diff --git a/.changelog/package-readme.md b/.changelog/package-readme.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..425c91a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/package-readme.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+category: changed
+type: patch
+pull_request: 34
+---
+
+Organize the README around verified installation, commands, configuration, integration and compatibility, with source-backed badges, API summary and contributor guidance.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f690a8d..ab01867 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,11 +1,37 @@
 # Fast Forward Code Standards
 
+[![PHP](https://img.shields.io/badge/php-%5E8.3-777BB4?logo=php&logoColor=white)](composer.json)
+[![Composer Package](https://img.shields.io/badge/composer-fast--forward%2Fcode--standards-F28D1A?logo=composer&logoColor=white)](https://packagist.org/packages/fast-forward/code-standards)
+[![Tests](https://img.shields.io/github/actions/workflow/status/php-fast-forward/code-standards/repository-ci.yml?branch=main&label=tests)](https://github.com/php-fast-forward/code-standards/actions/workflows/repository-ci.yml)
+[![Docs](https://img.shields.io/badge/docs-source-38BDF8)](docs/architecture.md)
+[![License](https://img.shields.io/github/license/php-fast-forward/code-standards?color=64748B)](LICENSE)
+[![GitHub Sponsors](https://img.shields.io/github/sponsors/php-fast-forward?color=EC4899)](https://github.com/sponsors/php-fast-forward)
+
 Focused PHP style and static syntax checks, independent of DevTools. The library
 provides an extendable ECS PSR-12 preset; the CLI checks tracked PHP files or the files
 changed by an exact PR head. This initial increment validates PHP syntax and
 style, not type correctness, application behavior or coverage.
 
-## Local development and first adoption
+## ✨ Features
+
+- Native ECS configuration with consumer overrides applied last.
+- Read-only syntax/style checking and explicitly requested local fixes.
+- Exact PR merge-base selection with binary-safe file paths.
+- Invocable Symfony Console commands composed with Fast Forward Container.
+- An unprivileged reusable workflow and a portable consumption skill.
+
+## 📦 Installation and requirements
+
+Install the published development tool in your Git project:
+
+```sh
+composer require --dev fast-forward/code-standards:^0.1 --no-plugins --no-scripts
+vendor/bin/code-standards check --all
+```
+
+The verified first release is `v0.1.0`; select a compatible version deliberately.
+The separate GitHub `v0` workflow channel can advance across development minors.
+
 
 Requires PHP 8.3+, Git and Composer runtime API 2.2+ for installed binary proxies.
 Composer resolves the tool runtime independently from
@@ -23,6 +49,8 @@ and activation are explicit. The development `check` script validates Composer
 metadata and the actual platform before running this package's tests and style
 check. Operational channel dependencies remain development-only.
 
+For a reviewed source checkout:
+
 ```sh
 composer install --no-plugins --no-scripts
 php bin/code-standards help
@@ -32,6 +60,8 @@ php bin/code-standards fix --all
 composer test
 ```
 
+## 🛠️ Usage
+
 `check` reports violations with a nonzero status and does not change source.
 The default preset stores its ECS cache beneath the system temporary directory,
 in `fast-forward-code-standards/<SHA-256 of the executing checkout path>`.
@@ -53,13 +83,13 @@ Symfony Console provides `help check`, standard global flags and both
 `--option=value` and `--option value`. Error diagnostics use stderr. Empty paths,
 conflicting scan modes and unsupported arguments are rejected explicitly.
 
