diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,80 +1,5 @@
-# create-python-app
-
-Composable scaffolding CLI for production-ready Python apps.
-
-> **Status:** bootstrapping. Roadmap: [#1](https://github.com/Create-Python-App/create-python-app/issues/1).
-
-
-## Install (preview)
-
-Once published to PyPI:
-
-```bash
-uvx create-awesome-python-app@latest my-app
-```
-
-Until the first release, use the workspace CLI stub:
-
-```bash
-uv sync
-uv run create-awesome-python-app
-```
-
-## License
-
-MIT — see [LICENSE](./LICENSE).
-
-## Monorepo layout (uv workspaces)
-
-This repository is a **virtual uv workspace**: the root is not published; packages live under `packages/*` and share one `uv.lock` / `.venv`.
-
-```text
-create-python-app/          # virtual workspace root (no [project] table)
-├── pyproject.toml          # [tool.uv.workspace] members = ["packages/*"]
-├── uv.lock
-├── .venv/                  # shared environment (gitignored later)
-└── packages/
-    ├── create-python-app-core/       # scaffolding engine
-    └── create-awesome-python-app/    # CLI (depends on core via workspace)
-```
-
-### Setup
-
-```bash
-# Requires uv: https://docs.astral.sh/uv/
-uv sync
-```
-
-
-
-## Development commands
-
-From the repo root (requires [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)):
-
-| Task | Make | Equivalent |
-|------|------|------------|
-| Install workspace | `make sync` | `uv sync` |
-| Tests | `make test` | `uv run pytest` |
-| Lint | `make lint` | `uv run ruff check .` |
-| Type-check | `make typecheck` | `uv run pyright` |
-| Build packages | `make build` | `uv build --all` |
-
-> Install git hooks: `uv run pre-commit install`
->
-> Ruff, Pyright, and pytest are wired in Epic 2 (`#17`–`#20`). Until then, `make lint` / `test` / `typecheck` will fail if those tools are not installed yet — that is expected.
-
-## Python version
-
-- **Pin file:** `.python-version` → `3.12`
-- **Constraint:** every workspace member sets `requires-python = ">=3.12"`
-- **CI:** workflows (Epic 6 / #45) must install Python 3.12+ matching this pin
-
-```bash
-uv python install  # respects .python-version when needed
-uv sync
-```
-
-### Reference
-
-- [uv workspaces handbook](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/how-to/how-to-set-up-a-python-monorepo-with-uv-workspaces/)
-- Node parity: [Create-Node-App/create-node-app](https://github.com/Create-Node-App/create-node-app)
+# create-python-app\n\n[![CI Tests](https://github.com/Create-Python-App/create-python-app/actions/workflows/test.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/Create-Python-App/create-python-app/actions/workflows/test.yml)
+[![Lint](https://github.com/Create-Python-App/create-python-app/actions/workflows/lint.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/Create-Python-App/create-python-app/actions/workflows/lint.yml)
+[![Typecheck](https://github.com/Create-Python-App/create-python-app/actions/workflows/type-check.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/Create-Python-App/create-python-app/actions/workflows/type-check.yml)
+[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](./LICENSE)
+<!-- PyPI / coverage badges activate after first publish -->\nComposable scaffolding CLI for production-ready Python apps.\n\n> **Status:** bootstrapping. Roadmap: [#1](https://github.com/Create-Python-App/create-python-app/issues/1).\n\n\n## Install (preview)\n\nOnce published to PyPI:\n\n```bash\nuvx create-awesome-python-app@latest my-app\n```\n\nUntil the first release, use the workspace CLI stub:\n\n```bash\nuv sync\nuv run create-awesome-python-app\n```\n\n## License\n\nMIT — see [LICENSE](./LICENSE).\n\n## Monorepo layout (uv workspaces)\n\nThis repository is a **virtual uv workspace**: the root is not published; packages live under `packages/*` and share one `uv.lock` / `.venv`.\n\n```text\ncreate-python-app/          # virtual workspace root (no [project] table)\n├── pyproject.toml          # [tool.uv.workspace] members = ["packages/*"]\n├── uv.lock\n├── .venv/                  # shared environment (gitignored later)\n└── packages/\n    ├── create-python-app-core/       # scaffolding engine\n    └── create-awesome-python-app/    # CLI (depends on core via workspace)\n```\n\n### Setup\n\n```bash\n# Requires uv: https://docs.astral.sh/uv/\nuv sync\n```\n\n\n\n## Development commands\n\nFrom the repo root (requires [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)):\n\n| Task | Make | Equivalent |\n|------|------|------------|\n| Install workspace | `make sync` | `uv sync` |\n| Tests | `make test` | `uv run pytest` |\n| Lint | `make lint` | `uv run ruff check .` |\n| Type-check | `make typecheck` | `uv run pyright` |\n| Build packages | `make build` | `uv build --all` |\n\n> Install git hooks: `uv run pre-commit install`\n>\n> Ruff, Pyright, and pytest are wired in Epic 2 (`#17`–`#20`). Until then, `make lint` / `test` / `typecheck` will fail if those tools are not installed yet — that is expected.\n\n## Python version\n\n- **Pin file:** `.python-version` → `3.12`\n- **Constraint:** every workspace member sets `requires-python = ">=3.12"`\n- **CI:** workflows (Epic 6 / #45) must install Python 3.12+ matching this pin\n\n```bash\nuv python install  # respects .python-version when needed\nuv sync\n```\n\n### Reference\n\n- [uv workspaces handbook](https://pydevtools.com/handbook/how-to/how-to-set-up-a-python-monorepo-with-uv-workspaces/)\n- Node parity: [Create-Node-App/create-node-app](https://github.com/Create-Node-App/create-node-app)\n
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