Add VersionService to fetch and cache the latest GitHub release, compare it to the installed semver (APP_VERSION when valid, else setup.py), and expose admin-only GET /api/version/check and POST /api/version/dismiss on the legacy /api blueprint (session or Bearer token).
Persist per-user dismissal in users.dismissed_release_version (Alembic 148) and show a non-blocking update card in base.html for administrators. Add packaging for semver parsing and tests for comparison, service, and routes.
Document configuration in docs/admin/deployment/VERSION_MANAGEMENT.md and endpoints in docs/api/REST_API.md and docs/API.md.