diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d2e4df2..b1fc940 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,11 +1,87 @@
 # zulip
 
-A minimal, no-build web app kit using only Lit-based web components via importmaps.
+A modern, no-build web application using Lit web components with Zustand state management.
 
+## Architecture Overview
 
-## Quick Start Example
+* **Lit-based web components** - Standards-based, framework-agnostic UI
+* **No-build tooling** - Import maps only, no bundler required
+* **Zustand state management** - Lightweight, vanilla JS store
+* **StoreController** - Reactive controller that bridges Zustand and Lit
 
-### 1. Define a Component
+## Project Structure
+
+```
+components/ -> standard lit components, including top-level "app-root"
+controllers/ -> lit reactive controllers (such as Zustand<->Lit bridge)
+store/ -> defines specific accessor sets
+index.html -> entry point with inline importmap and app-root
+README.md
+```
+
+## Data Flow Diagram
+
+```mermaid
+sequenceDiagram
+    participant User
+    participant LitComponent
+    participant StoreController
+    participant ZustandStore
+
+    User->>LitComponent: Click button
+    LitComponent->>ZustandStore: Call action (e.g., addItem)
+    ZustandStore->>ZustandStore: Update state
+    ZustandStore->>StoreController: Notify subscribers
+    StoreController->>LitComponent: requestUpdate()
+    LitComponent->>LitComponent: Re-render
+    LitComponent->>User: Show updated UI
+```
+
+## Example
+
+### 1. Define Store (Zustand Vanilla)
+
+```javascript
+// store/index.js
+import { createStore } from 'zustand/vanilla'
+
+export const store = createStore((set, get) => ({
+  count: 0,
+  increment: () => set(s => ({ count: s.count + 1 })),
+  decrement: () => set(s => ({ count: s.count - 1 })),
+}))
+```
+
+### 2. Create StoreController (Bridge)
+
+```javascript
+// controllers/store.js
+export class StoreController {
+  constructor(host, store, selector) {
+    this.host = host
+    this.store = store
+    this.selector = selector
+    host.addController(this)
+  }
+
+  hostConnected() {
+    this._unsub = this.store.subscribe((state) => {
+      const next = this.selector(state)
+      if (next !== this.value) {
+        this.value = next
+        this.host.requestUpdate()
+      }
+    })
+    this.value = this.selector(this.store.getState())
+  }
+
+  hostDisconnected() {
+    this._unsub?.()
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### 3. Create Component (Lit + StoreController)
 
 ```javascript
 // components/counter.js
@@ -22,16 +98,15 @@ class Counter extends LitElement {
   }
 
   static styles = css`
-    button { padding: 1rem; font-size: 1.2rem; }
+    button { padding: 1rem; font-size: 1.2rem; margin: 0.5rem; }
   `
 
   render() {
     return html`
       <div>
-        <p>Count: ${this.count}</p>
-        <button @click=${() => this.count++}>
-          Increment
-        </button>
+        <p>Count: ${this.#count.value}</p>
+        <button @click=${() => store.getState().decrement()}>-</button>
+        <button @click=${() => store.getState().increment()}>+</button>
       </div>
     `
   }
@@ -40,53 +115,24 @@ class Counter extends LitElement {
 customElements.define('my-counter', Counter)
 ```
 
-### 2. Use in App root (or other composition node)
+### 4. Instantiate in parent (such as app-root)
 
 ```js
-import "./my-counter.js";
+import counter from "./counter.js":
 
 class AppRoot extends LitElement {
-  ...
   render() {
-    return html`<my-counter .count=${0}></my-counter>`;
+    return html`
+      <counter></counter>
+    `;
   }
 }
 ```
 
-### 3. Define Data Flows
-
-#### Parent-to-Child (Props)
-
-```javascript
-// Parent passes data down
-html`<child-component .items=${this.items}></child-component>`
-
-// Child receives via properties
-static properties = {
-  items: { type: Array }
-}
-```
-
-#### Child-to-Parent (Events)
-
-```javascript
-// Child emits event
-this.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('add-item', {
-  detail: { item: newItem },
-  bubbles: true,
-  composed: true
-}))
-
-// Parent listens
-html`<child-component @add-item=${(e) => this.handleAdd(e.detail.item)}></child-component>`
-```
-
 ## Benefits Over TSX
 
 1. **No build step** - Edit and refresh, instant feedback  
 
-1. **Minimal dependencies** - Just Lit, nothing else  
-
 1. **Smaller bundle** - No framework runtime, just standards  
 
 1. **Better encapsulation** - Shadow DOM, scoped styles  
@@ -95,4 +141,6 @@ html`<child-component @add-item=${(e) => this.handleAdd(e.detail.item)}></child-
 
 1. **Future-proof** - Built on web standards  
 
-1. **Easy to learn** - Simple mental model for state, with natural evolution into Zustand/IndexedDB or similar extensions
+1. **Familiar patterns** - Zustand works like Redux/Context  
+
+1. **Type-safe** - Can add JSDoc or TypeScript without build step
diff --git a/components/app-root.js b/components/app-root.js
index 88f59a6..c5226f9 100644
--- a/components/app-root.js
+++ b/components/app-root.js
@@ -4,18 +4,8 @@ import "./page-home.js";
 import "./page-items.js";
 
 class AppRoot extends LitElement {
-    static properties = {
-        user: { type: Object, state: true },
-        route: { type: String, state: true },
-        items: { type: Array, state: true }
-    };
-
-    constructor() {
-        super();
-        this.user = null;
-        this.route = 'home';
-        this.items = [];
-    }
+    #user = new StoreController(this, store, s => s.user);
+    #route = new StoreController(this, store, s => s.route);
 
     static styles = css`
         :host {
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 879175b..91255c2 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
     {
         "imports": {
             "lit": "https://esm.sh/lit@3",
-            "lit/decorators.js": "https://esm.sh/lit@3/decorators.js"
+            "lit/decorators.js": "https://esm.sh/lit@3/decorators.js",
+            "zustand/vanilla": "https://esm.sh/zustand@5/vanilla"
         }
     }
     </script>
diff --git a/store/index.js b/store/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3328f31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/store/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+import { createStore } from 'zustand/vanilla'
+
+export const store = createStore((set, get) => ({
+  user: null,
+  items: [],
+  route: 'home',
+  
+  // Actions
+  setUser: (user) => set({ user }),
+  addItem: (item) => set(s => ({ items: [...s.items, item] })),
+  removeItem: (id) => set(s => ({ items: s.items.filter(i => i.id !== id) })),
+  navigate: (route) => set({ route }),
+}))