diff --git a/.changeset/open-loop-framework-yml.md b/.changeset/open-loop-framework-yml.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..293e380
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/open-loop-framework-yml.md
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+---
+'@gemstack/framework': minor
+---
+
+Read `the-framework.yml` for per-repo Open Loop defaults (#258).
+
+A project can now carry its own domain preset + modes, so you do not retype the
+flags each run:
+
+```yaml
+preset: software-development
+autopilot: true
+```
+
+The CLI reads it from the run's workspace and merges it with the flags: `--preset`
+wins over the file's `preset`; `--autopilot` / `--technical` OR with the file's
+booleans (a flag only ever enables a mode). A missing file is a no-op and a
+malformed one is a warning, never a failed run. New exports: `loadFrameworkConfig`,
+`parseFrameworkConfig`, `mergeRunConfig`, `FRAMEWORK_CONFIG_FILES`,
+`FrameworkFileConfig`.
diff --git a/packages/framework/package.json b/packages/framework/package.json
index c85aafc..73df969 100644
--- a/packages/framework/package.json
+++ b/packages/framework/package.json
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@
     "clean": "rm -rf dist dist-test"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "@gemstack/ai-autopilot": "workspace:^"
+    "@gemstack/ai-autopilot": "workspace:^",
+    "yaml": "^2.5.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@types/node": "^20.0.0",
diff --git a/packages/framework/src/cli.test.ts b/packages/framework/src/cli.test.ts
index 95031b8..8127d9e 100644
--- a/packages/framework/src/cli.test.ts
+++ b/packages/framework/src/cli.test.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   chooseSessionLink,
   claudeDriverOptions,
   CLAUDE_CODE_SESSION_LIST,
+  mergeRunConfig,
   parseArgs,
   resolveDomainPreset,
   runCli,
@@ -77,6 +78,25 @@ test('activeModes maps the mode flags to Open Loop mode names', () => {
   assert.deepEqual(activeModes({ autopilot: true, technical: true }), ['autopilot', 'technical'])
 })
 
+test('mergeRunConfig: the-framework.yml supplies defaults, flags override (#258)', () => {
+  const flags = { preset: undefined, autopilot: false, technical: false }
+  // file-only: the repo config drives the run
+  assert.deepEqual(mergeRunConfig(flags, { preset: 'software-development', autopilot: true }), {
+    presetName: 'software-development',
+    autopilot: true,
+    technical: false,
+  })
+  // a --preset flag wins over the file's preset
+  assert.equal(mergeRunConfig({ ...flags, preset: 'web-dev' }, { preset: 'software-development' }).presetName, 'web-dev')
+  // modes OR together: a flag can only enable a mode
+  assert.deepEqual(mergeRunConfig({ ...flags, technical: true }, { autopilot: true }), {
+    autopilot: true,
+    technical: true,
+  })
+  // nothing set anywhere: no preset, no modes
+  assert.deepEqual(mergeRunConfig(flags, {}), { autopilot: false, technical: false })
+})
+
 test('resolveDomainPreset resolves a shipped preset by name (#254/#256)', async () => {
   const none = await resolveDomainPreset(undefined, [])
   assert.deepEqual(none, {})
@@ -104,7 +124,7 @@ test('runCli notes mode flags given without a preset', async () => {
   // --fake so the note fires before any real run; unknown-preset path is not hit.
   const code = await runCli(['--fake', '--no-dashboard', '--autopilot'], io)
   assert.equal(code, 0)
-  assert.ok(err.some(l => /have no effect without --preset/.test(l)))
+  assert.ok(err.some(l => /have no effect without a preset/.test(l)))
 })
 
 test('chooseSessionLink defaults a live run to the claude.ai/code session list (#212)', () => {
diff --git a/packages/framework/src/cli.ts b/packages/framework/src/cli.ts
index 791d7dc..cf8cc0c 100644
--- a/packages/framework/src/cli.ts
+++ b/packages/framework/src/cli.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import {
 } from './run.js'
 import { FAKE_DEPLOY, FAKE_INTENT, FAKE_SIGNALS, fakeDriver } from './fake-script.js'
 import { discoverExtensions, readProjectSignals } from './extensions.js'
+import { loadFrameworkConfig, type FrameworkFileConfig } from './config.js'
 import { preflight } from './preflight.js'
 import { RunStore } from './store/index.js'
 
