diff --git a/.github/workflows/_mirror-image.yml b/.github/workflows/_mirror-image.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2404741
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/_mirror-image.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+# Reusable workflow: mirror a container image from an upstream registry into GHCR.
+#
+# This workflow is internal (note the leading underscore in the filename) and is
+# not meant to be triggered directly. It is called by per-image "mirror-*"
+# workflows via `uses:`.
+#
+# It performs an idempotent sync: on every run it compares the digest of the
+# source tag with the digest already present in the destination, and only copies
+# when they differ. crane copy preserves multi-architecture manifest lists.
+name: _reusable / mirror-image
+
+on:
+  workflow_call:
+    inputs:
+      source_image:
+        description: "Fully qualified source image without tag (e.g. docker.io/library/python)."
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      source_tag:
+        description: "Source image tag to mirror (e.g. 3.14-slim)."
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      dest_image:
+        description: "Fully qualified destination image without tag (e.g. ghcr.io/toddysm/base/python)."
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      dest_tag:
+        description: "Destination image tag (e.g. 3.14-slim)."
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      force:
+        description: "Copy even when the source and destination digests match."
+        required: false
+        default: false
+        type: boolean
+
+jobs:
+  mirror:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      packages: write
+    steps:
+      - name: Set up crane
+        uses: imjasonh/setup-crane@31b88efe9de28ae0ffa220711af4b60be9435f6e # v0.4
+
+      - name: Log in to GHCR
+        run: |
+          echo "${{ github.token }}" | crane auth login ghcr.io \
+            --username "${{ github.actor }}" --password-stdin
+
+      - name: Compare digests and copy if changed
+        env:
+          SOURCE_REF: "${{ inputs.source_image }}:${{ inputs.source_tag }}"
+          DEST_REF: "${{ inputs.dest_image }}:${{ inputs.dest_tag }}"
+          FORCE: "${{ inputs.force }}"
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+
+          echo "Source:      ${SOURCE_REF}"
+          echo "Destination: ${DEST_REF}"
+
+          source_digest="$(crane digest "${SOURCE_REF}")"
+          echo "Source digest:      ${source_digest}"
+
+          if dest_digest="$(crane digest "${DEST_REF}" 2>/dev/null)"; then
+            echo "Destination digest: ${dest_digest}"
+          else
+            dest_digest=""
+            echo "Destination digest: <not present>"
+          fi
+
+          if [ "${FORCE}" != "true" ] && [ "${source_digest}" = "${dest_digest}" ]; then
+            echo "Image is already up to date; nothing to copy."
+            {
+              echo "### Mirror image: up to date :white_check_mark:"
+              echo ""
+              echo "- **Source:** \`${SOURCE_REF}\`"
+              echo "- **Destination:** \`${DEST_REF}\`"
+              echo "- **Digest:** \`${source_digest}\`"
+            } >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+
+          if [ "${FORCE}" = "true" ]; then
+            echo "Force enabled; copying regardless of digest match."
+          else
+            echo "Digests differ; copying updated image."
+          fi
+
+          crane copy "${SOURCE_REF}" "${DEST_REF}"
+
+          new_digest="$(crane digest "${DEST_REF}")"
+          echo "Copied. New destination digest: ${new_digest}"
+          {
+            echo "### Mirror image: copied :inbox_tray:"
+            echo ""
+            echo "- **Source:** \`${SOURCE_REF}\`"
+            echo "- **Destination:** \`${DEST_REF}\`"
+            echo "- **Previous digest:** \`${dest_digest:-<none>}\`"
+            echo "- **New digest:** \`${new_digest}\`"
+          } >> "${GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY}"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/mirror-python.yml b/.github/workflows/mirror-python.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..616f664
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/mirror-python.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# Mirror python:3.14-slim from Docker Hub into GHCR as base/python.
+#
+# This caller only defines triggers and the image-specific inputs; the actual
+# digest-check-and-copy logic lives in the reusable _mirror-image.yml workflow.
+#
+# Naming convention: "mirror-<image>.yml" for image mirror workflows, kept
+# separate from "build-<app>.yml" build workflows. See
+# docs/contributing/workflow-naming.md.
+name: mirror / base/python
+
+on:
+  # Daily upstream check at 06:00 UTC.
+  schedule:
+    - cron: "0 6 * * *"
+  # Manual run, with an optional force copy.
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      force:
+        description: "Copy even when the source and destination digests match."
+        required: false
+        default: false
+        type: boolean
+
+# Avoid overlapping runs for this specific image mirror.
+concurrency:
+  group: mirror-base-python
+  cancel-in-progress: false
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  packages: write
+
+jobs:
+  mirror-python:
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/_mirror-image.yml
+    with:
+      source_image: docker.io/library/python
+      source_tag: 3.14-slim
+      dest_image: ghcr.io/toddysm/base/python
+      dest_tag: 3.14-slim
+      force: ${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' && inputs.force || false }}
diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..24a8386
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Documentation
+
+Documentation for the `cssc-framework` repository. Content is organized by
+topic so each area can grow independently.
