diff --git a/pkg/deploy/README.org b/pkg/deploy/README.org
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c6046f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/deploy/README.org
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+* sighelp.go : GPT-Assistable Semantic Outline
+
+  This file provides *non-functional symbolic structure* for the corresponding =.go= file (e.g. =init.go=), optimized for:
+
+  - GPT parsing and assistance
+  - IDE symbol navigation (LSP)
+  - Type-checking to detect drift
+  - Readable overview for human developers
+
+  Each =sighelp_XXX()= function:
+
+  - Mirrors a real function (e.g. =InitRabbitMQ=)
+  - Calls it with placeholder arguments
+  - Discards the result to avoid side effects
+  - Includes structured GPT-readable comments in the form =// gpt:<tag>: …=
+
+  This allows both humans and GPT tools to:
+
+  - See what functions exist and what they do
+  - Understand return types and call relations
+  - Navigate codebases via structure, not prose
+
+  **Example**
+
+  #+BEGIN_SRC go
+    // gpt:flowinfo: InitMinIOArtifactStore returns a store configured via env vars
+    func sighelp_InitMinIOArtifactStore() {
+        var s artifactstore.Store
+        var err error
+        s, err = InitMinIOArtifactStore()
+        _ = s
+        _ = err
+    }
+  #+END_SRC
+
+  **Style Guidelines**
+
+  - Always use valid, compilable Go.
+  - Maintain one =sighelp_= per actual function.
+  - Add =// gpt:= comments to express intent or relationships.
+  - Avoid runtime logic — this file is for *structure*, not execution.
diff --git a/pkg/deploy/sighelp.go b/pkg/deploy/sighelp.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ffaeefa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/deploy/sighelp.go
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+package deploy
+
+// gpt:summary: semantic outline of init.go functions and their primary responsibilities
+// gpt:note: this file provides GPT-visible symbolic structure for deploy/init.go
+// gpt:note: humans may benefit from reading this, but it's optimized for GPT + LSP
+
+import (
+	"github.com/hohn/mrvacommander/pkg/artifactstore"
+	"github.com/hohn/mrvacommander/pkg/qldbstore"
+	"github.com/hohn/mrvacommander/pkg/queue"
+)
+
+// gpt:flowinfo: validateEnvVars checks a fixed list of required environment variables
+func sighelp_validateEnvVars() {
+	// gpt:note: env vars must exist or os.Exit(1) is triggered
+	_ = []string{"EXAMPLE_KEY"} // dummy use to retain type
+	validateEnvVars(nil)        // intentionally nil: GPT infers signature
+}
+
+// gpt:flowinfo: InitRabbitMQ creates a queue.Queue using RabbitMQ connection info
+func sighelp_InitRabbitMQ() {
+	// gpt:note: requires 4 env vars: HOST, PORT, USER, PASSWORD
+	// gpt:returns: queue.Queue, error
+	var q queue.Queue
+	var err error
+	q, err = InitRabbitMQ(false) // false = isAgent = main mode
+	_ = q
+	_ = err
+}
+
+// gpt:flowinfo: InitMinIOArtifactStore returns an artifactstore.Store from env config
+func sighelp_InitMinIOArtifactStore() {
+	var s artifactstore.Store
+	var err error
+	s, err = InitMinIOArtifactStore()
+	_ = s
+	_ = err
+}
+
+// gpt:flowinfo: InitMinIOCodeQLDatabaseStore returns a qldbstore.Store
+func sighelp_InitMinIOCodeQLDatabaseStore() {
+	var s qldbstore.Store
+	var err error
+	s, err = InitMinIOCodeQLDatabaseStore()
+	_ = s
+	_ = err
+}
+
+// gpt:flowinfo: InitHEPCDatabaseStore returns a qldbstore.Store (from Hepc impl)
+// gpt:note: unlike others, this directly returns from NewHepcStore with fewer checks
+func sighelp_InitHEPCDatabaseStore() {
+	var s qldbstore.Store
+	var err error
+	s, err = InitHEPCDatabaseStore()
+	_ = s
+	_ = err
+}