diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index abcb32e9..a89e9bf0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -255,6 +255,48 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check wheel availability across supported platforms
         run: python scripts/check_wheel_availability.py
 
+  package-distribution:
+    # Build the exact artifacts that will eventually be uploaded under
+    # the `veralang` distribution name (#737).  This stays separate from
+    # release automation (#481): PR CI validates artifacts but publishes
+    # nothing.
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+
+      - name: Set up Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v6
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.12"
+
+      - name: Install packaging tools
+        run: pip install build twine
+
+      - name: Build and inspect distribution archives
+        run: |
+          python -m build
+          python -m twine check dist/*
+          python scripts/check_distribution.py dist
+
+      - name: Install and smoke-test the wheel outside the checkout
+        run: |
+          python -m venv "$RUNNER_TEMP/veralang-wheel-smoke"
+          "$RUNNER_TEMP/veralang-wheel-smoke/bin/python" -m pip install dist/*.whl
+          cp examples/hello_world.vera "$RUNNER_TEMP/hello_world.vera"
+          cd "$RUNNER_TEMP"
+          "$RUNNER_TEMP/veralang-wheel-smoke/bin/vera" version
+          "$RUNNER_TEMP/veralang-wheel-smoke/bin/vera" check hello_world.vera
+          run_out="$("$RUNNER_TEMP/veralang-wheel-smoke/bin/vera" run hello_world.vera)"
+          printf '%s\n' "$run_out"
+          case "$run_out" in
+            *"Hello, World!"*) ;;
+            *) echo "::error::wheel smoke: unexpected 'vera run' output"; exit 1 ;;
+          esac
+
   sbom:
     permissions:
       contents: read
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 31a9ecc3..bb126c74 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/).
 
 ### Added
 
+- **PyPI publication readiness** ([#737](https://github.com/aallan/vera/issues/737)) renames the Python distribution to `veralang` while preserving the `vera` command and import package, adds a dedicated registry README, and gates the built sdist/wheel contents plus an installed-wheel CLI smoke test in CI. The existing GitHub-source installation path remains supported; automated publication is still gated on [#481](https://github.com/aallan/vera/issues/481).
 - **Inference + JSON composition example** ([#379](https://github.com/aallan/vera/issues/379)) demonstrates an effectful model call flowing through pure JSON parsing, typed integer extraction, and a statically proved 0–100 normalization contract. Raw JSON and tagged or untagged fenced responses are accepted, with the original completion retained in malformed-response diagnostics.
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/LSP_SERVER.md b/LSP_SERVER.md
index ce082dd1..7b25dd2d 100644
--- a/LSP_SERVER.md
+++ b/LSP_SERVER.md
@@ -27,11 +27,18 @@ the introspection commands), see the CLI cookbook,
 The server lives behind the optional `[lsp]` extra (pure-Python
 dependencies: `pygls`, `lsprotocol`):
 
+```bash
+python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate   # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
+python -m pip install "veralang[lsp]"
+```
+
+To install the current GitHub source instead:
+
 ```bash
 git clone https://github.com/aallan/vera.git
 cd vera
-python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate
-pip install -e ".[lsp]"     # or ".[dev]", which includes it
+python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate   # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
+python -m pip install -e ".[lsp]"     # or ".[dev]", which includes it
 ```
 
