diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 685dae0..fabd07b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,29 +1,63 @@
 # Home Automation Monorepo
 
-A Python-based home automation system built with Poetry in a monorepo structure.
+A Python-based home automation system built with Poetry in a monorepo structure. Features a microservices architecture with MQTT/Redis messaging, dynamic UI with realtime updates, and flexible device configuration.
+
+## Features
+
+- **Dynamic Dashboard**: Responsive web UI with realtime device status via Server-Sent Events
+- **MQTT Integration**: Device communication through MQTT broker with vendor abstraction
+- **Realtime Updates**: Live device state updates via Redis Pub/Sub and SSE
+- **Flexible Layout**: Configure rooms and device tiles via YAML
+- **Multiple Device Support**: Lights with power and brightness control
+- **Clean Architecture**: Separation of concerns with API-first design
 
 ## Project Structure
 
 ```
 home-automation/
 ├── apps/                    # Applications
-│   ├── api/                # API service
-│   ├── abstraction/        # Abstraction layer
-│   ├── rules/              # Rules engine
-│   └── ui/                 # User interface
+│   ├── api/                # API Gateway (FastAPI, port 8001)
+│   │   └── main.py        # REST API, SSE endpoint, device management
+│   ├── abstraction/        # MQTT ↔ Redis Bridge
+│   │   └── main.py        # Protocol translation layer
+│   ├── rules/              # Rules Engine (planned)
+│   └── ui/                 # Web Interface (FastAPI, port 8002)
+│       ├── main.py        # Jinja2 templates, API client
+│       ├── api_client.py  # HTTP client for API Gateway
+│       ├── templates/     # HTML templates
+│       │   ├── dashboard.html  # Dynamic dashboard
+│       │   └── index.html      # Legacy static UI
+│       └── static/        # CSS and assets
 ├── packages/               # Shared packages
-│   └── home_capabilities/  # Home capabilities library
+│   └── home_capabilities/  # Core libraries
+│       ├── light.py       # Light device models
+│       └── layout.py      # UI layout models
+├── config/                 # Configuration files
+│   ├── devices.yaml       # Device definitions with features
+│   └── layout.yaml        # UI room/device layout
+├── tools/                  # Development tools
+│   └── sim_test_lampe.py  # Multi-device MQTT simulator
 ├── infra/                  # Infrastructure
 │   ├── docker-compose.yml
 │   └── README.md
 ├── pyproject.toml          # Poetry configuration
+├── PORTS.md               # Port allocation
 └── README.md
 ```
 
 ## Requirements
 
-- Python 3.11+
-- Poetry
+- Python 3.11+ (tested with 3.14.0)
+- Poetry 2.2.1+
+- MQTT Broker (e.g., Mosquitto)
+- Redis Server
+
+### External Services
+
+This system requires the following external services:
+
+- **MQTT Broker**: `172.16.2.16:1883` (configured in `config/devices.yaml`)
+- **Redis Server**: `172.23.1.116:6379/8` (configured in `config/devices.yaml`)
 
 ## Setup
 
@@ -42,8 +76,57 @@ home-automation/
    poetry shell
    ```
 
+4. Configure devices and layout:
+   - Edit `config/devices.yaml` for device definitions and MQTT/Redis settings
+   - Edit `config/layout.yaml` for UI room organization
+
+## Configuration
+
+### devices.yaml
+
+Defines available devices with their features and MQTT topics:
+
+```yaml
+devices:
+  - device_id: test_lampe_1
+    type: light
+    features:
+      power: true
+      brightness: true
+    topics:
+      set: "vendor/test_lampe_1/set"
+      state: "vendor/test_lampe_1/state"
+```
+
+### layout.yaml
+
+Organizes devices into rooms for the UI:
+
+```yaml
+rooms:
+  - name: Wohnzimmer
+    devices:
+      - device_id: test_lampe_1
+        title: Stehlampe
+        icon: "LIGHT"
+        rank: 10  # Lower rank = higher priority
+```
+
 ## Development
 
+### Dependencies
+
+Key packages installed:
+
+- **Web Framework**: FastAPI 0.120.3, Uvicorn 0.38.0
+- **Data Validation**: Pydantic 2.12.3
+- **MQTT**: aiomqtt 2.4.0 (async), paho-mqtt 2.1.0 (sync)
+- **Redis**: redis 7.0.1
+- **HTTP Client**: httpx 0.28.1
+- **Templates**: Jinja2 3.1.6
+- **Config**: PyYAML 6.0.3
+- **Testing**: beautifulsoup4 4.14.2
+
 ### Code Quality Tools
 
