diff --git a/.github/workflows/pages-deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/pages-deploy.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..544ac9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/pages-deploy.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+name: Deploy Sphinx documentation to Pages
+
+on:
+  push:
+    tags:
+      - v*.*.*
+
+jobs:
+  pages:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
+    environment:
+      name: github-pages
+      url: ${{ steps.deployment.outputs.page_url }}
+    permissions:
+      pages: write
+      id-token: write
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+    - name: Update docs configuration with version (tag) name
+      run: |
+        sed -i "s/PACKAGE_VERSION/${{ github.ref_name }}/" docs/conf.py
+    - name: Build and deploy docs
+      id: deployment
+      uses: sphinx-notes/pages@v3
+      with:
+        checkout: false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CHAP/__init__.py b/CHAP/__init__.py
index d699087..131415a 100755
--- a/CHAP/__init__.py
+++ b/CHAP/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,19 @@
+"""The ChessAnalysisPipeline (CHAP) provides infrastructure to
+construct and run X-ray data processing / analysis workflows using a
+set of modular components. We call these components `PipelineItem`s
+(subclassed into `Reader`s, `Processor`s, and `Writer`s). A `Pipeline`
+uses a sequence of `PipelineItem`s to execute a data processing
+workflow where the data returned by one `PipelineItem` becomes input
+for the next one.
+
+Many `PipelineItem`s can be shared by data processing workflows for
+multiple different X-ray techniques, while others may be unique to
+just a single technique. The `PipelineItem`s that are shared by many
+techniques are organized in the `CHAP.common` subpackage.
+`PipelineItem`s unique to a tomography workflow, for instance, are
+organized in the `CHAP.tomo` subpackage.
+"""
+
 from CHAP.reader import Reader
 from CHAP.processor import Processor
 from CHAP.writer import Writer
diff --git a/CHAP/common/__init__.py b/CHAP/common/__init__.py
index ed619f8..027a88b 100755
--- a/CHAP/common/__init__.py
+++ b/CHAP/common/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,15 @@
+"""This subpackage of `CHAP` contains `PipelineItem`s that are or can
+be used in workflows for processing data from multiple different X-ray
+techniques.
+
+In addition, `CHAP.common` contains two subpackages of its own:
+[`CHAP.common.models`](CHAP.common.models.md) contains tools for
+validating input data in some `Processor`s.
+[`CHAP.common.utils`](CHAP.common.utils.md) contains a
+broad selection of utilities to assist in some common tasks that
+appear in specific `Processor` implementations.
+"""
+
 from CHAP.common.reader import (
     BinaryFileReader,
     NexusReader,
diff --git a/CHAP/common/models/__init__.py b/CHAP/common/models/__init__.py
index e69de29..d390727 100755
--- a/CHAP/common/models/__init__.py
+++ b/CHAP/common/models/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+"""This subpackage contains a collection of
+[pydantic](https://docs.pydantic.dev/latest/) models that are used by
+`Processors` in [`CHAP.common`](CHAP.common.md) and elsewhere to
+validate inputs.
+"""
diff --git a/CHAP/common/utils/__init__.py b/CHAP/common/utils/__init__.py
index e69de29..a062b51 100755
--- a/CHAP/common/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/CHAP/common/utils/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+"""This subpackage contains generic utilities for fitting, parsing
+CHESS scan data, collecting interactive user input, and finding
+lattice properties of materials (among others).
+"""
diff --git a/CHAP/edd/__init__.py b/CHAP/edd/__init__.py
index bfb4a57..ab93b00 100755
--- a/CHAP/edd/__init__.py
+++ b/CHAP/edd/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+"""This subpackage contains `PipelineItems` unique to EDD data
+processing workflows.
+"""
 # from CHAP.edd.reader import
 from CHAP.edd.processor import (DiffractionVolumeLengthProcessor,
                                 MCACeriaCalibrationProcessor,
diff --git a/CHAP/inference/__init__.py b/CHAP/inference/__init__.py
index 4e119f6..c46d3e2 100755
--- a/CHAP/inference/__init__.py
+++ b/CHAP/inference/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+"""This subpackage contains `PipelineItem`s used to interact with a
+[TFaaS inference server](https://github.com/vkuznet/TFaaS/).
+"""
+
 # from CHAP.inference.reader import
 from CHAP.inference.processor import TFaaSImageProcessor
 # from CHAP.inference.writer import
diff --git a/CHAP/processor.py b/CHAP/processor.py
index 54d6494..77cba04 100755
--- a/CHAP/processor.py
+++ b/CHAP/processor.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 File       : processor.py
 Author     : Valentin Kuznetsov <vkuznet AT gmail dot com>
 Description: Processor module
+
+Define a generic `Processor` object.
 """
 
 # system modules
@@ -18,11 +20,16 @@
 from CHAP.pipeline import PipelineItem
 
 class Processor(PipelineItem):
-    """Processor represent generic processor"""
+    """Generic data processor.
+
+    The job of any `Processor` in a `Pipeline` is to receive data
+    returned by the previous `PipelineItem`, process it in some way,
+    and return the result for the next `PipelineItem` to use as input.
+    """
 
     def process(self, data):
-        """Private method to carry out the mechanics of the specific
-        Processor.
+        """Extract the contents of the input data, add a string to it,
+        and return the amended value.
 
