diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 68cf2de..d3ed21e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ OrbitHub is in active development.
 - Milestones completed: M0-M5 and M8
 - Current milestone: Milestone 9 (Packaging and Distribution)
 - Deferred milestone: Milestone 6 (VNC Fully Working)
-- Latest checkpoint tag: `v0-m8-wip1`
+- Latest checkpoint tag: `v0-m8-done`
 - VNC implementation milestone (M6) is currently deferred
 
 Progress and milestone details:
diff --git a/docs/BUILDING.md b/docs/BUILDING.md
index c5862d9..8975bf5 100644
--- a/docs/BUILDING.md
+++ b/docs/BUILDING.md
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 
 Run all commands from the repository root unless noted.
 
+## Requirements
+
+Minimum toolchain requirements on all platforms:
+- CMake 3.21+
+- C++17 compiler toolchain
+- Qt 6.2+ with `Widgets` and `Sql` modules (dynamic linking)
+- OpenSSH client available on `PATH` (required for SSH sessions)
+
 ## Linux (Ubuntu / Mint)
 
 ```bash
@@ -9,9 +17,9 @@ sudo apt update
 sudo apt install -y \
   build-essential cmake ninja-build git pkg-config \
   qt6-base-dev qt6-base-dev-tools qt6-tools-dev qt6-tools-dev-tools \
-  openssh-client
+  openssh-client libssl-dev zlib1g-dev
 
-cmake -S . -B build -G Ninja
+cmake -S . -B build -G Ninja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release
 cmake --build build
 ./build/orbithub
 ```
@@ -21,39 +29,58 @@ cmake --build build
 ```bash
 xcode-select --install
 brew update
-brew install cmake ninja pkg-config qt@6 openssh
+brew install cmake ninja pkg-config qt@6 openssh openssl@3
 
-cmake -S . -B build -G Ninja -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="$(brew --prefix qt@6)"
+cmake -S . -B build -G Ninja \
+  -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
+  -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="$(brew --prefix qt@6);$(brew --prefix openssl@3)"
 cmake --build build
 ./build/orbithub
 ```
 
 ## Windows 11 (PowerShell + MSVC + vcpkg)
 
+Install required software:
+
 ```powershell
 winget install -e --id Git.Git
 winget install -e --id Kitware.CMake
 winget install -e --id Ninja-build.Ninja
 Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name OpenSSH.Client~~~~0.0.1.0
 winget install -e --id Microsoft.VisualStudio.2022.BuildTools `
-  --override "--quiet --wait --norestart --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.VCTools"
+  --override "--quiet --wait --norestart --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.VCTools --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows11SDK.22621"
 ```
 
-Open a new terminal after installs, then:
+Install dependencies via vcpkg:
 
 ```powershell
 git clone https://github.com/microsoft/vcpkg C:\dev\vcpkg
 C:\dev\vcpkg\bootstrap-vcpkg.bat
-C:\dev\vcpkg\vcpkg.exe install qtbase:x64-windows
-
-cmake -S . -B build -G Ninja `
-  -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=C:/dev/vcpkg/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake
-cmake --build build
-.\build\orbithub.exe
+C:\dev\vcpkg\vcpkg.exe install qtbase:x64-windows openssl:x64-windows zlib:x64-windows
 ```
 
+Open `x64 Native Tools Command Prompt for VS 2022` (or Developer PowerShell), then build:
+
+```powershell
+cmake -S . -B build -G Ninja `
+  -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release `
+  -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=C:/dev/vcpkg/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake `
+  -DVCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET=x64-windows
+cmake --build build
+```
+
+Run (ensures DLL paths from vcpkg are present):
+
+```powershell
+C:\dev\vcpkg\vcpkg.exe env --triplet x64-windows -- .\build\orbithub.exe
+```
+
+If you already have `Qt 6` from the Qt installer and do not want vcpkg Qt, you can point CMake at that Qt install with `-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=...`, but you still need compatible `OpenSSL` and `zlib` development libraries for the embedded FreeRDP build.
+
 ## Notes
 
-- OrbitHub currently requires Qt6 Widgets and CMake 3.21+.
-- Milestone 3 SSH sessions require an `ssh` client available on `PATH`.
+- OrbitHub builds vendored `KodoTerm`, `libvterm`, and `FreeRDP` from `third_party/`.
 - If Qt is installed in a custom location, pass `-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=/path/to/Qt/6.x.x/<toolchain>` to CMake.
+- Build output executable:
+  - Linux/macOS: `build/orbithub`
+  - Windows: `build\\orbithub.exe`