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+# CloudMedia Backend
+
+CloudMedia is a backend-first, service-oriented platform for user-generated media (YouTube-style MVP).
+
+Current implementation is centered on Java Spring Boot domain services, with infrastructure and API contracts already in place for broader multi-language expansion.
+
+## What is in this repo
+
+- Java microservices for identity, content, social, policy, and discovery
+- Local development infrastructure via Docker Compose (Postgres, Kafka, Redis)
+- REST API contract and backend implementation planning docs
+- CI with Markdown linting, Java quality gates, and identity-service test coverage checks
+
+## Services (current)
+
+Java services under `services/java`:
+
+- `identity-service` (`:8081`) - auth/session/token flows
+- `content-service` (`:8082`) - content metadata and playback gating
+- `social-service` (`:8083`) - follows/comments/playlists
+- `policy-service` (`:8084`) - moderation + age/geo policy evaluation
+- `discovery-service` (`:8085`) - search and home feed filtering/ranking
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- Java 21+
+- Maven 3.9+
+- Docker + Docker Compose
+
+## Quick start
+
+1. Start local infrastructure:
+
+```bash
+make dev-up
+```
+
+This starts:
+
+- Postgres on `localhost:5432`
+- Kafka on `localhost:9092`
+- Redis on `localhost:6379`
+
+1. Run a service (example: identity-service):
+
+```bash
+cd services/java
+SPRING_PROFILES_ACTIVE=local mvn -pl identity-service -am spring-boot:run
+```
+
+1. Stop or reset infrastructure when needed:
+
+```bash
+make dev-down   # keep data
+make dev-reset  # destroy data
+```
+
+## Local development commands
+
+From `services/java`:
+
+```bash
+# Run formatter + style checks for one module
+mvn -pl discovery-service spotless:apply checkstyle:check
+
+# Run tests for one module
+mvn -pl discovery-service test
+
+# Validate all Java modules quickly
+mvn -f pom.xml -DskipTests validate
+```
+
+## API and planning docs
+
+- REST API contract: `docs/contracts/rest-api-v1.md`
+- MVP backend plan: `docs/mvp-backend-implementation-plan.md`
+- Modular rollout roadmap: `docs/modular-implementation-roadmap.md`
+
+## Repository layout
+
+- `services/java` - Java services monorepo parent + modules
+- `scripts/dev` - local infra lifecycle scripts
+- `docker` + `docker-compose.yml` - local infra definitions
+- `docs` - contracts, architecture notes, and implementation plans
+- `.github/workflows/ci.yml` - CI pipeline
+
+## Notes
+
+- `.env` is auto-created from `.env.example` if missing when you run `make dev-up`.
+- Discovery's OpenSearch integration is present but disabled by default in local config.
+- Go-based services are part of the target architecture but are not scaffolded in this repo yet.