diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
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+++ b/.gitignore
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+# Dependencies
+**/node_modules/
+**/npm-debug.log*
+**/yarn-debug.log*
+**/yarn-error.log*
+**/pnpm-debug.log*
+**/.pnpm-store/
+
+# Build outputs
+**/dist/
+**/build/
+**/.vite/
+
+# Environment variables
+**/.env
+**/.env.local
+**/.env.*.local
+**/.env.development
+**/.env.production
+
+# Testing
+**/coverage/
+**/.nyc_output/
+
+# Editor directories and files
+.vscode/*
+!.vscode/extensions.json
+!.vscode/settings.json
+.idea/
+*.swp
+*.swo
+*~
+.DS_Store
+*.sublime-project
+*.sublime-workspace
+
+# IDE - VSCode
+.vscode/
+!.vscode/settings.json
+!.vscode/tasks.json
+!.vscode/launch.json
+!.vscode/extensions.json
+
+# IDE - IntelliJ
+.idea/
+*.iml
+*.iws
+*.ipr
+
+# OS files
+.DS_Store
+Thumbs.db
+Desktop.ini
+
+# Docker
+**/.dockerignore
+**/docker-compose.override.yml
+
+# Database
+*.db
+*.db-journal
+*.sqlite
+*.sqlite3
+
+# Prisma
+**/prisma/migrations/*_migration/
+# Keep the schema and seed files
+!**/prisma/schema.prisma
+!**/prisma/seed.ts
+
+# Logs
+logs/
+*.log
+**/*.log
+lerna-debug.log*
+.pnpm-debug.log*
+
+# TypeScript
+*.tsbuildinfo
+
+# Frontend build outputs
+nest-front/dist/
+nest-front/build/
+nest-intra/dist/
+nest-intra/build/
+
+# Backend compiled output
+nest-backend/dist/
+
+# Temporary files
+*.tmp
+*.temp
+.cache/
+
+# Local development
+.history/
+.vercel/
+.turbo/
+
+# Package manager lock files (optional - uncomment if not tracking)
+# package-lock.json
+# yarn.lock
+# pnpm-lock.yaml
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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+++ b/README.md
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+# CrowMate Nest
+
+Community platform monorepo for **Headless Hazard**, an indie game project.
+
+## Project Structure
+
+This is a TypeScript monorepo containing three interconnected applications:
+
+```
+nest-backend/    # REST API (Express + PostgreSQL + Prisma)
+nest-front/      # Public community website (React + Vite)
+nest-intra/      # Staff-only internal portal (React + Vite)
+```
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- **Node.js** 18+ and npm
+- **PostgreSQL** 14+
+- **Docker** (optional, for containerized deployment)
+
+## Quick Start
+
+### 1. Backend Setup
+
+```bash
+cd nest-backend
+cp .env.example .env
+# Edit .env with your database credentials
+npm install
+npm run db:push        # Initialize database schema
+npm run db:seed        # Populate with sample data
+npm run dev            # Start dev server (http://localhost:3000)
+```
+
+#### Backend Environment Variables
+
+```env
+DATABASE_URL="postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/nest_db"
+JWT_SECRET="your-secret-key"
+PORT=3000
+ADMIN_USERNAME="admin"
+ADMIN_EMAIL="admin@example.com"
+ADMIN_PASSWORD="changeme"
+FRONT_ORIGIN="http://localhost:5173"
+INTRA_ORIGIN="http://localhost:5174"
+```
+
+### 2. Public Frontend Setup
+
+```bash
+cd nest-front
+npm install
+npm run dev           # Start dev server (http://localhost:5173)
+```
+
+### 3. Internal Portal Setup
+
+```bash
+cd nest-intra
+npm install
+npm run dev           # Start dev server (http://localhost:5174)
+```
+
+## Development Commands
+
+### Backend (`nest-backend/`)
+
+| Command | Description |
+|---------|-------------|
+| `npm run dev` | Start development server with auto-reload |
+| `npm run build` | Compile TypeScript to `dist/` |
+| `npm start` | Run compiled production build |
