diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f6993ca..e71c164 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -109,6 +109,18 @@ The package requires Python 3.10 or newer and pins the supported Base-CLI line
 to `>=0.4.3,<0.5`. This checkout targets demo release `v0.1.0`; demo release
 versioning remains separate from framework versioning.
 
+## Documentation
+
+Follow the [documentation index](docs/README.md) for an ordered path from
+adoption decision through the Northstar walkthrough, compatibility, and
+release. To start with a minimal consumer rather than the full demo, use the
+[copyable starter](docs/use-in-your-project.md).
+
+For framework-level material, start at the
+[Base-CLI repository](https://github.com/basefoundry/base-cli), its
+[getting-started guide](https://github.com/basefoundry/base-cli#quick-start),
+or the [public API reference](https://github.com/basefoundry/base-cli/blob/main/docs/api-reference.md).
+
 ## Repository shape
 
 - `src/base_cli_demo/cli.py` contains the consumer-owned Click tree and the
diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..34d0866
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Documentation guide
+
+Use this path to decide whether Base-CLI fits, then move from a tiny starter to
+the complete Northstar consumer:
+
+1. [Why Base-CLI?](why-base-cli.md) — the lifecycle work it supplies and what
+   Northstar keeps in the application.
+2. [Should I use Base-CLI?](should-i-use-base-cli.md) — maturity, fit, costs,
+   and alternatives.
+3. [Use Base-CLI in your project](use-in-your-project.md) — a minimal command
+   you can copy before exploring the larger demo.
+4. [Five-minute learning path](learning-path.md) — install Northstar and follow
+   its human and automation scenarios.
+5. [Lifecycle safety](lifecycle-safety.md) — dry-run, structured errors,
+   diagnostics, temporary files, and cleanup.
+6. [Configuration](configuration.md) — the consumer-owned settings and
+   provenance boundary.
+7. [Optional integrations](optional-integrations.md) — Typer, Rich, and
+   OpenTelemetry extras and fallback paths.
+8. [Compatibility](compatibility.md) — the released Base-CLI range and
+   installed-wheel checks.
+9. [Release process](release-process.md) — independent demo versioning,
+   reproducible packages, and guarded GitHub Release steps.
+
+For the framework's complete material, start at the
+[Base-CLI repository](https://github.com/basefoundry/base-cli), its
+[getting-started guide](https://github.com/basefoundry/base-cli#quick-start),
+or the [public API reference](https://github.com/basefoundry/base-cli/blob/main/docs/api-reference.md).
diff --git a/docs/use-in-your-project.md b/docs/use-in-your-project.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..edf34b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/use-in-your-project.md
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+# Use Base-CLI in your project
+
+Northstar is intentionally production-shaped. If you want the smallest
+transferable pattern, start with one Click command and let Base-CLI own the
+invocation lifecycle.
+
+Install the released framework line used by this demo:
+
+```bash
+python -m pip install "base-cli>=0.4.3,<0.5" "click>=8.1,<9"
+```
+
+Save this as `hello.py`:
+
+```python
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import base_cli
+import click
+
+
+@click.command()
+@click.option("--name", default="world", show_default=True)
+def hello(name: str) -> None:
+    click.echo(f"hello {name}")
+
+
+app = base_cli.App(name="hello", version="0.1.0")
+command = app.attach(hello)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(base_cli.run_app(command))
+```
+
+Run it:
+
+```console
+$ python hello.py --name Ada
+hello Ada
+```
+
+The runnable copy in [`examples/minimal_cli.py`](../examples/minimal_cli.py)
+is exercised by the test suite. From the example, continue with the
+[five-minute Northstar tour](learning-path.md) to see nested commands,
+consumer-owned configuration, and structured output.
+
+The `App` and `attach` calls establish the framework boundary; the Click
+function remains your command. See the framework's
+[consumer quickstart](https://github.com/basefoundry/base-cli/blob/main/docs/consumer-quickstart.md)
+and [API reference](https://github.com/basefoundry/base-cli/blob/main/docs/api-reference.md)
+for the public interfaces.
diff --git a/examples/minimal_cli.py b/examples/minimal_cli.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..68e2d84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/minimal_cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""Smallest runnable Click command attached to the Base-CLI lifecycle."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import base_cli
+import click
+
+
+@click.command()
+@click.option("--name", default="world", show_default=True)
+def hello(name: str) -> None:
+    """Greet one person."""
+
+    click.echo(f"hello {name}")
+
+
+app = base_cli.App(name="hello", version="0.1.0")
+command = app.attach(hello)
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    """Run the minimal example through Base-CLI."""
+
+    return base_cli.run_app(command)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main())
diff --git a/skills.md b/skills.md
index 91e1e81..2ec3afa 100644
--- a/skills.md
+++ b/skills.md
@@ -3,16 +3,41 @@
 Use this file as the repo-local index for project-specific agent workflows.
 Keep entries short, concrete, and owned by this repository.
 