 Then:
diff --git a/PYPI_README.md b/PYPI_README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..987073ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/PYPI_README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+# Vera
+
+Vera is a programming language designed for large language models to write. It
+has mandatory contracts, algebraic effects, typed slot references instead of
+variable names, and a compiler that emits WebAssembly.
+
+Full documentation, examples, and the language specification are available at
+[veralang.dev](https://veralang.dev) and in the
+[GitHub repository](https://github.com/aallan/vera).
+
+## Install a released version
+
+Vera requires Python 3.11 or later. Create a virtual environment and install
+the `veralang` distribution:
+
+```bash
+python -m venv .venv
+source .venv/bin/activate
+python -m pip install veralang
+```
+
+On Windows, activate the environment with `.venv\Scripts\activate` instead.
+For editor and agent integration through the language server, install the LSP
+extra:
+
+```bash
+python -m pip install "veralang[lsp]"
+```
+
+The distribution is named `veralang`, but the installed command remains
+`vera`, and Python code still imports it as `import vera`. **Do not run `pip install vera`**: that name belongs to an unrelated
+ERAV citizen-science project on PyPI.
+
+## Install from GitHub source
+
+The source route remains supported for compiler development, unreleased
+changes, and testing the current `main` branch:
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/aallan/vera.git
+cd vera
+python -m venv .venv
+source .venv/bin/activate
+python -m pip install -e .
+```
+
+Use `python -m pip install -e ".[lsp]"` for the language server or
+`python -m pip install -e ".[dev]"` when working on the compiler.
+
+## Try it
+
+```vera
+public fn safe_divide(@Int, @Int -> @Int)
+  requires(@Int.1 != 0)
+  ensures(@Int.result == @Int.0 / @Int.1)
+  effects(pure)
+{
+  @Int.0 / @Int.1
+}
+```
+
+```bash
+vera check program.vera
+vera verify program.vera
+vera run program.vera
+```
+
+See the [CLI cookbook](https://github.com/aallan/vera/blob/main/TOOLCHAIN.md),
+[language reference](https://veralang.dev/SKILL.md),
+[supported-platform policy](https://github.com/aallan/vera#supported-platforms),
+and [issue tracker](https://github.com/aallan/vera/issues) for more.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8b440c92..b218c193 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -115,15 +115,33 @@ Every diagnostic has a stable error code (`E001`–`E702`) and is available as s
 
 ### Installation
 
+Install the released `veralang` distribution from PyPI:
+
+```bash
+python -m venv .venv
+source .venv/bin/activate   # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
+python -m pip install veralang
+```
+
+The distribution is named `veralang`, but the installed command remains
+`vera`, and Python code still imports it as `import vera`. For editor and agent integration through the language server, install
+`python -m pip install "veralang[lsp]"`. Do not run `pip install vera`: that
+name belongs to an unrelated project on PyPI.
+
+The GitHub source route remains supported for compiler development, unreleased
+changes, and testing the current `main` branch:
+
 ```bash
 git clone https://github.com/aallan/vera.git
 cd vera
 python -m venv .venv
-source .venv/bin/activate
-pip install -e ".[dev]"
+source .venv/bin/activate   # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
+python -m pip install -e ".[dev]"
 ```
 
-`[dev]` includes everything (tests, linters, the language server). For a lighter install that only adds editor/agent support to the base toolchain, use `pip install -e ".[lsp]"` — see [LSP_SERVER.md](LSP_SERVER.md).
+`[dev]` includes everything (tests, linters, the language server). For a lighter
+source install that only adds editor/agent support to the base toolchain, use
+`python -m pip install -e ".[lsp]"` — see [LSP_SERVER.md](LSP_SERVER.md).
 
 
 #### Supported platforms
diff --git a/SKILL.md b/SKILL.md
index df357465..b689ba3f 100644
--- a/SKILL.md
+++ b/SKILL.md
@@ -9,15 +9,30 @@ Vera is a programming language designed for LLMs to write. It uses typed slot re
 
 ## Installation
 
-Vera requires Python 3.11 or later. Node.js 22+ is optional (only needed for `vera compile --target browser` and browser parity tests). Install from the repository:
+Vera requires Python 3.11 or later. Node.js 22+ is optional (only needed for `vera compile --target browser` and browser parity tests). Install the released `veralang` distribution from PyPI:
+
+```bash
+python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate   # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
+python -m pip install veralang
+```
+
+This installs the `vera` command and all runtime dependencies (Lark parser, Z3 solver, wasmtime). For editor/agent integration via the Language Server Protocol, install `python -m pip install "veralang[lsp]"` — see [LSP_SERVER.md](LSP_SERVER.md).
+
+The GitHub source route remains supported for unreleased changes and compiler development:
 
 ```bash
 git clone https://github.com/aallan/vera.git && cd vera
-python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate
-pip install -e .
+python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate   # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
+python -m pip install -e .
+```
+
+For an editable source install with the language server, use `python -m pip install -e ".[lsp]"`. Verify the installed CLI — works for either route, with no checkout required:
+
+```bash
+vera version
 ```
 
