diff --git a/.java-version b/.java-version
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7273c0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.java-version
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+25
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f397957..1c0acd9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,2 +1,24 @@
-# labtimesheet
+# Lab Timesheet
 
+## Local development
+
+The application targets Java 25 and expects PostgreSQL on
+`localhost:55432` when the default `dev` profile is active. Override any local
+value with `LAB_DB_URL`, `LAB_DB_USERNAME`, `LAB_DB_PASSWORD`,
+`LAB_SMTP_HOST`, or `LAB_SMTP_PORT`.
+
+```bash
+export JAVA_HOME=/opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@25
+export PATH="$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH"
+./mvnw spring-boot:run
+```
+
+Tests use PostgreSQL 18.4 through Testcontainers and do not use the developer
+database:
+
+```bash
+./mvnw test
+```
+
+Every feature test must have a companion Markdown evidence record under
+[`docs/tests`](docs/tests/README.md).
diff --git a/docs/tests/README.md b/docs/tests/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7ab498b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/tests/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Test Evidence
+
+TDD is mandatory. Every feature test must have one companion Markdown record
+in the directory matching its test type:
+
+- `unit/` — isolated state, calculation, and domain behavior.
+- `integration/` — PostgreSQL, Flyway, repository, transaction, and module integration.
+- `web/` — MockMvc, Thymeleaf, validation, and security behavior.
+- `e2e/` — cross-module, browser, or full user journeys.
+
+Copy that directory's `_TEMPLATE.md` and keep every heading. One evidence file
+may cover a cohesive parameterized scenario set, but it must name every
+requirement and scenario ID it protects.
+
+An evidence record is complete only when it contains the observed RED failure,
+the observed GREEN result, the affected-suite result, and honest external-test
+boundaries. Commands and relevant output are copied exactly; prose such as
+"passed locally" is not evidence.
diff --git a/docs/tests/e2e/_TEMPLATE.md b/docs/tests/e2e/_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ac40ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/tests/e2e/_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+# Test Evidence: <short behavior name>
+
+- **Test type:** E2E
+- **Requirement IDs:** `<ID>`
+- **Scenario IDs:** `<ID>`
+- **Test class/method:** `<fully qualified class and method>`
+- **Implementation commit:** `<short SHA or pending>`
+
+## Protected behavior
+
+<Externally observable rule and failure mode protected by this test.>
+
+## Test method
+
+<Setup, action, and assertions. Explain why this is the narrowest production-shaped test.>
+
+## Hand-derived expected result
+
+<Expected values or state derived independently of the implementation.>
+
+## RED
+
+**Command**
+
+```text
+<exact command>
+```
+
+**Observed result**
+
+```text
+<relevant failing output and why it failed for the expected missing behavior>
+```
+
+## GREEN
+
+**Command**
+
+```text
+<exact command>
+```
+
+**Observed result**
+
+```text
+<relevant passing output>
+```
+
+## Affected suite
+
+**Command and result**
+
+```text
+<exact broader command and result>
+```
+
+## External-test boundaries
+
+<What this test deliberately does not prove, including infrastructure or browser boundaries.>
diff --git a/docs/tests/integration/_TEMPLATE.md b/docs/tests/integration/_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..65607b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/tests/integration/_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+# Test Evidence: <short behavior name>
+
+- **Test type:** Integration
+- **Requirement IDs:** `<ID>`
+- **Scenario IDs:** `<ID>`
+- **Test class/method:** `<fully qualified class and method>`
+- **Implementation commit:** `<short SHA or pending>`
+
+## Protected behavior
+
+<Externally observable rule and failure mode protected by this test.>
+
+## Test method
+
+<Setup, action, and assertions. Explain why this is the narrowest production-shaped test.>
+
+## Hand-derived expected result
+
+<Expected values or state derived independently of the implementation.>
+
+## RED
+
+**Command**
+
+```text
+<exact command>
+```
+
+**Observed result**
+
+```text
+<relevant failing output and why it failed for the expected missing behavior>
+```
+
+## GREEN
+
+**Command**
+
+```text
+<exact command>
+```
+
+**Observed result**
+
+```text
+<relevant passing output>
+```
+
+## Affected suite
+
+**Command and result**
+
+```text
+<exact broader command and result>
+```
+
+## External-test boundaries
+
+<What this test deliberately does not prove, including infrastructure or browser boundaries.>
diff --git a/docs/tests/unit/_TEMPLATE.md b/docs/tests/unit/_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..35137d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/tests/unit/_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+# Test Evidence: <short behavior name>
+
+- **Test type:** Unit
+- **Requirement IDs:** `<ID>`
+- **Scenario IDs:** `<ID>`
