diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d19332c..e608b1c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,181 @@
 # optimus
 
-A pull based artifact pump that only rebuilds things that are stale
\ No newline at end of file
+A deliberately small project runtime for initialized modules, settings, named artifacts, and transformer-node helpers.
+
+## Project shape
+
+A host project provides JSON settings in `./settings/`:
+
+```text
+settings/
+    modules.json
+    artifacts.json
+    anything-else.json
+```
+
+`modules.json` maps semantic module names to initializer modules:
+
+```json
+{
+  "chatter": "./tree/chatter/index.js",
+  "markdown-builder": "./tree/markdown-builder/index.js"
+}
+```
+
+Each module exports an initializer that receives the same shared `utils` object:
+
+```js
+module.exports = utils => {
+    function doSomething() {
+        const chatter = utils.loadModule("chatter");
+        const llm = utils.getSettings("llm");
+    }
+
+    return { doSomething };
+};
+```
+
+## Utilities
+
+### `utils.loadModule(name)`
+
+Returns the initialized module registered under that semantic name.
+
+### `utils.getSettings(name)`
+
+Returns the parsed contents of `./settings/<name>.json`.
+
+### `utils.hashPayload(value)`
+
+Returns a SHA-256 hex hash of `JSON.stringify(value)`. No key sorting or normalization is performed.
+
+### `utils.buildNode(payload, sources = {})`
+
+Builds a transformer-node packet from a payload and already-loaded source nodes:
+
+```js
+const node = utils.buildNode(payload, {
+    hebrew: hebrewNode,
+    guidance: guidanceNode,
+});
+```
+
+Result:
+
+```json
+{
+  "sourceHash": {
+    "hebrew": "<hebrewNode.hash>",
+    "guidance": "<guidanceNode.hash>"
+  },
+  "hash": "<hash of payload>",
+  "payload": "<payload>"
+}
+```
+
+Optimus does not persist or validate the node. The owning module decides where its artifacts live and when to rebuild them.
+
+### `utils.buildBinaryNode(filePath, sources = {})`
+
+Builds the binary equivalent of a transformer-node packet. The supplied path is kept as the usable binary payload locator, while `hash` is computed from the file bytes:
+
+```js
+const node = utils.buildBinaryNode(resolvedCoverPath);
+```
+
+Result:
+
+```json
+{
+  "sourceHash": {},
+  "hash": "<SHA-256 of file bytes>",
+  "payloadBin": "<filePath>"
+}
+```
+
+Derived binary artifacts can name source nodes in the same way as `buildNode()`:
+
+```js
+return utils.buildBinaryNode(pdfPath, {
+    volume: volumeNode,
+    style: styleNode,
+});
+```
+
+`buildBinaryNode()` does not copy the file, interpret the path, or know what kind of binary it represents. It hashes the bytes currently at `filePath` and returns that path unchanged as `payloadBin`.
+
+## Artifacts
+
+`settings/artifacts.json` explicitly names the module and public builder function for each top-level artifact:
+
+```json
+{
+  "job.en.md": {
+    "module": "unpointed-hebrew-markdown-builder",
+    "builder": "buildMarkdownOutput",
+    "params": ["job", "en"]
+  }
+}
+```
+
+Build one artifact:
+
+```bash
+npx optimus --artifact job.en.md
+```
+
+Build every declared artifact:
+
+```bash
+npx optimus
+```
+
+Artifacts are logical requested outcomes. Their modules own filenames, directories, persistence, cache policy, and dependency behavior.
+
+A builder may call `utils.setArtifactOutcome("up to date")` (or another concise outcome) before returning. Optimus prints the requested artifact ID before invoking the builder and prints that outcome afterward; builders that do not report one receive the generic `completed — success` result.
+
+## Invocation setting overlays
+
+Optimus loads the project defaults from direct `settings/*.json` files. Each filename remains a free-form settings name available through `utils.getSettings(name)`.
