diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..95775d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+# CLAUDE.md — core/go-php
+
+## What This Is
+
+Standalone `core-php` binary for PHP/Laravel development. Merges the FrankenPHP handler (CGO) with PHP dev CLI commands (pure Go). Produces a single binary that `core` can invoke as a subprocess.
+
+**Module path**: `forge.lthn.ai/core/go-php`
+**Binary**: `cmd/core-php/main.go` → `./bin/core-php`
+**Pattern**: `cli.Main()` + `cli.WithCommands("php", php.AddPHPCommands)`
+
+## Build
+
+```bash
+# Dev tooling only (no FrankenPHP, no CGO needed)
+CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -o ./bin/core-php ./cmd/core-php
+CGO_ENABLED=0 go test ./...
+
+# With FrankenPHP (needs PHP-ZTS + CGO)
+go build -o ./bin/core-php ./cmd/core-php
+```
+
+## Current State
+
+- All code merged from `core/php` + `core/go-php` into single module
+- Entry point exists at `cmd/core-php/main.go`
+- Tests pass (`CGO_ENABLED=0 go test ./...`)
+- `init()` in `cmd.go` still calls `cli.RegisterCommands()` — needs removing (standalone binary pattern)
+- No Taskfile yet
+- No CLAUDE.md until now
+- FrankenPHP handler files: `handler.go`, `bridge.go`, `extract.go`, `env.go`
+- FrankenPHP serve command: `cmd_serve_frankenphp.go` (exists, needs build tags)
+- Dev CLI commands: `cmd_dev.go`, `cmd_build.go`, `cmd_deploy.go`, `cmd_ci.go`, `cmd_quality.go`, `cmd_packages.go`, `cmd_qa_runner.go`
+
+## Why This Matters
+
+Completing go-php unblocks a chain:
+1. `core/go-php` done → `core/php` namespace freed
+2. `core/php-framework` relocates to `core/php` (matching `core/go` pattern)
+3. `core/ts` created from Deno prototype (the original seed project)
+
+## Plan — Tasks To Complete
+
+### Task 1: Clean up `init()` registration
+
+**File**: `cmd.go`
+
+Remove `init()` that calls `cli.RegisterCommands()`. The standalone binary uses `cli.Main()` directly — `init()` registration is the old pattern for when this was a library imported by the main `core` binary.
+
+Keep `AddPHPCommands` exported (the entry point calls it).
+
+**Verify**: `CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -o ./bin/core-php ./cmd/core-php && ./bin/core-php php --help`
+
+### Task 2: Build-tag the FrankenPHP files
+
+FrankenPHP requires CGO + PHP-ZTS headers. Files that import `github.com/dunglas/frankenphp` need build tags so the binary compiles without them.
+
+**Files needing `//go:build cgo`**:
+- `handler.go`
+- `bridge.go`
+- `cmd_serve_frankenphp.go`
+- Any file importing FrankenPHP
+
+**Create stubs** (`//go:build !cgo`):
+- `cmd_serve_frankenphp_nocgo.go` — prints "requires CGO + PHP-ZTS"
+- `handler_nocgo.go` — nil/noop exports if other files reference Handler
+
+**Verify**: `CGO_ENABLED=0 go build ./...` AND `CGO_ENABLED=0 go test ./...`
+
+### Task 3: Add Taskfile.yml
+
+Based on the BugSETI pattern (`/Users/snider/Code/host-uk/core/cmd/bugseti/Taskfile.yml`):
+
+```yaml
+version: '3'
+
+tasks:
+  build:
+    desc: Build core-php binary
+    cmds:
+      - CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -o ./bin/core-php ./cmd/core-php
+
+  build-frankenphp:
+    desc: Build with FrankenPHP support (needs PHP-ZTS)
+    cmds:
+      - go build -o ./bin/core-php ./cmd/core-php
+
+  test:
+    desc: Run tests
+    cmds:
+      - CGO_ENABLED=0 go test ./...