@@ -74,6 +75,8 @@ Options:
                          + skills frame the build), e.g. software-development.
   --autopilot            Activate the preset's Autopilot mode variants.
   --technical            Activate the preset's Technical mode variants.
+                         (--preset / --autopilot / --technical can also be set per
+                          repo in the-framework.yml; these flags override it.)
   --compose-extensions   Opt the built-in capability extensions in (auth, data,
                          rbac, crud, shell) so the agent composes them instead of
                          hand-rolling. Vike-only; installed framework-* extensions
@@ -312,6 +315,32 @@ export function activeModes(opts: Pick<CliOptions, 'autopilot' | 'technical'>):
   return modes
 }
 
+/**
+ * Merge CLI flags over a project's `the-framework.yml` defaults (#258). A `--preset`
+ * flag wins over the file's `preset`; the mode flags OR with the file's booleans
+ * (a flag can only *enable* a mode, so there is nothing to override the other way).
+ */
+export function mergeRunConfig(
+  opts: Pick<CliOptions, 'preset' | 'autopilot' | 'technical'>,
+  file: FrameworkFileConfig,
+): { presetName?: string; autopilot: boolean; technical: boolean } {
+  const presetName = opts.preset ?? file.preset
+  return {
+    ...(presetName ? { presetName } : {}),
+    autopilot: opts.autopilot || file.autopilot === true,
+    technical: opts.technical || file.technical === true,
+  }
+}
+
+/** A short summary of what the-framework.yml contributed and is in effect, or `''` for nothing to report. */
+function describeConfigSource(opts: Pick<CliOptions, 'preset'>, file: FrameworkFileConfig): string {
+  const parts: string[] = []
+  if (file.preset && !opts.preset) parts.push(`preset=${file.preset}`) // a --preset flag would override it
+  if (file.autopilot) parts.push('autopilot')
+  if (file.technical) parts.push('technical')
+  return parts.join(', ')
+}
+
 /**
  * Resolve `--preset <name>` to a shipped {@link DomainPreset}, loaded with the
  * active `modes` so its conditions variants are selected (#254, #256). Returns
@@ -371,18 +400,29 @@ export async function runCli(argv: string[], io: CliIO = defaultIO): Promise<num
     return 2
   }
 
+  const cwd = opts.cwd ?? (fake ? join(tmpdir(), 'framework-fake-workspace') : process.cwd())
+
+  // The project can carry its own Open Loop defaults in the-framework.yml (#258):
+  // which domain preset + modes to build under. CLI flags override the file; a bad
+  // file is a warning, never a failed run. Read from the run's own workspace, so a
+  // --fake demo (empty tmp cwd) stays deterministic unless pointed at a config dir.
+  const fileConfig = await loadFrameworkConfig(cwd, msg => io.err(msg))
+  const fromFile = describeConfigSource(opts, fileConfig)
+  if (fromFile) io.out(`◆ the-framework.yml: ${fromFile}`)
+
   // Resolve an Open Loop domain preset by name (#256), loaded with the active mode
   // variants. A bad name is a usage error before we do any work. The mode flags
   // only act on a preset, so note when they are given without one.
-  const modes = activeModes(opts)
-  const { preset: domainPreset, error: presetError } = await resolveDomainPreset(opts.preset, modes)
+  const merged = mergeRunConfig(opts, fileConfig)
+  const modes = activeModes(merged)
+  const { preset: domainPreset, error: presetError } = await resolveDomainPreset(merged.presetName, modes)
   if (presetError) {
     io.err(presetError)
     io.err('Run `framework --help` for usage.')
     return 2
   }
   if (modes.length && !domainPreset) {
-    io.err(`note: ${modes.join(' + ')} mode(s) have no effect without --preset.`)
+    io.err(`note: ${modes.join(' + ')} mode(s) have no effect without a preset.`)
   }
 