 This project uses the following tools configured in `pyproject.toml`:
@@ -65,8 +148,105 @@ poetry run ruff check .
 poetry run mypy .
 ```
 
+### Adding New Devices
+
+1. Add device to `config/devices.yaml`:
+   ```yaml
+   - device_id: new_device
+     type: light
+     features:
+       power: true
+       brightness: false
+     topics:
+       set: "vendor/new_device/set"
+       state: "vendor/new_device/state"
+   ```
+
+2. Add device to rooms in `config/layout.yaml`:
+   ```yaml
+   rooms:
+     - name: Kitchen
+       devices:
+         - device_id: new_device
+           title: Kitchen Light
+           icon: "LIGHT"
+           rank: 5
+   ```
+
+3. Restart API and UI services (they will auto-reload if using `--reload`)
+
+4. Device will appear in dashboard automatically!
+
+### Extending Features
+
+To add new device capabilities:
+
+1. Update Pydantic models in `packages/home_capabilities/`
+2. Add feature to `devices.yaml`
+3. Extend dashboard template for UI controls
+4. Update simulator or create new simulator for testing
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Connection Issues
+
+- **SSE not connecting**: Check API server is running on port 8001
+- **Device not responding**: Check MQTT broker connectivity
+- **No updates in UI**: Check abstraction layer and Redis connection
+
+### Check Logs
+
+```bash
+# API logs
+tail -f /tmp/api.log
+
+# Abstraction layer logs
+tail -f /tmp/abstraction.log
+
+# UI logs
+tail -f /tmp/ui.log
+```
+
+### Common Commands
+
+```bash
+# Check if services are running
+ps aux | grep -E "uvicorn|abstraction"
+
+# Check port usage
+lsof -i :8001
+lsof -i :8002
+
+# Test MQTT connection
+mosquitto_pub -h 172.16.2.16 -t test -m "hello"
+```
+
 ### Running Applications
 
+#### Quick Start - All Services
+
+Start all services in the background:
+
+```bash
+# 1. Start MQTT Abstraction Layer
+poetry run python -m apps.abstraction.main > /tmp/abstraction.log 2>&1 &
+
+# 2. Start API Gateway
+poetry run uvicorn apps.api.main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8001 > /tmp/api.log 2>&1 &
+
+# 3. Start UI
+poetry run uvicorn apps.ui.main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8002 > /tmp/ui.log 2>&1 &
+
+# 4. Start Device Simulator (optional)
+poetry run python tools/sim_test_lampe.py &
+```
+
+Stop all services:
+
+```bash
+pkill -f "uvicorn apps" && pkill -f "apps.abstraction.main" && pkill -f "sim_test_lampe"
+```
+
 #### Port Configuration
 
 See `PORTS.md` for detailed port allocation.
@@ -93,7 +273,10 @@ The API will be available at:
 
 Available endpoints:
 - `GET /health` - Health check endpoint
-- `GET /spec` - Capabilities specification
+- `GET /devices` - List all devices with features
+- `GET /layout` - Get UI layout configuration
+- `POST /devices/{device_id}/set` - Control a device
+- `GET /realtime` - Server-Sent Events stream for live updates
 
 #### UI Server
 
@@ -108,20 +291,142 @@ poetry run python -m apps.ui.main
 ```
 
 The UI will be available at:
-- Main page: http://localhost:8002
-- `GET /spec` - Capabilities specification
+- **Dynamic Dashboard**: http://localhost:8002/dashboard (or http://localhost:8002)
+  - Realtime device status via SSE
+  - Toggle buttons with state reflection
+  - Brightness sliders for dimmable lights
+  - Event log for all updates
+  - Responsive layout from `config/layout.yaml`
+- **Legacy Static UI**: http://localhost:8002/index.html
+  - Fixed layout with test_lampe_1 and test_lampe_2
+
+#### Abstraction Layer
+
+The MQTT-Redis bridge translates between protocols:
+
+```bash
+poetry run python -m apps.abstraction.main
+```
+
+Functions:
+- Subscribes to vendor-specific MQTT topics (`vendor/*/state`)
+- Publishes state changes to Redis Pub/Sub (`ui:updates`)
+- Enables decoupling of UI from MQTT
+
+#### Device Simulator
+
+Test your setup with the multi-device simulator:
+
+```bash
+poetry run python tools/sim_test_lampe.py
+```
+
+Simulates:
+- `test_lampe_1`: Light with power and brightness control
+- `test_lampe_2`: Simple light with power only
+- `test_lampe_3`: Simple light with power only
+
+The simulator:
+- Subscribes to `vendor/test_lampe_*/set` topics
+- Maintains device state (power, brightness)
+- Publishes state to `vendor/test_lampe_*/state` (retained)
+- Handles graceful shutdown (sets all lights to off)
 
