane size. (2) A collapsible multi-level sidebar tree (default-collapsed below
+  the top level) with intra-document hyperlinks. (3) The changelog dropdown now
+  lists released versions newest-first but orders the `[Unreleased]` section last.
 - **HD-pack tile substitution now applies in the debugger / tool branch (#3).**
   A loaded HD pack (e.g. *Zelda Remastered*, ~15,849 rules) parsed and reported
   success, but nothing changed on screen whenever the debugger overlay or a
@@ -48,6 +86,13 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   (`MenuAction::ToggleDebugger`, the `ShellFrame::debugger_visible` field, and the
   `DebuggerOverlay::toggle` method).
 
+### Documentation
+
+- **Exhaustive README rewrite (#7).** README.md rewritten for v1.7.0 "Forge":
+  the full feature catalogue, a complete WebAssembly / browser section, the
+  previously-missing workspace crate, and the full peripheral set, with version
+  tags and links corrected (#151 review nits applied).
+
 ## [1.7.0] - 2026-06-19 - "Forge" (Feature Release)
 
 ### Added
 
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ members = [
 ]
 
 [workspace.package]
-version = "1.7.0"
+version = "1.7.1"
 edition = "2024"
 rust-version = "1.96"
 license = "MIT OR Apache-2.0"
@@ -25,14 +25,14 @@ keywords = ["nes", "emulator", "famicom", "6502", "retro"]
 categories = ["emulators", "games"]
 
 [workspace.dependencies]
-rustynes-core = { path = "crates/rustynes-core", version = "1.4.1" }
-rustynes-cpu = { path = "crates/rustynes-cpu", version = "1.4.1" }
-rustynes-ppu = { path = "crates/rustynes-ppu", version = "1.4.1" }
-rustynes-apu = { path = "crates/rustynes-apu", version = "1.4.1", default-features = false }
-rustynes-mappers = { path = "crates/rustynes-mappers", version = "1.4.1" }
-rustynes-netplay = { path = "crates/rustynes-netplay", version = "1.4.1" }
-rustynes-script = { path = "crates/rustynes-script", version = "1.4.1" }
-rustynes-test-harness = { path = "crates/rustynes-test-harness", version = "1.4.1" }
+rustynes-core = { path = "crates/rustynes-core", version = "1.7.1" }
+rustynes-cpu = { path = "crates/rustynes-cpu", version = "1.7.1" }
+rustynes-ppu = { path = "crates/rustynes-ppu", version = "1.7.1" }
+rustynes-apu = { path = "crates/rustynes-apu", version = "1.7.1", default-features = false }
+rustynes-mappers = { path = "crates/rustynes-mappers", version = "1.7.1" }
+rustynes-netplay = { path = "crates/rustynes-netplay", version = "1.7.1" }
+rustynes-script = { path = "crates/rustynes-script", version = "1.7.1" }
+rustynes-test-harness = { path = "crates/rustynes-test-harness", version = "1.7.1" }
 
 # v1.1.0 beta.3 (Workstream E) — Lua scripting. `vendored` compiles Lua 5.4
 # from source (no system Lua needed); native-only (the wasm/no_std builds never
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 [![Build Status](https://github.com/doublegate/RustyNES/workflows/CI/badge.svg)](https://github.com/doublegate/RustyNES/actions)
 [![License: MIT OR Apache-2.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT%20OR%20Apache--2.0-blue.svg)](#license)
-[![Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/version-v1.7.0-blue.svg)](https://github.com/doublegate/RustyNES/releases)
+[![Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/version-v1.7.1-blue.svg)](https://github.com/doublegate/RustyNES/releases)
 [![Rust: 1.96](https://img.shields.io/badge/rust-1.96-orange.svg)](rust-toolchain.toml)
 [![Platform](https://img.shields.io/badge/platform-Windows%20%7C%20Linux%20%7C%20macOS%20%7C%20Web-lightgrey.svg)](#platform-support)
 [![AccuracyCoin](<https://img.shields.io/badge/AccuracyCoin-100%25%20(139%2F139)-brightgreen.svg>)](#compatibility-and-accuracy)
@@ -645,13 +645,14 @@ workspace API docs (rustdoc) at
 
 ## Version History
 
-The current release is **v1.7.0 "Forge"**, the writable + programmable tooling, accuracy,
-mapper-breadth, and reach release on the cycle-accurate v1.0.0 production core (it follows
-the v1.6.0 "Studio" TAS-authoring line and the v1.5.0 "Lens" insight/scriptability line).
-The road so far:
+The current release is **v1.7.1**, a bugfix / polish patch on **v1.7.0 "Forge"** (the
+writable + programmable tooling, accuracy, mapper-breadth, and reach release on the
+cycle-accurate v1.0.0 production core, which follows the v1.6.0 "Studio" TAS-authoring line
+and the v1.5.0 "Lens" insight/scriptability line). The road so far:
 
