Improve public repository presentation

README.md

@@ -1,8 +1,21 @@
 # WinChess
 
+
+<!-- winchess:badges:start -->
+[![Build and test](https://github.com/binarylab2022-del/WinChess/actions/workflows/build.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/binarylab2022-del/WinChess/actions/workflows/build.yml)
+[![Release](https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/binarylab2022-del/WinChess)](https://github.com/binarylab2022-del/WinChess/releases/latest)
+[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](LICENSE)
+[![Platform](https://img.shields.io/badge/platform-Windows%20x64-blue)](#requirements)
+<!-- winchess:badges:end -->
+
+<!-- winchess:status:start -->
+> **Project status:** Early public release. The native regression suite, Windows
+> build, UCI smoke tests, release packaging, and SHA-256 validation are
+> automated. Broader gameplay, compatibility, and strength testing by external
+> users is still needed.
+<!-- winchess:status:end -->
 WinChess is an open-source chess application for Windows. It combines a native C++ chess engine, a WPF desktop interface, and a UCI command-line host that can be loaded by compatible chess GUIs.
 
-> **Project status:** early public release. The native core has a substantial regression suite, but playing strength and Windows packaging still need broader community testing.
 
 ## Main features
 
@@ -38,6 +51,18 @@ For the complete Windows application:
 
 The native regression tests also build on Linux, WSL, and macOS with a C++20 compiler, CMake, and pthread support.
 
+## Download
+
+The latest Windows x64 release is available from the
+[GitHub Releases page](https://github.com/binarylab2022-del/WinChess/releases/latest).
+
+Download the following two files:
+
+- `WinChess-0.1.0-win-x64.zip`
+- `WinChess-0.1.0-win-x64.zip.sha256`
+
+The ZIP contains the WPF application, the UCI host, the native chess-engine
+library, license information, and SHA-256 checksums.
 ## Build on Windows
 
 Open `ChessProject.slnx`, select `Release | x64`, and build the solution. The main outputs are:
@@ -96,12 +121,19 @@ The desktop application can launch a user-selected UCI executable. Only import e
 
 Bug reports, reproducible test positions, performance measurements, documentation improvements, and focused pull requests are welcome. Read [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) before submitting changes.
 
+## Authors
+
+- **Touil Ghassen** — Project lead, software architecture, and chess-engine development
+- **BAZIZ Chafia** — Developer
+- **BOUAKAZ Ahlem** — Developer
+
+See [AUTHORS.md](AUTHORS.md) for detailed authorship and contribution information.
 ## License
 
 The WinChess source code is licensed under the [MIT License](LICENSE).
 
 The bundled Cburnett chess-piece SVG files are separately licensed under **CC BY-SA 3.0**. SharpVectors is a BSD-3-Clause dependency. See [THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md](THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md) and [ChessGUI/Pieces/README.md](ChessGUI/Pieces/README.md).
 
 ## Credits
-
-The UCI engine identifies the original author as **Ahlem Chafia**. The public repository is maintained through the BinaryLab GitHub account with contributions welcomed from the community.
+WinChess is developed and maintained by the contributors listed in
+[AUTHORS.md](AUTHORS.md). Community contributions are welcome.