+- **Test class/method:** `<fully qualified class and method>`
+- **Implementation commit:** `<short SHA or pending>`
+
+## Protected behavior
+
+<Externally observable rule and failure mode protected by this test.>
+
+## Test method
+
+<Setup, action, and assertions. Explain why this is the narrowest production-shaped test.>
+
+## Hand-derived expected result
+
+<Expected values or state derived independently of the implementation.>
+
+## RED
+
+**Command**
+
+```text
+<exact command>
+```
+
+**Observed result**
+
+```text
+<relevant failing output and why it failed for the expected missing behavior>
+```
+
+## GREEN
+
+**Command**
+
+```text
+<exact command>
+```
+
+**Observed result**
+
+```text
+<relevant passing output>
+```
+
+## Affected suite
+
+**Command and result**
+
+```text
+<exact broader command and result>
+```
+
+## External-test boundaries
+
+<What this test deliberately does not prove, including infrastructure or browser boundaries.>
diff --git a/docs/tests/web/_TEMPLATE.md b/docs/tests/web/_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..72bba5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/tests/web/_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+# Test Evidence: <short behavior name>
+
+- **Test type:** Web
+- **Requirement IDs:** `<ID>`
+- **Scenario IDs:** `<ID>`
+- **Test class/method:** `<fully qualified class and method>`
+- **Implementation commit:** `<short SHA or pending>`
+
+## Protected behavior
+
+<Externally observable rule and failure mode protected by this test.>
+
+## Test method
+
+<Setup, action, and assertions. Explain why this is the narrowest production-shaped test.>
+
+## Hand-derived expected result
+
+<Expected values or state derived independently of the implementation.>
+
+## RED
+
+**Command**
+
+```text
+<exact command>
+```
+
+**Observed result**
+
+```text
+<relevant failing output and why it failed for the expected missing behavior>
+```
+
+## GREEN
+
+**Command**
+
+```text
+<exact command>
+```
+
+**Observed result**
+
+```text
+<relevant passing output>
+```
+
+## Affected suite
+
+**Command and result**
+
+```text
+<exact broader command and result>
+```
+
+## External-test boundaries
+
+<What this test deliberately does not prove, including infrastructure or browser boundaries.>
diff --git a/src/main/resources/application-dev.yaml b/src/main/resources/application-dev.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..765f81d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/resources/application-dev.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+spring:
+  datasource:
+    url: ${LAB_DB_URL:jdbc:postgresql://localhost:55432/labtimesheet}
+    username: ${LAB_DB_USERNAME:labtimesheet}
+    password: ${LAB_DB_PASSWORD:labtimesheet_dev}
+  mail:
+    host: ${LAB_SMTP_HOST:localhost}
+    port: ${LAB_SMTP_PORT:1025}
diff --git a/src/main/resources/application.yaml b/src/main/resources/application.yaml
index 9cec0d9..70f4092 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/application.yaml
+++ b/src/main/resources/application.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
 spring:
   application:
     name: labtimesheet
+  profiles:
+    default: dev
+  docker:
+    compose:
+      enabled: false
+  jpa:
+    open-in-view: false
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/lab/labtimesheet/LabtimesheetApplicationTests.java b/src/test/java/com/lab/labtimesheet/LabtimesheetApplicationTests.java
index 87aeab2..b2c6272 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/lab/labtimesheet/LabtimesheetApplicationTests.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/lab/labtimesheet/LabtimesheetApplicationTests.java
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@ package com.lab.labtimesheet;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 import org.springframework.boot.test.context.SpringBootTest;
 import org.springframework.context.annotation.Import;
+import org.springframework.test.context.ActiveProfiles;
 
 @Import(TestcontainersConfiguration.class)
 @SpringBootTest
+@ActiveProfiles("test")
 class LabtimesheetApplicationTests {
 
     @Test
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/lab/labtimesheet/TestcontainersConfiguration.java b/src/test/java/com/lab/labtimesheet/TestcontainersConfiguration.java
index 841da8d..e8643af 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/lab/labtimesheet/TestcontainersConfiguration.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/lab/labtimesheet/TestcontainersConfiguration.java
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class TestcontainersConfiguration {
     @Bean
     @ServiceConnection
     PostgreSQLContainer postgresContainer() {
-        return new PostgreSQLContainer(DockerImageName.parse("postgres:latest"));
+        return new PostgreSQLContainer(DockerImageName.parse("postgres:18.4"));
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/src/test/resources/application-test.yaml b/src/test/resources/application-test.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b71534c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/resources/application-test.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+spring:
+  docker:
+    compose:
+      enabled: false