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+## Purpose
+
+Builds the bootable OS image for pi-Stomp hardware.
+Based on [pi-gen](https://github.com/RPI-Distro/pi-gen) (Debian/Raspberry Pi OS image builder).
+
+## Ecosystem Context
+
+Produces the foundation `pistompOS-lite.img.xz` flashed to SD cards.
+Integrates components:
+1.  **Base OS**: Raspberry Pi OS Lite (Debian Bookworm).
+2.  **Kernel**: Realtime (RT) kernel (64-bit ARM).
+3.  **Audio Engine**: JACK2, MOD-Host, MOD-UI (Stage 2).
+4.  **Application**: `pi-stomp` python codebase, LV2 plugins, User Data (Stage 3).
+
+## Architecture
+
+Build process executes ordered stages.
+
+| Stage | Description | Key Contents |
+| :--- | :--- | :--- |
+| **0-1** | Bootstrap | Base Debian system, bootloader. |
+| **2** | System/Audio | RT Kernel, JACK, MOD services, System tweaks. |
+| **3** | Application | `pi-stomp` repo, default pedalboards, plugins, wifi-hotspot. |
+
+## Hardware Targets
+
+-   **Architecture**: `arm64` (64-bit).
+-   **Devices**: Raspberry Pi 3, 4, 5, Zero 2 W.
+-   **Audio**: IQAudio DAC+ (configured in Stage 3 `alsa-base.conf`).
+
+## Usage
+
+### Prerequisites
+-   Docker (recommended)
+-   ~20GB Disk Space
+
+### Build Image
+Full build inside Docker container.
+
+```bash
+# Clean previous builds
+rm -rf deploy/*
+
+# Run build
+./build-docker.sh
+```
+
+Result: `deploy/image_...pistompOS-lite.img.xz`
+
+### Customization
+-   **Config**: Edit `config` file (hostname, passwords, version).
+-   **Packages**: Add/Remove in `stage*/00-packages`.
+-   **Services**: Modify `stage2/05-pistomp/files/services/`.
+
+### System/Kernel Updates
+Requires full image rebuild.
+
+1.  **Kernel Packages**: Place new `.deb` files in `stage2/05-pistomp/files/sys/`.
+2.  **Kernel Install**: Update `stage2/05-pistomp/03-run.sh` to:
+    *   Install the new `.deb` packages.
+    *   Update the manual file copy/move operations to `/boot/firmware/` for the new kernel version.
+3.  **Rebuild**: Run `./build-docker.sh`.
+
+### Workflow
+1.  **Code Changes**: Modify `pi-stomp` python code -> Push to git.
+2.  **Image Update**: Stage 3 clones latest `pistomp-v3` branch.
+3.  **Rebuild**: Run `./build-docker.sh`.