-## Suggested Entries
-
-- Development workflow: issue selection, branch naming, validation, PR creation,
-  merge, and cleanup.
-- Testing workflow: the commands that prove common changes are safe.
-- Release workflow: read `docs/release-process.md` when the repository declares
-  release metadata, then follow its version, changelog, tag, release, and
-  package manager steps.
-- Domain workflow: product-specific checks or demo expectations that agents
-  should not have to rediscover.
+## Development workflow
+
+- Start from a GitHub issue and use its single category label in the branch:
+  `<category>/<issue>-<YYYYMMDD>-<slug>`.
+- Use a dedicated worktree from `origin/main`; keep each PR scoped to one issue.
+- Link a completing PR with `Fixes #<number>`. Do not merge unless the user
+  explicitly asks for it.
+- Preserve existing changes and leave the main checkout clean.
+
+## Validation workflow
+
+- Run `./tests/validate.sh` for the authoritative consumer gate.
+- Run `uv run --extra dev pytest -q` for the complete default suite.
+- Run `uv run --extra dev tests/package.sh` for wheel, sdist, and Twine checks.
+- Run `uv lock --check` when changing dependencies or extras.
+- Optional scenarios should be checked both without extras and with
+  `uv run --extra dev --extra typer --extra rich --extra telemetry pytest -q`.
+
+## Product boundary
+
+- Keep Northstar deterministic, offline, and independent of the Base workspace
+  runtime. It consumes released `base-cli` APIs only.
+- Keep parser commands, service fixtures, and domain policy in this repository;
+  keep lifecycle behavior at the public `base_cli` boundary.
+- Do not make ecosystem/catalog examples depend on unreleased platform
+  contracts.
+
+## Release workflow
+
+- Read `docs/release-process.md` before editing `VERSION`, release notes, tags,
+  or GitHub Releases.
+- Verify package contents and `basectl release check/plan/notes` first.
+- Use `basectl release publish --version X.Y.Z --dry-run` to review the plan.
+  Never create a tag or publish a GitHub Release without explicit user
+  authorization.
 
 ## Boundaries
 
diff --git a/tests/test_minimal_starter.py b/tests/test_minimal_starter.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a68474e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_minimal_starter.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def test_minimal_starter_runs_with_the_installed_framework(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    script = Path(__file__).parents[1] / "examples" / "minimal_cli.py"
+    environment = os.environ.copy()
+    environment["BASE_CLI_CACHE_DIR"] = str(tmp_path / "cache")
+    environment["HOME"] = str(tmp_path / "home")
+    environment["USERPROFILE"] = str(tmp_path / "home")
+
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        [sys.executable, str(script), "--name", "Ada"],
+        capture_output=True,
+        cwd=tmp_path,
+        env=environment,
+        text=True,
+        check=False,
+    )
+
+    assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr
+    assert result.stdout.strip() == "hello Ada"