diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7970236
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+coverage.out
+coverage.html
+*.test
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9126e5b..711b95e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,49 @@
 # appcli
 
-appcli provides boilerplate dependency handling for command line apps based on [urfave/cli](https://github.com/urfave/cli) that utilize [app](https://gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/app).
+Bridge between [urfave/cli/v3](https://github.com/urfave/cli/v3) and [app](https://gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/app) lifecycles.
+
+## Install
+
+```bash
+go get gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/appcli
+```
+
+## Example
+
+```go
+func main() {
+    lc := app.NewLifecycle()
+    defer lc.Teardown()
+
+    root := appcli.NewRootCommand(&cli.Command{
+        Name:  "myapp",
+        Usage: "My application",
+        Commands: []*cli.Command{
+            appcli.NewCommand(&cli.Command{
+                Name:  "serve",
+                Usage: "Run the server",
+                Action: func(ctx context.Context, c *cli.Command) error {
+                    // modules already loaded via DepFn
+                    return nil
+                },
+            }, func(l *app.Lifecycle, c *cli.Command) ([]*app.Module, error) {
+                return []*app.Module{myModule}, nil
+            }),
+        },
+    })
+
+    if err := appcli.Run(context.Background(), lc, root, os.Args); err != nil {
+        log.Fatal(err)
+    }
+}
+```
+
+## NewRootCommand vs NewCommand
+
+- `NewRootCommand` adds global `--verbose` / `-v` (unless already defined)
+- Both wrap `Before` to call `lifecycle.Require` with modules from `DepFn`
+- Wrapped commands are copied; the original `*cli.Command` is not mutated
+
+## DepFn
+
+The `*cli.Command` argument is the command whose `Before` hook is running. For nested commands, parent hooks receive the parent command; use `VerboseFromCommand` to read root flags from subcommands.
diff --git a/appcli.go b/appcli.go
deleted file mode 100644
index d676465..0000000
--- a/appcli.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,96 +0,0 @@
-package appcli
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"errors"
-
-	"gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/app"
-	"github.com/urfave/cli/v3"
-)
-
-// DepFn is a function type that returns a slice of dependencies.
-type DepFn func(*app.Lifecycle, *cli.Command) ([]*app.Module, error)
-
-// DepList is a convenience function that returns a DepFn that uses a
-// predefined list of dependecies.
-func DepList(deps ...*app.Module) DepFn {
-	return func(_ *app.Lifecycle, _ *cli.Command) ([]*app.Module, error) {
-		if len(deps) == 0 {
-			return nil, errors.New("no dependencies provided")
-		}
-		return deps, nil
-	}
-}
-
-// NewCommand creates a new CLI command with the specified configuration and
-// and dependencies. Returns a standard *cli.Command that can be used directly
-// with urfave/cli/v3 types. If any dependencies are provided, the Before method
-// is overriden to ensure that all dependencies are satisfied before the command
-// is executed. Requires an app.Lifecycle to be present in the context when the
-// command is executed.
-func NewCommand(cmdcfg *cli.Command, depfn ...DepFn) *cli.Command {
-	if len(depfn) == 0 {
-		return cmdcfg
-	}
-
-	// Override the Before method to handle dependencies
-	originalBefore := cmdcfg.Before
-	cmdcfg.Before = func(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) (context.Context, error) {
-		if originalBefore != nil {
-			var err error
-			ctx, err = originalBefore(ctx, cmd)
-			if err != nil {
-				return ctx, err
-			}
-		}
-
-		lifecycle := app.LifecycleFromContext(ctx)
-		if lifecycle == nil {
-			return ctx, errors.New("lifecycle not found in context, cannot run command with dependencies")
-		}
-
-		deps := make([]*app.Module, 0)
-		for _, fn := range depfn {
-			if fn == nil {
-				continue
-			}
-
-			modules, err := fn(lifecycle, cmd)
-			if err != nil {
-				return ctx, err
-			}
-			deps = append(deps, modules...)
