diff --git a/.devcontainer/docker-compose.yml b/.devcontainer/docker-compose.yml
index 700014a..43b7a3c 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/.devcontainer/docker-compose.yml
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
-version: '3.8'
-
 services:
   couchdb:
-    build:
-      context: ..
-      dockerfile: Dockerfile
+    image: couchdb:3.1.1
     environment:
       - COUCHDB_USER=admin
       - COUCHDB_PASSWORD=secret
diff --git a/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml b/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..58e02cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+name: Build and Publish Docker Image
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+    paths:
+      - 'Dockerfile'
+      - 'seed/**'
+      - 'scripts/**'
+      - '.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml'
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - main
+  workflow_dispatch:  # Allow manual trigger
+  release:
+    types: [published]
+
+env:
+  REGISTRY: ghcr.io
+  IMAGE_NAME: ${{ github.repository }}
+
+jobs:
+  build-and-push:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      packages: write
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Set up Docker Buildx
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
+
+      - name: Log in to Container Registry
+        if: github.event_name != 'pull_request'
+        uses: docker/login-action@v3
+        with:
+          registry: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}
+          username: ${{ github.actor }}
+          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Extract metadata (tags, labels)
+        id: meta
+        uses: docker/metadata-action@v5
+        with:
+          images: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}
+          tags: |
+            type=ref,event=branch
+            type=ref,event=pr
+            type=sha,prefix=
+            type=raw,value=latest,enable={{is_default_branch}}
+            type=semver,pattern={{version}}
+            type=semver,pattern={{major}}.{{minor}}
+
+      - name: Build and push Docker image
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@v6
+        with:
+          context: .
+          push: ${{ github.event_name != 'pull_request' }}
+          tags: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.tags }}
+          labels: ${{ steps.meta.outputs.labels }}
+          cache-from: type=gha
+          cache-to: type=gha,mode=max
+          platforms: linux/amd64,linux/arm64
+
+      - name: Generate artifact attestation
+        if: github.event_name != 'pull_request'
+        uses: actions/attest-build-provenance@v2
+        with:
+          subject-name: ${{ env.REGISTRY }}/${{ env.IMAGE_NAME }}
+          subject-digest: ${{ steps.build-and-push.outputs.digest }}
+          push-to-registry: true
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b7faf40..89e7a05 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,139 +1,3 @@
-# Byte-compiled / optimized / DLL files
-__pycache__/
-*.py[codz]
-*$py.class
-
-# C extensions
-*.so
-
-# Distribution / packaging
-.Python
-build/
-develop-eggs/
-dist/
-downloads/
-eggs/
-.eggs/
-lib/
-lib64/
-parts/
-sdist/
-var/
-wheels/
-share/python-wheels/
-*.egg-info/
-.installed.cfg
-*.egg
-MANIFEST
-
-# PyInstaller
-#  Usually these files are written by a python script from a template
-#  before PyInstaller builds the exe, so as to inject date/other infos into it.
-*.manifest
-*.spec
-
-# Installer logs
-pip-log.txt
-pip-delete-this-directory.txt
-
-# Unit test / coverage reports
-htmlcov/
-.tox/
-.nox/
-.coverage
-.coverage.*
-.cache
-nosetests.xml
-coverage.xml
-*.cover
-*.py.cover
-.hypothesis/
-.pytest_cache/
-cover/
-
-# Translations
-*.mo
-*.pot
-
-# Django stuff:
-*.log
-local_settings.py
-db.sqlite3
-db.sqlite3-journal
-
-# Flask stuff:
-instance/
-.webassets-cache
-
-# Scrapy stuff:
-.scrapy
-
-# Sphinx documentation
-docs/_build/
-
-# PyBuilder
-.pybuilder/
-target/
-
-# Jupyter Notebook
-.ipynb_checkpoints
-
-# IPython
-profile_default/
-ipython_config.py
-
-# pyenv
-#   For a library or package, you might want to ignore these files since the code is
-#   intended to run in multiple environments; otherwise, check them in:
-# .python-version
-
-# pipenv
-#   According to pypa/pipenv#598, it is recommended to include Pipfile.lock in version control.
-#   However, in case of collaboration, if having platform-specific dependencies or dependencies
-#   having no cross-platform support, pipenv may install dependencies that don't work, or not
-#   install all needed dependencies.
-#Pipfile.lock
-
-# UV
-#   Similar to Pipfile.lock, it is generally recommended to include uv.lock in version control.
-#   This is especially recommended for binary packages to ensure reproducibility, and is more
-#   commonly ignored for libraries.
-#uv.lock
-
-# poetry
-#   Similar to Pipfile.lock, it is generally recommended to include poetry.lock in version control.
-#   This is especially recommended for binary packages to ensure reproducibility, and is more
-#   commonly ignored for libraries.
-#   https://python-poetry.org/docs/basic-usage/#commit-your-poetrylock-file-to-version-control
-#poetry.lock
-#poetry.toml
-
-# pdm
-#   Similar to Pipfile.lock, it is generally recommended to include pdm.lock in version control.
-#   pdm recommends including project-wide configuration in pdm.toml, but excluding .pdm-python.
-#   https://pdm-project.org/en/latest/usage/project/#working-with-version-control
-#pdm.lock
-#pdm.toml
-.pdm-python
-.pdm-build/
-
-# pixi
-#   Similar to Pipfile.lock, it is generally recommended to include pixi.lock in version control.
-#pixi.lock
-#   Pixi creates a virtual environment in the .pixi directory, just like venv module creates one
-#   in the .venv directory. It is recommended not to include this directory in version control.
-.pixi
-
-# PEP 582; used by e.g. github.com/David-OConnor/pyflow and github.com/pdm-project/pdm
-__pypackages__/
-
-# Celery stuff
-celerybeat-schedule
-celerybeat.pid
-
-# SageMath parsed files
-*.sage.py
-
 # Environments
 .env
 .envrc
@@ -144,64 +8,4 @@ ENV/
 env.bak/
 venv.bak/
 