-This installs the `vera` command and all runtime dependencies (Lark parser, Z3 solver, wasmtime). For editor/agent integration via the Language Server Protocol, install the optional extra instead: `pip install -e ".[lsp]"` — see [LSP_SERVER.md](LSP_SERVER.md). After installation, verify it works:
+From a source checkout you can also run the bundled example end to end:
 
 ```bash
 vera check examples/hello_world.vera    # should print "OK: examples/hello_world.vera"
@@ -27,14 +42,14 @@ vera run examples/hello_world.vera      # should print "Hello, World!"
 If you are working on the compiler itself, install development dependencies too:
 
 ```bash
-pip install -e ".[dev]"
+python -m pip install -e ".[dev]"
 ```
 
 > **Platform support**: Vera is tested in CI on macOS 15+ (Apple Silicon), Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (x86_64), and Windows Server 2022, against Python 3.11–3.13. macOS 14 (Sonoma) and earlier, and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS aarch64, are out of scope — install will fail at dependency resolution. See [README §Supported platforms](README.md#supported-platforms) for the full matrix, workarounds, and the data behind the baseline.
 >
 > **For agents running in a sandbox** (Claude.ai, Code Interpreter, container-based execution environments, etc.): the steps above work. Sandboxes typically have Python, `git`, `pip`, and outbound network access — that's all Vera needs. **Run the install commands and verify with `vera run examples/hello_world.vera` before concluding that Vera "isn't available." Don't assume the sandbox lacks the toolchain — try it.**
 >
-> One caveat: `pip install vera` (no source) installs a *different* package from PyPI (an ERAV citizen-science library — unrelated to this Vera). Always install from the GitHub source clone shown above.
+> One caveat: `pip install vera` installs a *different* package from PyPI (an ERAV citizen-science library — unrelated to this Vera). Use the `veralang` distribution or the GitHub source clone shown above; both install the `vera` command.
 
 ## Toolchain
 
diff --git a/docs/SKILL.md b/docs/SKILL.md
index 1e6c1830..c596c689 100644
--- a/docs/SKILL.md
+++ b/docs/SKILL.md
@@ -9,15 +9,30 @@ Vera is a programming language designed for LLMs to write. It uses typed slot re
 
 ## Installation
 
-Vera requires Python 3.11 or later. Node.js 22+ is optional (only needed for `vera compile --target browser` and browser parity tests). Install from the repository:
+Vera requires Python 3.11 or later. Node.js 22+ is optional (only needed for `vera compile --target browser` and browser parity tests). Install the released `veralang` distribution from PyPI:
+
+```bash
+python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate   # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
+python -m pip install veralang
+```
+
+This installs the `vera` command and all runtime dependencies (Lark parser, Z3 solver, wasmtime). For editor/agent integration via the Language Server Protocol, install `python -m pip install "veralang[lsp]"` — see [LSP_SERVER.md](https://github.com/aallan/vera/blob/main/LSP_SERVER.md).
+
+The GitHub source route remains supported for unreleased changes and compiler development:
 
 ```bash
 git clone https://github.com/aallan/vera.git && cd vera
-python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate
-pip install -e .
+python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate   # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
+python -m pip install -e .
+```
+
+For an editable source install with the language server, use `python -m pip install -e ".[lsp]"`. Verify the installed CLI — works for either route, with no checkout required:
+
+```bash
+vera version
 ```
 
-This installs the `vera` command and all runtime dependencies (Lark parser, Z3 solver, wasmtime). For editor/agent integration via the Language Server Protocol, install the optional extra instead: `pip install -e ".[lsp]"` — see [LSP_SERVER.md](https://github.com/aallan/vera/blob/main/LSP_SERVER.md). After installation, verify it works:
+From a source checkout you can also run the bundled example end to end:
 
 ```bash
 vera check examples/hello_world.vera    # should print "OK: examples/hello_world.vera"
@@ -27,14 +42,14 @@ vera run examples/hello_world.vera      # should print "Hello, World!"
 If you are working on the compiler itself, install development dependencies too:
 
 ```bash
-pip install -e ".[dev]"
+python -m pip install -e ".[dev]"
 ```
 