-		}
-
-		if len(deps) > 0 {
-			if err := lifecycle.Require(deps...); err != nil {
-				return ctx, err
-			}
-		}
-
-		return ctx, nil
-	}
-
-	return cmdcfg
-}
-
-// NewRootCommand creates a new root CLI command with the specified configuration.
-// Adds verbose flag and override Before and After methods to handle dependencies.
-// See NewCommand for more details.
-func NewRootCommand(cmdcfg *cli.Command, depfn ...DepFn) *cli.Command {
-	cmdcfg.Flags = append(cmdcfg.Flags, &cli.BoolFlag{
-		Name:    "verbose",
-		Aliases: []string{"v"},
-		Usage:   "Enable verbose output",
-	})
-	return NewCommand(cmdcfg, depfn...)
-}
-
-// VerboseFromCommand checks if the verbose flag is set in the command context.
-func VerboseFromCommand(cmd *cli.Command) bool {
-	if cmd == nil {
-		return false
-	}
-
-	return cmd.Bool("verbose")
-}
diff --git a/appcli_test.go b/appcli_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f57f73d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/appcli_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package appcli_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/app"
+	"gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/appcli"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"github.com/urfave/cli/v3"
+)
+
+func TestNewCommandRequiresLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
+	cmd := appcli.NewCommand(&cli.Command{Name: "test"}, appcli.DepList())
+	err := cmd.Run(context.Background(), []string{"test"})
+	assert.ErrorIs(t, err, appcli.ErrLifecycleNotInContext)
+}
+
+func TestNewCommandLoadsDeps(t *testing.T) {
+	var loaded bool
+	mod := app.NewModule("dep", app.ModuleOpts{
+		Setup: func(m *app.Module) error { loaded = true; return nil },
+	})
+
+	cmd := appcli.NewCommand(&cli.Command{
+		Name: "test",
+		Action: func(ctx context.Context, c *cli.Command) error {
+			return nil
+		},
+	}, appcli.DepList(mod))
+
+	lc := app.NewLifecycle()
+	err := cmd.Run(lc.Context(context.Background()), []string{"test"})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, loaded)
+}
+
+func TestNewCommandDoesNotMutateInput(t *testing.T) {
+	original := &cli.Command{Name: "orig"}
+	wrapped := appcli.NewCommand(original, appcli.DepList())
+	assert.NotSame(t, original, wrapped)
+	assert.Nil(t, original.Before)
+}
+
+func TestDepListEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	fn := appcli.DepList()
+	_, err := fn(nil, nil)
+	assert.ErrorIs(t, err, appcli.ErrNoDependencies)
+}
+
+func TestVerboseFromCommand(t *testing.T) {
+	root := appcli.NewRootCommand(&cli.Command{Name: "root"})
+	assert.False(t, appcli.VerboseFromCommand(root))
+}
+
+func TestRun(t *testing.T) {
+	lc := app.NewLifecycle()
+	cmd := &cli.Command{
+		Name: "ok",
+		Action: func(ctx context.Context, c *cli.Command) error {
+			assert.NotNil(t, app.LifecycleFromContext(ctx))
+			return nil
+		},
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, appcli.Run(context.Background(), lc, cmd, []string{"ok"}))
+}
diff --git a/command.go b/command.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..589ca8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/command.go
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+package appcli
+
+import (
+	"context"
+
+	"gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/app"
+	"github.com/urfave/cli/v3"
+)
+
+// NewCommand wraps cmd with dependency loading in Before. The input command is
+// not mutated; a shallow copy is returned.
