diff --git a/UtopiaCanteen.sln b/UtopiaCanteen.sln
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52cd725
--- /dev/null
+++ b/UtopiaCanteen.sln
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+
+Microsoft Visual Studio Solution File, Format Version 12.00
+# Visual Studio Version 17
+VisualStudioVersion = 17.0.31903.59
+MinimumVisualStudioVersion = 10.0.40219.1
+Project("{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}") = "UtopiaCanteen.Shared", "UtopiaCanteen.Shared\UtopiaCanteen.Shared.csproj", "{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567891}"
+EndProject
+Project("{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}") = "UtopiaCanteen.Backend", "UtopiaCanteen.Backend\UtopiaCanteen.Backend.csproj", "{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567892}"
+EndProject
+Project("{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}") = "UtopiaCanteen.BackendService", "UtopiaCanteen.BackendService\UtopiaCanteen.BackendService.csproj", "{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567893}"
+EndProject
+Project("{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}") = "UtopiaCanteen.Client", "UtopiaCanteen.Client\UtopiaCanteen.Client.csproj", "{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567894}"
+EndProject
+Project("{FAE04EC0-301F-11D3-BF4B-00C04F79EFBC}") = "UtopiaCanteenSystem", "UtopiaCanteenSystem.csproj", "{A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890}"
+EndProject
+Global
+	GlobalSection(SolutionConfigurationPlatforms) = preSolution
+		Debug|Any CPU = Debug|Any CPU
+		Release|Any CPU = Release|Any CPU
+	EndGlobalSection
+	GlobalSection(ProjectConfigurationPlatforms) = postSolution
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567891}.Debug|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Debug|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567891}.Debug|Any CPU.Build.0 = Debug|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567891}.Release|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567891}.Release|Any CPU.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567892}.Debug|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Debug|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567892}.Debug|Any CPU.Build.0 = Debug|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567892}.Release|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567892}.Release|Any CPU.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567893}.Debug|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Debug|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567893}.Debug|Any CPU.Build.0 = Debug|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567893}.Release|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567893}.Release|Any CPU.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567894}.Debug|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Debug|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567894}.Debug|Any CPU.Build.0 = Debug|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567894}.Release|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{B1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567894}.Release|Any CPU.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+		{A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890}.Debug|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Debug|Any CPU
+		{A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890}.Debug|Any CPU.Build.0 = Debug|Any CPU
+		{A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890}.Release|Any CPU.ActiveCfg = Release|Any CPU
+		{A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890}.Release|Any CPU.Build.0 = Release|Any CPU
+	EndGlobalSection
+EndGlobal
diff --git a/UtopiaCanteenSystem.csproj b/UtopiaCanteenSystem.csproj
index 47ec17f..56ea48e 100644
--- a/UtopiaCanteenSystem.csproj
+++ b/UtopiaCanteenSystem.csproj
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
+    <EnableDefaultCompileItems>true</EnableDefaultCompileItems>
     <TargetFramework>net8.0-windows</TargetFramework>
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
     <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
@@ -13,6 +14,13 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
+    <Compile Remove="UtopiaCanteen.Shared\**" />
+    <Compile Remove="UtopiaCanteen.Backend\**" />
+    <Compile Remove="UtopiaCanteen.BackendService\**" />
+    <Compile Remove="UtopiaCanteen.Client\**" />
+    <Page Remove="UtopiaCanteen.Client\**" />
+    <ApplicationDefinition Remove="UtopiaCanteen.Client\**" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="UtopiaCanteen.Shared\UtopiaCanteen.Shared.csproj" />
     <PackageReference Include="CommunityToolkit.Mvvm" Version="8.2.2" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore" Version="8.0.11" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Sqlite" Version="8.0.11" />
diff --git a/scripts/install-backend-service.ps1 b/scripts/install-backend-service.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d504077
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/install-backend-service.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+# Install or reinstall the Utopia Canteen backend as a Windows Service (requires Administrator).
+param(
+    [string]$InstallPath = "C:\UtopiaCanteenBackend",
+    [string]$ServiceName = "UtopiaCanteenBackend",
+    [string]$DisplayName = "Utopia Canteen Backend",
+    [ValidateSet("Debug", "Release")]
+    [string]$Configuration = "Release",
+    [switch]$SkipPublish,
+    [switch]$AddUrlAcl,
+    [string]$UrlAclUser = "Everyone"
+)
+
+$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
+
+function Test-Administrator {
+    $current = [Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()
+    $principal = New-Object Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal($current)
+    return $principal.IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole]::Administrator)
+}
+
+if (-not (Test-Administrator)) {
+    Write-Error "Run this script in an elevated PowerShell (Run as administrator)."