   // Fail early and clearly if a live run's prerequisites are missing.
@@ -397,7 +437,6 @@ export async function runCli(argv: string[], io: CliIO = defaultIO): Promise<num
 
   const claudeOpts = claudeDriverOptions(opts)
   const driver: Driver = fake ? fakeDriver() : new ClaudeCodeDriver(claudeOpts)
-  const cwd = opts.cwd ?? (fake ? join(tmpdir(), 'framework-fake-workspace') : process.cwd())
   // The fake demo defaults to a Cloudflare deploy decision so the flow ends with
   // a deploy phase; a live run only narrates deploy when asked.
   const deploy: DeployDecision | undefined = opts.deploy
diff --git a/packages/framework/src/config.test.ts b/packages/framework/src/config.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b4f5af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/framework/src/config.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import { strict as assert } from 'node:assert'
+import { test } from 'node:test'
+import { mkdtemp, writeFile, rm } from 'node:fs/promises'
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os'
+import { join } from 'node:path'
+import { loadFrameworkConfig, parseFrameworkConfig } from './config.js'
+
+test('parseFrameworkConfig reads preset + mode booleans', () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(parseFrameworkConfig('preset: software-development\nautopilot: true\ntechnical: false\n'), {
+    preset: 'software-development',
+    autopilot: true,
+    technical: false,
+  })
+})
+
+test('parseFrameworkConfig treats an empty document as {}', () => {
+  assert.deepEqual(parseFrameworkConfig(''), {})
+  assert.deepEqual(parseFrameworkConfig('# just a comment\n'), {})
+})
+
+test('parseFrameworkConfig rejects a non-map document and mistyped fields', () => {
+  assert.throws(() => parseFrameworkConfig('- a\n- b\n'), /must be a YAML map/)
+  assert.throws(() => parseFrameworkConfig('preset: 3\n'), /"preset" must be a string/)
+  assert.throws(() => parseFrameworkConfig('autopilot: yep\n'), /"autopilot" must be a boolean/)
+})
+
+test('loadFrameworkConfig reads the-framework.yml from a directory', async () => {
+  const dir = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'framework-cfg-'))
+  try {
+    await writeFile(join(dir, 'the-framework.yml'), 'preset: software-development\nautopilot: true\n')
+    assert.deepEqual(await loadFrameworkConfig(dir), { preset: 'software-development', autopilot: true })
+  } finally {
+    await rm(dir, { recursive: true, force: true })
+  }
+})
+
+test('loadFrameworkConfig yields {} when no config file is present', async () => {
+  const dir = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'framework-cfg-empty-'))
+  try {
+    assert.deepEqual(await loadFrameworkConfig(dir), {})
+  } finally {
+    await rm(dir, { recursive: true, force: true })
+  }
+})
+
+test('loadFrameworkConfig warns and returns {} on a malformed file', async () => {
+  const dir = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'framework-cfg-bad-'))
+  try {
+    await writeFile(join(dir, 'the-framework.yml'), 'preset: 3\n')
+    const warnings: string[] = []
+    assert.deepEqual(await loadFrameworkConfig(dir, m => warnings.push(m)), {})
+    assert.ok(warnings.some(w => /ignoring the-framework\.yml/.test(w)))
+  } finally {
+    await rm(dir, { recursive: true, force: true })
+  }
+})
diff --git a/packages/framework/src/config.ts b/packages/framework/src/config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f6de4a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/framework/src/config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import { readFile } from 'node:fs/promises'
+import { join } from 'node:path'