+
+A process can layer one or more JSON overlays on top of those defaults:
+
+```bash
+npx optimus --artifact psalms.en.md --setting settings/overlays/remote.json
+```
+
+Multiple overlays are applied left-to-right:
+
+```bash
+npx optimus --artifact psalms.en.md \
+    --setting settings/overlays/remote.json \
+    --setting settings/overlays/experimental-model.json
+```
+
+An overlay is one object whose top-level keys are ordinary settings names:
+
+```json
+{
+  "llm": {
+    "host": "remote-box",
+    "model": "remote-model"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+Overlay behavior is deliberately small:
+
+- object over object: recursively overlay properties;
+- arrays: replace the previous array;
+- scalars: replace the previous value;
+- `null`: replace the previous value with `null`;
+- omitted properties: inherit the value underneath;
+- an overlay may introduce a new free-form settings name.
+
+`utils.getSettings("llm")` sees only the resulting effective settings. Modules do not know which values came from defaults versus invocation overlays.
+
+Overlay paths are resolved relative to the project root unless absolute.
+
+## Build-all memory behavior
+
+`buildAll()` awaits each declared artifact sequentially and does not retain prior artifact results. Artifact builders may still return either ordinary values or Promises; the runtime remains compatible with genuinely asynchronous work such as LLM requests.
diff --git a/bin/optimus.js b/bin/optimus.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dfd7cd0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/optimus.js
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+const { initialize } = require("..");
+
+function getArtifactName(args) {
+    const inline = args.find(arg => arg.startsWith("--artifact="));
+    if (inline) return inline.slice("--artifact=".length);
+
+    const index = args.indexOf("--artifact");
+    if (index === -1) return null;
+    if (!args[index + 1]) throw new Error("--artifact requires a name");
+    return args[index + 1];
+}
+
+function getSettingOverlays(args) {
+    const overlays = [];
+    for (let i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
+        const arg = args[i];
+        if (arg.startsWith("--setting=")) {
+            const value = arg.slice("--setting=".length);
+            if (!value) throw new Error("--setting requires a file path");
+            overlays.push(value);
+            continue;
+        }
+        if (arg !== "--setting") continue;
+        if (!args[i + 1]) throw new Error("--setting requires a file path");
+        overlays.push(args[++i]);
+    }
+    return overlays;
+}
+
+async function main() {
+    const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+    const optimus = initialize(process.cwd(), { settingOverlays: getSettingOverlays(args) });
+    const artifactName = getArtifactName(args);
+
+    if (artifactName) {
+        await optimus.buildArtifact(artifactName);
+        console.log(`Artifact complete: ${artifactName}`);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    const artifacts = optimus.getSettings("artifacts");
+    const names = Object.keys(artifacts);
+    await optimus.buildAll();
+    console.log(names.length ? `Artifacts complete: ${names.join(", ")}` : "No artifacts configured.");
+}
+
+main().catch(error => {
+    console.error(error.message || error);
+    process.exitCode = 1;
+});
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..efd3015
--- /dev/null
+++ b/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+const crypto = require("crypto");
+const fs = require("fs");
+const path = require("path");
+
+function isPlainObject(value) {
+    return value !== null && typeof value === "object" && !Array.isArray(value);
+}
+
+function overlaySettingsValue(base, overlay) {
+    if (!isPlainObject(base) || !isPlainObject(overlay)) return overlay;
+
+    const result = { ...base };
+    for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(overlay)) {
+        result[key] = key in result ? overlaySettingsValue(result[key], value) : value;
+    }
+    return result;
+}
+
+function applySettingOverlay(settings, projectRoot, overlayPath) {
+    const resolvedPath = path.isAbsolute(overlayPath) ? overlayPath : path.resolve(projectRoot, overlayPath);
+    const overlay = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(resolvedPath, "utf8"));
+    if (!isPlainObject(overlay)) throw new Error(`Setting overlay must contain an object: ${overlayPath}`);
+
+    for (const [name, value] of Object.entries(overlay)) {
+        settings.set(name, settings.has(name) ? overlaySettingsValue(settings.get(name), value) : value);
+    }
+}
+
+function loadSettings(projectRoot, settingOverlays = []) {
+    const settingsRoot = path.join(projectRoot, "settings");
+    if (!fs.existsSync(settingsRoot)) throw new Error(`No settings folder found in ${projectRoot}`);
