diff --git a/docs/specs/2026-06-20-initial-scaffold-design.md b/docs/specs/2026-06-20-initial-scaffold-design.md
index a067d88..d14247e 100644
--- a/docs/specs/2026-06-20-initial-scaffold-design.md
+++ b/docs/specs/2026-06-20-initial-scaffold-design.md
@@ -17,16 +17,18 @@ simple (one language, two packages) and is adequate for Spine's complexity level
 |---------|---------|--------|---------|
 | `simple-httpd` | MELPA latest | MELPA | HTTP server, `defservlet` routing |
 | `mustache` | MELPA latest | MELPA | Mustache template rendering |
-| `ht` | — | transitive via `mustache` | Hash table for template context |
+| `ht` | MELPA latest | MELPA | Hash table for template context |
 
 ## Project structure
 
 ```
 spine/
-├── spine.el              # entry point: bootstrap, server start, handlers
+├── scripts/
+│   └── run                 # start the server as a daemon
+├── spine.el               # entry point: bootstrap, server start, handlers
 ├── templates/
-│   └── hello.mustache    # smoke-test template
-├── spine-spec.md         # design brief (existing)
+│   └── hello.mustache     # smoke-test template
+├── spine-spec.md          # design brief (existing)
 ├── spine-mockup-a-agenda.html
 ├── spine-mockup-b-journal.html
 └── README.md
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ packages from MELPA; subsequent starts skip the install step.
 (require 'package)
 (add-to-list 'package-archives '("melpa" . "https://melpa.org/packages/") t)
 (package-initialize)
-(dolist (pkg '(simple-httpd mustache))
+(dolist (pkg '(simple-httpd mustache ht))
   (unless (package-installed-p pkg)
     (package-refresh-contents)
     (package-install pkg)))
@@ -60,16 +62,24 @@ start.
 (defvar spine-port 8080
   "Port for the Spine HTTP server.")
 
+(defvar spine-host nil
+  "Host for the Spine HTTP server.
+nil means localhost only. Set to a string like \"0.0.0.0\" to listen on
+all interfaces.")
+
 (defvar spine-template-dir
   (expand-file-name "templates/" (file-name-directory load-file-name))
   "Directory containing .mustache templates.")
 
+(setq httpd-host spine-host)
 (setq httpd-port spine-port)
 (httpd-start)
-(message "Spine listening on http://localhost:%d" spine-port)
+(message "Spine listening on http://%s:%d"
+         (or spine-host "localhost") spine-port)
 ```
 
-- Port defaults to 8080, overridable by setting `spine-port` before loading.
+- Port defaults to 8080, overridable via `spine-port`.
+- Host defaults to nil (localhost-only), overridable via `spine-host`.
 - `spine-template-dir` resolves relative to `spine.el`'s directory so the app
   works regardless of `default-directory`.
 
@@ -124,6 +134,23 @@ Returns the rendered string."
 
 ## Invocation
 
+Production use — Emacs daemon with a named socket, no GUI frame:
+
+```bash
+scripts/run [HOST:]PORT
+```
+
+- `scripts/run 9090` → `http://localhost:9090/hello`
+- `scripts/run 0.0.0.0:8080` → `http://0.0.0.0:8080/hello` (all interfaces)
+- `scripts/run` → `http://localhost:8080/hello`
+
+Stop: `emacsclient --socket-name=spine --eval '(kill-emacs)'`
+
+The socket name `spine` is separate from the default Emacs daemon socket,
+so your personal daemon is unaffected.
+
+Development use — interactive Emacs in the terminal:
+
 ```bash
 emacs --quick --load spine.el
 ```
@@ -141,5 +168,4 @@ emacs --quick --load spine.el
 
 - Book data, Org file integration, any handler beyond `/hello`.
 - Static file serving (CSS, JS, icons).
-- Emacs daemon mode, process management, systemd units.
 - Tests — the scaffold is small enough to smoke-test manually.
diff --git a/scripts/run b/scripts/run
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..36408df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/run
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+ROOT_DIR="$(dirname "$SCRIPT_DIR")"
+
+HOST=""
+PORT="8080"
+
+if [ $# -ge 1 ] && [ -n "$1" ]; then
+  ARG="$1"
+  if [[ "$ARG" == *:* ]]; then
+    HOST="${ARG%:*}"
+    PORT="${ARG##*:}"
+  else
+    PORT="$ARG"
+  fi
+fi
+
+# Stop any existing spine daemon
+emacsclient --socket-name=spine --eval '(kill-emacs)' 2>/dev/null || true
+
+# Build emacs args
+EMACS_ARGS=(emacs --quick --daemon=spine)
+
+if [ -n "$HOST" ]; then
+  EMACS_ARGS+=(--eval "(setq spine-host \"$HOST\")")
+fi
+
+EMACS_ARGS+=(--eval "(setq spine-port $PORT)")
+EMACS_ARGS+=(--load "$ROOT_DIR/spine.el")
+
+"${EMACS_ARGS[@]}"
+
+DISPLAY_HOST="${HOST:-localhost}"
+echo "Spine running at http://${DISPLAY_HOST}:${PORT}/hello"
+echo "Stop: emacsclient --socket-name=spine --eval '(kill-emacs)'"
diff --git a/spine.el b/spine.el
index 8cdee29..09b6275 100644
--- a/spine.el
+++ b/spine.el
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@
 
 (defvar spine-port 8080
   "Port for the Spine HTTP server.")
+(defvar spine-host nil
+  "Host for the Spine HTTP server.
+nil means localhost only. Set to a string like \"0.0.0.0\" to listen on
+all interfaces.")
 
 (defvar spine-template-dir
   (expand-file-name "templates/"
@@ -47,10 +51,11 @@ Returns the rendered string."
                 ("message" "Hello from Emacs.")))))
 
 ;; --- start ------------------------------------------------------------
-
+(setq httpd-host spine-host)
 (setq httpd-port spine-port)
 (httpd-start)
-(message "Spine listening on http://localhost:%d" spine-port)
+(message "Spine listening on http://%s:%d"
+         (or spine-host "localhost") spine-port)
 
 (provide 'spine)
 ;;; spine.el ends here