diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b1fc940..d2e4df2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,87 +1,11 @@
 # zulip
 
-A modern, no-build web application using Lit web components with Zustand state management.
+A minimal, no-build web app kit using only Lit-based web components via importmaps.
 
-## Architecture Overview
 
-* **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
+## Quick Start Example
 
-## 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)
+### 1. Define a Component
 
 ```javascript
 // components/counter.js
@@ -98,15 +22,16 @@ class Counter extends LitElement {
   }
 
   static styles = css`
-    button { padding: 1rem; font-size: 1.2rem; margin: 0.5rem; }
+    button { padding: 1rem; font-size: 1.2rem; }
   `
 
   render() {
     return html`
       <div>
-        <p>Count: ${this.#count.value}</p>
-        <button @click=${() => store.getState().decrement()}>-</button>
-        <button @click=${() => store.getState().increment()}>+</button>
+        <p>Count: ${this.count}</p>
+        <button @click=${() => this.count++}>
+          Increment
+        </button>
       </div>
     `
   }
@@ -115,24 +40,53 @@ class Counter extends LitElement {
 customElements.define('my-counter', Counter)
 ```
 
-### 4. Instantiate in parent (such as app-root)
+### 2. Use in App root (or other composition node)
 
 ```js
-import counter from "./counter.js":
+import "./my-counter.js";
 
 class AppRoot extends LitElement {
+  ...
   render() {
-    return html`
-      <counter></counter>
-    `;
+    return html`<my-counter .count=${0}></my-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  
@@ -141,6 +95,4 @@ class AppRoot extends LitElement {
 
 1. **Future-proof** - Built on web standards  
 
-1. **Familiar patterns** - Zustand works like Redux/Context  
-
-1. **Type-safe** - Can add JSDoc or TypeScript without build step
+1. **Easy to learn** - Simple mental model for state, with natural evolution into Zustand/IndexedDB or similar extensions
diff --git a/components/app-root.js b/components/app-root.js
index c5226f9..88f59a6 100644
--- a/components/app-root.js
+++ b/components/app-root.js
@@ -4,8 +4,18 @@ import "./page-home.js";
 import "./page-items.js";
 
 class AppRoot extends LitElement {
-    #user = new StoreController(this, store, s => s.user);
-    #route = new StoreController(this, store, s => s.route);
+    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 = [];
+    }
 
     static styles = css`
         :host {
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 91255c2..879175b 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@
     {
         "imports": {
             "lit": "https://esm.sh/lit@3",
-            "lit/decorators.js": "https://esm.sh/lit@3/decorators.js",
-            "zustand/vanilla": "https://esm.sh/zustand@5/vanilla"
+            "lit/decorators.js": "https://esm.sh/lit@3/decorators.js"
         }
     }
     </script>
diff --git a/store/index.js b/store/index.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 3328f31..0000000
--- a/store/index.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-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 }),
-}))