diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..23c5580
--- /dev/null
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+recursive-include src/githelp/data/overlays *.yml
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diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cca40b6
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+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#how the project is built
+[build-system]
+requires = ["setuptools>=61.0"]
+build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
+
+#project's metadata
+[project]
+name = "githelp"
+version = "0.1.0"
+description = "example CLI using Click."
+authors = [{ name = "Jimmy Zhang", email = "jimmy_zhang@uri.edu" }]
+readme = "README.md"
+requires-python = ">=3.9"
+dependencies = ["click>=8.1", "pyyaml>=6.0"]
+
+#this creates the 'githelp' command that point to the click group
+[project.scripts]
+githelp = "githelp.cli:githelp_cli"
+
+#tell the setuptool to include non py file
+[tool.setuptools]
+include-package-data = true
+
+#include the yml file inside the install so that it can be found in the runtime
+[tool.setuptools.package-data]
+githelp = ["data/overlays/*.yml"]
+
diff --git a/src/githelp/_init_.py b/src/githelp/_init_.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..469e977
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/githelp/_init_.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+__all__ = ["__version__"]
+__version__ = "0.1.0"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/githelp/cli.py b/src/githelp/cli.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d3d3f54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/githelp/cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import click
+from .overlays import load_overlay, render_overlay, render_menu
+
+@click.group(
+    help="githelp terminal first Git helper.",
+    invoke_without_command=True,
+    add_help_option=False,
+)
+@click.option("-h", "--help", "show_help", is_flag=True, help="Provides option menu")
+@click.pass_context
+def githelp_cli(context, show_help):
+    if show_help or context.invoked_subcommand is None:
+        click.echo(context.get_help())
+        click.echo()
+        click.echo(render_menu())
+        if context.invoked_subcommand is None:
+            context.exit(0)
+
+@githelp_cli.command(name="list", help="List of available githelp tip pages.")
+def list_cmd():
+    '''List all available githelp tip.'''
+    click.echo(render_menu())
+
+@githelp_cli.command(name="explain", help="Show githelp overlay tips for a git subcommand.")
+@click.argument("cmd")
+def explain_cmd(cmd):
+    '''Show tips for a specific git subcommand'''
+    tips = load_overlay(cmd)
+    if tips:
+        click.echo(render_overlay(tips))
+    else:
+        click.echo(f"githelp tips\n\nNo tips found for '{cmd}'.")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/githelp/data/overlays/tips.yml b/src/githelp/data/overlays/tips.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cbc5266
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/githelp/data/overlays/tips.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+pull:
+  command: pull
+  summary: "A git command that fetches from a remote repository and merges into the current branch (fetch + merge)."
+  when_to_use:
+    - "You want to get the latest updates into your local branch."
+  examples:
+    - cmd: "git pull"
+      say: "Fetches from your branch's tracked remote (usually 'origin') and merges into your current branch."
+
+commit:
+  command: commit
+  summary: "Create a snapshot of staged changes; keep messages short and imperative."
+  when_to_use:
+    - "You have staged changes and want to record them."
+  examples:
+    - cmd: "git commit -m \"messages\""
+      say: "Short, informative summary."
+
+add: 
+  command: add
+  summary: "Stages changes like new, modified, or deleted files to be included in the next commit. This also moves files from working directory to the staging area."
+  when_to_use: 
+    - "When you want to stage changes this could include new, modified, or deleted files to the repo."
+  examples:
+    - cmd: "git add ."
+      say: "add all file"
+    - cmd: "git add <name of the changed file>"
+      say: "add a file"
+
+status:
+  command: status
+  summary: "command provides an overview of the current state of your Git repository. this is done by checking pointer and compare them to the current directory"
+  when_to_use: 
+    - "when you want to check the differences/changes of current vs before"
+  examples:
+    - cmd: "git status"
+      say: "overview changes"
+
+clone: 
+  command: clone 
+  summary: "Creates a copy of a remote repository on your local machine."
+  when_to_use: 
+    - "you want to use this to create a local copy of an existing Git repository"
+  examples:
+    - cmd: "git clone <github repository link>"
+    - say: "Downloads the remote repo into a new local folder."