+
+    const settings = new Map();
+    for (const fileName of fs.readdirSync(settingsRoot)) {
+        if (path.extname(fileName).toLowerCase() !== ".json") continue;
+        const name = path.basename(fileName, path.extname(fileName));
+        const filePath = path.join(settingsRoot, fileName);
+        settings.set(name, JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(filePath, "utf8")));
+    }
+    for (const overlayPath of settingOverlays) applySettingOverlay(settings, projectRoot, overlayPath);
+    return settings;
+}
+
+function hashPayload(value) {
+    const json = JSON.stringify(value);
+    return crypto.createHash("sha256").update(json === undefined ? "undefined" : json).digest("hex");
+}
+
+function getSourceHash(sources) {
+    const sourceHash = {};
+    for (const [name, source] of Object.entries(sources)) {
+        if (!source || typeof source !== "object" || !("hash" in source)) {
+            throw new Error(`Source "${name}" must be a node with a hash`);
+        }
+        sourceHash[name] = source.hash;
+    }
+    return sourceHash;
+}
+
+function buildNode(payload, sources = {}) {
+    return {
+        sourceHash: getSourceHash(sources),
+        hash: hashPayload(payload),
+        payload,
+    };
+}
+
+function buildBinaryNode(filePath, sources = {}) {
+    const bytes = fs.readFileSync(filePath);
+    return {
+        sourceHash: getSourceHash(sources),
+        hash: crypto.createHash("sha256").update(bytes).digest("hex"),
+        payloadBin: filePath,
+    };
+}
+
+function initialize(projectRoot = process.cwd(), options = {}) {
+    const settingOverlays = options.settingOverlays || [];
+    if (!Array.isArray(settingOverlays)) throw new Error("options.settingOverlays must be an array");
+    const settings = loadSettings(projectRoot, settingOverlays);
+    const registry = new Map();
+    let artifactOutcome;
+
+    const utils = {
+        loadModule(name) {
+            const entry = registry.get(name);
+            if (!entry) throw new Error(`Unknown module: ${name}`);
+            if (entry.module) return entry.module;
+            if (entry.initializing) throw new Error(`Circular module initialization involving: ${name}`);
+
+            entry.initializing = true;
+            try {
+                const initialized = entry.init(utils);
+                if (!initialized || (typeof initialized !== "object" && typeof initialized !== "function")) {
+                    throw new Error(`Module "${name}" initializer must return a module object or function`);
+                }
+                entry.module = initialized;
+                return entry.module;
+            } finally {
+                entry.initializing = false;
+            }
+        },
+
+        getSettings(name) {
+            if (!settings.has(name)) throw new Error(`Unknown settings: ${name}`);
+            return settings.get(name);
+        },
+
+        hashPayload,
+        buildNode,
+        buildBinaryNode,
+
+        setArtifactOutcome(value) {
+            artifactOutcome = `${value ?? ""}`.trim() || undefined;
+        },
+    };
+
+    const modules = utils.getSettings("modules");
+    if (!modules || typeof modules !== "object" || Array.isArray(modules)) throw new Error("settings/modules.json must contain an object");
+
+    for (const [name, modulePath] of Object.entries(modules)) {
+        const resolvedPath = path.resolve(projectRoot, modulePath);
+        const init = require(resolvedPath);
+        if (typeof init !== "function") throw new Error(`Module "${name}" must export an initializer function: ${modulePath}`);
+        registry.set(name, { init, module: null, initializing: false });
+    }
+
+    for (const name of registry.keys()) utils.loadModule(name);
+
+    function buildArtifact(name) {
+        const artifacts = utils.getSettings("artifacts");
+        const artifact = artifacts[name];
+        if (!artifact) throw new Error(`Unknown artifact: ${name}`);
+        if (!artifact.module) throw new Error(`Artifact "${name}" is missing module`);
+        if (!artifact.builder) throw new Error(`Artifact "${name}" is missing builder`);
+
+        const module = utils.loadModule(artifact.module);
+        const builder = module[artifact.builder];
+        if (typeof builder !== "function") {
+            throw new Error(`Artifact "${name}" builder not found: ${artifact.module}.${artifact.builder}`);
+        }
+
+        const params = artifact.params === undefined ? [] : artifact.params;
+        if (!Array.isArray(params)) throw new Error(`Artifact "${name}" params must be an array`);
+
+        artifactOutcome = undefined;
+        console.log(`Ensuring artifact: ${name}`);
+        try {
+            const result = builder(...params);
+            if (result && typeof result.then === "function") {
+                return result.then(value => {