 > **Platform support**: Vera is tested in CI on macOS 15+ (Apple Silicon), Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (x86_64), and Windows Server 2022, against Python 3.11–3.13. macOS 14 (Sonoma) and earlier, and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS aarch64, are out of scope — install will fail at dependency resolution. See [README §Supported platforms](https://github.com/aallan/vera/blob/main/README.md#supported-platforms) for the full matrix, workarounds, and the data behind the baseline.
 >
 > **For agents running in a sandbox** (Claude.ai, Code Interpreter, container-based execution environments, etc.): the steps above work. Sandboxes typically have Python, `git`, `pip`, and outbound network access — that's all Vera needs. **Run the install commands and verify with `vera run examples/hello_world.vera` before concluding that Vera "isn't available." Don't assume the sandbox lacks the toolchain — try it.**
 >
-> One caveat: `pip install vera` (no source) installs a *different* package from PyPI (an ERAV citizen-science library — unrelated to this Vera). Always install from the GitHub source clone shown above.
+> One caveat: `pip install vera` installs a *different* package from PyPI (an ERAV citizen-science library — unrelated to this Vera). Use the `veralang` distribution or the GitHub source clone shown above; both install the `vera` command.
 
 ## Toolchain
 
diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index 58d8e062..aa30613b 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -208,17 +208,25 @@ Serving HTTP on http://0.0.0.0:8080/
 
 ## Get Started
 
-Python 3.11+ and Git. Everything else installs into a virtual environment.
+Python 3.11+. Everything else installs into a virtual environment.
+
+```bash
+python -m venv .venv
+source .venv/bin/activate
+python -m pip install veralang
+```
+
+Or install the current GitHub source for development:
 
 ```bash
-# Clone and install
 git clone https://github.com/aallan/vera.git
 cd vera
 python -m venv .venv
 source .venv/bin/activate
-pip install -e ".[dev]"
+python -m pip install -e ".[dev]"
+```
 
-# Check, verify, run, compile
+```bash
 vera check examples/absolute_value.vera
 vera verify examples/safe_divide.vera
 vera run examples/hello_world.vera
diff --git a/docs/llms-full.txt b/docs/llms-full.txt
index 2e2483c2..554e9e6f 100644
--- a/docs/llms-full.txt
+++ b/docs/llms-full.txt
@@ -15,15 +15,30 @@ Vera is a programming language designed for LLMs to write. It uses typed slot re
 
 ## Installation
 
-Vera requires Python 3.11 or later. Node.js 22+ is optional (only needed for `vera compile --target browser` and browser parity tests). Install from the repository:
+Vera requires Python 3.11 or later. Node.js 22+ is optional (only needed for `vera compile --target browser` and browser parity tests). Install the released `veralang` distribution from PyPI:
+
+```bash
+python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate   # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
+python -m pip install veralang
+```
+
+This installs the `vera` command and all runtime dependencies (Lark parser, Z3 solver, wasmtime). For editor/agent integration via the Language Server Protocol, install `python -m pip install "veralang[lsp]"` — see [LSP_SERVER.md](https://github.com/aallan/vera/blob/main/LSP_SERVER.md).
+
+The GitHub source route remains supported for unreleased changes and compiler development:
 
 ```bash
 git clone https://github.com/aallan/vera.git && cd vera
-python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate
-pip install -e .
+python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate   # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
+python -m pip install -e .
+```
+
+For an editable source install with the language server, use `python -m pip install -e ".[lsp]"`. Verify the installed CLI — works for either route, with no checkout required:
+
+```bash
+vera version
 ```
 
-This installs the `vera` command and all runtime dependencies (Lark parser, Z3 solver, wasmtime). For editor/agent integration via the Language Server Protocol, install the optional extra instead: `pip install -e ".[lsp]"` — see [LSP_SERVER.md](https://github.com/aallan/vera/blob/main/LSP_SERVER.md). After installation, verify it works:
+From a source checkout you can also run the bundled example end to end:
 
 ```bash
 vera check examples/hello_world.vera    # should print "OK: examples/hello_world.vera"
@@ -33,14 +48,14 @@ vera run examples/hello_world.vera      # should print "Hello, World!"
 If you are working on the compiler itself, install development dependencies too:
 
 ```bash
-pip install -e ".[dev]"
+python -m pip install -e ".[dev]"
 ```
 
