diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9c706eb5d..aa41e40db 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -379,9 +379,15 @@ serves every map: one server, no PocketBase, nothing else to run. Set `dropin.de
 `vite.doxa-maps-build-config.json` to your site's `public/` (the default is `../doxa-life/public`), then:
 
 ```bash
-bun run build && bun run dropin     # copies dx-maps/ into your site's public/; the rest of the site is left alone
+EMBED_BASE_URL=https://your-site bun run tree   # seconds: writes your address into the copy-paste snippets
+bun run dropin                                  # copies dx-maps/ into your site's public/; the rest of the site is left alone
 ```
 
+The built maps are already in the repo, so no build is needed. If you changed a plugin, rebuild just that
+one first: `BUNDLE=<name> bun x vite build`. Without `EMBED_BASE_URL`, the pages still work, but the
+snippets in `manifest.json` stay relative (`./…`) and other sites can't paste them. `bun run tree` rewrites
+the manifests in this repo's `public/`; `git restore public` puts them back after the copy.
+
 This route is proven on DX Life: real pages rendering maps, one server, every production map passing
 its embed checks, copy-paste snippets included. Its drop-in branch copies the folder into `public/` and
 fills `/research` with the Research Gallery.
@@ -703,8 +709,10 @@ cp .env.example .env            # optional: paste your pk. token after VITE_MAPB
 bun run dev                     # → open the URL Vite prints: that page is the Plugin Studio
 ```
 
-No build needed first — the built maps are already in the repo. To start a plugin, copy
-`plugin-designs/template-bundle/` to `plugin-designs/<your-map>/`; the studio finds it automatically.
+No build needed first — the built maps are already in the repo. `bun run dev` also starts a local
+PocketBase on port 8090 for the plugins that use a backend; it is downloaded on the first run. To start a
+plugin, copy `plugin-designs/template-bundle/` to `plugin-designs/<your-map>/`; the studio finds it
+automatically. Then rename it as its own `README.md` says.
 
 To put the maps on your own site, take [the easiest path: drop-in](#where-the-folder-goes-three-routes).
 
@@ -713,7 +721,7 @@ To put the maps on your own site, take [the easiest path: drop-in](#where-the-fo
 
 The studio is a plugin like any other: `plugin-designs/plugin-studio/plugin-studio.vue`.
 
-1. Run `bun run dev` and open the URL Vite prints (http://localhost:5173/ unless that port is taken) — that page *is* the studio.
+1. Run `bun run dev` and open the URL Vite prints (http://127.0.0.1:5173/ unless that port is taken) — that page *is* the studio.
 2. Edit `plugin-studio.vue` (or ask your agent to). The page updates as you save.
 3. When it looks right, build just the studio and refresh its security hashes:
 
@@ -722,7 +730,8 @@ The studio is a plugin like any other: `plugin-designs/plugin-studio/plugin-stud
    bun run fix:sri
    ```
 
-4. Check it opens every plugin: `bun run smoke:studio` (with `bun run dev` running).
+4. Check it opens every plugin, with `bun run dev` running: `bun run smoke:studio -- --url <the URL Vite printed>`.
+   It drives a headless browser (Playwright's Chromium).
 
 </details>
 
@@ -743,7 +752,7 @@ The studio is a plugin like any other: `plugin-designs/plugin-studio/plugin-stud
 | `bun run dev` | The Plugin Studio, updating as you save, at the URL Vite prints |
 | `BUNDLE=<name> bun x vite build` | Build one plugin only |
 | `BUILD_ALLOW=1 bun run build` | Build everything into `public/dx-maps/` (~4 min; refuses without the flag, to protect a shared project) |
-| `bun run serve` | Serve the built output folder — the Plugin Studio is http://localhost:4173/dx-maps/index.html |
+| `bun run serve` | Serve the built output folder — the Plugin Studio is http://localhost:4173/dx-maps/index.html (`PORT=<n> bun run serve` if 4173 is taken) |
 | `bun run gates:pre` · `bun run gates:post` | The checks that keep `main` working |
 | `bun run shots` | Retake these screenshots (`ONLY=<name>` for one) |
 
@@ -767,7 +776,7 @@ branch (an agent on a server, or the whole team), add two lines to `.env.local`
 
 ```bash
 DX_SYNC_REMOTE=origin          # a remote name or a repo URL; a private repo uses your usual git credentials
-DX_SYNC_BRANCH=development     # the default; main is production and moves only on a publish
+DX_SYNC_BRANCH=development     # the default: your team's shared branch (the public repo has only main)
 ```
 
 Every few seconds the dev server fetches that branch, fast-forwards your checkout and hot-reloads what