diff --git a/apps/docs/src/content/docs/ai-agents.md b/apps/docs/src/content/docs/ai-agents.md
index 3b1f9b18..a47cdde3 100644
--- a/apps/docs/src/content/docs/ai-agents.md
+++ b/apps/docs/src/content/docs/ai-agents.md
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ It guides decisions about raw versus shaped data, transformations, pagination, i
 bun create chkit@latest my-chkit-app --example hello
 ```
 
-`hello` is the small default schema (two tables, one migration). Pass `--example clickbench` for the full ClickBench dataset load.
+`hello` is two tables and one migration. Pass `--example hello` as shown: the published interactive prompt still preselects `clickbench` until `create-chkit` is republished. Pass `--example clickbench` for the full ClickBench dataset load.
 
 It then runs the same connect flow as `chkit init` (Step 4). Drive it non-interactively with `--connect <choice>` (and `--email` for the claim path), or `--skip-onboarding` to scaffold only.
 
diff --git a/apps/docs/src/content/docs/getting-started/index.mdx b/apps/docs/src/content/docs/getting-started/index.mdx
index e5a8bef2..d1ced2c0 100644
--- a/apps/docs/src/content/docs/getting-started/index.mdx
+++ b/apps/docs/src/content/docs/getting-started/index.mdx
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ For manual setup, start with an example or add chkit to an existing project.
   <LinkCard
     title="Start with an example"
     href="/getting-started/with-an-example/"
-    description="Scaffold the hello example with create-chkit: two tables and one migration. ClickBench stays available for a full dataset load."
+    description="Scaffold hello with create-chkit --example hello: two tables and one migration. The published prompt still preselects ClickBench until create-chkit is republished."
   />
   <LinkCard
     title="Add to an existing project"
diff --git a/apps/docs/src/content/docs/getting-started/with-an-example.mdx b/apps/docs/src/content/docs/getting-started/with-an-example.mdx
index a9c4e92d..69690949 100644
--- a/apps/docs/src/content/docs/getting-started/with-an-example.mdx
+++ b/apps/docs/src/content/docs/getting-started/with-an-example.mdx
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ sidebar:
 import PackagedCommand from '../../../components/PackagedCommand.astro';
 import Command from '../../../components/Command.astro';
 
-`create-chkit` scaffolds a working chkit project by downloading a curated example from the chkit repository and wiring it up against your chosen package manager. The default example is [`hello`](https://github.com/obsessiondb/chkit/tree/main/examples/hello): two small tables and one migration.
+`create-chkit` scaffolds a working chkit project by downloading a curated example from the chkit repository and wiring it up against your chosen package manager. [`hello`](https://github.com/obsessiondb/chkit/tree/main/examples/hello) is two small tables and one migration. Pass `--example hello` to scaffold it.
 
 :::note[Working in Python?]
 The `create-chkit` examples are TypeScript projects. For Python, start with `pip install chkit-py` and run `chkit init` in your project instead — see the [Python overview](/python/overview/).
@@ -21,14 +21,12 @@ The `create-chkit` examples are TypeScript projects. For Python, start with `pip
 
 ## Scaffold a project
 
-Run the package without arguments to be prompted for a project name and to pick from the bundled examples. `hello` is the default in the repository manifest; pass `--example hello` to select it directly.
-
-<PackagedCommand create="chkit@latest" />
-
-Pass a project directory and select `hello` explicitly:
+Pass `--example hello`:
 
 <PackagedCommand create="chkit@latest" args="my-chkit-app --example hello" />
 
+Omitting `--example` prompts from the manifest bundled in the installed `create-chkit` package. That published prompt still preselects `clickbench` and does not list `hello` until `create-chkit` is republished. `--example` downloads the named example from the repository, so `--example hello` works on the current release. The repository manifest default is already `hello`; the prompt picks that up on the next release.
+
 The scaffold then asks how to connect:
 