 > **Platform support**: Vera is tested in CI on macOS 15+ (Apple Silicon), Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (x86_64), and Windows Server 2022, against Python 3.11–3.13. macOS 14 (Sonoma) and earlier, and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS aarch64, are out of scope — install will fail at dependency resolution. See [README §Supported platforms](https://github.com/aallan/vera/blob/main/README.md#supported-platforms) for the full matrix, workarounds, and the data behind the baseline.
 >
 > **For agents running in a sandbox** (Claude.ai, Code Interpreter, container-based execution environments, etc.): the steps above work. Sandboxes typically have Python, `git`, `pip`, and outbound network access — that's all Vera needs. **Run the install commands and verify with `vera run examples/hello_world.vera` before concluding that Vera "isn't available." Don't assume the sandbox lacks the toolchain — try it.**
 >
-> One caveat: `pip install vera` (no source) installs a *different* package from PyPI (an ERAV citizen-science library — unrelated to this Vera). Always install from the GitHub source clone shown above.
+> One caveat: `pip install vera` installs a *different* package from PyPI (an ERAV citizen-science library — unrelated to this Vera). Use the `veralang` distribution or the GitHub source clone shown above; both install the `vera` command.
 
 ## Toolchain
 
@@ -2641,11 +2656,18 @@ the introspection commands), see the CLI cookbook,
 The server lives behind the optional `[lsp]` extra (pure-Python
 dependencies: `pygls`, `lsprotocol`):
 
+```bash
+python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate   # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
+python -m pip install "veralang[lsp]"
+```
+
+To install the current GitHub source instead:
+
 ```bash
 git clone https://github.com/aallan/vera.git
 cd vera
-python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate
-pip install -e ".[lsp]"     # or ".[dev]", which includes it
+python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate   # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
+python -m pip install -e ".[lsp]"     # or ".[dev]", which includes it
 ```
 
 Then:
diff --git a/docs/llms.txt b/docs/llms.txt
index 08e66f5a..fa8d0502 100644
--- a/docs/llms.txt
+++ b/docs/llms.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 Vera uses De Bruijn indexing for bindings: `@Int.0` is the most recent `Int` binding, `@Int.1` the one before. There are no variable names. Contracts are mandatory — every function must declare `requires(...)`, `ensures(...)`, and `effects(...)`. The Z3 SMT solver verifies contracts statically where possible; remaining contracts become runtime assertions. All side effects (IO, Http, HttpServer, State, Exceptions, Async, Inference, Random) are tracked in the type system via algebraic effects.
 
-Current version: 0.1.4. The reference compiler is written in Python. Install with `pip install -e .` from the repository.
+Current version: 0.1.4. The reference compiler is written in Python. Install the `veralang` distribution from PyPI or use `pip install -e ".[dev]"` from the repository.
 
 ## Homepage
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index c989cddb..cd9ca7d8 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 [project]
-name = "vera"
+name = "veralang"
 version = "0.1.4"
 description = "Vera: a programming language designed for LLMs, with full contracts, algebraic effects, and typed slot references"
-readme = "README.md"
+readme = "PYPI_README.md"
 license = "MIT"
 requires-python = ">=3.11"
 authors = [
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ classifiers = [
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13",
     "Topic :: Software Development :: Compilers",
 ]
 dependencies = [
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ dev = [
     # `pip install -e ".[dev]"` can run tests/test_lsp.py without a
     # second pin list to keep in sync (PEP 508 extras self-reference;
     # supported by pip >= 21.2 and uv).
-    "vera[lsp]",
+    "veralang[lsp]",
 ]
 mutation = [
     # Mutation testing (#387).  Kept separate from [dev] so the
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ mutation = [
     # was chosen over cosmic-ray: its coverage-guided test selection
     # is ~90x faster on this Z3/WASM suite, and its copy-based model
     # never mutates the working tree in place.  See MUTATION.md.
-    "vera[dev]",
+    "veralang[dev]",
     "mutmut>=3.6",
     "pytest-timeout>=2.4",
     # scripts/mutation_report.py renders the per-module chart with matplotlib;
diff --git a/scripts/build_site.py b/scripts/build_site.py
index 3888adf9..30416fc7 100644
--- a/scripts/build_site.py
+++ b/scripts/build_site.py
@@ -86,7 +86,8 @@ def build_llms_txt(version: str) -> str:
 Random) are tracked in the type system via algebraic effects.
 
 Current version: {version}. The reference compiler is written in Python. \
-Install with `pip install -e .` from the repository.
+Install the `veralang` distribution from PyPI or use `pip install -e ".[dev]"` from \
+the repository.
 
