diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..09c596f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+This repository is a **Copier template**, not a regular application. Read
+`CONTRIBUTING.md` before changing anything; its guidance is imported below.
+
+@CONTRIBUTING.md
+
+## Key rules for agents working on the template
+
+- Edit the generated project under `template/`. The repository **root is
+  author-facing** (`copier.yml`, this file, `CONTRIBUTING.md`, `tests/`,
+  `.github/`, and the template-meta ADRs in `docs/adr/`) and is never rendered
+  into a generated project.
+- Files ending in `.jinja` are rendered by Copier; use variables like
+  `{{ package_name }}` and `{{ project_name }}`. Wrap literal GitHub Actions
+  `${{ ... }}` in `{% raw %}{% endraw %}` inside `.jinja` files. Do not template
+  `uv.lock` (a post-copy task regenerates it).
+- Validate every change by **baking**: `uv sync` then `uv run pytest` runs the
+  `database × include_user_example` matrix and the offline quality gate.
+- The generated project's own agent guidance is `template/AGENTS.md`
+  (auto-loaded in generated projects via `template/CLAUDE.md`).
diff --git a/template/AGENTS.md b/template/AGENTS.md
index d322bd1..2f60b48 100644
--- a/template/AGENTS.md
+++ b/template/AGENTS.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Cosmic Python Engineer Instructions
 
-This repository is a reusable Python standard for people and coding agents.
+This project follows a Cosmic Python standard for people and coding agents.
 Work as a Cosmic Python engineer: preserve the domain-first philosophy from
 *Architecture Patterns with Python* while using the modern decisions recorded
 in [docs/adr/README.md](docs/adr/README.md).
@@ -29,6 +29,25 @@ an ADR, run `make adr-check`.
 - Keep changes focused. Do not refactor unrelated code while completing a task.
 - Record a new ADR when changing a project-wide architectural default.
 
+## Async and Persistence
+
+- The application is **async end to end**
+  ([ADR 0017](docs/adr/0017-async-persistence-by-default.md)). Routes, handlers,
+  the message bus, repositories, query readers, and the unit of work are `async`;
+  persistence uses `create_async_engine` and `AsyncSession`. Keep **domain objects
+  synchronous** — business rules perform no I/O.
+- Never block the event loop inside `async def` (no synchronous DB driver, no
+  blocking call). `await` database work; offload genuinely blocking work to a
+  thread only with a documented reason.
+- The default database is **PostgreSQL** via `asyncpg`; **SQLite** via `aiosqlite`
+  is the optional alternative
+  ([ADR 0018](docs/adr/0018-postgresql-default-with-pgvector.md)). Select the
+  driver through the database URL; do not hardcode a dialect in adapters.
+- The Docker image bundles pgvector. Before using a `Vector` column, add
+  `CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS vector` in an Alembic migration.
+- Manage schema with Alembic (`make migrate`); reserve
+  `DATABASE_AUTO_CREATE_SCHEMA` for demos and tests.
+
 ## Python Style
 
 - Write modern typed Python supported by the project version.
@@ -42,6 +61,8 @@ an ADR, run `make adr-check`.
 - Use Pydantic models for boundary validation, settings, and immutable command
   or event schemas, not as a substitute for behavior-rich domain modeling.
 - Keep SQLAlchemy models and session usage inside persistence adapters.
+- Use `async def` and `await` for I/O paths (adapters, handlers, routes) and an
+  `AsyncSession` — never a synchronous `Session` — in the request path.
 
 ## Architecture Workflow
 
@@ -53,7 +74,8 @@ When implementing a feature:
 4. Reuse a command as a boundary schema when contracts match; translate when
    they differ.
 5. Orchestrate the use case in an application handler.
-6. Access persistence through repositories and a unit of work.
+6. Access persistence through async repositories and an async unit of work
+   (`async with uow: ... await uow.commit()`).
 7. Keep write commands focused on one aggregate root by default.
 8. Use reader ports and read models for query-only paths.
 9. Wire dependencies in the composition root.
@@ -65,15 +87,22 @@ versioned integration events before publishing public broker contracts.
 
 ## Testing Style
 
-- Use pytest.
+- Use pytest. Async tests run under `pytest-asyncio` (`asyncio_mode = "auto"`),
+  so write `async def` tests and `await` the code under test.
 - Write test scenarios using GIVEN / WHEN / THEN structure.
 - Use uppercase `GIVEN`, `WHEN`, and `THEN` in test docstrings.
 - Use `# GIVEN`, `# WHEN`, and `# THEN` comments when they improve the body of a
   non-trivial test.
-- Prefer fast unit tests for domain behavior and handlers.
-- Use fakes for owned ports such as repositories and units of work.
-- Add integration tests for SQLAlchemy mappings, repositories, migrations,
-  transaction semantics, and external adapters.
+- The **100% coverage gate comes from `tests/unit` + `tests/e2e` only**
+  ([ADR 0019](docs/adr/0019-coverage-from-unit-and-e2e-tests.md)). `tests/unit`
+  use plain objects, fakes, and mocked `AsyncSession`/ports; `tests/e2e` drive
+  routes through the ASGI app on **in-memory async SQLite** with no external
+  infrastructure.
+- `tests/integration` exercise a **real PostgreSQL** (Docker). Mark every such
+  test `@pytest.mark.integration`; they are **excluded from coverage** and run in
+  a separate CI stage (`make integration`). Never rely on them for the gate.
+- Prefer fast unit tests for domain behavior and handlers; use fakes for owned
+  ports such as repositories and units of work.
 - Keep end-to-end tests focused on critical wiring and user-visible behavior.
 
 ## Verification
@@ -82,13 +111,15 @@ Use the project commands exposed by the `Makefile` and uv. For a code change,
 run the relevant focused tests first, then the available project checks:
 
 ```bash
-make lint
-make test
-uv run pyrefly check
+make lint          # ruff check + ruff format --check + pyrefly
+make cover         # unit + e2e at 100% coverage (the gate)
+make integration   # PostgreSQL integration tier (requires Docker)
 ```
 
-If a documented check is not yet wired into the evolving scaffold, say so
-clearly and add the missing wiring when the task calls for it.
+`make cover` is the coverage gate; `make integration` needs a running
+PostgreSQL and is not part of the coverage percentage. If a documented check is
+not yet wired into the evolving scaffold, say so clearly and add the missing
+wiring when the task calls for it.
 
 ## Git
 
diff --git a/template/CLAUDE.md b/template/CLAUDE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e5d9997
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/CLAUDE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+The canonical agent instructions for this project live in `AGENTS.md` (the
+cross-tool standard). They are imported below so Claude Code loads them
+automatically.
+
+@AGENTS.md