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..ae7c45c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+**Architecture**
+
+MetaCA Studio is a small Python-first toolkit to prototype federated evolutionary cellular automata. The repository's current scope is a well-focused, test-covered core providing:
+
+- CARule: rule representation with deterministic fingerprinting for deduping across federated agents.
+- CAGrid: 2D toroidal grid with Moore and Von Neumann neighborhoods and a step operator applying CARule transition tables.
+- TournamentSelector: an evolutionary selection primitive exposing top-k shares for gossip-style federated exchange.
+
+This agent/design follows a layered architecture:
+
+- metaca.py: core domain objects and algorithms (kept small and well-tested).
+- pyproject.toml: packaging metadata to allow building sdist/wheel.
+- test.sh: unified test driver used by CI and contributors.
+
+Future work should add separate modules for differentiable simulators (JAX/PyTorch), federation registry (Graph-of-Contracts sketch), adapters (NumPy/JAX/torch), and a lightweight governance ledger.
+
+**Tech stack**
+
+- Python 3.8+ (core language)
+- Packaging: setuptools + wheel via PEP 517/518 (pyproject.toml)
+- Tests: simple shell-driven assertions (test.sh). Replace with pytest as codebase grows.
+
+**Testing commands**
+
+Run the project's test suite and build verification with:
+
+```
+./test.sh
+```
+
+test.sh will run a packaging build (python3 -m build) to verify pyproject metadata and then execute the unit-style tests included in the script.
+
+**Contribution rules**
+
+- Keep changes minimal and well-scoped. Prefer small, reviewable patches over large rewrites.
+- Add tests for every new feature or bugfix using the pattern in test.sh. If you introduce dependencies, add them to pyproject.toml.
+- Do not modify files authored by other contributors without discussion.
+- Run `./test.sh` locally before opening PRs.
+
+**Release & publishing**
+
+This repository is not marked READY_TO_PUBLISH in this iteration. When claiming readiness:
+
+- Ensure README.md contains a complete project summary and packaging metadata references.
+- Ensure pyproject.toml contains accurate metadata and licensing information.
+- Add an empty file READY_TO_PUBLISH to the repository root only when the project fully implements the published specification and all tests pass.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6d76f25..9f30d9d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,21 @@
-# idea178-metaca-studio
+# MetaCA Studio (idea178-metaca-studio)
 
-Source logic for Idea #178
\ No newline at end of file
+MetaCA Studio is a Python-first toolkit to prototype federated evolutionary cellular automata.
+
+This repository contains a focused core implementing:
+
+- CARule: deterministic fingerprinted CA rule representation
+- CAGrid: 2D toroidal grid with Moore and Von Neumann neighborhoods
+- TournamentSelector: evolutionary selection primitive with top-k sharing for federated workflows
+
+The project is intentionally small and test-covered so it can be extended by other contributors with differentiable simulators, adapters (NumPy/PyTorch/JAX), and a Graph-of-Contracts-style registry.
+
+See AGENTS.md for architecture, testing commands, and contribution guidance.
+
+Quick start
+
+```
+./test.sh
+```
+
+This runs a package build verification followed by the unit-style tests.
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2eafe58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+[build-system]
+requires = ["setuptools", "wheel"]
+build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
+
+[project]
+name = "metaca-studio"
+version = "0.1.0"
+description = "MetaCA Studio - Federated Evolutionary Design Toolkit for Cellular Automata (partial MVP)"
+readme = "README.md"
+requires-python = ">=3.8"
+authors = [ { name = "MetaCA Contributors" } ]
+dependencies = []
diff --git a/test.sh b/test.sh
index d16d836..6d4a3e4 100755
--- a/test.sh
+++ b/test.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@ set -e
 
 echo "=== MetaCA Studio Test Suite ==="
 
+# Verify packaging metadata can build an sdist/wheel before running tests
+echo "Running build verification (python3 -m build) ..."
+python3 -m build
+
 python3 -c "
 from metaca import CARule, CAGrid, TournamentSelector
 
@@ -100,4 +104,4 @@ print()
 print('All 9 tests passed!')
 "
 
-echo "=== All tests passed ==="
\ No newline at end of file
+echo "=== All tests passed ==="