diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index f4308cb..ed065de 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -16,6 +16,25 @@ scripts/ci/              # CI gate scripts
 .github/workflows/       # GitHub Actions
 ```
 
+## Traverse Runtime
+
+Pinned version: **v0.3.0** | API spec: **033-http-json-api** (approved v1.1.0)
+
+```bash
+# Start local runtime
+git clone https://github.com/traverse-framework/Traverse.git /tmp/traverse
+cd /tmp/traverse && git checkout v0.3.0
+cargo run -p traverse-cli -- serve
+# Writes .traverse/server.json with base_url=http://127.0.0.1:8787, workspace_default=local-default
+```
+
+Discovery in code:
+```js
+const { base_url, workspace_default } = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('.traverse/server.json'))
+```
+
+Override: `TRAVERSE_REPO=/path/to/Traverse`
+
 ## Commands
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index b9e897f..876605c 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -83,6 +83,31 @@ Read `.specify/memory/constitution.md` before any implementation work. Key rules
 | Agent: Antigravity | `77295899` |
 | Note field | `PVTF_lADOEbiBt84BbzAzzhWjEio` |
 
+## Traverse Runtime
+
+| Detail | Value |
+|---|---|
+| Pinned version | `v0.3.0` |
+| Start runtime | `cargo run -p traverse-cli -- serve` |
+| Default address | `127.0.0.1:8787` |
+| Discovery file | `.traverse/server.json` |
+| Default workspace | `local-default` |
+| Governing API spec | `033-http-json-api` (approved v1.1.0) |
+
+Local setup:
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/traverse-framework/Traverse.git /tmp/traverse
+cd /tmp/traverse && git checkout v0.3.0
+cargo run -p traverse-cli -- serve
+# Reads .traverse/server.json for base_url and workspace_default
+```
+
+Override for active framework development:
+```bash
+TRAVERSE_REPO=/path/to/Traverse
+cd $TRAVERSE_REPO && cargo run -p traverse-cli -- serve
+```
+
 ## Development Workflow
 
 1. Clarify whether the change belongs in the UI layer (if not, it belongs in Traverse)
diff --git a/docs/traverse-runtime.md b/docs/traverse-runtime.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fec84e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/traverse-runtime.md
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+# Traverse Runtime Setup
+
+This document is the canonical local setup reference for all apps in this repo.
+
+## Pinned Version
+
+**Traverse v0.3.0** — source build required.
+
+Requirements: Rust 1.94+
+
+## Start the Runtime
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/traverse-framework/Traverse.git /tmp/traverse
+cd /tmp/traverse
+git checkout v0.3.0
+cargo run -p traverse-cli -- serve
+```
+
+The runtime writes a discovery file on startup:
+
+```bash
+cat .traverse/server.json
+# {
+#   "base_url": "http://127.0.0.1:8787",
+#   "health_url": "http://127.0.0.1:8787/healthz",
+#   "workspace_default": "local-default",
+#   "auth_mode": "dev-loopback"
+# }
+```
+
+## API Surface
+
+Governed by `033-http-json-api` (approved v1.1.0).
+
+| Endpoint | Method | Purpose |
+|---|---|---|
+| `/healthz` | GET | Health check |
+| `/v1/workspaces/{workspace_id}/execute` | POST | Execute a capability |
+| `/v1/workspaces/{workspace_id}/executions/{execution_id}` | GET | Poll execution status |
+| `/v1/workspaces/{workspace_id}/traces/{execution_id}` | GET | Fetch public trace |
+| `/v1/workspaces/{workspace_id}/capabilities` | POST | Register a capability |
+
+Default workspace: `local-default`
+
+## Discovery in App Code
+
+```typescript
+import fs from 'fs'
+
+const server = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('.traverse/server.json', 'utf8'))
+const baseUrl = server.base_url          // http://127.0.0.1:8787
+const workspaceId = server.workspace_default  // local-default
+```
+
+In the browser (Vite dev server proxies to runtime):
+```typescript
+const baseUrl = import.meta.env.VITE_TRAVERSE_BASE_URL ?? 'http://127.0.0.1:8787'
+const workspaceId = import.meta.env.VITE_TRAVERSE_WORKSPACE ?? 'local-default'
+```
+
+## App Registration (Phase 2)
+
+Governed by `044-application-bundle-manifest` and `046-public-cli-app-registration` (both approved).
+
+```bash
+# Validate app manifest
+traverse-cli app validate --manifest manifests/<app>/app.manifest.json --json
+
+# Register app into workspace
+traverse-cli app register \
+  --manifest manifests/<app>/app.manifest.json \
+  --workspace local-default \
+  --json
+```
+
+## Local Development Override
+
+For active Traverse framework development, point at a local checkout instead of v0.3.0:
+
+```bash
+export TRAVERSE_REPO=/path/to/Traverse
+cd $TRAVERSE_REPO && cargo run -p traverse-cli -- serve
+```
+
+Do not commit `TRAVERSE_REPO` references into app code. This is a local developer override only.
+
+## CI Environment
+
+For CI environments without a local runtime, set:
+
+```bash
+TRAVERSE_RUNTIME_URL=http://<host>:<port>
+TRAVERSE_WORKSPACE_ID=local-default
+```
+
+The `scripts/ci/phase1_smoke.sh` reads these env vars when `.traverse/server.json` is not present.
diff --git a/scripts/ci/repository_checks.sh b/scripts/ci/repository_checks.sh
index e2f7665..b07628f 100644
--- a/scripts/ci/repository_checks.sh
+++ b/scripts/ci/repository_checks.sh
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ check "docs/quality-standards.md"              "Quality standards"
 check "docs/ticket-standard.md"               "Ticket standard"
 check "docs/multi-thread-workflow.md"          "Multi-thread workflow"
 check "docs/traverse-starter-plan.md"          "traverse-starter plan"
+check "docs/traverse-runtime.md"               "Traverse runtime setup"
 
 # CI scripts
 check "scripts/ci/repository_checks.sh"        "This script"