diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0877ddce8..44436c100 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,21 @@
+## [1.10.3-beta.3](https://github.com/analogjs/analog/compare/v1.10.3-beta.2...v1.10.3-beta.3) (2024-12-17)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **platform:** add front-matter for default optimization ([#1510](https://github.com/analogjs/analog/issues/1510)) ([faab0d5](https://github.com/analogjs/analog/commit/faab0d5d9c23ac571cc1be77efdbaf99b8db0a3c))
+
+## [1.10.3-beta.2](https://github.com/analogjs/analog/compare/v1.10.3-beta.1...v1.10.3-beta.2) (2024-12-17)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **vitest-angular:** use vite overrides to pass test watch mode ([#1509](https://github.com/analogjs/analog/issues/1509)) ([438571f](https://github.com/analogjs/analog/commit/438571fc847ed9cf1594e7efac9c510b812c1cd0))
+
+## [1.10.3-beta.1](https://github.com/analogjs/analog/compare/v1.10.2...v1.10.3-beta.1) (2024-12-17)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **vitest-angular:** set watch mode flag when passed from CLI args ([#1508](https://github.com/analogjs/analog/issues/1508)) ([f4fbe77](https://github.com/analogjs/analog/commit/f4fbe77b7c819bdb601cd4cfa2c041038f85ace5))
+
 ## [1.10.2](https://github.com/analogjs/analog/compare/v1.10.1...v1.10.2) (2024-12-16)
 
 ### Bug Fixes
diff --git a/libs/card/project.json b/libs/card/project.json
index 8ae9976eb..8516d17fc 100644
--- a/libs/card/project.json
+++ b/libs/card/project.json
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
   "prefix": "lib",
   "projectType": "library",
   "tags": [],
-  "implicitDependencies": ["vitest-angular"],
   "targets": {
     "test": {
       "executor": "@nx/vite:test"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 18da9d272..5c1198a22 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "analogjs-platform",
-  "version": "1.10.2",
+  "version": "1.10.3-beta.3",
   "license": "MIT",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/packages/astro-angular/package.json b/packages/astro-angular/package.json
index 2fb789326..9db831dff 100644
--- a/packages/astro-angular/package.json
+++ b/packages/astro-angular/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@analogjs/astro-angular",
-  "version": "1.10.2",
+  "version": "1.10.3-beta.3",
   "description": "Use Angular components within Astro",
   "type": "module",
   "author": "Brandon Roberts <robertsbt@gmail.com>",
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
     "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/brandonroberts"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.2"
+    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3"
   },
   "peerDependencies": {
     "@angular-devkit/build-angular": ">=16.0.0",
diff --git a/packages/content/package.json b/packages/content/package.json
index 754669b8d..af842ab06 100644
--- a/packages/content/package.json
+++ b/packages/content/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@analogjs/content",
-  "version": "1.10.2",
+  "version": "1.10.3-beta.3",
   "description": "Content Rendering for Analog",
   "type": "module",
   "author": "Brandon Roberts <robertsbt@gmail.com>",
diff --git a/packages/create-analog/package.json b/packages/create-analog/package.json
index 78d1c4f04..0d5ab2cd3 100644
--- a/packages/create-analog/package.json
+++ b/packages/create-analog/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "create-analog",
-  "version": "1.10.2",
+  "version": "1.10.3-beta.3",
   "type": "module",
   "license": "MIT",
   "author": "Brandon Roberts",
diff --git a/packages/create-analog/template-angular-v16/package.json b/packages/create-analog/template-angular-v16/package.json
index f874206fa..09809c2e4 100644
--- a/packages/create-analog/template-angular-v16/package.json
+++ b/packages/create-analog/template-angular-v16/package.json
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
     "test": "ng test"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/content": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/router": "^1.10.2",
+    "@analogjs/content": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/router": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "@angular/animations": "^16.2.0",
     "@angular/common": "^16.2.0",
     "@angular/compiler": "^16.2.0",
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@
     "zone.js": "~0.13.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/platform": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/vitest-angular": "^1.10.2",
