diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 65306fc..a3c3942 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ This repository is being migrated to a modern, minimal Neovim setup driven by Lu
 ## Process
 - Before large changes, update the task plan via the CLI `update_plan` tool.
 - Keep the live checklist in `MIGRATION_PLAN.md:1` up to date and in sync with changes.
+-- After any config or plugin change, immediately update `MIGRATION_PLAN.md` (check off items, add notes, or adjust next steps).
 - At the start of each phase, confirm scope and priorities for that phase.
 - Keep PR-sized patches; avoid broad unrelated edits.
 - Document non-obvious choices in commit messages or short comments near the code that needs it.
diff --git a/MIGRATION_PLAN.md b/MIGRATION_PLAN.md
index 39475ab..45c6f40 100644
--- a/MIGRATION_PLAN.md
+++ b/MIGRATION_PLAN.md
@@ -6,18 +6,19 @@ Source of truth for the step-by-step rebuild. Keep this concise and up to date.
 - [x] Create AGENTS.md with rules
   
 ## Phase 1 — Clean & Archive Legacy Config
-- [ ] Confirm scope and priorities for this phase
-- [ ] Inventory existing Vimscript, plugin files, and directories
-- [ ] Create `legacy/` archive folder within this config
-- [ ] Move legacy init files and plugin directories into `legacy/` (do not delete)
-- [ ] Optionally add `legacy/README.md` noting what was archived
-- [ ] Keep `undodir`, `spell`, `view`, `UltiSnips`, `templates` as-is for now (review later)
+- [x] Confirm scope and priorities for this phase
+- [x] Inventory existing Vimscript, plugin files, and directories
+- [x] Create `legacy/` archive folder within this config
+- [x] Move legacy init files and plugin directories into `legacy/` (do not delete)
+- [x] Optionally add `legacy/README.md` noting what was archived
+- [x] Keep `undodir`, `spell`, `view`, `UltiSnips`, `templates` as-is for now (review later)
 
 ## Phase 2 — Bootstrap
-- [ ] Confirm scope and priorities for this phase
-- [ ] Scaffold Lua config skeleton (`init.lua`, `lua/settings.lua`, `lua/keymaps.lua`, `lua/autocmds.lua`, `lua/utils.lua`, `lua/plugins/`)
-- [ ] Bootstrap `lazy.nvim` plugin manager
-- [ ] Disable unused providers (ruby, perl, node)
+- [x] Confirm scope and priorities for this phase
+- [x] Scaffold Lua config skeleton (`init.lua`, `lua/settings.lua`, `lua/keymaps.lua`, `lua/autocmds.lua`, `lua/utils.lua`, `lua/plugins/`)
+- [x] Bootstrap `lazy.nvim` plugin manager
+- [x] Disable unused providers (ruby, perl, node)
+ - [x] Ensure lazy boots without specs (add empty `lua/plugins/init.lua`)
 
 ## Phase 3 — Core Editing & LSP
 - [ ] Confirm scope and priorities for this phase
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4bf981c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+-- Leader keys early
+vim.g.mapleader = ' '
+vim.g.maplocalleader = ' '
+
+-- Load basic settings, keymaps, autocmds (kept minimal for now)
+require('settings')
+require('keymaps')
+require('autocmds')
+
+-- Bootstrap lazy.nvim
+local lazypath = vim.fn.stdpath('data') .. '/lazy/lazy.nvim'
+if not vim.loop.fs_stat(lazypath) then
+  vim.fn.system({
+    'git', 'clone', '--filter=blob:none', '--single-branch',
+    'https://github.com/folke/lazy.nvim.git', lazypath,
+  })
+end
+vim.opt.rtp:prepend(lazypath)
+
+-- Setup plugin system (plugins will be added incrementally)
+require('lazy').setup({
+  spec = {
+    { import = 'plugins' },
+  },
+})
+
diff --git a/lua/autocmds.lua b/lua/autocmds.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba60fe8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/autocmds.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+-- Non-plugin autocommands (minimal placeholder for bootstrap)
+local aug = vim.api.nvim_create_augroup('UserDefaults', { clear = true })
+
+-- Add specific autocmds in later phases
+
+return {}
+
diff --git a/lua/keymaps.lua b/lua/keymaps.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e61a45b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/keymaps.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+-- Non-plugin keymaps (kept intentionally minimal for bootstrap)
+local map = vim.keymap.set
+local opts = { noremap = true, silent = true }
+
+-- Add non-plugin keymaps during Phase 3 when porting settings
+
+return {}
+
diff --git a/lua/plugins/.gitkeep b/lua/plugins/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/lua/plugins/init.lua b/lua/plugins/init.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3acae53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/plugins/init.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+-- Placeholder to let lazy.nvim import the `plugins` module before specs exist.
+-- Individual plugin specs will be added as separate files in this directory.
+return {}
+
diff --git a/lua/settings.lua b/lua/settings.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..49f1c71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/settings.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+-- Minimal settings for bootstrap phase
+
+-- Disable unused language providers early; enable later only if a plugin requires them
+vim.g.loaded_ruby_provider = 0
+vim.g.loaded_perl_provider = 0
+vim.g.loaded_node_provider = 0
+
+-- Additional non-plugin options will be migrated in Phase 3
+
diff --git a/lua/utils.lua b/lua/utils.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..419cde8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/utils.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+local M = {}
+
+function M.safe_require(name)
+  local ok, mod = pcall(require, name)
+  if ok then return mod end
+  return nil
+end
+
+return M
+