feat(base-images): add managed base image bundles with cache retention, hosted manifests, and opt-in integration boot testing

readme.hints.md

@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 - Uses `@push.rocks/smartrequest` with URL format `http://unix:<socket>:<path>` for socket communication
 - Uses `@push.rocks/smartshell` `execStreaming()` to manage Firecracker child processes
 - Uses `@push.rocks/smartexit` for cleanup on process exit
+- `BaseImageManager` downloads Firecracker CI demo artifacts or hosted project manifests into `/tmp/.smartvm/base-images` by default
+- Base image cache keeps 2 bundles by default and warns before evicting older bundles
+- Hosted manifest examples live in `assets/base-images/`
 
 ## Key API Patterns
 - SmartRequest: `SmartRequest.create().url(...).json(body).put()` — response has `.status`, `.ok`, `.json()`
@@ -16,3 +19,9 @@
 - Start: PUT /actions { action_type: "InstanceStart" }
 - Pause/Resume: PATCH /vm { state: "Paused" | "Resumed" }
 - Stop: PUT /actions { action_type: "SendCtrlAltDel" }
+
+## Integration Testing
+- Default `pnpm test` skips real Firecracker boot testing
+- Set `SMARTVM_RUN_INTEGRATION=true` to run the opt-in boot test
+- `SMARTVM_BASE_IMAGE_PRESET` supports `latest` and `lts`; default is `latest`
+- Hosted/project-owned bundles use `baseImageManifestUrl`, `baseImageManifestPath`, `manifestUrl`, or `manifestPath`