+    "@analogjs/platform": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/vitest-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "@angular-devkit/build-angular": "^16.2.0",
     "@angular/cli": "^16.2.0",
     "@angular/compiler-cli": "^16.2.0",
diff --git a/packages/create-analog/template-angular-v17/package.json b/packages/create-analog/template-angular-v17/package.json
index 5999585b2..40aa21144 100644
--- a/packages/create-analog/template-angular-v17/package.json
+++ b/packages/create-analog/template-angular-v17/package.json
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
     "test": "ng test"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/content": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/router": "^1.10.2",
+    "@analogjs/content": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/router": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "@angular/animations": "^17.2.0",
     "@angular/common": "^17.2.0",
     "@angular/compiler": "^17.2.0",
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@
     "zone.js": "~0.14.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/platform": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/vitest-angular": "^1.10.2",
+    "@analogjs/platform": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/vitest-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "@angular-devkit/build-angular": "^17.2.0",
     "@angular/cli": "^17.2.0",
     "@angular/compiler-cli": "^17.2.0",
diff --git a/packages/create-analog/template-angular-v18/package.json b/packages/create-analog/template-angular-v18/package.json
index e54e89282..38487537f 100644
--- a/packages/create-analog/template-angular-v18/package.json
+++ b/packages/create-analog/template-angular-v18/package.json
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
   },
   "private": true,
   "dependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/content": "^1.9.5-beta.1",
-    "@analogjs/router": "^1.9.5-beta.1",
+    "@analogjs/content": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/router": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "@angular/animations": "^18.0.0",
     "@angular/build": "^18.0.0",
     "@angular/common": "^18.0.0",
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@
     "zone.js": "~0.14.3"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/platform": "^1.9.5-beta.1",
-    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.9.5-beta.1",
-    "@analogjs/vitest-angular": "^1.9.5-beta.1",
+    "@analogjs/platform": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/vitest-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "@angular/cli": "^18.0.0",
     "@angular/compiler-cli": "^18.0.0",
     "jsdom": "^22.0.0",
diff --git a/packages/create-analog/template-blog/package.json b/packages/create-analog/template-blog/package.json
index 5fc1e44ee..33821da71 100644
--- a/packages/create-analog/template-blog/package.json
+++ b/packages/create-analog/template-blog/package.json
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
   },
   "private": true,
   "dependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/content": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/router": "^1.10.2",
+    "@analogjs/content": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/router": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "@angular/animations": "^19.0.0",
     "@angular/common": "^19.0.0",
     "@angular/compiler": "^19.0.0",
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@
     "zone.js": "~0.15.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/platform": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/vitest-angular": "^1.10.2",
+    "@analogjs/platform": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/vitest-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "@angular-devkit/build-angular": "^19.0.0",
     "@angular/build": "^19.0.0",
     "@angular/cli": "^19.0.0",
diff --git a/packages/create-analog/template-latest/package.json b/packages/create-analog/template-latest/package.json
index 4029b1f42..cd803c717 100644
--- a/packages/create-analog/template-latest/package.json
+++ b/packages/create-analog/template-latest/package.json
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
   },
   "private": true,
   "dependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/content": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/router": "^1.10.2",
+    "@analogjs/content": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/router": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "@angular/animations": "^19.0.0",