 | Version    | Highlights                                                                                  |
 | ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| **v1.7.1** | Patch on "Forge" — seven fixes: a **ROM-close crash** (skip the `write_texture` upload on a pixel-slice length mismatch so the release build no longer aborts wgpu; `close_rom` presents a clean blank frame); **clean pause/unpause** (a pacing-timer `break_phase()` reset on resume + a sticky audio pause gate → no spurious `produced_max_ms` spike, zero underruns); a **Documentation pane overhaul** (word-wrap at any UI scale, a collapsible multi-level sidebar tree with intra-doc links, `[Unreleased]` ordered last); an **exhaustive README rewrite**; **Tools-menu icon** fixes for NSF Player / Pixel Inspector (glyph swap dodging egui's Ubuntu-Light `fi`/`fl` PUA-ligature collision); **removal of the vestigial "Show Debugger" checkbox** + dead plumbing; and **HD-pack tile substitution** now applying in the debugger / tool render branch. Bugfix-only; with optional features off the shipped / native / `no_std` / wasm builds behave as v1.7.0 and AccuracyCoin holds 100% (139/139). |
 | **v1.7.0** | "Forge" — the tools become **writable** and **programmable**. **F** accuracy hardening (battery-save round-trip oracle + length-halt/reload + DMC even/odd-defer pins + an off-by-default PPU extra-scanlines overclock); mapper breadth → **168 families** (G1 reusable-ASIC: FK23C / COOLBOY / MINDKIDS / Sachen / Waixing / Kaiser, BestEffort honesty-gated); **A** editing-capable tools (palette / nametable / CHR / OAM writeback, an iNES / NES 2.0 header editor, an inline 6502 assembler); **C** debugger depth (CallstackManager + step modes, MemoryAccessCounter + uninit-read, ca65 / cc65 `.dbg` source maps); **B** scriptable **TAStudio** (`tastudio.*` Lua API + analysis-canvas callbacks) + full Lua parity; **E** host IPC / automation (`comm.*` / `client.*` / `userdata.*`) behind a new off-by-default `script-ipc` feature (host-mediated sandbox, ADR 0016); **D** rewind (HistoryViewer + Export-Last-30s `.rnm` + a Zwinder XOR-delta + LZ4 tiered greenzone); **G** expansion-audio (NSF router reusing VRC6/7 / FDS / MMC5 / N163 / 5B + MMC5 audio), movie import (`.fcm` / `.fmv` / `.vmv`; `.fm2` / `.bk2` export hashing), and an **HD-Pack Builder** (ADR 0017) + the HD-pack loader real-Mesen-`<tile>`-format fix (ADR 0018); a UI overhaul (consolidated Input Display, modernized menu / status bar, a polished Documentation pane); plus the **H1–H9 reach wave** — browser-RA finish + an RA HUD, spectator netplay + Game-Genie-encoder / `.srt` / `.tbl`, coverage-harness `.zip` / `.7z` / `.fds` discovery, per-game `<rom>.json` config overrides + a DIP editor + a lag counter (ADR 0019), audio depth (stereo panning / Schroeder reverb / crossfeed / output-device picker / 20-band EQ, ADR 0020), web/wasm parity (browser Lua / File-System-Access-API / Gamepad-API / PWA-offline / `?settings=` share-links, ADRs 0021+0022), an **i18n** framework (compile-time string catalog + a language picker, English + Spanish, ADR 0023), and a `full` maximal-native-feature build + `cargo full-run` alias. Additive / off-by-default; the shipped / native / `no_std` / wasm builds stay byte-identical and AccuracyCoin holds 100% (139/139). |
 | **v1.6.0** | "Studio" — creator-power + accuracy-polish + reach. A **TAStudio-class piano-roll TAS editor** (save-state greenzone + lag log + markers + forkable branches + `.rnmproj` projects, with a drag-paint egui grid + deterministic seek); **`.fm2` (FCEUX) and `.bk2` (BizHawk) movie interop** ↔ `.rnm`; **Lua movie driving** (`emu.run` / `emu.frameadvance`) + data breadth (memory domains, sized reads, `joypad`); **Mesen2-class debugger depth** (expression / conditional breakpoints, R/W/X watchpoints, a watch window, conditional trace, a full hex editor, RAM watch / search); an **off-axis accuracy** verification + documentation pass (DMC/OAM-DMA controller corruption, `$2007` read-during-render, sprite-overflow + open-bus decay — verified, no engine change); mapper breadth → **150 families** (J.Y. ASIC + a discrete-multicart batch) + a **UNIF (`.unf`) loader**; **FDS-proper** (timed disk-head + `$4032` auto-insert + per-game CRC quirk table); **A/V recording** (ffmpeg → mp4 / mkv, default-off `av-record`); **HD-pack HD audio** (`<bgm>` / `<sfx>` OGG via `$4100`, default-off `hd-pack`); and a **shader / filter ecosystem** (LMP88959 NTSC/PAL, hqNx / xBRZ, a constrained `.slangp` / `.cgp` import). Additive / off-by-default; the shipped / native / `no_std` / wasm builds stay byte-identical and AccuracyCoin holds 100% (139/139). |
 | **v1.5.0** | "Lens" — insight + scriptability + creator tooling + polish: debugger **visualization** (Input Miniatures overlay, a graphical PPU event-viewer heatmap, a per-scanline trace, an HD-pack pixel inspector), a Lua **dev/TAS API** (memory/cart/save-state/symbol queries), a **TASVideos** compatibility pass + replay/TAS-window polish + an NSF waveform scope, a measure-first **frontend pacing & audio-sync** perf pass with perf-log↔panel parity, **UX polish** (named-palette editor, per-side overscan WYSIWYG, an Enhancements settings group, device-config controls), **accessibility** (UI scaling, high-contrast + Okabe-Ito colorblind themes, keyboard-only nav), a **native-UI overhaul** + in-app **Documentation** pane, mapper coverage 113 → **123 families**, and **casual-mode browser RetroAchievements** scaffolding (ADR 0015, off by default — emcc-built rcheevos side module + auth-proxy contract; live-browser verify is maintainer-manual). All additive / off-by-default so shipped / native / `no_std` / wasm stay byte-identical; AccuracyCoin 100% (139/139) held. |
 
