First hour
composer install in the repo root; copy .env from .env.example and configure central DB credentials.
source scripts/agent-shell-init.sh then npm install so workspaces resolve.
php artisan migrate when your database is reachable; use optimize:clear when switching branches heavily.
Frontends
cd apps/payload-web && npm run dev for the public surface on port 3040.
Payload needs its own .env — start from apps/payload-web/.env.example and run npm run migrate inside that app directory.
i18n:check at the repo root guards modular locales; see README internationalization section before merging copy-heavy work.
Docs map
Deep Markdown handbooks live under docs/ in the repository (HANDBOOK_INDEX.md lists them).
Architecture ADRs live under docs/adr/; payload-specific surface notes under docs/architecture/.