+                    console.log(`  ${artifactOutcome ?? "completed — success"}`);
+                    artifactOutcome = undefined;
+                    return value;
+                }, error => {
+                    console.error("  failed");
+                    artifactOutcome = undefined;
+                    throw error;
+                });
+            }
+
+            console.log(`  ${artifactOutcome ?? "completed — success"}`);
+            artifactOutcome = undefined;
+            return result;
+        }
+        catch (error) {
+            console.error("  failed");
+            artifactOutcome = undefined;
+            throw error;
+        }
+    }
+
+    async function buildAll() {
+        const artifacts = utils.getSettings("artifacts");
+        for (const name of Object.keys(artifacts)) await buildArtifact(name);
+    }
+
+    return {
+        utils,
+        loadModule: utils.loadModule,
+        getSettings: utils.getSettings,
+        hashPayload,
+        buildNode,
+        buildBinaryNode,
+        buildArtifact,
+        buildAll,
+        modules: [...registry.keys()],
+    };
+}
+
+module.exports = { initialize, hashPayload, buildNode, buildBinaryNode };
diff --git a/optimus.zip b/optimus.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6e5d3b
Binary files /dev/null and b/optimus.zip differ
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a982542
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{
+  "name": "optimus",
+  "version": "0.3.0",
+  "lockfileVersion": 3,
+  "requires": true,
+  "packages": {
+    "": {
+      "name": "optimus",
+      "version": "0.3.0",
+      "license": "UNLICENSED",
+      "bin": {
+        "optimus": "bin/optimus.js"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a0e2da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{
+  "name": "optimus",
+  "version": "0.5.0",
+  "description": "Minimal project runtime for initialized modules, settings, artifacts, and transformer nodes. Optimal transformation pipeline foreman.",
+  "main": "index.js",
+  "bin": {
+    "optimus": "./bin/optimus.js"
+  },
+  "files": [
+    "bin",
+    "index.js",
+    "README.md"
+  ],
+  "scripts": {
+    "test": "node test/smoke.js"
+  },
+  "license": "UNLICENSED"
+}
diff --git a/test/fixture/overlays/experiment.json b/test/fixture/overlays/experiment.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de4b4f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixture/overlays/experiment.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "llm": {
+    "model": "experimental-model",
+    "reasoning": null,
+    "nested": {
+      "extra": true
+    }
+  },
+  "run": {
+    "label": "experiment",
+    "enabled": true
+  }
+}
diff --git a/test/fixture/overlays/remote.json b/test/fixture/overlays/remote.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db5524c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixture/overlays/remote.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "llm": {
+    "host": "remote-box",
+    "model": "remote-model",
+    "nested": {
+      "replace": "remote"
+    },
+    "list": ["remote"]
+  },
+  "run": {
+    "label": "remote"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/test/fixture/settings/artifacts.json b/test/fixture/settings/artifacts.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29f809e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixture/settings/artifacts.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "beta-demo": {
+    "module": "beta",
+    "builder": "buildBeta",
+    "params": ["demo"]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/test/fixture/settings/input.json b/test/fixture/settings/input.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a940c29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixture/settings/input.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "prefix": "alpha"
+}
diff --git a/test/fixture/settings/llm.json b/test/fixture/settings/llm.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7b04957
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixture/settings/llm.json
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{
+  "client": "lm-studio",
+  "host": "localhost",
+  "port": 1234,
+  "model": "local-model",
+  "reasoning": true,
+  "nested": {
+    "keep": "default",
+    "replace": "default"
+  },
+  "list": ["default"]
+}
diff --git a/test/fixture/settings/modules.json b/test/fixture/settings/modules.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4768676
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixture/settings/modules.json
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+  "alpha": "./tree/alpha/index.js",
+  "beta": "./tree/beta/index.js"
+}