+
+checkout: 
+  command: checkout 
+  summary: "switch between branch"
+  when_to_use: 
+    - "you want to use this to navigate between difference branches"
+  examples:
+    - cmd: "git checkout <branch name>"
+      say: "Switches your working directory to the specified branch."
+
+branch: 
+  command: branch
+  summary: "Lists all branches in your repository"
+  when_to_use: 
+    - "you use this to check what branch you're on"
+  examples:
+    - cmd: "git branch"
+      say: "Shows all local branches and highlights the one you're on."
+    - cmd: "git branch -m <new-branch-name>"
+      say: "Renames the current branch to the new name."
+
+logs:
+  command: logs
+  summary: "Displays the commit history of the repository. "
+  when_to_use:
+    - "you want to use this to see commit hashes, authors, dates, and messages."
+  examples:
+    - cmd: git logs
+      say: "information of commit history"
+
+tag: 
+  command: tag
+  summary: "command in Git is used to mark specific points in a repository's history as important."
+  when_to_use: 
+    - "use this to mark a particular point in the commit ancestry chain."
+  examples:
+    - cmd: git tag
+      say: "Lists all tags that mark important commits in the repo."
+
+rebase:
+  command: rebase
+  summary: "Moves or reapplies commits from one branch on top of another to keep history linear."
+  when_to_use:
+    - "You want to update your feature branch on top of the latest main or another branch."
+    - "You want a cleaner, straight line commit history instead of a lot of merge commits."
+  examples:
+    - cmd: "git rebase main"
+      say: "Replay your current branch’s commits on top of the latest 'main' branch."
+    - cmd: "git rebase origin/main"
+      say: "Rebase your work on top of the 'origin/main' branch from the remote."
+
+fetch:
+  command: fetch
+  summary: "Downloads new commits, branches, and tags from the remote without changing local branches or files."
+  when_to_use:
+    - "You want to see what changed on the remote before merging or rebasing."
+    - "You want to update remote-tracking branches like origin/main without touching your current branch."
+  examples:
+    - cmd: "git fetch"
+      say: "Gets all new data from the default remote (usually 'origin') without modifying your current branch."
+    - cmd: "git fetch origin main"
+      say: "Fetches only updates for the 'main' branch from 'origin'."
+
+push:
+  command: push
+  summary: "Sends your local commits to a remote repository branch."
+  when_to_use:
+    - "You want to upload your local commits so they appear on GitHub or another remote."
+    - "You want to share your changes with others or back them up remotely."
+  examples:
+    - cmd: "git push"
+      say: "Pushes your current branch to its tracked remote branch."
+    - cmd: "git push origin <branch-name>"
+      say: "Pushes the specified local branch to the 'origin' remote."
+
+merge:
+  command: merge
+  summary: "Combines another branch into the current branch by creating a merge commit."
+  when_to_use:
+    - "You want to bring changes from one branch into another and keep full history from both."
+    - "You want to integrate a completed feature branch into main (or another base branch)."
+  examples:
+    - cmd: "git merge <branch-name>"
+      say: "Merges the named branch into your current branch, creating a merge commit."
+    - cmd: "git merge main"
+      say: "Brings the latest changes from 'main' into your current branch."
+
+
+
diff --git a/src/githelp/overlays.py b/src/githelp/overlays.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..897b20c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/githelp/overlays.py
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+import os
+import yaml
+
+#build absolute path to githelp/data/overlays
+THIS_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+DATA_DIR = os.path.join(THIS_DIR, "data", "overlays")
+#master dictionary file: to /src/githelp/data/overlays/tips.yml
+MASTER_FILE = os.path.join(DATA_DIR, "tips.yml")
+
+
+def read_yaml(path: str):
+    '''
+    Read a YAML file into a Python object.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    path : str
+        Path to the YAML file to read.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    dict
+        Parsed YAML contents. Returns an empty dict if the file is empty
+        or if any error occurs while reading/parsing.