+func NewCommand(cmdcfg *cli.Command, depfn ...DepFn) *cli.Command {
+	if len(depfn) == 0 {
+		return cmdcfg
+	}
+
+	cmd := cloneCommand(cmdcfg)
+	originalBefore := cmdcfg.Before
+	cmd.Before = func(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) (context.Context, error) {
+		if originalBefore != nil {
+			var err error
+			ctx, err = originalBefore(ctx, cmd)
+			if err != nil {
+				return ctx, err
+			}
+		}
+
+		lifecycle := app.LifecycleFromContext(ctx)
+		if lifecycle == nil {
+			return ctx, ErrLifecycleNotInContext
+		}
+
+		deps := make([]*app.Module, 0)
+		for _, fn := range depfn {
+			if fn == nil {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			modules, err := fn(lifecycle, cmd)
+			if err != nil {
+				return ctx, err
+			}
+			deps = append(deps, modules...)
+		}
+
+		if len(deps) > 0 {
+			if err := lifecycle.Require(deps...); err != nil {
+				return ctx, err
+			}
+		}
+
+		return ctx, nil
+	}
+
+	return cmd
+}
+
+// NewRootCommand wraps a root command, adds a global --verbose / -v flag, and
+// applies dependency loading via [NewCommand].
+func NewRootCommand(cmdcfg *cli.Command, depfn ...DepFn) *cli.Command {
+	root := cloneCommand(cmdcfg)
+	if !hasFlag(root, "verbose") {
+		root.Flags = append(root.Flags, &cli.BoolFlag{
+			Name:    "verbose",
+			Aliases: []string{"v"},
+			Usage:   "Enable verbose output",
+		})
+	}
+	return NewCommand(root, depfn...)
+}
+
+// VerboseFromCommand reports whether --verbose was set on the command or an ancestor.
+func VerboseFromCommand(cmd *cli.Command) bool {
+	if cmd == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return cmd.Bool("verbose")
+}
+
+func cloneCommand(src *cli.Command) *cli.Command {
+	if src == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	dup := *src
+	if len(src.Flags) > 0 {
+		dup.Flags = append([]cli.Flag(nil), src.Flags...)
+	}
+	if len(src.Commands) > 0 {
+		dup.Commands = append([]*cli.Command(nil), src.Commands...)
+	}
+	if len(src.Arguments) > 0 {
+		dup.Arguments = append([]cli.Argument(nil), src.Arguments...)
+	}
+	return &dup
+}
+
+func hasFlag(cmd *cli.Command, name string) bool {
+	for _, f := range cmd.Flags {
+		if bf, ok := f.(*cli.BoolFlag); ok && bf.Name == name {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/deps.go b/deps.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..63c8540
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deps.go
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package appcli
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+
+	"gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/app"
+	"github.com/urfave/cli/v3"
+)
+
+var (
+	// ErrLifecycleNotInContext is returned when a command with dependencies runs
+	// without a lifecycle in context.
+	ErrLifecycleNotInContext = errors.New("lifecycle not found in context, cannot run command with dependencies")
+
+	// ErrNoDependencies is returned when DepList is called with zero modules.
+	ErrNoDependencies = errors.New("no dependencies provided")
+)
+
+// DepFn returns modules to load before a command runs. The *cli.Command is the
+// command whose Before hook is executing (may be a parent in nested command trees).
+type DepFn func(*app.Lifecycle, *cli.Command) ([]*app.Module, error)
+
+// DepList returns a DepFn that always supplies the given modules.
+func DepList(deps ...*app.Module) DepFn {
+	return func(_ *app.Lifecycle, _ *cli.Command) ([]*app.Module, error) {
+		if len(deps) == 0 {
+			return nil, ErrNoDependencies
+		}
+		return deps, nil
+	}
+}
+
+// Run injects lifecycle into ctx and executes cmd with args.
+func Run(ctx context.Context, lc *app.Lifecycle, cmd *cli.Command, args []string) error {
+	return cmd.Run(lc.Context(ctx), args)
+}
diff --git a/doc.go b/doc.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..32e8cb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc.go
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+// Package appcli connects [github.com/urfave/cli/v3] commands to
+// [gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/app.Lifecycle] dependency loading.