-### Library and local configuration
+## ⚙️ Configuration and extension
 
-Once a reviewed version/ref is available, install `fast-forward/code-standards`
-as development tooling. No release of this package is assumed by these examples.
-To trial before publication, use a Composer path repository pointing at this
-checkout, require `*@dev`, and disable plugins/scripts. Production adoption must
-select the reviewed Composer version and workflow/runtime refs together.
+Install `fast-forward/code-standards` as development tooling. Select the reviewed
+Composer version and workflow/runtime refs independently and deliberately. For
+an isolated source trial, a local Composer path repository may require `*@dev`
+with plugins/scripts disabled; that constraint describes the checkout, not a
+published release.
 
 ```php
 <?php
@@ -87,7 +117,7 @@ both ECS and a competing PHP-CS-Fixer pass. Standalone ECS users may import the
 same library preset and set their own paths. CLI selection uses the scope below;
 ECS's configured paths do not expand the CLI's explicit selected file list.
 
-## File scope and guarantees
+## 🔌 Integration and file scope
 
 - Tracked `*.php` and PHP entrypoints under `bin/` are included.
 - `vendor`, `.git`, `.build`, `.dev-tools`, `backup`, `cache`, `public`,
@@ -106,3 +136,89 @@ The [architecture decision](docs/architecture.md) defines library/tool dependenc
 directions and CPX/autoload limits.
 Rector/custom PHPDoc transformations and deeper static analysis are separate,
 unimplemented increments; this package does not assert extraction parity yet.
+
+## 🧰 API summary
+
+| Entry point | Contract |
+| --- | --- |
+| `code-standards check` | Parse selected PHP and check style without changing source. |
+| `code-standards fix` | Explicitly format selected source, then verify; failures may leave partial changes. |
+| `ECSConfig::configure(?callable $customize)` | Return the native ECS builder; apply the optional callback last. |
+| `help check` / `help fix` | Show the installed Symfony option definitions. |
+
+Internal CLI services are implementation details. Supported configuration uses
+native ECS rule imports, skips and configured rules; there is no second DSL.
+
+## 📁 Package layout
+
+```text
+bin/code-standards                       CLI entrypoint
+config/ecs.php                          default native ECS configuration
+src/Config/ECSConfig.php                 reusable preset API
+resources/skills/fast-forward-code-standards/  canonical consumer skill
+resources/workflows/code-standards.yml   consumer workflow wrapper
+.github/actions/check/                  small check adapter
+docs/                                   architecture, policy and integration guides
+```
+
+## 🛠️ Versioning and compatibility
+
+Development releases stay in `0.x`. A compatible correction uses a patch;
+functionality and breaking development changes use a minor. Changelog automation
+prepares and publishes versions through reviewed PRs. Verify actual
+[releases](https://github.com/php-fast-forward/code-standards/releases) before
+selecting a Composer constraint. The GitHub `v0` channel is created only after a
+verified publication and can advance across development minors; it is not a
+Composer `^0.1` constraint.
+
+## ❓ FAQ
+
+**Can I use this as a staged-only pre-commit check?**
+The CLI selects working-tree files from Git, not staged index blobs. Changed
+mode requires a clean tracked checkout and cannot certify staged-only content.
+
+**Does it run PHPStan, Rector or my application's tests?**
+No. This increment checks syntax and style. Type analysis, semantic refactoring
+and application testing have separate scopes and compatibility requirements.
+
+**Does a successful first fix always mean the source is clean?**
+The CLI verifies each formatted batch and reports remaining violations. Rules
+can interact across passes; inspect the diff before explicitly fixing again.
+
+**Where do agent skills come from?**
+The canonical payload is under `resources/skills`, advertised by
+`extra.skills.source`. Consumers may explicitly select the optional LLM Skills manager. This package
+does not provide another installer, activate skills or migrate consumer settings.
+The DevTools README/Sphinx authoring skills were read as references and were not
+imported into this repository.
+
+## 🛡️ License
+
+[MIT](LICENSE). Dash artwork follows the PHP Fast Forward brand references;
+the upstream [artwork provenance record](https://github.com/php-fast-forward/.github/blob/v0.3.0/docs/brand/artwork-rights.md)
+records its generative origin and historical rights limits separately.
+
+## 🤝 Contributing
+
+Read [AGENTS.md](AGENTS.md), add a focused regression and a unique `.changelog`
+fragment, then open a scoped PR. Preserve check's source/lock no-write guarantee.
+
+```sh
+composer install --no-plugins --no-scripts
+composer check
+```
+
+Workflow contributor checks also need Bash and jq. Changes use normal current-head
+CI and review gates; this guide does not authorize release, security-setting
+changes or consumer rollout.
+
+## 🔗 Links
+
+- [Repository](https://github.com/php-fast-forward/code-standards)
+- [Issues](https://github.com/php-fast-forward/code-standards/issues)
+- [Packagist](https://packagist.org/packages/fast-forward/code-standards)
+- [Composer package metadata](composer.json)
+- [Automation and consumer refs](docs/automation.md)
+- [Policy and differences](docs/policy.md)
+- [Fast Forward Container](https://github.com/php-fast-forward/container)
+- [Changelog](https://github.com/php-fast-forward/changelog)