diff --git a/hosts/example/default.nix b/hosts/example/default.nix
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/hosts/example/default.nix
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+# hosts/example/ — copy-me template for a new Omnixient host.
+#
+# Adopt in five steps:
+#   1. cp -r hosts/example hosts/<yourhost>
+#   2. Generate YOUR hardware scan (replaces the placeholder):
+#        sudo nixos-generate-config --show-hardware-config \
+#          > hosts/<yourhost>/hardware-configuration.nix
+#   3. Add a host entry in flake.nix (copy the `example` block, rename it
+#      to <yourhost>). Add `devEnv = true;` only if you want the dev-env.
+#   4. Fill in settings.nix (user, hostName, stateVersion, sshKeys, …).
+#      If your username differs from the template's, also create
+#      users/<youruser>/home-manager.nix (copy users/user/home-manager.nix).
+#   5. sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#<yourhost>
+#
+# Everything here is intentionally minimal — no maintainer-specific
+# hardware modules, VPN tunnels, fwupd quirks, or dev-env. Add what you
+# want through packs. See docs/getting-started.md and docs/packs.md.
+{ lib, inputs, settings, ... }:
+{
+  imports = [
+    # Your machine's hardware scan. The committed file is a PLACEHOLDER —
+    # replace it (step 2) before building on real hardware.
+    ./hardware-configuration.nix
+
+    # Optional: a nixos-hardware module for your exact model, e.g.
+    # inputs.nixos-hardware.nixosModules.framework-13-7040-amd
+    # inputs.nixos-hardware.nixosModules.dell-xps-15-9520
+    # (full list: https://github.com/NixOS/nixos-hardware)
+
+    # Shared Omnixient base: system + Hyprland desktop + theming.
+    ../../configuration.nix
+
+    # Optional: shared binary caches (substituters + trusted keys).
+    # ../../modules/cache.nix
+  ];
+
+  # Opt into the goodies you want — see docs/packs.md for the full catalog.
+  omni.packs = {
+    development.enable = true;
+    media.enable = true;
+    containers.enable = true;
+    # gaming.enable = true;
+    # office.enable = true;
+    # bitcoin.enable = true;   # needs an explicit import — see docs/packs.md
+  };
+}
diff --git a/hosts/example/hardware-configuration.nix b/hosts/example/hardware-configuration.nix
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/hosts/example/hardware-configuration.nix
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+# PLACEHOLDER hardware scan — REPLACE before building on real hardware:
+#   sudo nixos-generate-config --show-hardware-config > hardware-configuration.nix
+#
+# This generic stub exists only so the `example` host evaluates/builds as a
+# template (and so the template can't silently rot in CI). The by-label
+# devices below will NOT match your machine — a real scan captures your
+# actual disks, filesystems, kernel modules, and CPU microcode.
+#
+# hostPlatform is set by lib/mksystem.nix; the bootloader (systemd-boot)
+# by modules/boot.nix — so this file only needs filesystems.
+{
+  config,
+  lib,
+  modulesPath,
+  ...
+}:
+{
+  imports = [ (modulesPath + "/installer/scan/not-detected.nix") ];
+
+  boot.initrd.availableKernelModules = [
+    "xhci_pci"
+    "nvme"
+    "ahci"
+    "usbhid"
+    "sd_mod"
+  ];
+  boot.initrd.kernelModules = [ ];
+  boot.kernelModules = [ ];
+  boot.extraModulePackages = [ ];
+
+  fileSystems."/" = {
+    device = "/dev/disk/by-label/nixos";
+    fsType = "ext4";
+  };
+
+  fileSystems."/boot" = {
+    device = "/dev/disk/by-label/boot";
+    fsType = "vfat";
+  };
+
+  swapDevices = [ ];
+
+  networking.useDHCP = lib.mkDefault true;
+}