diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-iso.yml b/.github/workflows/build-iso.yml
index 1958c0b..56416df 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-iso.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-iso.yml
@@ -1,24 +1,100 @@
-name: Build AeThex-OS
+name: Build AeThex Linux ISO
 
 on:
   push:
     branches:
       - main
   workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      release:
+        description: "Create a GitHub Release with ISO artifact"
+        type: boolean
+        default: false
 
 jobs:
-  build:
+  build_client:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      
-      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Setup Node.js
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: '22'
-      
-      - run: npm install
-      
-      - run: npm run build
-      
-      - run: echo "✅ Build successful"
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: npm install
+
+      - name: Build client
+        run: npm run build
+
+      - name: Client build complete
+        run: echo "✅ Client build successful"
+
+  build_iso:
+    needs: build_client
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Install ISO build dependencies
+        run: |
+          sudo apt-get update
+          sudo apt-get install -y \
+            debootstrap \
+            squashfs-tools \
+            xorriso \
+            grub-pc-bin \
+            grub-efi-amd64-bin \
+            isolinux \
+            syslinux-common \
+            curl
+
+      - name: Build AeThex Linux ISO (if script exists)
+        run: |
+          set -e
+          if [ -f script/build-linux-iso.sh ]; then
+            bash script/build-linux-iso.sh
+          else
+            echo "⚠️ script/build-linux-iso.sh not found; creating placeholder artifact"
+            mkdir -p aethex-linux-build
+            echo "AeThex Linux ISO build script is not yet implemented." > aethex-linux-build/README.txt
+          fi
+
+      - name: Verify ISO artifact
+        run: |
+          set -e
+          if ls aethex-linux-build/AeThex-Linux-*.iso 1> /dev/null 2>&1; then
+            echo "✅ ISO built successfully"
+            ls -lh aethex-linux-build/AeThex-Linux-*.iso
+            sha256sum aethex-linux-build/AeThex-Linux-*.iso > aethex-linux-build/SHA256
+            cat aethex-linux-build/SHA256
+          else
+            echo "ℹ️ No ISO found; uploading placeholder artifacts (if any)"
+            ls -lah aethex-linux-build || true
+          fi
+
+      - name: Upload ISO artifacts
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: AeThex-Linux-ISO
+          path: |
+            aethex-linux-build/**
+          if-no-files-found: warn
+          retention-days: 90
+
+      - name: Create GitHub Release (optional)
+        if: ${{ github.event.inputs.release == 'true' }}
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
+        with:
+          tag_name: iso-${{ github.run_number }}
+          name: AeThex Linux ISO build #${{ github.run_number }}
+          draft: false
+          prerelease: false
+          files: |
+            aethex-linux-build/AeThex-Linux-*.iso
+            aethex-linux-build/SHA256
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/script/build-linux-iso.sh b/script/build-linux-iso.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ff3677e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script/build-linux-iso.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# AeThex Linux ISO build script (placeholder)
+# This script creates the expected artifact directory so CI can succeed.
+# Replace with a real implementation when ready.
+
+echo "Starting AeThex Linux ISO build (placeholder)"
+
+# Create artifact directory
+mkdir -p aethex-linux-build
+
+# Placeholder content
+cat > aethex-linux-build/README.txt << 'EOF'
+AeThex Linux ISO build script is not yet implemented.
+This is a placeholder artifact to validate CI wiring.
+
+When implemented, this folder should contain:
+- AeThex-Linux-<version>.iso
+- SHA256 (checksum file)
+EOF
+
+# Exit successfully
+echo "Placeholder ISO build complete."