+| `npm run db:push` | Push schema changes (no migration) |
+| `npm run db:migrate` | Create and apply migration |
+| `npm run db:seed` | Populate database with sample data |
+| `npm run db:studio` | Open Prisma Studio UI |
+
+### Frontends (`nest-front/` and `nest-intra/`)
+
+| Command | Description |
+|---------|-------------|
+| `npm run dev` | Start Vite dev server |
+| `npm run build` | Build for production |
+| `npm run lint` | Run ESLint |
+| `npm run preview` | Preview production build |
+
+## Tech Stack
+
+### Backend
+- **Runtime**: Node.js + Express 4
+- **Language**: TypeScript 5.6
+- **Database**: PostgreSQL + Prisma ORM 5.22
+- **Auth**: JWT (7-day expiry) + bcryptjs
+- **Validation**: Zod
+
+### Frontends
+- **Framework**: React 19
+- **Build Tool**: Vite 7
+- **Language**: TypeScript 5.9
+- **Styling**: Tailwind CSS 4
+- **Routing**: React Router 6
+
+## Features
+
+### Public Website (`nest-front`)
+- User authentication & registration
+- Community forum (categories, threads, replies)
+- Bug reporting system with unique codes (HH-XXXX)
+- Events & announcements
+- Team member profiles
+- Development studio page
+
+### Staff Portal (`nest-intra`)
+- Bug triage & management
+- User moderation & management
+- Event creation & management
+- Staff feed posts
+- Development services quick links
+- **Access restricted to `dev` and `com` roles**
+
+## User Roles
+
+| Role | Access Level |
+|------|-------------|
+| `user` | Public site features only |
+| `dev` | Developer staff features + intranet |
+| `com` | Community manager features + intranet |
+| Admin flag | User management, moderation, destructive operations |
+
+## Docker Deployment
+
+Each sub-project includes its own `Dockerfile` and `docker-compose.yml`:
+
+```bash
+# Build and run backend
+cd nest-backend
+docker-compose up --build
+
+# Build and run frontend
+cd nest-front
+docker-compose up --build
+
+# Build and run intranet
+cd nest-intra
+docker-compose up --build
+```
+
+Or use the root `docker-compose.yml` for orchestrating all services together.
+
+## API Endpoints
+
+All backend routes are prefixed with `/api/`:
+
+- `/api/auth` - Login, register, current user
+- `/api/users` - User management (admin)
+- `/api/forum` - Categories, threads, replies
+- `/api/bugs` - Bug reports, comments, me-too votes
+- `/api/feed` - Staff feed posts
+- `/api/events` - Announcements, updates, polls
+- `/api/team` - Team member profiles
+
+See `nest-backend/src/routes/` for detailed endpoint definitions.
+
+## Database Schema
+
+Key models:
+- **User** - Authentication and profiles
+- **ForumCategory** → **ForumThread** → **ForumReply**
+- **BugReport** → **BugComment** / **BugReportNote** / **MeTooBug**
+- **EventPost** → **Poll** → **PollOption** → **PollVote**
+- **TeamMember** - Staff profiles
+- **FeedPost** - Internal staff communications
+
+See `nest-backend/prisma/schema.prisma` for the complete schema.
+
+## Current Status
+
+**Backend**: Fully functional API with all endpoints implemented.
+
+**Frontends**: UI complete with mock data. Real API integration is pending — both `nest-front` and `nest-intra` currently use simulated auth and mock data defined in `src/contexts/AuthContext.tsx` and `src/data/mockData.ts`.
+
+## Contributing
+
+1. Create a feature branch from `main`
+2. Make your changes in the appropriate sub-project
+3. Test locally with `npm run dev`
+4. Run linting (`npm run lint` for frontends)
+5. Submit a pull request
+
+## License
+
+Proprietary - CrowMate Team © 2026
+
+---
+
+**For detailed architecture notes and development guidance, see [CLAUDE.md](./CLAUDE.md)**