+
+## Structure
+
+| Folder | Purpose |
+| ------ | ------- |
+| [`contributing/`](contributing/) | Guides and conventions for people contributing to this repository. |
+| [`architecture/`](architecture/) | Design and architecture documentation. |
+| [`guides/`](guides/) | How-to and operational guides. |
+| [`reference/`](reference/) | Reference material and conventions. |
+
+## Contributing docs
+
+- [Workflow naming conventions](contributing/workflow-naming.md) — how GitHub
+  Actions workflows are named and organized in this repository.
diff --git a/docs/architecture/README.md b/docs/architecture/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..500dd44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/architecture/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Architecture
+
+Design and architecture documentation for the `cssc-framework` repository.
+
+> Placeholder — add architecture docs here.
diff --git a/docs/contributing/workflow-naming.md b/docs/contributing/workflow-naming.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..24ba6b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/contributing/workflow-naming.md
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# Workflow naming conventions
+
+This repository uses GitHub Actions for two distinct purposes that must never be
+confused with each other: **mirroring** upstream base images into GitHub
+Container Registry (GHCR), and **building** the demo applications on top of those
+bases. The naming convention below keeps the two categories clearly separated,
+both in the file system and in the Actions UI.
+
+## Categories
+
+| Category | Purpose | Workflow file | Display `name:` | Concurrency group |
+| -------- | ------- | ------------- | --------------- | ----------------- |
+| **Mirror** | Copy / refresh a base image from an upstream registry into GHCR | `mirror-<image>.yml` | `mirror / base/<image>` | `mirror-base-<image>` |
+| **Build** | Build an application image on top of a mirrored base | `build-<app>.yml` | `build / <app>` | `build-<app>` |
+| **Reusable** | Shared logic invoked by other workflows; never triggered directly | `_<purpose>.yml` (leading underscore) | `_reusable / <purpose>` | n/a |
+
+### Rules
+
+1. **Verb prefix.** Every workflow filename starts with a category verb:
+   `mirror-`, `build-`, or a leading underscore (`_`) for reusable workflows.
+   This groups related workflows together alphabetically and makes intent
+   obvious at a glance.
+2. **Leading underscore = internal.** Reusable workflows (triggered by
+   `workflow_call`) are prefixed with `_` so they sort to the top of the list
+   and signal "do not run me directly."
+3. **Display names use a `category / subject` format** (for example
+   `mirror / base/python`) so the Actions sidebar reads cleanly.
+4. **Concurrency groups** mirror the filename so two runs of the same logical
+   job never overlap, while different images/apps run independently.
+5. **GHCR destination repositories** for mirrored base images follow the
+   `base/<image>` scheme, e.g. `ghcr.io/<owner>/base/python`.
+
+## Mirror workflows
+
+Mirror workflows keep a copy of an upstream base image fresh in GHCR.
+
+- **Structure.** Logic lives in a single reusable workflow,
+  [`_mirror-image.yml`](../../.github/workflows/_mirror-image.yml). Each image
+  has a thin caller, e.g.
+  [`mirror-python.yml`](../../.github/workflows/mirror-python.yml), that only
+  declares triggers and the image-specific inputs and calls the reusable
+  workflow via `uses:`.
+- **Idempotent sync.** On every run the workflow compares the digest of the
+  source tag against the digest already in GHCR and only copies when they
+  differ. `crane copy` preserves multi-architecture manifest lists.
+- **Triggers.** A daily `schedule` (06:00 UTC) plus `workflow_dispatch` with an
+  optional `force` input to copy even when digests match.
+- **Auth.** GHCR is accessed with the built-in `GITHUB_TOKEN`
+  (`packages: write`). Public Docker Hub sources are pulled anonymously.
+
+### Adding a new mirror workflow
+
+1. Copy `mirror-python.yml` to `mirror-<image>.yml`.
+2. Update the display `name:`, the `concurrency.group`, and the four inputs
+   (`source_image`, `source_tag`, `dest_image`, `dest_tag`).
+3. No logic changes are needed — the reusable workflow does the work.
+
+## Build workflows
+
+Build workflows (added later) build the demo applications under `apps/` on top
+of the mirrored base images. They use the `build-<app>.yml` filename and the
+`build / <app>` display name so they remain clearly separate from mirror
+workflows.
diff --git a/docs/guides/README.md b/docs/guides/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b87987
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/guides/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Guides
+
+How-to and operational guides for the `cssc-framework` repository.
+
+> Placeholder — add guides here.
diff --git a/docs/reference/README.md b/docs/reference/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d26bb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/reference/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Reference
+
+Reference material and conventions for the `cssc-framework` repository.
+
+> Placeholder — add reference docs here.