diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b305c568..b105af9f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,9 +2,36 @@
 
 All notable changes to taskito are documented here. The format is based on
 [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/); the project follows
-[Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html). All SDKs (Python, Node) and the
+[Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html). All SDKs (Python, Node, Java) and the
 underlying Rust crates are released together, in lock-step.
 
+## 0.17.0
+
+Feature release across the SDKs: periodic-task management, task-scoped dead-letter queries, and
+the first **Java SDK** release.
+
+### Added
+
+- **Java SDK.** First release, published to Maven Central as `org.byteveda:taskito`. A JNI binding
+  over the Taskito core with the full producer / worker / inspection / admin surface, workflows,
+  distributed locks, periodic tasks, an in-memory `taskito-test` backend, and a `@TaskHandler`
+  annotation processor. Verified under GraalVM `native-image`.
+- **Periodic task management.** List, unschedule, pause, and resume registered cron tasks —
+  `listPeriodic` / `deletePeriodic` / `pausePeriodic` / `resumePeriodic` (Java, Node) and the
+  equivalent native bindings (Python). Pause toggles the task's `enabled` flag without removing it
+  (#313).
+- **Per-task dead-letter queries.** List and purge dead-letter entries scoped to a single task —
+  `listDeadByTask` / `purgeDeadByTask` (Java), `deadLettersByTask` / `purgeDeadByTask` (Node), and
+  native bindings (Python). Filtering happens server-side so pagination stays correct (#314).
+- **Per-task retry backoff (Java).** `Task.retryPolicy(...)` surfaces the core retry engine's
+  backoff curve — exponential with jitter, or exact explicit delays — with the retry budget still
+  set per enqueue (#311).
+
+### Changed
+
+- **Node now requires Node.js 20+.** Node 18 reached end-of-life; the test toolchain (vitest 4)
+  requires Node 20.12+. The `engines` floor and tsup target were raised accordingly (#312).
+
 ## 0.16.4
 
 Maintenance release. Upgrades the Rust↔Python binding layer and refreshes project docs; no
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 38dee34e..b52ff5c5 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1481,7 +1481,7 @@ checksum = "adb6935a6f5c20170eeceb1a3835a49e12e19d792f6dd344ccc76a985ca5a6ca"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "taskito-core"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
  "chrono",
@@ -1505,7 +1505,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "taskito-java"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
  "crossbeam-channel",
@@ -1523,7 +1523,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "taskito-mesh"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "base64",
  "bincode",
@@ -1538,7 +1538,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "taskito-node"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
  "crossbeam-channel",
@@ -1557,7 +1557,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "taskito-python"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
  "base64",
@@ -1577,7 +1577,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "taskito-workflows"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 dependencies = [
  "dagron-core",
  "diesel",
diff --git a/crates/taskito-core/Cargo.toml b/crates/taskito-core/Cargo.toml
index 293d78f1..c6e1464c 100644
--- a/crates/taskito-core/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/taskito-core/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "taskito-core"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 edition = "2021"
 
 [features]
diff --git a/crates/taskito-java/Cargo.toml b/crates/taskito-java/Cargo.toml
index 4c1c9883..93d47a07 100644
--- a/crates/taskito-java/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/taskito-java/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "taskito-java"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 edition = "2021"
 description = "Java (JNI) bindings for the Taskito task-queue core"
 license = "MIT"
diff --git a/crates/taskito-mesh/Cargo.toml b/crates/taskito-mesh/Cargo.toml
index 5ed7db3c..0cd76aff 100644
--- a/crates/taskito-mesh/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/taskito-mesh/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "taskito-mesh"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 edition = "2021"
 
 [dependencies]
diff --git a/crates/taskito-node/Cargo.toml b/crates/taskito-node/Cargo.toml
index bba056d6..c3f85267 100644
--- a/crates/taskito-node/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/taskito-node/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "taskito-node"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 edition = "2021"
 description = "Node.js (napi-rs) bindings for the Taskito task-queue core"
 license = "MIT"
diff --git a/crates/taskito-python/Cargo.toml b/crates/taskito-python/Cargo.toml
index 27f133e8..055a74f9 100644
--- a/crates/taskito-python/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/taskito-python/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "taskito-python"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 edition = "2021"
 
 [features]
diff --git a/crates/taskito-workflows/Cargo.toml b/crates/taskito-workflows/Cargo.toml
index a2e4c181..3ab8041c 100644
--- a/crates/taskito-workflows/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/taskito-workflows/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "taskito-workflows"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 edition = "2021"
 
 [features]
diff --git a/docs/app/components/landing/hero.tsx b/docs/app/components/landing/hero.tsx
index 2ee9026f..216e559f 100644
--- a/docs/app/components/landing/hero.tsx
+++ b/docs/app/components/landing/hero.tsx
@@ -92,9 +92,12 @@ export function Hero() {
                 onClick={() => setSdk(p.id === "ts" ? "node" : "python")}
               >
                 {p.label}
-                {p.id === "ts" ? <span className="tag beta">Beta</span> : null}
               </button>
             ))}
+            <button type="button" className="langtab" disabled>
+              Java
+              <span className="tag soon">Soon</span>
+            </button>
             <CopyButton text={active.code} />
           </div>
           <div id="hero-panes">
diff --git a/docs/app/styles/landing.css b/docs/app/styles/landing.css
index d174908f..f205af0e 100644
--- a/docs/app/styles/landing.css
+++ b/docs/app/styles/landing.css
@@ -372,9 +372,13 @@ main {
     background 0.15s,
     border-color 0.15s;
 }
-.langtab:hover {
+.langtab:not(:disabled):hover {
   color: var(--txt2);
 }
+.langtab:disabled {
+  cursor: default;
+  opacity: 0.65;
+}
 .langtab.active {
   color: var(--txt);
   background: var(--panel3);
diff --git a/docs/content/docs/resources/changelog.mdx b/docs/content/docs/resources/changelog.mdx
index 0fa8140d..84a8743d 100644
--- a/docs/content/docs/resources/changelog.mdx
+++ b/docs/content/docs/resources/changelog.mdx
@@ -7,9 +7,36 @@ description: "Release history for taskito — every notable change, fix, and fea
 
 All notable changes to taskito are documented here. The format is based on
 [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/); the project follows
-[Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html). All SDKs (Python, Node) and the
+[Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html). All SDKs (Python, Node, Java) and the
 underlying Rust crates are released together, in lock-step.
 