 ```
@@ -49,7 +47,7 @@ For the full ClickBench schema and public dataset load, pass `--example clickben
 | Flag | Description |
 | --- | --- |
 | `[project-directory]` | Target directory. Prompted if omitted. |
-| `-e, --example <name>` | Example name or full GitHub URL. Prompted with the list of bundled examples if omitted. |
+| `-e, --example <name>` | Example name or full GitHub URL. If omitted, prompted from the manifest bundled in the installed package. |
 | `-m, --package-manager <pm>` | `npm`, `pnpm`, `yarn`, or `bun`. Auto-detected from the invoking package manager. |
 | `--skip-install` | Skip installing dependencies after scaffolding. |
 
@@ -57,10 +55,10 @@ For the full ClickBench schema and public dataset load, pass `--example clickben
 
 | Name | Description |
 | --- | --- |
-| `hello` | Two small tables and one migration. Default. Claim a free ObsessionDB instance or use local ClickHouse. |
-| `clickbench` | Full ClickBench schema and dataset load against ObsessionDB or ClickHouse. |
+| `hello` | Two small tables and one migration. Default in the repository manifest. Claim a free ObsessionDB instance or use local ClickHouse. |
+| `clickbench` | Full ClickBench schema and dataset load against ObsessionDB or ClickHouse. Preselected by the published interactive prompt until `create-chkit` is republished. |
 
-The list and default live in [`examples/manifest.json`](https://github.com/obsessiondb/chkit/blob/main/examples/manifest.json). The same `hello` project can be cloned from [`examples/hello`](https://github.com/obsessiondb/chkit/tree/main/examples/hello) without the scaffolder.
+The list and repository default live in [`examples/manifest.json`](https://github.com/obsessiondb/chkit/blob/main/examples/manifest.json). The same `hello` project can be cloned from [`examples/hello`](https://github.com/obsessiondb/chkit/tree/main/examples/hello) without the scaffolder.
 
 ## Run your first migration
 
diff --git a/packages/create-chkit/README.md b/packages/create-chkit/README.md
index 259deca7..975a31da 100644
--- a/packages/create-chkit/README.md
+++ b/packages/create-chkit/README.md
@@ -16,6 +16,14 @@ yarn create chkit
 
 Pick an example by name:
 
+```sh
+bun create chkit@latest my-app --example hello
+```
+
+`hello` is two tables and one migration. Omitting `--example` prompts from the manifest bundled in the installed package. Published `create-chkit` still preselects `clickbench` and does not list `hello` until that package is republished. `--example` downloads `examples/<name>` from the chkit repository, so `--example hello` works on the current release.
+
+`clickbench` is the full ClickBench schema and dataset load:
+
 ```sh
 bun create chkit@latest my-app --example clickbench
 ```
@@ -25,7 +33,7 @@ bun create chkit@latest my-app --example clickbench
 | Flag | Description |
 | --- | --- |
 | `[project-directory]` | Target directory. Prompted if omitted. |
-| `-e, --example <name>` | Example to scaffold. Bare name (`clickbench`) or full GitHub URL. Prompted with the list of bundled examples if omitted. |
+| `-e, --example <name>` | Example to scaffold. Bare name (`hello`, `clickbench`) or full GitHub URL. If omitted, prompted from the manifest bundled in the installed package. |
 | `-m, --package-manager <pm>` | `npm`, `pnpm`, `yarn`, or `bun`. Auto-detected from the invoking package manager. |
 | `--skip-install` | Skip installing dependencies after scaffolding. |
 | `-v, --version` | Print version. |
@@ -35,6 +43,7 @@ bun create chkit@latest my-app --example clickbench
 
 | Name | Description |
 | --- | --- |
+| `hello` | Two small tables and one migration. Default in the repository manifest. |
 | `clickbench` | Full ClickBench schema and dataset load against ObsessionDB / ClickHouse. |
 
-See the [chkit documentation](https://chkit.obsessiondb.com) for the full list.
+See the [chkit documentation](https://chkit.obsessiondb.com/getting-started/with-an-example/) for the scaffold flow.