     "@angular/common": "^19.0.0",
     "@angular/compiler": "^19.0.0",
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@
     "zone.js": "~0.15.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/platform": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/vitest-angular": "^1.10.2",
+    "@analogjs/platform": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/vitest-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "@angular-devkit/build-angular": "^19.0.0",
     "@angular/build": "^19.0.0",
     "@angular/cli": "^19.0.0",
diff --git a/packages/create-analog/template-minimal/package.json b/packages/create-analog/template-minimal/package.json
index 4029b1f42..cd803c717 100644
--- a/packages/create-analog/template-minimal/package.json
+++ b/packages/create-analog/template-minimal/package.json
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
   },
   "private": true,
   "dependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/content": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/router": "^1.10.2",
+    "@analogjs/content": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/router": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "@angular/animations": "^19.0.0",
     "@angular/common": "^19.0.0",
     "@angular/compiler": "^19.0.0",
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@
     "zone.js": "~0.15.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/platform": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/vitest-angular": "^1.10.2",
+    "@analogjs/platform": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/vitest-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "@angular-devkit/build-angular": "^19.0.0",
     "@angular/build": "^19.0.0",
     "@angular/cli": "^19.0.0",
diff --git a/packages/platform/package.json b/packages/platform/package.json
index ba5266a26..02674f147 100644
--- a/packages/platform/package.json
+++ b/packages/platform/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@analogjs/platform",
-  "version": "1.10.2",
+  "version": "1.10.3-beta.3",
   "description": "The fullstack meta-framework for Angular",
   "type": "module",
   "author": "Brandon Roberts <robertsbt@gmail.com>",
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "nitropack": "^2.10.0",
-    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.2",
-    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-nitro": "^1.10.2",
+    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
+    "@analogjs/vite-plugin-nitro": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "vitefu": "^0.2.5"
   },
   "peerDependencies": {
diff --git a/packages/platform/src/lib/deps-plugin.ts b/packages/platform/src/lib/deps-plugin.ts
index dadedb964..cea9f4a9d 100644
--- a/packages/platform/src/lib/deps-plugin.ts
+++ b/packages/platform/src/lib/deps-plugin.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export function depsPlugin(options?: Options): Plugin[] {
               ...(Number(VERSION.major) > 15
                 ? ['@angular/core/rxjs-interop']
                 : []),
+              'front-matter',
             ],
             exclude: [
               '@angular/platform-server',
diff --git a/packages/router/package.json b/packages/router/package.json
index 7166c921f..0e8d09f64 100644
--- a/packages/router/package.json
+++ b/packages/router/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@analogjs/router",
-  "version": "1.10.2",
+  "version": "1.10.3-beta.3",
   "description": "Filesystem-based routing for Angular",
   "type": "module",
   "author": "Brandon Roberts <robertsbt@gmail.com>",
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/brandonroberts"
   },
   "peerDependencies": {
-    "@analogjs/content": "^1.10.2",
+    "@analogjs/content": "^1.10.3-beta.3",
     "@angular/core": "^15.0.0 || ^16.0.0 || ^17.0.0 || ^18.0.0 || ^19.0.0",
     "@angular/router": "^15.0.0 || ^16.0.0 || ^17.0.0 || ^18.0.0 || ^19.0.0"
   },
diff --git a/packages/vite-plugin-angular/package.json b/packages/vite-plugin-angular/package.json
index 9d7e55488..e74ecd6a8 100644
--- a/packages/vite-plugin-angular/package.json
+++ b/packages/vite-plugin-angular/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@analogjs/vite-plugin-angular",
-  "version": "1.10.2",
+  "version": "1.10.3-beta.3",
   "description": "Vite Plugin for Angular",
   "type": "module",
   "keywords": [
diff --git a/packages/vite-plugin-angular/src/lib/angular-vite-plugin.ts b/packages/vite-plugin-angular/src/lib/angular-vite-plugin.ts
index a9e613a73..bba61b12c 100644
