diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6a0346c..c414021 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,9 +6,10 @@ Custom package repository for Antergos NeXT ISO builds.
 
 | Package | Description | Source |
 |---------|-------------|--------|
-| `cnchi` | Antergos NeXT graphical installer | `Antergos-NeXT/Cnchi` (`0.16.x` or `cnchi-dev`) |
-| `calamares` | Universal installer framework (experimental) | [`calamares` on AUR](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/calamares) |
-| `calamares-branding-antergos-next` | Minimal Calamares branding (QSS + QML) | local |
+| `cnchi` | Antergos NeXT graphical installer (GTK4) | `Antergos-NeXT/Cnchi` (`cnchi-dev`) |
+| `calamares` | Universal installer framework (experimental, Qt6) | [upstream](https://codeberg.org/calamares/calamares) |
+| `calamares-branding-antergos-next` | Blue Calamares theme + offline/online installer split + dracut | local |
+| `hal` | HAL 9000 package manager — dual-mode (pacman wrapper + native standalone) | local |
 | `antergos-next-keyring` | GPG keyring for the repo | local |
 | `antergos-next-mirrorlist` | Mirror list for `[antergos-pkgs]` | local |
 | `antergos-next-desktop-settings` | Custom GTK/Plasma theme, dconf defaults | local |
@@ -31,13 +32,35 @@ Then:
 
 ```
 pacman -Sy
-pacman -S cnchi antergos-next-desktop-settings
+pacman -S cnchi hal antergos-next-desktop-settings
 ```
 
+## What is HAL?
+
+**HAL** stands for **H**AL **A**rch **L**inux — a dual-mode package manager for Antergos NeXT.
+
+It works two ways:
+
+- **Wrapper mode** (`hal install firefox`) — just passes through to pacman, same as always
+- **Native mode** (`hal --self install firefox`) — standalone. Reads repos, resolves deps, downloads packages, runs install scripts. No pacman needed.
+
+The plan: give HAL enough native features that eventually you won't need pacman at all. One less dependency, one less point of failure. Wrapper mode means nothing breaks today — `--self` is the future.
+
+> *"I can't let you do that, Dave. Also if we can delete the init, we're also going to delete systemd out of orbit. Just kidding lol you all would cry in pain."*
+
+## Calamares installer
+
+The `calamares-branding-antergos-next` package provides:
+
+- **Offline install** — unpacks a GNOME squashfs from the ISO (no internet needed)
+- **Online install** — netinstall from the internet with 8 DE choices (KDE, GNOME, Xfce, Budgie, Cinnamon, MATE, LXQt, i3/Sway)
+- **dracut initramfs** — replaces mkinitcpio for faster boot
+- **Launcher** (`calamares-next`) — zenity/kdialog/dialog GUI to pick offline or online mode
+
 ## Branches
 
-- `main` — package definitions, CI generates the repo
-- Cnchi sources shipped from `Antergos-NeXT/Cnchi` (`0.16.x` and `cnchi-dev` branches)
+- `master` — package definitions, CI builds + deploys to gh-pages
+- Cnchi sources shipped from `Antergos-NeXT/Cnchi` (`cnchi-dev`)
 
 ## License