+//
+// Inject the lifecycle into context in main (see [appcli.Run]), wrap commands with
+// [appcli.NewCommand] or [appcli.NewRootCommand], and supply [appcli.DepFn] callbacks
+// that return modules to initialize before each command runs.
+package appcli
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 4cf3a6d..209582e 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -3,6 +3,15 @@ module gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/appcli
 go 1.24.0
 
 require (
-	gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/app v0.0.0-20250603235859-6f9e3731acf9
+	gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/app v0.0.0-1782781086-58e5e33e18da
+	github.com/stretchr/testify v1.10.0
 	github.com/urfave/cli/v3 v3.3.3
 )
+
+require (
+	github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 // indirect
+	github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0 // indirect
+	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 // indirect
+)
+
+replace gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/app => ../app
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 838a6cd..da7d8f2 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
-gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/app v0.0.0-20250603235859-6f9e3731acf9 h1:MYOI+bB4IBAqoL1tyIUFnu0S+NSq0OX88J3K/PUR7lI=
-gitea.auvem.com/go-toolkit/app v0.0.0-20250603235859-6f9e3731acf9/go.mod h1:a7ENpOxndUdONE6oZ9MZAvG1ba2uq01x/LtcnDkpOj8=
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 h1:vj9j/u1bqnvCEfJOwUhtlOARqs3+rkHYY13jYWTU97c=
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
+github.com/kr/text v0.2.0 h1:5Nx0Ya0ZqY2ygV366QzturHI13Jq95ApcVaJBhpS+AY=
+github.com/kr/text v0.2.0/go.mod h1:eLer722TekiGuMkidMxC/pM04lWEeraHUUmBw8l2grE=
+github.com/niemeyer/pretty v0.0.0-20200227124842-a10e7caefd8e h1:fD57ERR4JtEqsWbfPhv4DMiApHyliiK5xCTNVSPiaAs=
+github.com/niemeyer/pretty v0.0.0-20200227124842-a10e7caefd8e/go.mod h1:zD1mROLANZcx1PVRCS0qkT7pwLkGfwJo4zjcN/Tysno=
 github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0 h1:4DBwDE0NGyQoBHbLQYPwSUPoCMWR5BEzIk/f1lZbAQM=
 github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0/go.mod h1:iKH77koFhYxTK1pcRnkKkqfTogsbg7gZNVY4sRDYZ/4=
 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.10.0 h1:Xv5erBjTwe/5IxqUQTdXv5kgmIvbHo3QQyRwhJsOfJA=
 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.10.0/go.mod h1:r2ic/lqez/lEtzL7wO/rwa5dbSLXVDPFyf8C91i36aY=
 github.com/urfave/cli/v3 v3.3.3 h1:byCBaVdIXuLPIDm5CYZRVG6NvT7tv1ECqdU4YzlEa3I=
 github.com/urfave/cli/v3 v3.3.3/go.mod h1:FJSKtM/9AiiTOJL4fJ6TbMUkxBXn7GO9guZqoZtpYpo=
+gopkg.in/check.v1 v0.0.0-20161208181325-20d25e280405/go.mod h1:Co6ibVJAznAaIkqp8huTwlJQCZ016jof/cbN4VW5Yz0=
+gopkg.in/check.v1 v1.0.0-20200227125254-8fa46927fb4f h1:BLraFXnmrev5lT+xlilqcH8XK9/i0At2xKjWk4p6zsU=
+gopkg.in/check.v1 v1.0.0-20200227125254-8fa46927fb4f/go.mod h1:Co6ibVJAznAaIkqp8huTwlJQCZ016jof/cbN4VW5Yz0=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 h1:fxVm/GzAzEWqLHuvctI91KS9hhNmmWOoWu0XTYJS7CA=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1/go.mod h1:K4uyk7z7BCEPqu6E+C64Yfv1cQ7kz7rIZviUmN+EgEM=