+import { parse as parseYaml } from 'yaml'
+
+/**
+ * The per-repo run defaults persisted in `the-framework.yml` (#204): which Open
+ * Loop domain preset and modes a project builds under, so its config travels with
+ * the code instead of being retyped as flags each run.
+ */
+export interface FrameworkFileConfig {
+  /** Domain preset to run under, by name (e.g. `software-development`). */
+  preset?: string
+  /** Activate the preset's Autopilot mode variants. */
+  autopilot?: boolean
+  /** Activate the preset's Technical mode variants. */
+  technical?: boolean
+}
+
+/** Config file names read from the workspace root, in precedence order. */
+export const FRAMEWORK_CONFIG_FILES = ['the-framework.yml', 'the-framework.yaml'] as const
+
+/**
+ * Read `the-framework.yml` (or `.yaml`) from a directory. A missing file yields
+ * `{}`. Best-effort: a malformed file is reported via `onWarn` and treated as
+ * empty, never a failed run. CLI flags override whatever this returns.
+ */
+export async function loadFrameworkConfig(
+  dir: string,
+  onWarn?: (message: string) => void,
+): Promise<FrameworkFileConfig> {
+  for (const name of FRAMEWORK_CONFIG_FILES) {
+    let raw: string
+    try {
+      raw = await readFile(join(dir, name), 'utf8')
+    } catch {
+      continue // not this name; try the next
+    }
+    try {
+      return parseFrameworkConfig(raw, name)
+    } catch (err) {
+      // parseFrameworkConfig already prefixes the file name in its message.
+      onWarn?.(`ignoring ${err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)}`)
+      return {}
+    }
+  }
+  return {}
+}
+
+/**
+ * Parse and validate a `the-framework.yml` body into a {@link FrameworkFileConfig}.
+ * An empty document is `{}`. Throws on a non-map document or a mistyped field so
+ * {@link loadFrameworkConfig} can surface it as a warning.
+ */
+export function parseFrameworkConfig(raw: string, source = 'the-framework.yml'): FrameworkFileConfig {
+  const data = parseYaml(raw) as unknown
+  if (data == null) return {}
+  if (typeof data !== 'object' || Array.isArray(data)) {
+    throw new Error(`${source} must be a YAML map of settings`)
+  }
+  const obj = data as Record<string, unknown>
+  const config: FrameworkFileConfig = {}
+  if (obj['preset'] !== undefined) {
+    if (typeof obj['preset'] !== 'string') throw new Error(`${source}: "preset" must be a string`)
+    config.preset = obj['preset']
+  }
+  for (const key of ['autopilot', 'technical'] as const) {
+    if (obj[key] !== undefined) {
+      if (typeof obj[key] !== 'boolean') throw new Error(`${source}: "${key}" must be a boolean`)
+      config[key] = obj[key] as boolean
+    }
+  }
+  return config
+}
diff --git a/packages/framework/src/index.ts b/packages/framework/src/index.ts
index ebdc250..e9294c5 100644
--- a/packages/framework/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/framework/src/index.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,12 @@ export {
   type OpenStoreOptions,
 } from './store/index.js'
 export { runCli, parseArgs, buildDeployTarget, type CliIO, type CliOptions } from './cli.js'
+export {
+  loadFrameworkConfig,
+  parseFrameworkConfig,
+  FRAMEWORK_CONFIG_FILES,
+  type FrameworkFileConfig,
+} from './config.js'
 export {
   preflight,
   type PreflightResult,
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index d61fdb3..30424ed 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -277,6 +277,9 @@ importers:
       '@gemstack/ai-autopilot':
         specifier: workspace:^
         version: link:../ai-autopilot
+      yaml:
+        specifier: ^2.5.0
+        version: 2.9.0
     devDependencies:
       '@types/node':
         specifier: ^20.0.0