--- a/packages/vite-plugin-angular/src/lib/angular-vite-plugin.ts
+++ b/packages/vite-plugin-angular/src/lib/angular-vite-plugin.ts
@@ -214,7 +214,13 @@ export function angular(options?: PluginOptions): Plugin[] {
       },
       configResolved(config) {
         resolvedConfig = config;
-        testWatchMode = !(config.server.watch === null);
+
+        // set test watch mode
+        // - vite override from vitest-angular
+        // - @nx/vite executor set server.watch explicitly to undefined (watch)/null (watch=false)
+        // - vite config for test.watch variable
+        testWatchMode =
+          !(config.server.watch === null) || config.test?.watch === true;
       },
       configureServer(server) {
         viteServer = server;
diff --git a/packages/vite-plugin-nitro/package.json b/packages/vite-plugin-nitro/package.json
index 33af4d95a..8b06c9ed1 100644
--- a/packages/vite-plugin-nitro/package.json
+++ b/packages/vite-plugin-nitro/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@analogjs/vite-plugin-nitro",
-  "version": "1.10.2",
+  "version": "1.10.3-beta.3",
   "description": "A Vite plugin for adding a nitro API server",
   "type": "module",
   "author": "Brandon Roberts <robertsbt@gmail.com>",
diff --git a/packages/vitest-angular/package.json b/packages/vitest-angular/package.json
index 8fa990da1..5942a05ed 100644
--- a/packages/vitest-angular/package.json
+++ b/packages/vitest-angular/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@analogjs/vitest-angular",
-  "version": "1.10.2",
+  "version": "1.10.3-beta.3",
   "description": "Vitest Builder for Angular",
   "type": "commonjs",
   "author": "Brandon Roberts <robertsbt@gmail.com>",
diff --git a/packages/vitest-angular/src/lib/builders/test/vitest.impl.ts b/packages/vitest-angular/src/lib/builders/test/vitest.impl.ts
index 8c9bd3819..00b837b53 100644
--- a/packages/vitest-angular/src/lib/builders/test/vitest.impl.ts
+++ b/packages/vitest-angular/src/lib/builders/test/vitest.impl.ts
@@ -21,14 +21,17 @@ async function vitestBuilder(
     context.target as unknown as string
   );
   const extraArgs = await getExtraArgs(options);
+  const watch = options.watch === true;
   const config = {
     root: `${projectConfig['root'] || '.'}`,
-    watch: options.watch === true,
+    watch,
     config: options.configFile,
     ...extraArgs,
   };
 
-  const server = await startVitest('test', options.testFiles ?? [], config);
+  const server = await startVitest('test', options.testFiles ?? [], config, {
+    test: { watch },
+  });
 
   let hasErrors = false;
 
diff --git a/release.config.cjs b/release.config.cjs
index f39a4ba01..293961793 100644
--- a/release.config.cjs
+++ b/release.config.cjs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const replacementFiles = [
   'packages/astro-angular/package.json',
   'packages/create-analog/template-angular-v16/package.json',
   'packages/create-analog/template-angular-v17/package.json',
+  'packages/create-analog/template-angular-v18/package.json',
   'packages/create-analog/template-blog/package.json',
   'packages/create-analog/template-latest/package.json',
   'packages/create-analog/template-minimal/package.json',
@@ -16,7 +17,11 @@ const replacementFiles = [
 ];
 
 module.exports = {
-  branches: ['main', { name: 'beta', prerelease: true }],
+  branches: [
+    'main',
+    { name: 'beta', prerelease: true },
+    { name: 'alpha', prerelease: true },
+  ],
   plugins: [
     '@semantic-release/commit-analyzer',
     '@semantic-release/release-notes-generator',
@@ -126,6 +131,12 @@ module.exports = {
         ],
       },
     ],
+    [
+      '@semantic-release/exec',
+      {
+        publishCmd: `pnpm build && RELEASE_TAG=${tag} ./tools/publish.sh`,
+      },
+    ],
     [
       '@semantic-release/git',
       {
@@ -137,6 +148,7 @@ module.exports = {
           'packages/create-analog/package.json',
           'packages/create-analog/template-angular-v16/package.json',
           'packages/create-analog/template-angular-v17/package.json',
+          'packages/create-analog/template-angular-v18/package.json',
           'packages/create-analog/template-blog/package.json',
           'packages/create-analog/template-latest/package.json',
           'packages/create-analog/template-minimal/package.json',
@@ -149,12 +161,6 @@ module.exports = {
         message: 'chore: release ${nextRelease.version} [skip ci]',
       },
     ],
-    [
-      '@semantic-release/exec',
-      {
-        publishCmd: `pnpm build && RELEASE_TAG=${tag} ./tools/publish.sh`,
-      },
-    ],
   ],
   preset: 'angular',
 };