diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd5590b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+node_modules/
+.npmrc
+.env
+.env.*
+__tests__/
+coverage/
+.nyc_output/
+dist/
+build/
+.cache/
+*.log
+.DS_Store
+tmp/
+.tmp/
+__pycache__/
+*.pyc
+.venv/
+venv/
+*.egg-info/
+.pytest_cache/
+READY_TO_PUBLISH
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d15981
--- /dev/null
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# APPS Agents Documentation
+
+Architecture: Python MVP for Algebraic Portfolio Provenance Studio (APPS)
+- Core DSL: algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve.dsl
+- Deterministic Backtester: algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve.simulator
+- Graph-of-Contracts registry: algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve.registry
+- Adapters: algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve.adapters
+- Tests: tests/test_basic.py
+
+How to run locally:
+- pytest -q
+- python -m build
+
+Packaging integration:
+- pyproject.toml defines the package name algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve
+
+Conventions:
+- Minimal, well-scoped MVP. Each module is a stepping stone toward the full APPS architecture.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 57f8fab..f67dda2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,18 @@
-# algebraic-portfolio-provenance-studio-ve
+APPS: Algebraic Portfolio Provenance Studio
 
-Gap addressed: existing investment tooling often relies on opaque, hard-to-audit solver code, with limited offline testing, restricted data-sharing, and weak cross-venue governance. There is a need for a lightweight, open, end-to-end toolchain that l
\ No newline at end of file
+Overview
+- Lightweight, end-to-end DSL for assets, objectives, risk budgets, and per-step plan deltas.
+- Verifiable, audit-friendly backtesting with offline-first capabilities and a minimal Graph-of-Contracts registry scaffold.
+- MVP: Python-based implementation suitable for local testing, with deterministic backtests and two toy adapters.
+
+How to run
+- Install tooling: python -m pip install -e .
+- Run tests: pytest -q
+- Build package: python -m build
+
+Project layout (high level)
+- algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/: core library (dsl, simulator, registry, adapters)
+- tests/: unit tests for MVP
+- AGENTS.md: architecture and testing commands
+- test.sh: test runner script (generated in this repo)
+- READY_TO_PUBLISH: marker for publishing (created at finish)
diff --git a/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/__init__.py b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2789fa7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+"""algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve
+Minimal MVP scaffolding for APPS: Algebraic Portfolio Provenance Studio.
+
+This package provides a tiny DSL representation, a deterministic backtester,
+and simple adapters to bootstrap offline-first testing and cross-venue ideas.
+"""
+
+from .dsl import LocalAsset, Objective, RiskBudget, PlanDelta, SharedSignals, AuditLog
+from .simulator import DeterministicBacktest
+from .registry import GoCRegistry
+
+__all__ = [
+    "LocalAsset",
+    "Objective",
+    "RiskBudget",
+    "PlanDelta",
+    "SharedSignals",
+    "AuditLog",
+    "DeterministicBacktest",
+    "GoCRegistry",
+]
diff --git a/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/adapters/__init__.py b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/adapters/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..09de462
--- /dev/null
+++ b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/adapters/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+"""Adapters package for APPS MVP."""
diff --git a/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/adapters/equities.py b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/adapters/equities.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70616e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/adapters/equities.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+from typing import Dict, List
+
+
+def price_series_equities(symbols: List[str], seed: int = 1) -> Dict[str, List[float]]:
+    # Simple deterministic series: start at 100 and apply a tiny walk
+    prices: Dict[str, List[float]] = {}
+    base = 100.0
+    for s in symbols:
+        series: List[float] = []
+        val = base
+        for i in range(steps := 10):
+            val = max(1.0, val * (1.0 + ((i * 13 + len(s)) % 5 - 2) * 0.01))
+            series.append(round(val, 2))
+        prices[s] = series
+    return prices
diff --git a/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/adapters/fixed_income.py b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/adapters/fixed_income.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5f9606d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/adapters/fixed_income.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+from typing import Dict, List
+
+
+def price_series_fixed_income(bond_symbols: List[str]) -> Dict[str, List[float]]:
+    # Simple deterministic coupon-like par values with small drift
+    prices: Dict[str, List[float]] = {}
+    for s in bond_symbols:
+        series = [100.0, 99.5, 99.8, 100.2, 100.5, 100.2, 99.9, 100.1, 100.3, 100.0]
+        prices[s] = series
+    return prices
diff --git a/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/dsl.py b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/dsl.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..732c211
--- /dev/null
+++ b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/dsl.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from typing import Dict, Optional, Any, List
+
+@dataclass
+class LocalAsset:
+    symbol: str
+    asset_class: str  # e.g., Equity, Bond
+    notional: float
+    constraints: Dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {
+            "symbol": self.symbol,
+            "asset_class": self.asset_class,
+            "notional": self.notional,
+            "constraints": self.constraints,
+        }
+
+
+@dataclass
+class Objective:
+    target_return: Optional[float] = None
+    target_vol: Optional[float] = None
+    target_sharpe: Optional[float] = None
+    liquidity_budget: Optional[float] = None
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {
+            "target_return": self.target_return,
+            "target_vol": self.target_vol,
+            "target_sharpe": self.target_sharpe,
+            "liquidity_budget": self.liquidity_budget,
+        }
+
+
+@dataclass
+class RiskBudget:
+    max_drawdown: Optional[float] = None
+    tail_risk: Optional[float] = None
+    exposure_caps: Dict[str, float] = field(default_factory=dict)
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {
+            "max_drawdown": self.max_drawdown,
+            "tail_risk": self.tail_risk,
+            "exposure_caps": self.exposure_caps,
+        }
+
+
+@dataclass
+class PlanDelta:
+    step: int
+    deltas: Dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {"step": self.step, "deltas": self.deltas}
+
+
+@dataclass
+class SharedSignals:
+    signals: Dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {"signals": self.signals}
+
+
+@dataclass
+class AuditLog:
+    events: List[Dict[str, Any]] = field(default_factory=list)
+    version: str = "0.0.1"
+
+    def log(self, event: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        self.events.append(event)
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {"events": self.events, "version": self.version}
diff --git a/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/registry.py b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/registry.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..84be231
--- /dev/null
+++ b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/registry.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+from typing import Dict, Any
+
+
+class GoCRegistry:
+    """Graph-of-Contracts registry scaffold.
