diff --git a/docs/examples/setup-gittally-selfhost.sh b/docs/examples/setup-gittally-selfhost.sh
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+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Example: set up a GitTally instance that watches and builds GitTally itself.
+# Run from inside a working checkout of the gittally repository.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   GIT_ACCOUNT=mi GIT_TOKEN=xxxx ./docs/examples/setup-gittally-selfhost.sh
+#   (both empty is fine for a public origin — commit statuses just won't be published)
+set -euo pipefail
+
+INSTALL_DIR="${INSTALL_DIR:-$HOME/gittally-selfhost}"
+GIT_ACCOUNT="${GIT_ACCOUNT:-}"   # technical Gitea user for HTTPS fetch + status API
+GIT_TOKEN="${GIT_TOKEN:-}"       # Gitea API token — stays in the uncommitted config file
+SERVER_PORT="${SERVER_PORT:-18080}"
+
+DEV_CHECKOUT=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)
+ORIGIN_URL="${ORIGIN_URL:-$(git -C "$DEV_CHECKOUT" remote get-url origin)}"
+
+# 1. Build the GitTally jar — the last Gradle run you ever start by hand.
+(cd "$DEV_CHECKOUT" && ./gradlew --console=plain build)
+
+# 2. Dedicated clone: builds run in worktrees under its .git/gittally/worktrees,
+#    completely separate from your dev checkout.
+mkdir -p "$INSTALL_DIR"
+JAR=$(ls "$DEV_CHECKOUT"/build/libs/gittally-*.jar | grep -v -- '-plain' | head -1)
+cp "$JAR" "$INSTALL_DIR/gittally.jar"
+if [ ! -d "$INSTALL_DIR/repo/.git" ]; then
+    git clone "$ORIGIN_URL" "$INSTALL_DIR/repo"
+fi
+cd "$INSTALL_DIR/repo"
+
+# 3. Generate the config templates; existing files are kept, Gitea URL/owner/repo
+#    are detected from the origin URL.
+java -jar "$INSTALL_DIR/gittally.jar" init
+
+# 4. Machine-specific overrides and secrets (.git/gittally/ is never committed;
+#    this file deep-merges over .gittally.yml and wins).
+cat > .git/gittally/.gittally.yml <<EOF
+git:
+  account: "$GIT_ACCOUNT"
+  token: "$GIT_TOKEN"
+server:
+  port: $SERVER_PORT
+EOF
+chmod 600 .git/gittally/.gittally.yml
+
+# The generated defaults already build GitTally itself:
+#   buildCommand: ./gradlew --console=plain --no-daemon test
+#   artifactDirs: [build/reports]
+
+# 5. Optional kick-start: put the local ref one commit behind origin so the very
+#    first poll triggers a build — otherwise GitTally waits for the next push.
+#    Builds never move this ref or touch this checkout, so lagging is harmless.
+git reset --hard --quiet HEAD~1 || true
+
+# 6. Run it (Ctrl-C stops it cleanly; wrap this in a systemd unit for a permanent setup).
+echo "GitTally self-host: http://localhost:$SERVER_PORT/ — watching $ORIGIN_URL"
+exec java -jar "$INSTALL_DIR/gittally.jar" server