-# Spyder project settings
-.spyderproject
-.spyproject
-
-# Rope project settings
-.ropeproject
-
-# mkdocs documentation
-/site
-
-# mypy
-.mypy_cache/
-.dmypy.json
-dmypy.json
-
-# Pyre type checker
-.pyre/
-
-# pytype static type analyzer
-.pytype/
-
-# Cython debug symbols
-cython_debug/
-
-# PyCharm
-#  JetBrains specific template is maintained in a separate JetBrains.gitignore that can
-#  be found at https://github.com/github/gitignore/blob/main/Global/JetBrains.gitignore
-#  and can be added to the global gitignore or merged into this file.  For a more nuclear
-#  option (not recommended) you can uncomment the following to ignore the entire idea folder.
-#.idea/
-
-# Abstra
-# Abstra is an AI-powered process automation framework.
-# Ignore directories containing user credentials, local state, and settings.
-# Learn more at https://abstra.io/docs
-.abstra/
-
-# Visual Studio Code
-#  Visual Studio Code specific template is maintained in a separate VisualStudioCode.gitignore 
-#  that can be found at https://github.com/github/gitignore/blob/main/Global/VisualStudioCode.gitignore
-#  and can be added to the global gitignore or merged into this file. However, if you prefer, 
-#  you could uncomment the following to ignore the entire vscode folder
-# .vscode/
-
-# Ruff stuff:
-.ruff_cache/
-
-# PyPI configuration file
-.pypirc
-
-# Cursor
-#  Cursor is an AI-powered code editor. `.cursorignore` specifies files/directories to
-#  exclude from AI features like autocomplete and code analysis. Recommended for sensitive data
-#  refer to https://docs.cursor.com/context/ignore-files
-.cursorignore
-.cursorindexingignore
-
-# Marimo
-marimo/_static/
-marimo/_lsp/
-__marimo__/
+DS_Store
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index d879ce1..c694abb 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,20 +1,21 @@
-# Use official CouchDB 3.1.1 image
-FROM couchdb:3.1.1
+FROM couchdb:3.4
 