+
+    Keeps a tiny in-memory map of canonical contract versions and adapter stubs.
+    This is a minimal MVP placeholder to exercise the architecture.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self._registry: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]] = {}
+
+    def register(self, contract_id: str, version: str, meta: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        self._registry[contract_id] = {"version": version, "meta": meta}
+
+    def get(self, contract_id: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return self._registry.get(contract_id, {})
diff --git a/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/simulator.py b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/simulator.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d02c39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve/simulator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import Dict, List, Any
+
+
+@dataclass
+class DeterministicBacktest:
+    assets: List[str]
+    initial_notional: float
+    steps: int
+    deltas: List[Dict[str, float]]  # per-step rebalancing deltas in allocation fractions
+
+    def run(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        # Simple deterministic backtest: start with equal allocation (or specified by deltas[0]), then apply deltas.
+        n = len(self.assets)
+        # Initialize equal weights if not provided
+        if self.deltas and len(self.deltas) >= 1:
+            weights = [self.deltas[0].get(a, 0.0) for a in self.assets]
+        else:
+            weights = [1.0 / n] * n
+
+        # Normalize
+        total = sum(weights) or 1.0
+        weights = [w / total for w in weights]
+
+        history = []
+        cash = 0.0
+        notional = self.initial_notional
+        for step in range(self.steps):
+            # Apply delta if provided for this step
+            if step < len(self.deltas):
+                d = self.deltas[step]
+                for i, a in enumerate(self.assets):
+                    if a in d:
+                        weights[i] = max(0.0, d[a])
+                # renormalize
+                total = sum(weights) or 1.0
+                weights = [w / total for w in weights]
+
+            # compute position values
+            values = {a: notional * w for a, w in zip(self.assets, weights)}
+            step_entry = {
+                "step": step,
+                "weights": dict(zip(self.assets, weights)),
+                "values": values,
+            }
+            history.append(step_entry)
+
+        return {"initial_notional": self.initial_notional, "steps": self.steps, "history": history}
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..72fa6e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+[build-system]
+requires = ["setuptools", "wheel"]
+build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
+
+[project]
+name = "algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve"
+version = "0.1.0"
+description = "MVP: Algebraic Portfolio Provenance Studio (APPS) in Python"
+authors = [{name = "OpenCode", email = "devnull@example.com"}]
+readme = "README.md"
+
+[tool.setuptools]
+package-dir = { "" = "." }
+
+[tool.setuptools.packages.find]
+where = ["."]
diff --git a/test.sh b/test.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ab4e88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Ensure the repository root is on PYTHONPATH so tests can import the local package
+export PYTHONPATH="$(pwd):${PYTHONPATH:-}"
+
+echo "Running tests..."
+pytest -q
+
+echo "Building package (verify pyproject)..."
+python3 -m build
+
+echo "All tests passed and build completed."
diff --git a/tests/test_basic.py b/tests/test_basic.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c937f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_basic.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+from algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve.dsl import LocalAsset, Objective, RiskBudget, PlanDelta, SharedSignals, AuditLog
+from algebraic_portfolio_provenance_studio_ve.simulator import DeterministicBacktest
+
+
+def test_basic_dsl_construction_and_backtest():
+    # Build a tiny DSL example
+    a1 = LocalAsset(symbol="AAPL", asset_class="Equity", notional=50000.0)
+    a2 = LocalAsset(symbol="TBOND", asset_class="FixedIncome", notional=50000.0)
+    obj = Objective(target_return=0.08, target_vol=0.15)
+    rb = RiskBudget(max_drawdown=0.2, tail_risk=0.05, exposure_caps={"AAPL": 0.6, "TBOND": 0.5})
+    delta = PlanDelta(step=0, deltas={"AAPL": 0.5, "TBOND": 0.5})
+
+    # Run a tiny simulated backtest
+    backtest = DeterministicBacktest(
+        assets=[a1.symbol, a2.symbol],
+        initial_notional=a1.notional + a2.notional,
+        steps=3,
+        deltas=[{"AAPL": 0.6, "TBOND": 0.4}, {"AAPL": 0.4, "TBOND": 0.6}, {"AAPL": 0.5, "TBOND": 0.5}],
+    )
+    result = backtest.run()
+    assert isinstance(result, dict)
+    assert "history" in result
+    assert len(result["history"]) == 3
+    # sanity: history steps correspond to allocated weights that sum to 1.0
+    for st in result["history"]:
+        w = st["weights"]
+        assert abs(sum(w.values()) - 1.0) < 1e-6