Updates

README.md

@@ -116,6 +116,31 @@ pytest
 The backend defaults to SQLite for the prototype and can be switched with the
 `DATABASE_URL` environment variable.
 
+### Backend logging
+
+The backend now uses a shared console logger with a styled startup banner, concise request logs, and clean shutdown summaries.
+
+Useful logging controls:
+
+```bash
+APP_ENV=production
+LOG_LEVEL=INFO
+LOG_VERBOSE=1
+NO_COLOR=1
+```
+
+- `LOG_LEVEL` sets the base Python log level (`DEBUG`, `INFO`, `WARNING`, `ERROR`).
+- `LOG_VERBOSE=1` enables extra startup and route detail without changing normal request noise.
+- `NO_COLOR=1` disables colours automatically for plain terminals, Docker log collection, or CI output.
+- Colours are also disabled automatically when output is not a TTY.
+
+Typical local development run:
+
+```bash
+cd backend
+LOG_VERBOSE=1 uvicorn app.main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000 --reload
+```
+
 ## Frontend
 
 Install dependencies and start the dev server: