diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fb32d96..7dfac73 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -3,7 +3,17 @@
 Declarative, pipeline-based backup orchestrator for Forgejo with a focus on
 backpressure tolerance, cryptographic verification, and fan-out concurrency.
 
-## Name Origin
+## About
+
+### Why?
+
+Currently my work outside of Github is scattered on various Forgejo instances. I
+do not wish to consolidate those into one, as I use those various instances with
+different goals and intents but I _do_ want a safeguard that encapsulates all.
+Thus, I've come up with a decision to create a proper solution that scratches my
+itch.
+
+### Name Origin
 
 The name is derived from similar Esperanto morphology the same way the original
 name does:
@@ -13,22 +23,131 @@ name does:
 
 morphing into "preservation place" or "archive."
 
-## Why?
+## Usage
 
-Currently my work outside of Github is scattered on various Forgejo instances. I
-do not wish to consolidate those into one, as I use those various instances with
-different goals and intents but I _do_ want a safeguard that encapsulates all.
-Thus, I've come up with a decision to create a proper solution that scratches my
-itch. Here's how it is meant to look like:
+### Prerequisites
 
-<!--markdownlint-disable MD013 -->
+- A Forgejo personal access token with read access to repositories
+- Access to at least one Forgejo instance with API enabled
 
-```plaintext
-[Forgejo A] ──┐
-[Forgejo B] ──┼──> [Source Adapters] --> [Artifact Stream] --> [Dispatcher] --> [Sink A] --> [Verifier]
-[Forgejo C] ──┘                                    │
-                                                   ├──> [Sink B] --> [Verifier]
-                                                   └──> [Sink C] --> [Verifier]
+### Configuration
+
+Konservejo works based on configuration files, there is no CLI configuration to
+modify the inputs or outputs. You can configure the service, your sources and
+your sinks from said configuration file.
+
+```toml
+[service]
+name = "my-backup"
+state_db_path = "/var/lib/konservejo/state.db"
+temp_dir = "/var/tmp/konservejo"
+
+# Optional: limit concurrent repository processing
+concurrency_limit = 4
+
+# Optional: retry settings
+[service.retry]
+max_retries = 3
+initial_backoff_ms = 500
+backoff_multiplier = 2.0
+max_backoff_ms = 30000
+
+[[source]]
+type = "forgejo"
+id = "primary"
+api_url = "https://git.example.tld/api/v1"
+token = "${FORGEJO_TOKEN}"
+
+[source.scope]
+organizations = ["my-org"]
+exclude_repos = ["my-org/legacy-repo"]
+
+[[sink]]
+type = "filesystem"
+id = "local"
+path = "/backup/repos"
+verify_on_write = true
 ```
 
+> [!TIP]
+> Environment variable interpolation is supported with `${VAR}` syntax. Secrets
+> should be passed via environment variables.
+
+### Configuration Reference
+
+**`[service]`**
+
+<!--markdownlint-disable MD013-->
+
+| Field                      | Type   | Default  | Description                    |
+| -------------------------- | ------ | -------- | ------------------------------ |
+| `name`                     | string | required | Service identifier             |
+| `state_db_path`            | string | required | SQLite database path           |
+| `temp_dir`                 | string | required | Temporary download directory   |
+| `concurrency_limit`        | usize  | 4        | Max concurrent repo backups    |
+| `retry.max_retries`        | u32    | 3        | Retry attempts for network ops |
+| `retry.initial_backoff_ms` | u64    | 500      | Initial backoff delay          |
+| `retry.backoff_multiplier` | f64    | 2.0      | Backoff scaling factor         |
+| `retry.max_backoff_ms`     | u64    | 30000    | Maximum backoff delay          |
+
 <!--markdownlint-enable MD013-->
+
+**`[[source]]` (type: "forgejo")**
+
+<!--markdownlint-disable MD013-->
+
+| Field                 | Type     | Description                                 |
+| --------------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------- |
+| `id`                  | string   | Source identifier                           |
+| `api_url`             | string   | Forgejo API base URL                        |
+| `token`               | string   | Access token (use `${VAR}`)                 |
+| `scope.organizations` | [string] | Orgs to back up                             |
+| `scope.exclude_repos` | [string] | Repos to skip (supports `*/name` wildcards) |
+
+<!--markdownlint-enable MD013-->
+
+**`[[sink]]` (type: "filesystem")**
+
+| Field             | Type   | Default  | Description                  |
+| ----------------- | ------ | -------- | ---------------------------- |
+| `id`              | string | required | Sink identifier              |
+| `path`            | string | required | Storage directory            |
+| `verify_on_write` | bool   | true     | Re-read and hash after write |
+
+### Commands
+
+```bash
+# Set credentials
+$ export FORGEJO_TOKEN=your_token_here
+
+# Validate configuration
+$ konservejo validate-config
+
+# Run backup
+$ konservejo backup
+
+# Verify manifest integrity
+$ konservejo verify-manifest --run-id <uuid>
+```
+
+## Workflow
+
+[Merkle tree]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle_tree
+
+Repositories are processed concurrently up to `concurrency_limit`. Each
+repository is downloaded as a `tar.gz` archive, hashed (Blake3), and written to
+all configured sinks. Storage is content-addressed. Artifacts are stored at
+`{path}/{hash[0..2]}/{hash[2..4]}/{hash}`.
+
+Then, a [Merkle tree] is computed over all artifacts; the root hash is persisted
+to database for integrity verification. You'd do well to protect your database.
+
+There exists a retry logic to handle transient failures, such as network errors.
+Permanent failures (4xx) fail immediately while 429, 5xx errors are covered by
+retries.
+
+## Current Limitations/TODO
+
+- S3 sink is not implemented (returns explicit error if configured)
+- Checkpoint/resume not yet supported
+- No retention policy enforcement yet