diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6aea375..cbc8d5d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 1.6.0 (2026-05-06)
+
+### Feat
+
+- **worker**: enhance autostart configuration with new policy options
+- **worker**: add methods to get and update worker configuration
+- **worker**: add autostart configuration option with default value
+
 ## 1.5.1 (2025-12-18)
 
 ### Refactor
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4a1bbb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# Contributing to funcnodes-worker
+
+This repository contains the **worker runtime** used to execute FuncNodes graphs (WebSocket RPC server, loops, worker config).
+
+## Development setup (Python)
+
+Prereqs:
+
+- Python **3.11+**
+- `uv` (https://github.com/astral-sh/uv)
+
+Recommended environment variables (keep caches/config local):
+
+- `UV_CACHE_DIR=.cache/uv`
+- `FUNCNODES_CONFIG_DIR=.funcnodes`
+
+Install dev dependencies:
+
+```bash
+cd funcnodes_worker
+UV_CACHE_DIR=.cache/uv uv sync --group dev
+```
+
+Run unit tests:
+
+```bash
+cd funcnodes_worker
+FUNCNODES_CONFIG_DIR=.funcnodes UV_CACHE_DIR=.cache/uv uv run pytest
+```
+
+## Full test matrix (tox)
+
+`funcnodes-worker` has optional extras (`venv`, `http`, `subprocess-monitor`) and a tox matrix to test combinations.
+
+```bash
+cd funcnodes_worker
+FUNCNODES_CONFIG_DIR=.funcnodes UV_CACHE_DIR=.cache/uv uv run tox
+```
+
+## Code style & hooks
+
+Run pre-commit:
+
+```bash
+cd funcnodes_worker
+UV_CACHE_DIR=.cache/uv uv run pre-commit install
+UV_CACHE_DIR=.cache/uv uv run pre-commit run -a
+```
+
+## TDD expectations
+
+- Write tests first; cover edge cases.
+- Avoid mocks unless simulating external resources.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e69de29..95ad281 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# FuncNodes Worker
+
+**FuncNodes Worker** (`funcnodes_worker`) is the execution engine for the [FuncNodes](https://github.com/Linkdlab/FuncNodes) ecosystem. It provides the runtime environment where nodes are executed, managed, and controlled.
+
+> [!NOTE]
+> For the full application usage, please refer to the main [FuncNodes repository](https://github.com/Linkdlab/FuncNodes).
+
+## Key Features
+
+- **Execution Runtime**: Manages the `NodeSpace` and the main event loop, ensuring efficient asynchronous execution of nodes.
+- **Remote Control**:
+    - **WebSocket Worker**: Allows remote management and frontend interaction via `aiohttp` WebSockets.
+    - **Message Queue Worker**: Supports communication via multiprocessing queues for inter-process coordination.
+- **Process Management**: Handles state persistence, heartbeats, and safe shutdown procedures.
+- **Extensibility**: Supports "External Workers" to offload tasks to auxiliary processes or environments.
+
+## Installation
+
+```bash
+pip install funcnodes-worker
+```
+
+## Dependencies
+
+- **funcnodes-core**: The core logic definitions.
+- **aiohttp**: For WebSocket communication (optional but recommended).
+- **pydantic**: For configuration and data validation.
+
+## Usage
+
+In most cases, `funcnodes-worker` is used internally by the `funcnodes` main package. However, you can instantiate a worker programmatically if needed:
+
+```python
+from funcnodes_worker import WSWorker
+
+# Create a worker that listens on a specific host and port
+worker = WSWorker(host="localhost", port=9382)
+
+# Start the worker loop (usually handled by an async runner)
+# await worker.run()
+```
+
+## Documentation
+
+For comprehensive documentation, visit the [FuncNodes Documentation](https://linkdlab.github.io/FuncNodes).
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index ae49979..af0f2db 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "funcnodes-worker"
-version = "1.5.1"
+version = "1.6.0"
 description = "Worker package for FuncNodes"
 readme = "README.md"
 authors = [{name = "Julian Kimmig", email = "julian.kimmig@linkdlab.de"}]
diff --git a/src/funcnodes_worker/worker.py b/src/funcnodes_worker/worker.py
index 8f38ba9..126516c 100644
--- a/src/funcnodes_worker/worker.py
+++ b/src/funcnodes_worker/worker.py
@@ -541,6 +541,29 @@ class PossibleUpdates(TypedDict, total=False):
     funcnodes: bool
 
 
+AutostartPolicy = Literal["never", "always", "unless-stopped"]
+AUTOSTART_POLICIES: tuple[AutostartPolicy, ...] = (
+    "never",
+    "always",
+    "unless-stopped",
+)
+
+
+def normalize_autostart_policy(value: object = None) -> AutostartPolicy:
+    if value is True:
+        return "unless-stopped"
+    if value in (False, None):
+        return "never"
+    if isinstance(value, str):
+        if value in AUTOSTART_POLICIES:
+            return cast(AutostartPolicy, value)
+        raise ValueError(
+            "Invalid autostart policy "
+            f"{value!r}. Expected one of {', '.join(AUTOSTART_POLICIES)}."
+        )
+    raise ValueError(f"Invalid autostart policy {value!r}.")
+
+
 class WorkerJson(TypedDict):
     type: str
     uuid: str
@@ -548,6 +571,7 @@ class WorkerJson(TypedDict):
     data_path: Optional[str]
     env_path: Optional[str]
     pid: Optional[int]
+    autostart: AutostartPolicy
 