 #### Other Applications
 
 ```bash
-# Abstraction
-poetry run python -m apps.abstraction.main
-
-# Rules
+# Rules Engine (planned)
 poetry run python -m apps.rules.main
+```
 
-# UI
-poetry run python -m apps.ui.main
+## Architecture
+
+### Message Flow
+
+```
+User Action (UI) 
+  → HTTP POST to API Gateway (/devices/{id}/set)
+    → MQTT Publish (home/light/{id}/set)
+      → Abstraction Layer receives
+        → MQTT Publish (vendor/{id}/set)
+          → Device/Simulator receives
+            → Device State Update
+              → MQTT Publish (vendor/{id}/state, retained)
+                → Abstraction Layer receives
+                  → Redis Pub/Sub (ui:updates)
+                    → API Gateway /realtime SSE
+                      → UI Updates (EventSource)
+```
+
+### Key Components
+
+1. **API Gateway** (`apps/api/main.py`)
+   - Single source of truth for configuration
+   - REST endpoints for device control
+   - SSE endpoint for realtime updates
+   - Reads `devices.yaml` and `layout.yaml`
+
+2. **UI** (`apps/ui/main.py`)
+   - Pure API consumer (no direct file access)
+   - Fetches devices and layout via HTTP
+   - Renders dynamic dashboard with Jinja2
+   - Connects to SSE for live updates
+
+3. **Abstraction Layer** (`apps/abstraction/main.py`)
+   - Protocol translation (MQTT ↔ Redis)
+   - Subscribes to vendor topics
+   - Publishes to Redis for UI updates
+
+4. **Device Simulator** (`tools/sim_test_lampe.py`)
+   - Emulates physical devices
+   - Responds to SET commands
+   - Publishes STATE updates
+
+## Testing
+
+### Manual Testing
+
+1. Start all services (see Quick Start above)
+
+2. Open the dashboard: http://localhost:8002
+
+3. Toggle a light and watch:
+   - Button changes state (Einschalten ↔ Ausschalten)
+   - Status updates in realtime
+   - Event log shows all messages
+
+4. Check MQTT traffic:
+   ```bash
+   # Subscribe to all topics
+   mosquitto_sub -h 172.16.2.16 -t '#' -v
+   
+   # Publish test command
+   mosquitto_pub -h 172.16.2.16 -t 'vendor/test_lampe_1/set' \
+     -m '{"power":"on","brightness":75}'
+   ```
+
+5. Check Redis Pub/Sub:
+   ```bash
+   redis-cli -h 172.23.1.116 -p 6379 -n 8
+   > SUBSCRIBE ui:updates
+   ```
+
+### API Testing
+
+```bash
+# Get all devices
+curl http://localhost:8001/devices | python3 -m json.tool
+
+# Get layout
+curl http://localhost:8001/layout | python3 -m json.tool
+
+# Control a device
+curl -X POST http://localhost:8001/devices/test_lampe_1/set \
+  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d '{"type":"light","payload":{"power":"on"}}'
+
+# Test SSE stream
+curl -N http://localhost:8001/realtime
 ```
 
 ## License
diff --git a/apps/ui/templates/index.html b/apps/ui/templates/index.html
index 338f97b..8c6c019 100644
--- a/apps/ui/templates/index.html
+++ b/apps/ui/templates/index.html
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@
 <body>
     <div class="container">
         <header>
-            <h1>🏠 Home Automation</h1>
+            <h1>Home Automation</h1>
             <p>Realtime Status: <span class="status disconnected" id="connection-status">Verbinde...</span></p>
         </header>
         
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@
             <!-- Test Lampe Card -->
             <div class="device-card">
                 <div class="device-header">
-                    <div class="device-name">💡 Test Lampe 1</div>    
+                    <div class="device-name">Test Lampe 1</div>    
                     <div class="device-type">Light • Dimmbar</div>
                 </div>
                 
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@
             </div>
             <div class="device-card">
                 <div class="device-header">
-                    <div class="device-name">💡 Test Lampe 2</div>
+                    <div class="device-name">Test Lampe 2</div>
                     <div class="device-type">Light</div>
                 </div>
                 
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@
         </div>
         
         <div class="events">
-            <h2>📡 Realtime Events</h2>
+            <h2>Realtime Events</h2>
             <div class="event-list" id="event-list">
                 <p style="color: #666; font-size: 0.875rem;">Warte auf Events...</p>
             </div>
diff --git a/config/layout.yaml b/config/layout.yaml
index 72c2292..3cd89ba 100644
--- a/config/layout.yaml
+++ b/config/layout.yaml
@@ -6,18 +6,18 @@ rooms:
     devices:
       - device_id: test_lampe_2
         title: Deckenlampe
-        icon: "💡"
+        icon: "LIGHT"
         rank: 5
       - device_id: test_lampe_1
         title: Stehlampe
-        icon: "�"
+        icon: "LIGHT"
         rank: 10
         
   - name: Schlafzimmer
     devices:
       - device_id: test_lampe_3
         title: Nachttischlampe
-        icon: "🛏️"
+        icon: "LIGHT"
         rank: 10