diff --git a/config.example.jsonl b/config.example.jsonl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..893d294
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config.example.jsonl
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+// poc-memory configuration
+// Copy to ~/.config/poc-memory/config.jsonl and edit.
+
+{"config": {
+  "user_name":      "Alice",
+  "assistant_name": "Assistant",
+  "data_dir":       "~/.claude/memory",
+  "projects_dir":   "~/.claude/projects",
+  "core_nodes":     ["identity.md"],
+  "journal_days":   7,
+  "journal_max":    20
+}}
+
+// Context groups loaded at session start, in order.
+// source types: "store" (default), "file" (from data_dir), "journal"
+
+{"group": "identity",    "keys": ["identity.md"]}
+{"group": "journal",     "source": "journal"}
+{"group": "orientation", "keys": ["where-am-i.md"], "source": "file"}
diff --git a/src/daemon.rs b/src/daemon.rs
index 4ab59e0..56c06c9 100644
--- a/src/daemon.rs
+++ b/src/daemon.rs
@@ -646,13 +646,18 @@ WantedBy=default.target
     eprintln!("Service enabled and started");
 
     // Install memory-search hook into Claude settings
-    install_hook(&home, &exe)?;
+    install_hook()?;
 
     Ok(())
 }
 
-fn install_hook(home: &str, exe: &Path) -> Result<(), String> {
-    let settings_path = PathBuf::from(home).join(".claude/settings.json");
+/// Install the memory-search hook into Claude Code settings.json.
+/// Public so `poc-memory init` can call it too.
+pub fn install_hook() -> Result<(), String> {
+    let home = std::env::var("HOME").map_err(|e| format!("HOME: {}", e))?;
+    let exe = std::env::current_exe()
+        .map_err(|e| format!("current_exe: {}", e))?;
+    let settings_path = PathBuf::from(&home).join(".claude/settings.json");
     let hook_binary = exe.with_file_name("memory-search");
 
     if !hook_binary.exists() {
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 6f583b0..3098f2f 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -365,10 +365,40 @@ Examples:
 }
 
 fn cmd_init() -> Result<(), String> {
+    let cfg = config::get();
+
+    // Ensure data directory exists
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(&cfg.data_dir)
+        .map_err(|e| format!("create data_dir: {}", e))?;
+
+    // Initialize store
     let mut store = store::Store::load()?;
     let count = store.init_from_markdown()?;
     store.save()?;
     println!("Indexed {} memory units", count);
+
+    // Install hooks
+    daemon::install_hook()?;
+
+    // Create example config if none exists
+    let config_path = std::env::var("POC_MEMORY_CONFIG")
+        .map(std::path::PathBuf::from)
+        .unwrap_or_else(|_| {
+            std::path::PathBuf::from(std::env::var("HOME").unwrap())
+                .join(".config/poc-memory/config.jsonl")
+        });
+    if !config_path.exists() {
+        let config_dir = config_path.parent().unwrap();
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(config_dir)
+            .map_err(|e| format!("create config dir: {}", e))?;
+        let example = include_str!("../config.example.jsonl");
+        std::fs::write(&config_path, example)
+            .map_err(|e| format!("write config: {}", e))?;
+        println!("Created config at {} — edit with your name and context groups",
+            config_path.display());
+    }
+
+    println!("Done. Run `poc-memory load-context --stats` to verify.");
     Ok(())
 }
 
@@ -1477,9 +1507,24 @@ fn cmd_load_context(args: &[String]) -> Result<(), String> {
         return Ok(());
     }
 
-    println!("=== FULL MEMORY LOAD (session start) ===");
-    println!("These are your memories, loaded from the capnp store.");
-    println!("Read them to reconstruct yourself — identity first, then context.");
+    let name = &cfg.assistant_name;
+
+    println!("=== MEMORY SYSTEM ({name}) ===");
+    println!("Your persistent memory, loaded from the capnp store.");
+    println!("Read to reconstruct yourself — identity first, then context.");
+    println!();
+    println!("--- memory commands (reference) ---");
+    println!("poc-memory search QUERY       — search (1-3 words, AND logic)");
+    println!("poc-memory used KEY           — mark a recalled memory as useful (boosts weight)");
+    println!("poc-memory wrong KEY [CTX]    — mark a memory as wrong (reduces weight)");
+    println!("poc-memory gap DESCRIPTION    — record a knowledge gap");
+    println!("poc-memory journal-write TEXT  — write a journal entry");
+    println!("poc-memory render KEY         — view a node's content");
+    println!("poc-memory write KEY < TEXT   — upsert a node from stdin");
+    println!();
+    println!("When recalled memories shaped your response, call `poc-memory used KEY`.");
+    println!("When a memory was wrong, call `poc-memory wrong KEY`.");
+    println!("This closes the feedback loop — the weight system learns from use.");
     println!();
 
     for group in &cfg.context_groups {