diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9850ba2..2e2c9d6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # dau utils
 
-Utilities for dau
+Host-side operational utilities for DAU bench work
 
 [![Build Status](https://github.com/dau-dev/dau-utils/actions/workflows/build.yaml/badge.svg?branch=main&event=push)](https://github.com/dau-dev/dau-utils/actions/workflows/build.yaml)
 [![codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/dau-dev/dau-utils/branch/main/graph/badge.svg)](https://codecov.io/gh/dau-dev/dau-utils)
@@ -9,18 +9,56 @@ Utilities for dau
 
 ## Overview
 
-A collection of miscellaneous utilities for dau development.
+Small, package-neutral utilities for operating FPGA bench hosts. Each owns
+one mechanism; policy (which devices, when to arm) belongs to the caller —
+higher layers such as `dau-build` compose these into their hardware
+command plans.
 
-### Runtime PM Helper
+## Deadman: survive a wedged PCIe device
 
-`dau-utils-pci-runtime-pm` holds or releases Linux PCI runtime PM for devices matched from `lspci -Dnn`. It is intentionally package-neutral: callers such as `dau-build` decide which device patterns matter, while this utility owns the sysfs writes.
+A driver/PCIe hang can leave the kernel and systemd alive — the hardware
+watchdog keeps getting petted, yet a clean `systemctl reboot` blocks on
+the stuck device, and the box needs a walk to the power switch. The
+deadman arms a forced reboot *before* the risky operation and cancels it
+on success:
 
 ```bash
-dau-utils-pci-runtime-pm hold --pattern Thunderbolt --pattern JHL --pattern 10ee:7011 --pattern Xilinx
-dau-utils-pci-runtime-pm release --pattern Thunderbolt --pattern JHL --pattern 10ee:7011 --pattern Xilinx
+dau-utils-deadman arm --timeout 300     # transient systemd timer; survives SSH loss
+# ... rescan / flash / probe ...
+dau-utils-deadman disarm                # clean return: cancel the reset
+dau-utils-deadman status
 ```
 
-Use `--dry-run` to print planned writes without touching sysfs.
+If the host wedges before `disarm`, the timer fires `sysrq-b`
+(`emergency_restart()`), which resets past the wedged driver without
+touching it. The same operations are available as a Python API
+(`dau_utils.deadman.arm/disarm/is_armed` and an `armed()` context
+manager); failures raise `DeadmanError` — treat the host as unsafe.
+
+Arm it before every PCIe rescan, flash, or register probe against a device
+that has previously wedged. Synthesis and other non-PCIe work does not
+need it.
+
+## Runtime PM: hold and release PCIe power management
+
+`dau-utils-pci-runtime-pm` holds or releases Linux PCI runtime PM for
+devices matched from `lspci -Dnn`. The caller decides which patterns
+matter; this utility owns the sysfs writes:
+
+```bash
+dau-utils-pci-runtime-pm hold    --pattern Thunderbolt --pattern 10ee:7011
+dau-utils-pci-runtime-pm release --pattern Thunderbolt --pattern 10ee:7011
+```
+
+Use `--dry-run` to print the planned writes without touching sysfs.
+
+## Development
+
+```bash
+pip install -e .[develop]
+python -m pytest dau_utils/tests
+python -m ruff check dau_utils
+```
 
 > [!NOTE]
 > This library was generated using [copier](https://copier.readthedocs.io/en/stable/) from the [Base Python Project Template repository](https://github.com/python-project-templates/base).