diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ff98e26..4a91643 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ This repository includes starter adapters to bootstrap interoperability:
 Ready to publish signal
 - Once all MVP components are validated and tests pass, a READY_TO_PUBLISH file will be created at the repo root to signal readiness for publishing.
 
+Readiness & validation (local workflow)
+- You can verify the end-to-end packaging and tests locally by running:
+  - `bash test.sh` (this runs pytest and packages the project via Python's build tooling)
+- When the project is ready for publication in a registry, the repository should contain an empty file named `READY_TO_PUBLISH` at the root. This signals an explicit publish intent and should be committed as part of a release workflow.
+
 MVP Roadmap (high level)
 - Phase 0 (0-2 weeks): define core protocol (Objects, Morphisms, Functors), publish contracts v0.2, implement two starter adapters, build a minimal ADMM-like solver and delta-sync engine.
 - Phase 1 (2-4 weeks): add a small set of global constraints (mesh energy balance, water budgets), governance ledger, offline simulations with digital twins.