+## 0.17.0
+
+Feature release across the SDKs: periodic-task management, task-scoped dead-letter queries, and
+the first **Java SDK** release.
+
+### Added
+
+- **Java SDK.** First release, published to Maven Central as `org.byteveda:taskito`. A JNI binding
+  over the Taskito core with the full producer / worker / inspection / admin surface, workflows,
+  distributed locks, periodic tasks, an in-memory `taskito-test` backend, and a `@TaskHandler`
+  annotation processor. Verified under GraalVM `native-image`.
+- **Periodic task management.** List, unschedule, pause, and resume registered cron tasks —
+  `listPeriodic` / `deletePeriodic` / `pausePeriodic` / `resumePeriodic` (Java, Node) and the
+  equivalent native bindings (Python). Pause toggles the task's `enabled` flag without removing it
+  (#313).
+- **Per-task dead-letter queries.** List and purge dead-letter entries scoped to a single task —
+  `listDeadByTask` / `purgeDeadByTask` (Java), `deadLettersByTask` / `purgeDeadByTask` (Node), and
+  native bindings (Python). Filtering happens server-side so pagination stays correct (#314).
+- **Per-task retry backoff (Java).** `Task.retryPolicy(...)` surfaces the core retry engine's
+  backoff curve — exponential with jitter, or exact explicit delays — with the retry budget still
+  set per enqueue (#311).
+
+### Changed
+
+- **Node now requires Node.js 20+.** Node 18 reached end-of-life; the test toolchain (vitest 4)
+  requires Node 20.12+. The `engines` floor and tsup target were raised accordingly (#312).
+
 ## 0.16.4
 
 Maintenance release. Upgrades the Rust↔Python binding layer and refreshes project docs; no
@@ -478,6 +505,9 @@ migration steps, rolling-upgrade notes, and the downgrade floor.
 
 ---
 
+<details>
+<summary>Older releases (0.1.0 – 0.10.0)</summary>
+
 ## 0.10.0
 
 ### Features
@@ -590,8 +620,6 @@ migration steps, rolling-upgrade notes, and the downgrade floor.
 
 ---
 
-<details>
-<summary>Older releases (0.1.0 – 0.5.0)</summary>
 
 ## 0.5.0
 
diff --git a/sdks/java/build.gradle.kts b/sdks/java/build.gradle.kts
index 58efdc63..7b9d79ee 100644
--- a/sdks/java/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/sdks/java/build.gradle.kts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ plugins {
 }
 
 group = "org.byteveda"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 
 java {
     // Sources + javadoc jars are added by the maven-publish plugin below.
diff --git a/sdks/java/graalvm-smoke/build.gradle.kts b/sdks/java/graalvm-smoke/build.gradle.kts
index c72a096f..d4919009 100644
--- a/sdks/java/graalvm-smoke/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/sdks/java/graalvm-smoke/build.gradle.kts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ plugins {
 }
 
 group = "org.byteveda"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 
 repositories {
     mavenCentral()
diff --git a/sdks/java/processor/build.gradle.kts b/sdks/java/processor/build.gradle.kts
index e1ebf5ca..d8b8806f 100644
--- a/sdks/java/processor/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/sdks/java/processor/build.gradle.kts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ plugins {
 }
 
 group = "org.byteveda"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 
 java {
     sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_11
diff --git a/sdks/java/test-support/build.gradle.kts b/sdks/java/test-support/build.gradle.kts
index 63f38e07..87977d0e 100644
--- a/sdks/java/test-support/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/sdks/java/test-support/build.gradle.kts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ plugins {
 }
 
 group = "org.byteveda"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 
 java {
     sourceCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_11
diff --git a/sdks/node/package.json b/sdks/node/package.json
index 4d201365..adf66b52 100644
--- a/sdks/node/package.json
+++ b/sdks/node/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@byteveda/taskito",
-  "version": "0.16.4",
+  "version": "0.17.0",
   "description": "Rust-powered task queue for Node.js — no broker required.",
   "license": "MIT",
   "type": "module",
diff --git a/sdks/python/pyproject.toml b/sdks/python/pyproject.toml
index 6cd3cecc..6350ccfa 100644
--- a/sdks/python/pyproject.toml
+++ b/sdks/python/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "maturin"
 
 [project]
 name = "taskito"
-version = "0.16.4"
+version = "0.17.0"
 description = "Rust-powered task queue for Python. No broker required."
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
 license = { file = "LICENSE" }
diff --git a/sdks/python/taskito/__init__.py b/sdks/python/taskito/__init__.py
index 8151db3b..7d5c2c83 100644
--- a/sdks/python/taskito/__init__.py
+++ b/sdks/python/taskito/__init__.py
@@ -122,4 +122,4 @@
 
     __version__ = _get_version("taskito")
 except PackageNotFoundError:
-    __version__ = "0.16.4"
+    __version__ = "0.17.0"