diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bd211ad..36c8943 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,7 +14,12 @@ It does not store ChatGPT tokens in app files.
 
 ## Install
 
-Use any supported package manager:
+Public status on March 20, 2026:
+- app is ready
+- npm package is not published yet
+- GitHub release assets are not published yet
+
+When the first public release is cut, use any supported package manager:
 
 ```bash
 npm i -g @dhruv2mars/codexchat
@@ -28,9 +33,15 @@ bun install -g @dhruv2mars/codexchat
 pnpm add -g @dhruv2mars/codexchat
 ```
 
-First run downloads the native binary into `~/.codexchat/bin/`.
 First run downloads the native binary and pinned codex bridge into `~/.codexchat/bin/`.
 
+Until then, run from source:
+
+```bash
+bun install
+cargo run -p codexchat-cli --
+```
+
 ## Quickstart
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/packages/cli/README.md b/packages/cli/README.md
index ac2e307..2ba48fb 100644
--- a/packages/cli/README.md
+++ b/packages/cli/README.md
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@ Chat with ChatGPT from your terminal.
 
 ## Install
 
+Public status on March 20, 2026:
+- npm package is not published yet
+- GitHub release assets are not published yet
+
+After the first public release:
+
 ```bash
 npm i -g @dhruv2mars/codexchat
 ```
@@ -17,6 +23,13 @@ Release assets come from GitHub Releases for your platform.
 Auth runs through the official `codex app-server` bridge and ChatGPT sign-in.
 The app stores local config and thread history only.
 
+Until the first release, use the repo directly:
+
+```bash
+bun install
+cargo run -p codexchat-cli --
+```
+
 Supported release binaries:
 - `darwin-arm64`
 - `darwin-x64`
diff --git a/packages/cli/test/docs-contract.test.js b/packages/cli/test/docs-contract.test.js
index 303e94c..99b5116 100644
--- a/packages/cli/test/docs-contract.test.js
+++ b/packages/cli/test/docs-contract.test.js
@@ -38,8 +38,11 @@ test("repo ships core oss docs and templates", () => {
 
 test("root readme documents supported install and update paths", () => {
   const readme = read(join(repoRoot, "README.md"));
+  assert.match(readme, /npm package is not published yet/i);
+  assert.match(readme, /GitHub release assets are not published yet/i);
   assert.match(readme, /npm i -g @dhruv2mars\/codexchat/);
   assert.match(readme, /bun install -g @dhruv2mars\/codexchat/);
+  assert.match(readme, /cargo run -p codexchat-cli --/);
   assert.match(readme, /codexchat update/);
   assert.match(readme, /First run downloads the native binary and pinned codex bridge/i);
   assert.match(readme, /codex app-server/i);
@@ -50,7 +53,9 @@ test("root readme documents supported install and update paths", () => {
 test("package readme is npm-ready and package avoids blocked postinstall", () => {
   const packageReadme = read(join(packageRoot, "README.md"));
   assert.match(packageReadme, /@dhruv2mars\/codexchat/);
+  assert.match(packageReadme, /npm package is not published yet/i);
   assert.match(packageReadme, /bun install -g @dhruv2mars\/codexchat/);
+  assert.match(packageReadme, /cargo run -p codexchat-cli --/);
   assert.match(packageReadme, /codexchat update/);
   assert.match(packageReadme, /pinned `codex` bridge/i);