-# Do not include credentials in the image. Configure admin credentials at runtime
-# via environment variables: COUCHDB_USER and COUCHDB_PASSWORD (or using
-# COUCHDB_USER and COUCHDB_PASSWORD with the image's supported env vars).
+# Install curl for healthchecks and data loading
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+    curl \
+    && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
-# Create a directory for seeded data (optional mount point)
-VOLUME ["/opt/couchdb/data", "/opt/couchdb/seed"]
+# Copy seed data and initialization scripts
+COPY seed/ /opt/couchdb/seed/
+COPY scripts/ /opt/couchdb/scripts/
 
-# Expose CouchDB default port
-EXPOSE 5984
+# Make scripts executable
+RUN chmod +x /opt/couchdb/scripts/*.sh
 
-# Metadata
-LABEL org.opencontainers.image.title="StatusDB_seed_data-couchdb"
-LABEL org.opencontainers.image.description="CouchDB 3.1.1 image used for seeding StatusDB data. Configure admin credentials at runtime; do not bake secrets into the image."
+# The base image already sets up CouchDB to run
+# We use a custom entrypoint wrapper to initialize data on first boot
+COPY scripts/docker-entrypoint-wrapper.sh /docker-entrypoint-wrapper.sh
+RUN chmod +x /docker-entrypoint-wrapper.sh
 
-# Default command from the official image is fine; we don't override it so
-# the image behaves like the official CouchDB image. This Dockerfile exists
-# mainly to provide a named image in the project and a mount point for seeds.
+ENTRYPOINT ["tini", "--", "/docker-entrypoint-wrapper.sh"]
+CMD ["/opt/couchdb/bin/couchdb"]
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b20939e..477ebff 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,77 +1,98 @@
+# StatusDB Seed Data
 
-# StatusDB_seed_data
+Holds test data to fire up a dev instance of StatusDB (CouchDB).
 
-Holds test data to fire up a dev instance of statusdb
+## Docker Image
 
-## Development Container (Recommended)
+A pre-built Docker image with CouchDB and seed data is available:
 
-The easiest way to get started is using the VS Code Dev Container:
+```bash
+docker pull ghcr.io/scilifelab/statusdb_seed_data:latest
+```
 
-1. Install [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) and the [Dev Containers extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers)
-2. Open this repository in VS Code
-3. When prompted, click "Reopen in Container" (or run `Dev Containers: Reopen in Container` from the command palette)
-4. VS Code will build and start CouchDB automatically
+### Running the Image
+
+```bash
+docker run -d \
+  -p 5984:5984 \
+  -e COUCHDB_USER=admin \
+  -e COUCHDB_PASSWORD=admin \
+  ghcr.io/scilifelab/statusdb_seed_data:latest
+```
 
 CouchDB will be available at:
 
 - API: <http://localhost:5984>
 - Fauxton UI: <http://localhost:5984/_utils>
-- Credentials: `admin` / `secret`
+- Credentials: `admin` / `admin`
 
-## Docker
+The seed data is automatically loaded on first startup.
 
-This repository contains a small `Dockerfile` that is a thin wrapper around the
-official CouchDB 3.1.1 image and provides a mount point for seed data.
+### Persisting Data
 
-Build the image (from the repo root):
+To persist data between container restarts:
 
 ```bash
-docker build -t statusdb-seed-couchdb:3.1.1 .
+docker run -d \
+  -p 5984:5984 \
+  -e COUCHDB_USER=admin \
+  -e COUCHDB_PASSWORD=admin \
+  -v couchdb-data:/opt/couchdb/data \
+  ghcr.io/scilifelab/statusdb_seed_data:latest
 ```
 
-Run CouchDB with an admin user and mounted seed data directory:
+## Development Container (VS Code)
 
-```bash
-# Start container with admin credentials and map port 5984
-docker run --rm -p 5984:5984 \
-  -e COUCHDB_USER=admin -e COUCHDB_PASSWORD=secret \
-  -v "$PWD/seed:/opt/couchdb/seed" \
-  statusdb-seed-couchdb:3.1.1
-```
+The easiest way to develop seed data is using the VS Code Dev Container:
+
+1. Install [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) and the [Dev Containers extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers)
+2. Open this repository in VS Code
+3. When prompted, click "Reopen in Container" (or run `Dev Containers: Reopen in Container` from the command palette)
+4. VS Code will build and start CouchDB automatically
+
+## Seed Data Structure
 
-Notes:
+The `seed/` directory contains JSON documents that are loaded into CouchDB on startup.
 
