diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa915ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+# WebGit
+
+A web interface for managing Git repositories, designed to work on retro systems
+such as Windows 3.11, Windows 98, and FreeDOS.
+
+## Overview
+
+WebGit allows old machines on a local network to interact with Git repositories
+through a simple HTML-based web interface. The server clones repositories to a
+shared network drive so that legacy systems can access the working files
+directly. Git operations — committing, branching, pushing, and pulling — are
+performed through the web UI since these machines cannot run Git themselves.
+
+```
+┌──────────────┐        ┌──────────────┐
+│  Win 3.11 /  │  HTTP  │              │    ┌────────────────┐
+│  Win 98 PC   ├───────►│   WebGit     ├───►│  Git remote    │
+│  (browser)   │        │   server     │    └────────────────┘
+└──────┬───────┘        └──────┬───────┘
+       │                       │
+       │    ┌──────────────┐   │
+       └───►│ Network drive│◄──┘
+            │ (work trees) │
+            └──────────────┘
+```
+
+## Features
+
+- **Clone repositories** — clone a remote repository; the working tree is placed
+  on the shared network drive and the `.git` directory is stored separately.
+- **Create commits** — stage files and create commits from the web interface.
+- **Push and pull** — sync with remote repositories.
+- **Branch management** — check out existing branches or create new ones.
+- **Retro-compatible UI** — pure HTML with table-based layout. No JavaScript or
+  CSS, so it works in period-appropriate browsers.
+- **Telnet interface** — planned interface for FreeDOS users without a graphical
+  web browser.
+
+## Tech Stack
+
+- Java 25
+- Spring Boot 4.0
+- Thymeleaf (server-side HTML templating)
+- Gradle
+
+## Configuration
+
+Configure the following properties in `application.properties` (or via
+environment variables / command-line arguments):
+
+| Property | Description |
+|---|---|
+| `webgit.worktree-path` | Path to the shared network drive where working trees are stored (the files your retro machines will access). |
+| `webgit.git-dir-path` | Path where `.git` directories are stored (can be a local disk on the server). |
+
+Example:
+
+```properties
+webgit.worktree-path=/mnt/shared/repos
+webgit.git-dir-path=/var/lib/webgit/git
+```
+
+## Building
+
+```sh
+./gradlew build
+```
+
+## Running
+
+```sh
+./gradlew bootRun
+```
+
+Then open `http://<server>:8080` in any web browser.
+
+## License
+
+TBD
diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 877fb82..6831e03 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ dependencies {
     implementation("org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-actuator")
     implementation("org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-thymeleaf")
     implementation("org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-webmvc")
+    implementation("org.eclipse.jgit:org.eclipse.jgit:7.2.0.202503040940-r")
     compileOnly("org.projectlombok:lombok")
     developmentOnly("org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-devtools")
     runtimeOnly("io.micrometer:micrometer-registry-prometheus")
diff --git a/src/main/java/be/seeseepuff/webgit/config/WebgitProperties.java b/src/main/java/be/seeseepuff/webgit/config/WebgitProperties.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..139c6e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/be/seeseepuff/webgit/config/WebgitProperties.java
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package be.seeseepuff.webgit.config;
+
+import lombok.Getter;
+import lombok.Setter;
+import org.springframework.boot.context.properties.ConfigurationProperties;
+import org.springframework.stereotype.Component;
+
+import java.nio.file.Path;
+
+@Component
+@ConfigurationProperties(prefix = "webgit")
+@Getter
+@Setter
+public class WebgitProperties
+{
+	private Path worktreePath;
+	private Path gitDirPath;
+}
diff --git a/src/test/java/be/seeseepuff/webgit/config/WebgitPropertiesTest.java b/src/test/java/be/seeseepuff/webgit/config/WebgitPropertiesTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..551618c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/java/be/seeseepuff/webgit/config/WebgitPropertiesTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package be.seeseepuff.webgit.config;
+
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
+import org.springframework.boot.test.context.SpringBootTest;
+import org.springframework.test.context.TestPropertySource;
+
+import java.nio.file.Path;
+
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.*;
+
+@SpringBootTest
+@TestPropertySource(properties = {
+	"webgit.worktree-path=/mnt/shared/repos",
+	"webgit.git-dir-path=/var/lib/webgit/git"
+})
+class WebgitPropertiesTest
+{
+	@Autowired
+	private WebgitProperties properties;
+
+	@Test
+	void worktreePathIsBound()
+	{
+		assertEquals(Path.of("/mnt/shared/repos"), properties.getWorktreePath());
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	void gitDirPathIsBound()
+	{
+		assertEquals(Path.of("/var/lib/webgit/git"), properties.getGitDirPath());
+	}
+}