diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index cfe5a23..0299c45 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -12,8 +12,9 @@ env/
 ENV/
 
 # ── Database ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-# The live database is never committed – only cpu_specs is preserved via the
-# bundled seed dump (if one is created). See purge_db.py before committing.
+# The live database is never committed. seed.db (cpu_specs only) IS committed
+# and serves as the starting point for new users. Regenerate it with:
+#   python _dev/export_seed_db.py
 database.db
 database.db-shm
 database.db-wal
@@ -26,7 +27,6 @@ logs/
 browser_data/
 
 # ── Maintenance / dev scripts (not part of the shipped app) ──────────────────
-purge_db.py
 _dev/
 
 # ── OS / editor noise ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index bc6b303..32d2893 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -29,6 +29,14 @@ from scrapers.shared import init_db, DB_PATH as _SCRAPER_DB_PATH
 # ── Flask app ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 DB_PATH = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)), "database.db")
+SEED_PATH = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)), "seed.db")
+
+# ── Seed bootstrap ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# On first run, if no database exists yet but a seed.db is bundled, copy it
+# into place so users start with pre-populated CPU data.
+if not os.path.exists(DB_PATH) and os.path.exists(SEED_PATH):
+    import shutil
+    shutil.copy2(SEED_PATH, DB_PATH)
 
 app = Flask(__name__, static_folder="static", static_url_path="/static")
 
diff --git a/seed.db b/seed.db
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..91174f2
Binary files /dev/null and b/seed.db differ