diff --git a/docs/development/build_execution_tracker.md b/docs/development/build_execution_tracker.md
index 5df321b..70cce4e 100644
--- a/docs/development/build_execution_tracker.md
+++ b/docs/development/build_execution_tracker.md
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 
 ## Current status
 
-- main baseline updated through: post-write-consistency
-- main baseline commit: `7acff83` (2026-04-11)
-- next branch: feat/publishing-ux-hardening
-- current stage: Stage 2 — Web application operational hardening
+- main baseline updated through: publishing-ux-hardening
+- main baseline commit: `b81016d` (2026-04-11)
+- next branch: feat/multi-select-groundwork
+- current stage: Stage 3 — Web application operator efficiency
 
 ## Slice tracker
 
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@
 
 ### feat/publishing-ux-hardening
 
-- status: in progress (Stage 2B)
+- status: merged to main
+- commit: `b81016d`
 - inspection: complete
 - implementation: complete
 - files changed:
@@ -55,3 +56,12 @@
 - tests: passed (247/247 feature_wordpress)
 - analyze: passed (dart analyze — no issues found)
 - brief updated: yes
+
+### feat/multi-select-groundwork
+
+- status: queued (Stage 3A — next)
+- inspection: pending
+- implementation: pending
+- tests: pending
+- analyze: pending
+- brief updated: no
diff --git a/docs/development/master_development_brief.md b/docs/development/master_development_brief.md
index 832e0f4..c60656b 100644
--- a/docs/development/master_development_brief.md
+++ b/docs/development/master_development_brief.md
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ Rules:
 - ✅ Description-only product edit landed (Stage 1A complete — merged `feat/description-only-edit` → `main` at `cebac4c`, 2026-04-11).
 - ✅ Category-only product edit landed (Stage 1B complete — merged `feat/category-only-edit` → `main` at `8e7e4cb`, 2026-04-11). Stage 1 complete.
 - ✅ Post-write consistency hardening landed (Stage 2A complete — merged `feat/post-write-consistency` → `main` at `7acff83`, 2026-04-11).
+- ✅ Publishing workflow UX hardening landed (Stage 2B complete — merged `feat/publishing-ux-hardening` → `main` at `b81016d`, 2026-04-11). Stage 2 complete.
 
 ### Current narrow edit capabilities on `main`
 
@@ -94,22 +95,14 @@ Rules:
 - `dart analyze` clean
 - `feature_wordpress` tests passing
 - `kell_web` dashboard tests passing
-- latest reported count for `feature_wordpress`: `234/234 passed`
+- latest reported count for `feature_wordpress`: `247/247 passed`
 - latest reported count for `kell_web` dashboard tests: `5/5 passed`
-- baseline commit: `7acff83` (2026-04-11)
+- baseline commit: `b81016d` (2026-04-11)
 
-### In-progress branch
-
-**`feat/publishing-ux-hardening`** — Stage 2B: Publishing workflow UX hardening.
-Branch from `main` at `7acff83`. Implementation complete, pending merge.
-
-- `dart analyze` clean
-- `feature_wordpress` tests: `247/247 passed` (13 new tests added)
-- Ready for PR into `main`.
-
-### Next recommended branch (after 2B merges)
+### Next recommended branch
 
 **`feat/multi-select-groundwork`** — Stage 3A: Multi-select groundwork (read/state only first).
+Branch from `main` at `b81016d`. Stage 2 (operational hardening) is complete.
 
 ---
 
@@ -173,23 +166,10 @@ Improve operator consistency, predictability, and usability after writes.
 > Merged `feat/post-write-consistency` → `main` at `7acff83` (2026-04-11).
 > Added `_refreshSelection()` to `ProductPublishingController` to preserve/refresh selection after all write-triggered reloads. 11 new post-write consistency tests added (234 total `feature_wordpress` tests passing).
 
-#### Stage 2B — Publishing workflow UX hardening
+#### ~~Stage 2B — Publishing workflow UX hardening~~ ✅ COMPLETE
 
-##### Goal
-
-Tighten the publishing workflow without broadening scope.
-
-##### Requirements
-
-- refine success/failure wording if needed
-- improve inline validation messaging for single-field edits
-- ensure disabled/loading states are consistent
-- ensure page-level load errors remain separate from row-level action errors
-
-##### Definition of done
-
-- status/edit actions feel reliable and operator-friendly
-- no architecture broadening
+> Merged `feat/publishing-ux-hardening` → `main` at `b81016d` (2026-04-11).
+> Added inline validation error messages for all four single-field edits (name, price, description, category), disabled text fields and save buttons during `isUpdating`, and appended error detail to failure snack bars. 13 new tests added (247 total `feature_wordpress` tests passing). Stage 2 complete.
 
 ---