diff --git a/test/fixture/tree/alpha/index.js b/test/fixture/tree/alpha/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c45b9ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixture/tree/alpha/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+module.exports = utils => {
+    function loadAlpha(value) {
+        const prefix = utils.getSettings("input").prefix;
+        return utils.buildNode(`${prefix}:${value}`);
+    }
+
+    return { loadAlpha };
+};
diff --git a/test/fixture/tree/beta/index.js b/test/fixture/tree/beta/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b3c720e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixture/tree/beta/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+module.exports = utils => {
+    function buildBeta(value) {
+        const alpha = utils.loadModule("alpha");
+        const source = alpha.loadAlpha(value);
+        return utils.buildNode(`beta:${source.payload}`, { alpha: source });
+    }
+
+    return { buildBeta };
+};
diff --git a/test/smoke.js b/test/smoke.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c7f2a10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/smoke.js
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+const assert = require("assert");
+const crypto = require("crypto");
+const fs = require("fs");
+const os = require("os");
+const path = require("path");
+const { initialize, hashPayload, buildNode, buildBinaryNode } = require("..");
+
+async function main() {
+    const projectRoot = path.join(__dirname, "fixture");
+    const optimus = initialize(projectRoot);
+
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(optimus.modules, ["alpha", "beta"]);
+    assert.strictEqual(optimus.getSettings("input").prefix, "alpha");
+    assert.strictEqual(optimus.loadModule("alpha").loadAlpha("x").payload, "alpha:x");
+    assert.throws(() => optimus.loadModule("missing"), /Unknown module/);
+    assert.throws(() => optimus.getSettings("missing"), /Unknown settings/);
+
+    const overlaid = initialize(projectRoot, {
+        settingOverlays: ["overlays/remote.json", "overlays/experiment.json"],
+    });
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(overlaid.getSettings("llm"), {
+        client: "lm-studio",
+        host: "remote-box",
+        port: 1234,
+        model: "experimental-model",
+        reasoning: null,
+        nested: {
+            keep: "default",
+            replace: "remote",
+            extra: true,
+        },
+        list: ["remote"],
+    });
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(overlaid.getSettings("run"), { label: "experiment", enabled: true });
+
+    const expectedHash = crypto.createHash("sha256").update(JSON.stringify({ a: 1 })).digest("hex");
+    assert.strictEqual(hashPayload({ a: 1 }), expectedHash);
+
+    const source = buildNode({ source: true });
+    const node = buildNode({ result: true }, { source });
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(node.sourceHash, { source: source.hash });
+    assert.strictEqual(node.hash, hashPayload(node.payload));
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(node.payload, { result: true });
+
+    const tempRoot = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "optimus-binary-"));
+    const binaryPath = path.join(tempRoot, "sample.bin");
+    const firstBytes = Buffer.from([0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0xff]);
+    const secondBytes = Buffer.from([0x00, 0x01, 0x03, 0xff]);
+
+    try {
+        fs.writeFileSync(binaryPath, firstBytes);
+        const binaryNode = buildBinaryNode(binaryPath, { source });
+        const expectedBinaryHash = crypto.createHash("sha256").update(firstBytes).digest("hex");
+        assert.deepStrictEqual(binaryNode.sourceHash, { source: source.hash });
+        assert.strictEqual(binaryNode.hash, expectedBinaryHash);
+        assert.strictEqual(binaryNode.payloadBin, binaryPath);
+        assert.strictEqual("payload" in binaryNode, false);
+
+        const binaryViaUtils = optimus.utils.buildBinaryNode(binaryPath);
+        assert.strictEqual(binaryViaUtils.hash, expectedBinaryHash);
+
+        fs.writeFileSync(binaryPath, secondBytes);
+        const changedBinaryNode = buildBinaryNode(binaryPath);
+        assert.notStrictEqual(changedBinaryNode.hash, binaryNode.hash);
+        assert.strictEqual(changedBinaryNode.payloadBin, binaryPath);
+    } finally {
+        fs.rmSync(tempRoot, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+
+    const artifact = optimus.buildArtifact("beta-demo");
+    assert.strictEqual(typeof artifact?.then, "undefined");
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(artifact.sourceHash, { alpha: optimus.loadModule("alpha").loadAlpha("demo").hash });
+    assert.strictEqual(artifact.payload, "beta:alpha:demo");
+
+    const all = await optimus.buildAll();
+    assert.strictEqual(all, undefined);
+
+    console.log("smoke test passed");
+}
+
+main().catch(error => {
+    console.error(error);
+    process.exitCode = 1;
+});