 ## Homepage
 
@@ -605,17 +606,25 @@ def build_index_md(version: str) -> str:
 
 ## Get Started
 
-Python 3.11+ and Git. Everything else installs into a virtual environment.
+Python 3.11+. Everything else installs into a virtual environment.
+
+```bash
+python -m venv .venv
+source .venv/bin/activate
+python -m pip install veralang
+```
+
+Or install the current GitHub source for development:
 
 ```bash
-# Clone and install
 git clone {REPO}.git
 cd vera
 python -m venv .venv
 source .venv/bin/activate
-pip install -e ".[dev]"
+python -m pip install -e ".[dev]"
+```
 
-# Check, verify, run, compile
+```bash
 vera check examples/absolute_value.vera
 vera verify examples/safe_divide.vera
 vera run examples/hello_world.vera
diff --git a/scripts/check_distribution.py b/scripts/check_distribution.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c4d81463
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/check_distribution.py
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+"""Validate Vera's built wheel and source distribution contents."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import configparser
+from email.parser import Parser
+from pathlib import Path
+import sys
+import tarfile
+import tomllib
+import zipfile
+
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
+
+
+def _project_identity() -> tuple[str, str]:
+    data = tomllib.loads((ROOT / "pyproject.toml").read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    project = data["project"]
+    return str(project["name"]), str(project["version"])
+
+
+def _check_metadata(raw: bytes, name: str, version: str, source: str) -> None:
+    metadata = Parser().parsestr(raw.decode("utf-8"))
+    if metadata["Name"] != name:
+        raise ValueError(f"{source}: Name is {metadata['Name']!r}, expected {name!r}")
+    if metadata["Version"] != version:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"{source}: Version is {metadata['Version']!r}, expected {version!r}"
+        )
+
+
+def _check_no_generated_files(names: set[str], source: str) -> None:
+    bad = sorted(
+        path
+        for path in names
+        if "/__pycache__/" in f"/{path}" or path.endswith((".pyc", ".pyo"))
+    )
+    if bad:
+        raise ValueError(f"{source}: generated Python files included: {bad}")
+
+
+def _check_wheel(path: Path, name: str, version: str) -> None:
+    dist_info = f"{name}-{version}.dist-info"
+    with zipfile.ZipFile(path) as archive:
+        names = set(archive.namelist())
+        required = {
+            "vera/__init__.py",
+            "vera/cli.py",
+            "vera/grammar.lark",
+            "vera/browser/harness.mjs",
+            "vera/browser/runtime.mjs",
+            f"{dist_info}/METADATA",
+            f"{dist_info}/entry_points.txt",
+            f"{dist_info}/RECORD",
+        }
+        missing = sorted(required - names)
+        if missing:
+            raise ValueError(f"{path.name}: required files missing: {missing}")
+        if any(item.startswith("tests/") for item in names):
+            raise ValueError(f"{path.name}: wheel must not include tests/")
+        if not any(item == f"{dist_info}/licenses/LICENSE" for item in names):
+            raise ValueError(f"{path.name}: packaged LICENSE is missing")
+        _check_no_generated_files(names, path.name)
+        _check_metadata(
+            archive.read(f"{dist_info}/METADATA"), name, version, path.name
+        )
+
+        entry_points = configparser.ConfigParser()
+        entry_points.read_string(
+            archive.read(f"{dist_info}/entry_points.txt").decode("utf-8")
+        )
+        command = entry_points.get("console_scripts", "vera", fallback="")
+        if command != "vera.cli:main":
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"{path.name}: vera console script is {command!r}, "
+                "expected 'vera.cli:main'"
+            )
+
+
+def _check_sdist(path: Path, name: str, version: str) -> None:
+    top = f"{name}-{version}"
+    with tarfile.open(path, "r:gz") as archive:
+        names = {member.name for member in archive.getmembers()}
+        required = {
+            f"{top}/LICENSE",
+            f"{top}/PKG-INFO",
+            f"{top}/PYPI_README.md",
+            f"{top}/pyproject.toml",
+            f"{top}/vera/grammar.lark",
+            f"{top}/vera/browser/harness.mjs",
+            f"{top}/vera/browser/runtime.mjs",
+        }
+        missing = sorted(required - names)
+        if missing:
+            raise ValueError(f"{path.name}: required files missing: {missing}")
