diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07b4706
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+What's verified:
+  - nix flake check passes for both hivebrain and nikita-nixos
+  - nixos-rebuild dry-build --flake .#hivebrain succeeds (your config is unchanged in behavior)
+  - nixos-rebuild dry-build --flake .#nikita-nixos succeeds (Plasma 6 + SDDM derivation resolves)
+  - main is untouched
+
+  What's still TODO before you can install nikita-nixos:
+  - Replace hosts/nikita-nixos/hardware-configuration.nix (placeholder with PLACEHOLDER-ROOT label) with
+  the real output of nixos-generate-config --root /mnt on his machine.
+  - Replace the placeholder git identity in hosts/nikita-nixos/home.nix (currently Nikita /
+  nikita@example.com).
+  - Set Nikita's password with passwd after first boot — nothing is baked in.