+
+  run:
+    desc: Build and run
+    cmds:
+      - task: build
+      - ./bin/core-php {{.CLI_ARGS}}
+```
+
+### Task 4: Verify all commands register
+
+Run `./bin/core-php php --help` and confirm all subcommands appear:
+- `dev` — Laravel dev server (FrankenPHP + Vite + Horizon)
+- `build` — Docker/production builds
+- `deploy` — Deployment commands
+- `ci` — CI pipeline
+- `quality` / `qa` — Code quality (Pint, PHPStan)
+- `packages` — Composer package management
+- `serve` — FrankenPHP server (CGO only)
+
+### Task 5: Push to forge
+
+```bash
+git add -A
+git commit -m "feat: standalone core-php binary with build tags
+
+- Remove init() registration, use cli.Main() pattern
+- Build-tag FrankenPHP files (cgo/!cgo)
+- Add Taskfile.yml
+- Add CLAUDE.md
+
+Co-Authored-By: Virgil <virgil@lethean.io>"
+
+git push origin main
+```
+
+**Remote**: `ssh://git@forge.lthn.ai:2223/core/go-php.git`
+
+## Coding Standards
+
+- **UK English** in comments and docs
+- **Strict error handling**: wrap with context, no silent swallows
+- **Test naming**: `_Good`, `_Bad`, `_Ugly` suffix pattern
+- **No init()**: standalone binary pattern uses `cli.Main()` + `cli.WithCommands()`
+- **License**: EUPL-1.2
+- **Co-author**: `Co-Authored-By: Virgil <virgil@lethean.io>`
+
+## Key Dependencies
+
+| Package | Role |
+|---------|------|
+| `forge.lthn.ai/core/cli` | CLI framework (cobra + bubbletea TUI) |
+| `forge.lthn.ai/core/go` | Core framework (services, DI) |
+| `forge.lthn.ai/core/go-i18n` | Internationalisation |
+| `github.com/dunglas/frankenphp` | PHP-in-Go (CGO, optional) |
+
+## Reference
+
+- CLI pattern: `/Users/snider/Code/host-uk/cli/main.go`
+- BugSETI Taskfile: `/Users/snider/Code/host-uk/core/cmd/bugseti/Taskfile.yml`
+- FrankenPHP native app: see `frankenphp-native.md` in memory
diff --git a/Taskfile.yml b/Taskfile.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d8f35e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Taskfile.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+version: '3'
+
+tasks:
+  build:
+    desc: Build core-php binary
+    cmds:
+      - CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -o ./bin/core-php ./cmd/core-php
+
+  build-frankenphp:
+    desc: Build with FrankenPHP support (needs PHP-ZTS)
+    cmds:
+      - go build -o ./bin/core-php ./cmd/core-php
+
+  test:
+    desc: Run tests
+    cmds:
+      - CGO_ENABLED=0 go test ./...
+
+  run:
+    desc: Build and run
+    cmds:
+      - task: build
+      - ./bin/core-php {{.CLI_ARGS}}
diff --git a/cmd.go b/cmd.go
index 10adf74..4cecacc 100644
--- a/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd.go
@@ -9,10 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"forge.lthn.ai/core/go/pkg/io"
 )
 
-func init() {
-	cli.RegisterCommands(AddPHPCommands)
-}
-
 // DefaultMedium is the default filesystem medium used by the php package.
 // It defaults to io.Local (unsandboxed filesystem access).
 // Use SetMedium to change this for testing or sandboxed operation.
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 68ab7d6..b26c4ec 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/erikgeiser/coninput v0.0.0-20211004153227-1c3628e74d0f // indirect
 	github.com/gammazero/deque v1.0.0 // indirect
 	github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.1.0 // indirect
+	github.com/klauspost/compress v1.18.4 // indirect
 	github.com/lucasb-eyer/go-colorful v1.3.0 // indirect
 	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.20 // indirect
 	github.com/mattn/go-localereader v0.0.1 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 5a91748..e6ba3aa 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -49,8 +49,7 @@ github.com/google/go-cmp v0.7.0 h1:wk8382ETsv4JYUZwIsn6YpYiWiBsYLSJiTsyBybVuN8=
 github.com/google/go-cmp v0.7.0/go.mod h1:pXiqmnSA92OHEEa9HXL2W4E7lf9JzCmGVUdgjX3N/iU=
 github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.1.0 h1:wN+x4NVGpMsO7ErUn/mUI3vEoE6Jt13X2s0bqwp9tc8=
 github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.1.0/go.mod h1:vpF70FUmC8bwa3OWnCshd2FqLfsEA9PFc4w1p2J65bw=
-github.com/klauspost/compress v1.17.11 h1:In6xLpyWOi1+C7tXUUWv2ot1QvBjxevKAaI6IXrJmUc=
-github.com/klauspost/compress v1.17.11/go.mod h1:pMDklpSncoRMuLFrf1W9Ss9KT+0rH90U12bZKk7uwG0=
+github.com/klauspost/compress v1.18.4 h1:RPhnKRAQ4Fh8zU2FY/6ZFDwTVTxgJ/EMydqSTzE9a2c=
 github.com/kr/pretty v0.3.1 h1:flRD4NNwYAUpkphVc1HcthR4KEIFJ65n8Mw5qdRn3LE=
 github.com/kr/pretty v0.3.1/go.mod h1:hoEshYVHaxMs3cyo3Yncou5ZscifuDolrwPKZanG3xk=
 github.com/kr/text v0.2.0 h1:5Nx0Ya0ZqY2ygV366QzturHI13Jq95ApcVaJBhpS+AY=