+    exit 1
+}
+
+$ScriptDir = $PSScriptRoot
+if (-not $SkipPublish) {
+    & (Join-Path $ScriptDir "publish-backend.ps1") -OutputPath $InstallPath -Configuration $Configuration
+}
+
+$ExePath = Join-Path $InstallPath "UtopiaCanteen.BackendService.exe"
+if (-not (Test-Path $ExePath)) {
+    throw "Executable not found: $ExePath. Run publish-backend.ps1 first."
+}
+
+# HttpListener on http://+:5000/ often needs a URL reservation.
+if ($AddUrlAcl) {
+    Write-Host "Adding URL ACL for http://+:5000/ (user: $UrlAclUser)"
+    netsh http add urlacl url=http://+:5000/ user=$UrlAclUser 2>$null
+    if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
+        Write-Warning "urlacl may already exist or failed (exit $LASTEXITCODE). Continue if the service binds OK."
+    }
+}
+
+$existing = Get-Service -Name $ServiceName -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+if ($existing) {
+    Write-Host "Stopping and removing existing service: $ServiceName"
+    if ($existing.Status -eq "Running") {
+        Stop-Service -Name $ServiceName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+        Start-Sleep -Seconds 2
+    }
+    sc.exe delete $ServiceName | Out-Null
+    Start-Sleep -Seconds 2
+}
+
+$binPath = "`"$ExePath`""
+Write-Host "Creating service $ServiceName -> $ExePath"
+sc.exe create $ServiceName binPath= $binPath start= auto DisplayName= $DisplayName
+if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
+    throw "sc create failed with exit code $LASTEXITCODE"
+}
+
+sc.exe description $ServiceName "Central canteen API, SQLite, and HRMS/UIND sync for RFID scanners."
+sc.exe failure $ServiceName reset= 86400 actions= restart/60000/restart/60000/restart/60000
+
+Write-Host "Starting service..."
+sc.exe start $ServiceName
+if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
+    Write-Warning "sc start returned $LASTEXITCODE. Check Event Viewer and appsettings.json."
+} else {
+    Write-Host "Service started. Health check: http://localhost:5000/api/health"
+}
+
+Write-Host @"
+
+Installed:
+  Path:    $InstallPath
+  Service: $ServiceName (auto-start)
+  Data:    %LocalAppData%\UtopiaCanteenBackend\
+
+Firewall: allow inbound TCP 5000 on this PC for scanner clients.
+
+"@
diff --git a/scripts/publish-backend.ps1 b/scripts/publish-backend.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8bef91a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/publish-backend.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Publish UtopiaCanteen.BackendService to a folder (default C:\UtopiaCanteenBackend).
+param(
+    [string]$OutputPath = "C:\UtopiaCanteenBackend",
+    [ValidateSet("Debug", "Release")]
+    [string]$Configuration = "Release"
+)
+
+$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
+$Root = Split-Path -Parent $PSScriptRoot
+$Project = Join-Path $Root "UtopiaCanteen.BackendService\UtopiaCanteen.BackendService.csproj"
+
+if (-not (Test-Path $Project)) {
+    throw "Project not found: $Project"
+}
+
+Write-Host "Publishing backend ($Configuration) -> $OutputPath"
+dotnet publish $Project -c $Configuration -o $OutputPath --self-contained false
+
+if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
+    throw "dotnet publish failed with exit code $LASTEXITCODE"
+}
+
+$appsettings = Join-Path $OutputPath "appsettings.json"
+if (Test-Path $appsettings) {
+    Write-Host "Edit connection strings in: $appsettings"
+}
+
+Write-Host "Done. Executable: $(Join-Path $OutputPath 'UtopiaCanteen.BackendService.exe')"
diff --git a/scripts/publish-client.ps1 b/scripts/publish-client.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b49c334
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/publish-client.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Publish UtopiaCanteen.Client (WPF scanner) to a folder (default C:\UtopiaCanteenClient).
+param(
+    [string]$OutputPath = "C:\UtopiaCanteenClient",
+    [ValidateSet("Debug", "Release")]
+    [string]$Configuration = "Release"
+)
+
+$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
+$Root = Split-Path -Parent $PSScriptRoot
+$Project = Join-Path $Root "UtopiaCanteen.Client\UtopiaCanteen.Client.csproj"
+
+if (-not (Test-Path $Project)) {
+    throw "Project not found: $Project"
+}
+
+Write-Host "Publishing client ($Configuration) -> $OutputPath"
+dotnet publish $Project -c $Configuration -o $OutputPath --self-contained false
+
+if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
+    throw "dotnet publish failed with exit code $LASTEXITCODE"
+}
+
+Write-Host @"
+Done. Run: $(Join-Path $OutputPath 'UtopiaCanteen.Client.exe')
+
+First run: open Settings and set Backend base URL (e.g. http://192.168.1.10:5000).
+Config file: %LocalAppData%\UtopiaCanteenClient\appsettings.json
+"@