-- Do not commit credentials into the repository. Prefer runtime env vars or Docker
-  secrets in production.
-- The official CouchDB image will initialize the database cluster and create the
-  admin user when `COUCHDB_USER` and `COUCHDB_PASSWORD` are provided.
-- Place any JSON documents or init scripts you want applied at container startup
-  in the `seed` folder and mount it into `/opt/couchdb/seed`.
+### Directory Structure
 
-## Seed Data
+```
+seed/
+├── <database_name>/     # Creates a database and loads all JSON files into it
+│   ├── doc1.json
+│   └── doc2.json
+└── *.json               # Top-level JSON files are loaded into 'statusdb' database
+```
 
-The `seed/` directory contains example JSON documents that can be loaded into CouchDB
-to populate a development instance with test data.
+### Document Format
 
-### Example Documents
+Each JSON file should contain a single CouchDB document. If the document has an `_id` field, it will be used as the document ID. Otherwise, CouchDB will auto-generate an ID.
 
-- **`example_project.json`**: A sample genomics project document with project metadata,
-  sample information, and sequencing run details. This demonstrates the typical structure
-  for a StatusDB project entry.
+Example document (`seed/example_project.json`):
 
-### Loading Seed Data
+```json
+{
+  "_id": "project_001",
+  "type": "project",
+  "name": "Example Genomics Project",
+  "project_id": "P12345",
+  ...
+}
+```
 
-To load seed data into your running CouchDB instance, you can use the CouchDB HTTP API:
+## Building the Image Locally
 
 ```bash
-# Create a database (if it doesn't exist)
-curl -X PUT http://admin:secret@localhost:5984/statusdb
-
-# Load a document
-curl -X POST http://admin:secret@localhost:5984/statusdb \
-  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-  -d @seed/example_project.json
+docker build -t statusdb_seed_data .
+docker run -p 5984:5984 -e COUCHDB_USER=admin -e COUCHDB_PASSWORD=admin statusdb_seed_data
 ```
 
