diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fffe149..95644ea 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,14 +1,39 @@
-# memabra
+
-An intuition-driven control plane for agent memory and action selection.
+```
+ __ __ _
+ | \/ | ___ _ __ ___ __ _ __| | ___ ___
+ | |\/| |/ _ \ '_ ` _ \ / _` |/ _` |/ _ \/ __|
+ | | | | __/ | | | | | (_| | (_| | __/\__ \
+ |_| |_|\___|_| |_| |_|\__,_|\__,_|\___||___/
+```
-## What is memabra?
+**Intuition-driven control plane for agent memory & action selection.**
-memabra is a local-first, observable, trainable, and replayable agent memory and action orchestration system.
+[](https://www.python.org/downloads/)
+[](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
+[]()
-Instead of being a simple memory database, memabra acts as a meta-cognitive controller for agents: given a task, it quickly decides whether to answer directly, recall memory, load a skill, or invoke a tool โ and continuously improves this judgment based on task outcomes.
+
-## Install
+---
+
+## ๐ง What is memabra?
+
+> *Most agents memorize. memabra **intuits**.*
+
+memabra is a **local-first, observable, trainable, and replayable** control plane for agent memory and action orchestration.
+
+Instead of acting like a dusty filing cabinet, memabra functions as a **meta-cognitive controller**: given any task, it rapidly decides whether to answer directly, recall memory, load a skill, or invoke a tool โ then **learns from outcomes** to sharpen those instincts over time.
+
+- ๐ **Local-first** โ no cloud lock-in, your data stays on disk
+- ๐ **Observable** โ every decision is tracked, versioned, and inspectable
+- ๐ **Trainable** โ online learning loop improves routing automatically
+- ๐ **Replayable** โ replay trajectories, audit decisions, roll back versions
+
+---
+
+## โก Quick Start
```bash
git clone https://github.com/TacitLab/memabra.git
@@ -18,67 +43,109 @@ source venv/bin/activate
pip install -e ".[dev]"
```
-## Quick start
-
-### 1. See the available commands
-
+### 1. Peek under the hood
```bash
memabra --help
```
-### 2. Run a dry-run evaluation
+### 2. Run a safe dry-run evaluation
+See the full workflow **without** actually promoting a new router version:
+```bash
+memabra run --dry-run --format text
+```
-A safe way to see the full workflow without actually promoting a new router version:
+### 3. Check system pulse
+```bash
+memabra status --format text
+```
+
+### 4. Inspect your router lineage
+```bash
+memabra version list --format text
+```
+
+### 5. Time-travel (rollback)
+```bash
+memabra version rollback --format text
+```
+
+---
+
+## ๐ฎ CLI Commands
+
+| Command | Description |
+|---------|-------------|
+| `memabra run` | ๐ Execute the online learning workflow |
+| `memabra status` | ๐ Show current system health & metrics |
+| `memabra version list` | ๐ List all saved router versions |
+| `memabra version rollback ` | โช Roll back to a specific version |
+
+---
+
+## ๐จ๏ธ Operator-Friendly Output
+
+By default, memabra speaks JSON. For humans, add `--format text`:
```bash
memabra run --dry-run --format text
```
-### 3. Check system status
+Sample output:
-```bash
-memabra status --format text
+```
+Memabra online learning result
+Summary
+Report ID: report-58f9f22
+Skipped: no
+Promoted: yes
+Dry run: yes
+
+Baseline
+Reward: 0.7200
+Error rate: 0.1200
+Latency (ms): 145.0000
+
+Challenger
+Reward: 0.8100
+Error rate: 0.0800
+Latency (ms): 132.5000
+
+Deltas
+Reward delta: 0.0900
+Error rate delta: -0.0400
+Latency delta (ms): -12.5000
+
+Decision
+Accepted: yes
+Reason: challenger improved reward and reduced error rate
```
-### 4. List saved router versions
+โ
**Normalized booleans** (`yes/no/none`)
+โ
**Fixed-precision metrics** for easy comparison
+โ
**Sectioned layout** โ Summary โ Baseline โ Challenger โ Deltas โ Decision
-```bash
-memabra version list --format text
-```
+---
-### 5. Roll back to a previous version
-
-```bash
-memabra version rollback --format text
-```
-
-## CLI subcommands
-
-| Command | Description |
-|---------|-------------|
-| `memabra run` | Run the online learning workflow |
-| `memabra status` | Show current system state |
-| `memabra version list` | List all saved router versions |
-| `memabra version rollback ` | Roll back to a specific version |
-
-## Text output format
-
-By default, memabra prints JSON. For operator-friendly summaries, add `--format text`:
-
-- **Status** โ current version, trajectory/report counts, latest report timing and promotion outcome.
-- **Version list** โ total count, current active version highlighted.
-- **Workflow** โ grouped into Summary, Baseline, Challenger, Deltas, and Decision sections with normalized `yes/no` flags and fixed-precision metrics.
-
-## Running tests
+## ๐งช Running Tests
```bash
pytest tests/ -q
```
-## Project status
+Current status: **126 passed** ๐ข
-See [docs/PROGRESS.md](docs/PROGRESS.md) for a detailed capability roadmap and [docs/DEMO.md](docs/DEMO.md) for walkthrough examples.
+---
-## License
+## ๐ Documentation
-MIT
+- [`docs/PROGRESS.md`](docs/PROGRESS.md) โ Capability roadmap & what's shipped
+- [`docs/DEMO.md`](docs/DEMO.md) โ Hands-on walkthroughs & examples
+- [`docs/ARCHITECTURE.md`](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md) โ System design & mental model
+
+---
+
+## ๐ท๏ธ License
+
+MIT โ use it, break it, improve it.
+
+*Built with caffeine and curiosity.* โ