diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 38505ac4..923b2ff5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -69,17 +69,22 @@ execution = client.durable.start(
 )
 print(execution.id, execution.status)
 
-execution = client.durable.get(
+owner_client = VolcanoClient(
+    api_url="https://api.volcano.dev",
+    anon_key="your-anon-key",
+    access_token="your-platform-user-token",
+)
+execution = owner_client.durable.get(
     "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000001", "order-pipeline", execution.id
 )
 print(execution.is_terminal, execution.result)
 
-executions = client.durable.list(
+executions = owner_client.durable.list(
     "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000001", "order-pipeline", status="running"
 )
 print(executions.total, executions.has_more)
 
-client.durable.stop(
+owner_client.durable.stop(
     "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000001", "order-pipeline", execution.id
 )
 
@@ -239,18 +244,18 @@ A function's own response, HTTP 403, or a network failure never triggers this re
 Anonymous and service keys do not refresh.
 
 `durable.start()` begins an execution of a deployed durable function and returns
-a handle rather than a result: an execution can run for hours, so its result is
-read back with `durable.get()`. It takes the credential `functions.invoke()`
+a handle rather than a result: an execution can run for up to 366 days, so its
+result is read back with `durable.get()`. It takes the credential `functions.invoke()`
 takes, and is the only durable operation an application credential may perform.
 An `execution_name` makes the start idempotent — starting again under the same
 name returns the execution that already exists rather than beginning a second
 one, and is charged once.
 
 `durable.get()`, `durable.list()` and `durable.stop()` are owner-scoped and need
-the project's own platform token, because an execution is addressed by its id
-alone and an anonymous key is held by everyone who loads the page. Neither an
-auth-user session from `sign_in()` nor a service key is accepted -- the routes
-take a user token, and anything else is answered 401. Poll them from a backend.
+the project owner's platform user token, because an execution is addressed by
+its id alone and an anonymous key is held by everyone who loads the page.
+Auth-user sessions from `sign_in()`, anonymous keys, service keys, and project
+access tokens are not accepted. Poll them from a trusted backend.
 `get()` carries `result` once the execution has succeeded and `error` when it
 failed; `result_expired` separates a result the platform has discarded from a
 function that returned nothing. `is_terminal` reports whether the execution has
@@ -331,6 +336,20 @@ nothing while it waits. Running the handler anywhere durable execution does not
 exist raises `DurableRuntimeMissingError` rather than an import error from an
 unfamiliar package.
 
+Run the same handler through the local durable engine:
+
+```bash
+volcano start
+volcano durable deploy --all
+volcano durable start order-pipeline --input '{"order_id":"order-9"}'
+```
+
+Local waits resolve immediately by default while preserving checkpoint and replay
+behavior. Set `LOCAL_DURABLE_REAL_TIME=true` before `volcano start` when wait
+timing must match the deployed function. Local executions persist across
+`volcano stop` and `volcano start`. Volcano does not expose externally completed
+callbacks; use `ctx.wait_until` to poll application state instead.
+
 `logs.search()` returns an immutable page of retained runtime or deployment log
 events. Pass `next_cursor` back as `cursor` to continue a search. `logs.activity()`
 returns immutable time buckets using the same resource selector and query syntax.
diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
index f1342922..89f179e2 100644
--- a/docs/README.md
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -130,6 +130,6 @@ See [Realtime](./realtime.md) for broadcasts, presence, database changes, and sh
 
 See [Authentication](./authentication.md) for account, session, email, and OAuth workflows.
 
-See [Functions](./functions.md) for invocation identity, response values, and error handling.
+See [Functions](./functions.md) for standard invocation, durable execution, local durable development, and error handling.
 
 See [Versions and compatibility](./versions.md) for runtime support, upgrades, and restoring a tested dependency set.
diff --git a/docs/functions.md b/docs/functions.md
index 67b37652..42eb71ad 100644
--- a/docs/functions.md
+++ b/docs/functions.md
@@ -63,3 +63,59 @@ A function's own HTTP 404 does not trigger another invocation.
 Network failures do not establish whether a function ran; do not blindly retry operations with side effects.
 
 Invalid invocation arguments and malformed successful resolution responses can raise `ValueError` or `TypeError`.
+
+## Start and follow a durable execution
+
+A durable execution can run for up to 366 days. Starting one returns a handle instead of waiting for its result:
+
+```python
+handle = client.durable.start(
+    "charge-order",
+    {"order_id": "order-9"},
+    execution_name="order-9",
+)
+
+owner_client = VolcanoClient(
+    anon_key=os.environ["VOLCANO_ANON_KEY"],
+    api_url=os.environ.get("VOLCANO_API_URL", "https://api.volcano.dev"),
+    access_token=os.environ["VOLCANO_PLATFORM_TOKEN"],
+)
+execution = owner_client.durable.get(project_id, "charge-order", handle.id)
+page = owner_client.durable.list(project_id, "charge-order", status="running")
+owner_client.durable.stop(project_id, "charge-order", handle.id)
+```
+
+`start()` accepts the same active session, service key, or anonymous key as `functions.invoke()`. It is the only durable operation available to application credentials. An execution name makes a start idempotent.
+
+`get()`, `list()`, and `stop()` are owner-scoped. Call them from a trusted backend with the project owner's platform user token. Auth-user sessions, anonymous keys, service keys, and project access tokens are not accepted. `stop()` returns after the stop request is accepted, so poll `get()` until `is_terminal` is true.
+
+## Write a durable function
+
+Use `volcano_sdk.durable_authoring` in a durable function running on `python3.13` or `python3.14`:
+
+```python
+from volcano_sdk.durable_authoring import durable
+
+
+@durable
+def handler(event, ctx):
+    charge = ctx.step("charge", lambda scope: charge_card(event["order_id"]))
+    ctx.wait("settle", "30s")
+    return {"charge_id": charge["id"]}
+```
+
+Volcano records each context operation. Resumed executions replay recorded results instead of repeating completed work. Keep changing decisions inside `ctx.step()`. Use `ctx.wait_until()` to poll application state. Volcano does not expose externally completed callbacks.
+
+## Run durable functions locally
+
+Deploy and start the same handler through the local durable engine:
+
+```bash
+volcano start
+volcano durable deploy --all
+volcano durable start charge-order --input '{"order_id":"order-9"}'
+```
+
+Local waits resolve immediately by default while preserving checkpoint and replay behavior. Set `LOCAL_DURABLE_REAL_TIME=true` before `volcano start` when wait timing must match the deployed function. Local executions persist across `volcano stop` and `volcano start`.
+
+Running a decorated handler directly in a Python process still needs the optional test runtime: `python -m pip install 'volcano-sdk-python[durable]'`.