-Alternatively, you can use the CouchDB web interface (Fauxton) at <http://localhost:5984/_utils>
-to manually create databases and upload documents.
+## Adding New Seed Data
+
+1. Add JSON files to the `seed/` directory (or subdirectories for specific databases)
+2. Commit and push to `main` branch
+3. GitHub Actions will automatically build and publish a new image
+
+## Using with Genomics Status
+
+The [genomics-status](https://github.com/SciLifeLab/genomics-status) repository is configured to use this image in its dev container setup. When you open genomics-status in VS Code with Dev Containers, it will automatically pull this image and start CouchDB with the seed data.
diff --git a/scripts/docker-entrypoint-wrapper.sh b/scripts/docker-entrypoint-wrapper.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b258802
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/docker-entrypoint-wrapper.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+
+# This wrapper script runs the initialization in the background after CouchDB starts
+# The actual data loading happens via init-seed-data.sh
+
+# Start the initialization script in the background
+# It will wait for CouchDB to be ready before loading data
+/opt/couchdb/scripts/init-seed-data.sh &
+
+# Execute the original CouchDB entrypoint
+exec /docker-entrypoint.sh "$@"
diff --git a/scripts/init-seed-data.sh b/scripts/init-seed-data.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7e04ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/init-seed-data.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+
+# Configuration
+COUCHDB_HOST="${COUCHDB_HOST:-localhost}"
+COUCHDB_PORT="${COUCHDB_PORT:-5984}"
+COUCHDB_USER="${COUCHDB_USER:-admin}"
+COUCHDB_PASSWORD="${COUCHDB_PASSWORD:-admin}"
+SEED_DIR="${SEED_DIR:-/opt/couchdb/seed}"
+INIT_MARKER="/opt/couchdb/data/.seed_initialized"
+
+COUCHDB_URL="http://${COUCHDB_USER}:${COUCHDB_PASSWORD}@${COUCHDB_HOST}:${COUCHDB_PORT}"
+
+# Wait for CouchDB to be ready
+wait_for_couchdb() {
+    echo "Waiting for CouchDB to be ready..."
+    local max_attempts=30
+    local attempt=1
+
+    while [ $attempt -le $max_attempts ]; do
+        if curl -s "${COUCHDB_URL}/_up" | grep -q '"status":"ok"'; then
+            echo "CouchDB is ready!"
+            return 0
+        fi
+        echo "Attempt $attempt/$max_attempts: CouchDB not ready yet..."
+        sleep 2
+        attempt=$((attempt + 1))
+    done
+
+    echo "ERROR: CouchDB failed to start within expected time"
+    return 1
+}
+
+# Create system databases required by CouchDB
+create_system_databases() {
+    echo "Creating system databases..."
+    for db in _users _replicator _global_changes; do
+        curl -s -X PUT "${COUCHDB_URL}/${db}" > /dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    done
+}
+
+# Create a database if it doesn't exist
+create_database() {
+    local db_name="$1"
+    echo "Creating database: ${db_name}"
+    local response=$(curl -s -w "\n%{http_code}" -X PUT "${COUCHDB_URL}/${db_name}")
+    local http_code=$(echo "$response" | tail -n1)
+
+    if [ "$http_code" = "201" ]; then
+        echo "  Database '${db_name}' created successfully"
+    elif [ "$http_code" = "412" ]; then
+        echo "  Database '${db_name}' already exists"
+    else
+        echo "  Warning: Unexpected response creating '${db_name}': $http_code"
+    fi
+}
+
+# Load a single JSON document into a database
+load_document() {
+    local db_name="$1"
+    local json_file="$2"
+
+    local doc_id=$(jq -r '._id // empty' "$json_file" 2>/dev/null)
+
+    if [ -n "$doc_id" ]; then
+        # Document has an _id, use PUT
+        echo "  Loading document '${doc_id}' into '${db_name}'..."
+        curl -s -X PUT "${COUCHDB_URL}/${db_name}/${doc_id}" \
+            -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+            -d @"$json_file" > /dev/null
+    else
+        # No _id, use POST to auto-generate
+        echo "  Loading document from '$(basename "$json_file")' into '${db_name}'..."
+        curl -s -X POST "${COUCHDB_URL}/${db_name}" \
+            -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+            -d @"$json_file" > /dev/null
+    fi
+}
+
+# Load all seed data
+load_seed_data() {
+    echo "Loading seed data from ${SEED_DIR}..."
+
+    # Check if seed directory exists and has files
+    if [ ! -d "$SEED_DIR" ]; then
+        echo "Seed directory not found: ${SEED_DIR}"
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    # Load database-specific directories
+    # Structure: seed/<database_name>/*.json
+    for db_dir in "$SEED_DIR"/*/; do
+        if [ -d "$db_dir" ]; then
+            local db_name=$(basename "$db_dir")
+            echo "Processing database: ${db_name}"
+            create_database "$db_name"
+
+            # Load all JSON files in the database directory
+            for json_file in "$db_dir"/*.json; do
+                if [ -f "$json_file" ]; then
+                    load_document "$db_name" "$json_file"
+                fi
+            done
+        fi
+    done
+
+    # Also load any top-level JSON files into a 'statusdb' database (legacy support)
+    local has_toplevel_json=false
+    for json_file in "$SEED_DIR"/*.json; do
+        if [ -f "$json_file" ]; then