     # shelves_dependencies: Dict[str, ShelfDict]
     worker_dependencies: Dict[str, WorkerDict]
@@ -770,6 +794,7 @@ def generate_config(self) -> WorkerJson:
                 worker_dependencies=worker_dependencies,
                 package_dependencies=self._package_dependencies.copy(),
                 pid=os.getpid(),
+                autostart="never",
                 update_on_startup={},
             )
         )
@@ -785,6 +810,8 @@ def update_config(self, conf: WorkerJson) -> WorkerJson:
         if "update_on_startup" not in conf:
             conf["update_on_startup"] = {}  # pragma: no cover
 
+        conf["autostart"] = normalize_autostart_policy(conf.get("autostart"))
+
         if "funcnodes" not in conf["update_on_startup"]:
             conf["update_on_startup"]["funcnodes"] = True  # pragma: no cover
         if "funcnodes-core" not in conf["update_on_startup"]:
@@ -975,6 +1002,38 @@ def export_worker(self, with_files: bool = True) -> bytes:
 
         return zip_bytes
 
+    @exposed_method()
+    def get_config(self) -> WorkerJson:
+        """returns the current worker configuration"""
+        return self.update_config(self.config)
+
+    @exposed_method()
+    def update_worker_config(
+        self,
+        name: Optional[str] = None,
+        autostart: Optional[AutostartPolicy | bool] = None,
+        update_on_startup: Optional[PossibleUpdates] = None,
+    ) -> WorkerJson:
+        """updates editable worker configuration values"""
+        config = self.update_config(self.config)
+
+        if name is not None:
+            stripped_name = name.strip()
+            self._name = stripped_name or None
+            config["name"] = self._name
+
+        if autostart is not None:
+            config["autostart"] = normalize_autostart_policy(autostart)
+
+        if update_on_startup is not None:
+            current_update_on_startup = config.get("update_on_startup", {})
+            current_update_on_startup.update(
+                {key: bool(value) for key, value in update_on_startup.items()}
+            )
+            config["update_on_startup"] = current_update_on_startup
+
+        return self.write_config(config)
+
     @exposed_method()
     async def update(
         self,
diff --git a/tests/test_worker.py b/tests/test_worker.py
index 848fb1d..b33b6ec 100644
--- a/tests/test_worker.py
+++ b/tests/test_worker.py
@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@ async def test_worker_case_config_generation(worker_case):
         "pid": os.getpid(),
         "type": worker_case.__class__.__name__,
         "env_path": None,
+        "autostart": "never",
         "update_on_startup": {
             "funcnodes": True,
             "funcnodes-core": True,
@@ -266,6 +267,7 @@ async def test_worker_case_exportable_config(worker_case):
         "name": worker_case.name(),
         "package_dependencies": {},
         "type": worker_case.__class__.__name__,
+        "autostart": "never",
         "update_on_startup": {
             "funcnodes": True,
             "funcnodes-core": True,
@@ -291,6 +293,45 @@ async def test_worker_case_load_config(worker_case):
     assert config["uuid"] == worker_case.uuid()
 
 
+@funcnodes_test
+async def test_worker_case_missing_autostart_defaults_never(worker_case):
+    config = worker_case.config
+    config.pop("autostart", None)
+
+    updated = worker_case.update_config(config)
+
+    assert updated["autostart"] == "never"
+
+
+@funcnodes_test
+async def test_worker_case_legacy_autostart_booleans_migrate(worker_case):
+    true_config = worker_case.update_config({**worker_case.config, "autostart": True})
+    false_config = worker_case.update_config({**worker_case.config, "autostart": False})
+
+    assert true_config["autostart"] == "unless-stopped"
+    assert false_config["autostart"] == "never"
+
+
+@funcnodes_test
+async def test_worker_case_update_worker_config(worker_case):
+    updated = worker_case.update_worker_config(
+        name="renamed worker",
+        autostart="unless-stopped",
+        update_on_startup={"funcnodes": False},
+    )
+
+    assert updated["name"] == "renamed worker"
+    assert updated["autostart"] == "unless-stopped"
+    assert updated["update_on_startup"]["funcnodes"] is False
+    assert updated["update_on_startup"]["funcnodes-core"] is True
+    assert worker_case.name() == "renamed worker"
+
+    loaded = worker_case.load_config()
+    assert loaded is not None
+    assert loaded["name"] == "renamed worker"
+    assert loaded["autostart"] == "unless-stopped"
+
+
 @funcnodes_test
 async def test_worker_case_process_file_handling(worker_case):
     worker_case._write_process_file()
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index e922524..6a6cdba 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "funcnodes-worker"
-version = "1.5.1"
+version = "1.6.0"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "asynctoolkit" },