@@ -1,6 +1,22 @@
 # RustyNES — Project Status Matrix
 
-> **Current release: v1.7.0 "Forge"** (released 2026-06-19) — the "writable +
+> **Current release: v1.7.1** (2026-06-19) — a bugfix / polish PATCH on **v1.7.0
+> "Forge"** (the feature release it patches; framed below). Additive / bugfix-only:
+> with the optional features off the shipped / native / `no_std` / wasm builds behave
+> as v1.7.0 (only the embedded `CARGO_PKG_VERSION` string + the seven fixes differ)
+> and **AccuracyCoin holds 100% (139/139)** (`cargo test --workspace --features
+> test-roms`: **1906 passed, 20 ignored**). The seven fixes: #1 ROM-close GPU abort
+> (skip the `write_texture` upload on a pixel-slice length mismatch; `close_rom`
+> presents a clean blank frame) · #6 clean pause/unpause (pacing-timer
+> `break_phase()` reset on resume + a sticky audio pause gate → no `produced_max_ms`
+> spike, zero underruns) · #4 Documentation-pane overhaul (word-wrap at any UI scale,
+> collapsible multi-level sidebar tree with intra-doc links, `[Unreleased]` ordered
+> last) · #7 exhaustive README rewrite · #2 Tools-menu NSF Player / Pixel Inspector
+> icon glyph swap (dodges egui's Ubuntu-Light `fi`/`fl` PUA-ligature collision) · #5
+> removed the vestigial "Show Debugger" checkbox + dead plumbing · #3 HD-pack tile
+> substitution now applies in the debugger / tool render branch.
+>
+> **v1.7.0 "Forge"** (released 2026-06-19) — the "writable +
 > programmable tools" release, MAXIMAL scope (full A–H + an H1–H9 reach wave) on the
 > current dot-lockstep scheduler. **beta.1** (#134, F accuracy hardening + G1 ASIC
 > mappers 150→**168** + H7 measure-first perf) · **beta.2** (#135, A editing-capable
@@ -18,8 +34,9 @@
 > output widening) · 0021 (File System Access fallback) · 0022 (settings share-link) ·
 > 0023 (i18n string-catalog).
 
-**Current release: v1.7.0 "Forge" — the writable + programmable tooling, accuracy,
-mapper-breadth, and reach release** on the cycle-accurate v1.0.0 production core. A
+**Current release: v1.7.1 — a bugfix / polish patch on v1.7.0 "Forge"** (the
+writable + programmable tooling, accuracy, mapper-breadth, and reach feature release
+it patches, described below) on the cycle-accurate v1.0.0 production core. A
 NES/Famicom emulator with the Mesen2 / higan / ares accuracy bar, shipped as a
 polished desktop application. **AccuracyCoin 100.00% (139/139)**, the 60-ROM
 `external_real_games` + 52-entry `external_extended` oracles byte-identical,
@@ -849,8 +866,8 @@ unless the default flips.
 **RustyNES ships at v1.0.0** (the production cut), with the additive,
 off-by-default feature releases **v1.1.0 "Scriptable" → v1.2.0 "Curator" →
 v1.3.0 "Bedrock" → v1.4.0 "Fidelity" (+ the v1.4.1 patch) → v1.5.0 "Lens" →
-v1.6.0 "Studio" → v1.7.0 "Forge"** on top — **v1.7.0 "Forge" is the current
-release**. The
+v1.6.0 "Studio" → v1.7.0 "Forge" → v1.7.1 (patch)** on top — **v1.7.1 (the
+bugfix/polish patch on v1.7.0 "Forge") is the current release**. The
 table below is the **engine-lineage** version history
 — the internal engine line whose increments produced the v1.0.0 technology. Its
 `v0.9.x` / `v1.x` / `v2.x` markers are the engine's own line, retained as