diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15a61af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# Changelog
+
+All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
+
+The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/),
+and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
+
+## [Unreleased]
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5cadce7..c8d7b7b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -57,6 +57,34 @@ ExecutorRuntime).
 
 ---
 
+## Quick Start
+
+**Prerequisites:** Python 3.11+. No other services required for local dev/test.
+
+```bash
+# 1. Clone and install
+git clone https://github.com/Velascat/SwitchBoard
+cd SwitchBoard
+python -m venv .venv
+source .venv/bin/activate      # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
+pip install -e ".[dev]"
+
+# 2. Configure
+cp .env.example .env
+# Edit .env — see .env.example for all available variables
+
+# 3. Start
+bash scripts/run_dev.sh
+
+# 4. Verify
+bash scripts/smoke_test.sh
+```
+
+For a detailed walkthrough including verification steps and the first real request,
+see **[docs/quickstart.md](docs/quickstart.md)**.
+
+---
+
 ## Architecture
 
 SwitchBoard is a thin policy boundary: requests come in, a lane is selected from `config/policy.yaml`, and an `ExecutionRequest` envelope routes downstream to the chosen runner. The lane catalog is fixed (see **Execution Lanes** below); cost/quality tradeoffs are config edits, not code changes. Configuration loads from `config/policy.yaml` + environment overlays — see the **Configuration** and **API** sections later for the full surface.
@@ -89,34 +117,6 @@ into a single, testable, hot-reloadable policy.
 
 ---
 
-## Quick Start
-
-**Prerequisites:** Python 3.11+. No other services required for local dev/test.
-
-```bash
-# 1. Clone and install
-git clone https://github.com/Velascat/SwitchBoard
-cd SwitchBoard
-python -m venv .venv
-source .venv/bin/activate      # Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
-pip install -e ".[dev]"
-
-# 2. Configure
-cp .env.example .env
-# Edit .env — see .env.example for all available variables
-
-# 3. Start
-bash scripts/run_dev.sh
-
-# 4. Verify
-bash scripts/smoke_test.sh
-```
-
-For a detailed walkthrough including verification steps and the first real request,
-see **[docs/quickstart.md](docs/quickstart.md)**.
-
----
-
 ## Configuration
 
 | File | Purpose |