+    '''
+    try:
+        #r opens the file for reading in text mode, and encoding="utf-8" tells Python to decode the file's bytes 
+        #as UTF-8 text into normal Python strings
+        with open(path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+            #convert YAML content to Python object or empty dict if file is empty
+            data = yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
+        #return the data of whatever was loaded
+        return data
+    except Exception:
+        #if error occurs return empty dict
+        return {}
+    
+def helper():
+
+    data = read_yaml(MASTER_FILE)
+    return data
+
+def load_overlay(command: str):
+    '''
+    Get the tips for one git subcommand.
+
+    This first looks in the master file tips.yml under the given
+    command name (ex "pull"). If found, it returns the corresponding
+    dictionary of tips.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    command : str
+        Name of the git subcommand whose overlay should be loaded.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    dict or None
+        The overlay dictionary for the given command, with a ``"command"`` key
+        ensured, or ``None`` if no overlay is defined.
+    '''
+    #set data to the master dictionary file
+    data = helper()
+    #check to see if the master is a dict and not empty
+    if isinstance(data, dict):
+        #get the section for this specific command and store it in section
+        section = data.get(command)
+        #check if section is a dict
+        if isinstance(section, dict):
+            # make sure the section has a command key
+            # does nothing if "command" already exists
+            section.setdefault("command", command)
+            #return the section
+            return section
+
+
+def list_overlay_names():
+    '''
+    List available subcommand names from tips.yml.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    list of str
+        Sorted list of subcommand names found in the master tips mapping.
+    '''
+    names = []
+    data = helper()
+    #check if data is a dict and not empty
+    if not isinstance(data, dict):
+        return names
+
+    for key, value in data.items():
+        if isinstance(value, dict):
+            names.append(key)
+
+    names.sort()
+    return names
+def render_overlay(d: dict) -> str:
+    '''
+    Render a single overlay dictionary into a human-readable text block.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    d : dict
+        Overlay dictionary containing keys such as ``"summary"``,
+        ``"when_to_use"``, and ``"examples"`` (any of which may be absent).
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    str
+        A formatted multi-line string 
+    '''
+    #line variable that stores a list of outputs
+    lines = []
+    #append header
+    lines.append("\ngithelp tips")
+
+    #get the summary, when to use, and example in the dictionary
+    summary = d.get("summary")
+    when_to_use = d.get("when_to_use")
+    examples = d.get("examples")
+
+    #summary = true then append the summary text to line list
+    if summary:
+        lines.append("")
+        lines.append(summary)
+    #when to use = true then append the item in the when to use to line list
+    if when_to_use:
+        lines.append("\nWhen to use")
+        for item in d["when_to_use"]:
+            lines.append(f" - {item}")
+    #example = true then append new line and example into line
+    if examples:
+        lines.append("\nExamples")
+        #for each example in d["examples"]
+        for ex in d["examples"]:
+            #get the cmd and say
+            cmd = ex.get("cmd", "")
+            say = ex.get("say", "")
+            lines.append(f" $ {cmd}")
+            # If say exists, indent it by 3 spaces for formatting
+            if say:
+                lines.append(f"   {say}")
+    #append a new line at the end
+    lines.append("")
+    #join all lines into a single string and return it
+    return "\n".join(lines)
+
+def render_menu():
+    '''
+    Render the main menu text for githelp.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    str
+        A formatted multi-line string describing available commands.
+    '''
+    #declare an empty list called lines
+    lines = []
+    #display commands
+    lines.append("Commands:")
+    lines.append("  - explain <subcommand>   Show an explaination for a git subcommand")
+    lines.append("  - list                   List available tip pages\n")
+
+    #name variable that stores the list of overlay names
+    names = list_overlay_names()
+    #if name is true then append the available tip pages to line list
+    if names:
+        lines.append("Available tip pages:")
+        #for each name in names
+        for n in names:
+            #append each name with a dash and space before it for formatting
+            lines.append(f"  - {n}")
+    else:
+        #if no names found append no tip pages found to line list
+        lines.append("No tip pages found.")
+    return "\n".join(lines)
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