+            if [ "$has_toplevel_json" = false ]; then
+                create_database "statusdb"
+                has_toplevel_json=true
+            fi
+            load_document "statusdb" "$json_file"
+        fi
+    done
+
+    echo "Seed data loading complete!"
+}
+
+# Main execution
+main() {
+    # Check if we've already initialized
+    if [ -f "$INIT_MARKER" ]; then
+        echo "Seed data already initialized, skipping..."
+        exit 0
+    fi
+
+    wait_for_couchdb
+    create_system_databases
+    load_seed_data
+
+    # Create marker file to indicate initialization is complete
+    touch "$INIT_MARKER"
+    echo "Initialization complete!"
+}
+
+main "$@"
diff --git a/seed/agreements/_design_project.json b/seed/agreements/_design_project.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e674061
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/agreements/_design_project.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "_id": "_design/project",
+  "views": {
+    "project_id": {
+      "map": "function(doc) { if (doc.project_id) { emit(doc.project_id, doc); } }"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/seed/gs_configs/genstat_defaults.json b/seed/gs_configs/genstat_defaults.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6439321
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/gs_configs/genstat_defaults.json
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+{
+  "_id": "genstat_defaults",
+  "roles": {
+    "admin": "Administrator",
+    "pricing_admin": "Pricing Administrator",
+    "sample_requirements_admin": "Sample Requirements Admin",
+    "proj_coord": "Project Coordinator",
+    "api_user": "API User"
+  },
+  "pv_columns": {
+    "BASIC_COLUMNS": {
+      "Project ID": "project_id",
+      "Project Name": "project_name",
+      "Application": "application",
+      "Status": "status"
+    },
+    "SETUP_PROJECT_COLUMNS": {
+      "Open Date": "open_date",
+      "Queue Date": "queued",
+      "Close Date": "close_date"
+    },
+    "BIOINFO_COLUMNS": {
+      "Bioinfo Responsible": "bioinfo_responsible"
+    },
+    "SEQUENCING_COLUMNS": {
+      "Sequencing Platform": "sequencing_platform"
+    },
+    "ACCREDITATION_COLUMNS": {
+      "Accredited": "accredited"
+    },
+    "DETAILS_COLUMNS": {
+      "Project Type": "type",
+      "Sample Type": "sample_type"
+    },
+    "LIBRARY_PREP_COLUMNS": {
+      "Library Prep": "library_construction_method"
+    },
+    "EXTRA_COLUMNS": {}
+  },
+  "sample_columns": {
+    "BASIC_COLUMNS": {
+      "Sample ID": "sample_id",
+      "Sample Name": "sample_name"
+    },
+    "DETAILS_COLUMNS": {
+      "Organism": "organism",
+      "Tissue": "tissue"
+    }
+  },
+  "project_summary_presets": {"default": {}},
+  "flowcell_presets": {"default": {}},
+  "workset_presets": {"default": {}},
+  "pv_presets": {
+    "All Projects": {
+      "ICON": {"glyphicon": "fa-list"},
+      "BASIC_COLUMNS": {"project_id": true, "project_name": true, "application": true, "status": true},
+      "SETUP_PROJECT_COLUMNS": {"open_date": true},
+      "STATUS": ["ongoing", "reception control", "pending"]
+    },
+    "Ongoing": {
+      "ICON": {"glyphicon": "fa-spinner"},
+      "BASIC_COLUMNS": {"project_id": true, "project_name": true, "application": true, "status": true},
+      "STATUS": ["ongoing"]
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/seed/gs_configs/gs_teams.json b/seed/gs_configs/gs_teams.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..005aa5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/gs_configs/gs_teams.json
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{
+  "_id": "gs_teams",
+  "teams": {
+    "library_prep": "Library Preparation",
+    "sequencing": "Sequencing",
+    "bioinformatics": "Bioinformatics",
+    "project_coordination": "Project Coordination",
+    "applications": "Applications"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/seed/gs_users/_design_authorized.json b/seed/gs_users/_design_authorized.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b25cc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/gs_users/_design_authorized.json
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+  "_id": "_design/authorized",
+  "views": {
+    "users": {
+      "map": "function(doc) { if (doc.email) { emit(doc.email, doc); } }"
+    },
+    "info": {
+      "map": "function(doc) { if (doc.email) { emit(doc.email, {name: doc.name, initials: doc.initials, roles: doc.roles, teams: doc.teams}); } }"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/seed/gs_users/test_admin.json b/seed/gs_users/test_admin.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c7c046
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/gs_users/test_admin.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "_id": "test@example.com",
+  "email": "test@example.com",
+  "name": "Test Admin",
+  "initials": "TA",
+  "roles": ["admin"],
+  "teams": ["bioinformatics"]
+}
diff --git a/seed/people_assignments/_design_current.json b/seed/people_assignments/_design_current.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14da720
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/people_assignments/_design_current.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "_id": "_design/current",