+        _check_no_generated_files(names, path.name)
+        metadata_file = archive.extractfile(f"{top}/PKG-INFO")
+        if metadata_file is None:
+            raise ValueError(f"{path.name}: could not read PKG-INFO")
+        _check_metadata(metadata_file.read(), name, version, path.name)
+
+
+def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
+    args = sys.argv[1:] if argv is None else argv
+    dist_dir = Path(args[0]) if args else ROOT / "dist"
+    name, version = _project_identity()
+    wheel = dist_dir / f"{name}-{version}-py3-none-any.whl"
+    sdist = dist_dir / f"{name}-{version}.tar.gz"
+
+    missing = [str(path) for path in (wheel, sdist) if not path.is_file()]
+    if missing:
+        print(f"ERROR: expected distribution files are missing: {missing}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 1
+
+    try:
+        _check_wheel(wheel, name, version)
+        _check_sdist(sdist, name, version)
+    except (ValueError, OSError, tarfile.TarError, zipfile.BadZipFile) as exc:
+        print(f"ERROR: {exc}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 1
+
+    print(f"Distribution archives for {name} {version} are complete.")
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())
diff --git a/scripts/check_licenses.py b/scripts/check_licenses.py
index 8cce8d51..d04b3e4f 100644
--- a/scripts/check_licenses.py
+++ b/scripts/check_licenses.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 ]
 
 # Packages to exclude from checking (this project itself).
-_SELF_PACKAGES: set[str] = {"vera"}
+_SELF_PACKAGES: set[str] = {"veralang"}
 
 
 def _is_compatible(license_str: str) -> bool:
diff --git a/scripts/check_version_sync.py b/scripts/check_version_sync.py
index dac7057d..89a92fac 100644
--- a/scripts/check_version_sync.py
+++ b/scripts/check_version_sync.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def main() -> int:
         print("ERROR: Could not find version string in README.md", file=sys.stderr)
         return 1
 
-    # uv.lock — the editable ``[[package]] name = "vera"`` entry holds
+    # uv.lock — the editable ``[[package]] name = "veralang"`` entry holds
     # the same version as ``pyproject.toml``.  CI runs ``uv lock --check``
     # in the lint job (`.github/workflows/ci.yml`); a stale lockfile
     # fails CI with a generic "lockfile needs to be updated" message
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def main() -> int:
     if not lock.is_file():
         print("ERROR: uv.lock not found", file=sys.stderr)
         return 1
-    # Match ``name = "vera"`` followed by ``version = "X.Y.Z"`` on the
+    # Match ``name = "veralang"`` followed by ``version = "X.Y.Z"`` on the
     # next non-blank line.  Anchored on the package boundary
     # (``[[package]]``) so we don't accidentally pick up a transitive
     # dependency that happens to be named ``vera`` in some far-future
@@ -114,13 +114,13 @@ def main() -> int:
     # with ``source = { editable = "." }``.
     lock_match = re.search(
         r'\[\[package\]\]\s*\n'
-        r'name\s*=\s*"vera"\s*\n'
+        r'name\s*=\s*"veralang"\s*\n'
         r'version\s*=\s*"([0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+)"',
         lock.read_text(encoding="utf-8"),
     )
     if not lock_match:
         print(
-            'ERROR: Could not find ``[[package]] name = "vera"`` block '
+            'ERROR: Could not find ``[[package]] name = "veralang"`` block '
             "with a version field in uv.lock — has the lockfile shape "
             "changed?",
             file=sys.stderr,
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 45dbf7b0..a41d7c5c 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -1545,7 +1545,7 @@ wheels = [
 ]
 
 [[package]]
-name = "vera"
+name = "veralang"
 version = "0.1.4"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
@@ -1600,8 +1600,8 @@ requires-dist = [
     { name = "pytest-timeout", marker = "extra == 'mutation'", specifier = ">=2.4" },
     { name = "pytest-xdist", marker = "extra == 'dev'", specifier = ">=3.6" },
     { name = "ruff", marker = "extra == 'dev'", specifier = ">=0.15.21" },
-    { name = "vera", extras = ["dev"], marker = "extra == 'mutation'" },
-    { name = "vera", extras = ["lsp"], marker = "extra == 'dev'" },
+    { name = "veralang", extras = ["dev"], marker = "extra == 'mutation'" },
+    { name = "veralang", extras = ["lsp"], marker = "extra == 'dev'" },
     { name = "wasmtime", specifier = ">=46.0.1" },
     { name = "z3-solver", specifier = ">=4.15.5" },
 ]