+  "views": {
+    "assignments": {
+      "map": "function(doc) { if (doc.project_id && doc.assigned_to) { emit(doc.project_id, doc.assigned_to); } }"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/seed/projects/P12345.json b/seed/projects/P12345.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3bda2f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/projects/P12345.json
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{
+  "_id": "P12345",
+  "project_id": "P12345",
+  "project_name": "Test RNA-seq Project",
+  "application": "RNA-seq",
+  "status": "ongoing",
+  "open_date": "2025-11-15",
+  "queued": "2025-11-20",
+  "details": {
+    "type": "Production",
+    "sample_type": "Total RNA",
+    "queued": "2025-11-20"
+  },
+  "sequencing_platform": "NovaSeq 6000",
+  "library_construction_method": "TruSeq Stranded mRNA",
+  "summary_dates": {}
+}
diff --git a/seed/projects/P12346.json b/seed/projects/P12346.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b47379f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/projects/P12346.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "_id": "P12346",
+  "project_id": "P12346",
+  "project_name": "Whole Genome Sequencing Study",
+  "application": "WGS",
+  "status": "reception control",
+  "open_date": "2025-12-01",
+  "details": {
+    "type": "Production",
+    "sample_type": "Genomic DNA"
+  },
+  "sequencing_platform": "NovaSeq X",
+  "library_construction_method": "PCR-free",
+  "summary_dates": {}
+}
diff --git a/seed/projects/P12347.json b/seed/projects/P12347.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38b6163
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/projects/P12347.json
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+{
+  "_id": "P12347",
+  "project_id": "P12347",
+  "project_name": "Single Cell Analysis",
+  "application": "10X Genomics",
+  "status": "closed",
+  "open_date": "2025-06-01",
+  "queued": "2025-06-05",
+  "close_date": "2025-11-10",
+  "details": {
+    "type": "Production",
+    "sample_type": "Single cells",
+    "queued": "2025-06-05"
+  },
+  "sequencing_platform": "NovaSeq 6000",
+  "library_construction_method": "10X Chromium",
+  "summary_dates": {}
+}
diff --git a/seed/projects/_design_project.json b/seed/projects/_design_project.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..67a7ad6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/projects/_design_project.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "_id": "_design/project",
+  "views": {
+    "summary_status": {
+      "map": "function(doc) { if (doc.status) { emit([doc.status, doc.project_id], doc); } }"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/seed/running_notes/_design_latest_note_previews.json b/seed/running_notes/_design_latest_note_previews.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b140e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/running_notes/_design_latest_note_previews.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "_id": "_design/latest_note_previews",
+  "views": {
+    "project": {
+      "map": "function(doc) { if (doc.project_id && doc.created_at_utc) { emit(doc.project_id, {created_at_utc: doc.created_at_utc, note: doc.note}); } }",
+      "reduce": "_stats"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/seed/sensorpush/_design_entire_document.json b/seed/sensorpush/_design_entire_document.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b3c51da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/sensorpush/_design_entire_document.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "_id": "_design/entire_document",
+  "views": {
+    "by_sensor_id_and_date": {
+      "map": "function(doc) { if (doc.sensor_id && doc.date) { emit([doc.sensor_id, doc.date], doc); } }"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/seed/sensorpush/_design_sensor_id.json b/seed/sensorpush/_design_sensor_id.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fef6c07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/sensorpush/_design_sensor_id.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "_id": "_design/sensor_id",
+  "views": {
+    "by_date": {
+      "map": "function(doc) { if (doc.date && doc.sensor_id) { emit(doc.date, doc.sensor_id); } }"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/seed/server_status/_design_nases.json b/seed/server_status/_design_nases.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4a07e0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/server_status/_design_nases.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "_id": "_design/nases",
+  "views": {
+    "by_timestamp": {
+      "map": "function(doc) { if (doc.timestamp) { emit(doc.timestamp, doc); } }"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/seed/server_status/example_status.json b/seed/server_status/example_status.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7be86ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/seed/server_status/example_status.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "_id": "status_001",
+  "timestamp": "2025-12-05T09:00:00Z",
+  "name": "dev-nas-01",
+  "status": "ok",
+  "disk_usage": 50,
+  "disk_total": 100
+}