         :param data: input data
         :return: processed data
@@ -33,7 +40,7 @@ def process(self, data):
                 data = data[0]['data']
         if data is None:
             return []
-        # process operation is a simple print function
+        # process operation is a simple string concatenation
         data += "process part\n"
         # and we return data back to pipeline
         return data
diff --git a/CHAP/reader.py b/CHAP/reader.py
index 4120feb..ce9c196 100755
--- a/CHAP/reader.py
+++ b/CHAP/reader.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 File       : reader.py
 Author     : Valentin Kuznetsov <vkuznet AT gmail dot com>
 Description: generic Reader module
+
+Define a generic `Reader` object.
 """
 
 # system modules
@@ -17,13 +19,22 @@
 
 
 class Reader(PipelineItem):
-    """Reader represent generic file writer"""
+    """Generic file reader.
+
+    The job of any `Reader` in a `Pipeline` is to provide data stored
+    in a file to the next `PipelineItem`. Note that a `Reader` used on
+    its own disrupts the flow of data in a `Pipeline` -- it does not
+    receive or pass along any data returned by the previous
+    `PipelineItem`.
+    """
 
     def read(self, filename):
-        """Read and return the data from requested from `filename`
+        """Read and return the contents of `filename` as text
 
         :param filename: Name of file to read from
-        :return: specific number of bytes from a file
+        :type filename: str
+        :return: entire contents of the file
+        :rtype: str
         """
 
         if not filename:
diff --git a/CHAP/saxswaxs/__init__.py b/CHAP/saxswaxs/__init__.py
index 471c2e2..bb647b2 100755
--- a/CHAP/saxswaxs/__init__.py
+++ b/CHAP/saxswaxs/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+"""This subpackage contains `PipelineItems` unique to SAXS/WAXS data
+processing workflows.
+"""
 # from CHAP.saxswaxs.reader import
 # from CHAP.saxswaxs.processor import
 # from CHAP.saxswaxs.writer import
diff --git a/CHAP/sin2psi/__init__.py b/CHAP/sin2psi/__init__.py
index b303d90..6d907aa 100755
--- a/CHAP/sin2psi/__init__.py
+++ b/CHAP/sin2psi/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+"""This subpackage contains `PipelineItems` unique to $\sin^2(\psi)$
+data processing workflows.
+"""
+
 # from CHAP.sin2psi.reader import
 # from CHAP.sin2psi.processor import
 # from CHAP.sin2psi.writer import
diff --git a/CHAP/tomo/__init__.py b/CHAP/tomo/__init__.py
index 0f1687c..37f1334 100755
--- a/CHAP/tomo/__init__.py
+++ b/CHAP/tomo/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+"""This subpackage contains `PipelineItems` unique to tomography data
+processing workflows.
+"""
+
 from CHAP.common import MapProcessor
 from CHAP.tomo.processor import (
     TomoDataProcessor,
diff --git a/CHAP/writer.py b/CHAP/writer.py
index bf6f829..aa8eed4 100755
--- a/CHAP/writer.py
+++ b/CHAP/writer.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 File       : writer.py
 Author     : Valentin Kuznetsov <vkuznet AT gmail dot com>
 Description: generic Writer module
+
+Define a generic `Writer` object.
 """
 
 # system modules
@@ -17,9 +19,25 @@
 
 
 class Writer(PipelineItem):
-    """Writer represent generic file writer"""
+    """Generic file writer
+
+    The job of any `Writer` in a `Pipeline` is to receive input
+    returned by a previous `PipelineItem`, write its data to a
+    particular file format, then return the same data unaltered so it
+    can be used by a successive `PipelineItem`.
+    """
 
     def write(self, data, filename):
+        """Write the input data as text to a file.
+
+        :param data: input data
+        :type data: list[PipelineData]
+        :param filename: Name of file to write to
+        :type filename: str
+        :return: contents of the input data
+        :rtype: object
+        """
+
         data = self.unwrap_pipelinedata(data)
         with open(filename, 'a') as file:
             file.write(data)
diff --git a/docs/Makefile b/docs/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d0c3cbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Minimal makefile for Sphinx documentation
+#
+
+# You can set these variables from the command line, and also
+# from the environment for the first two.
+SPHINXOPTS    ?=
+SPHINXBUILD   ?= sphinx-build
+SOURCEDIR     = source
+BUILDDIR      = build
+
+# Put it first so that "make" without argument is like "make help".
+help:
+	@$(SPHINXBUILD) -M help "$(SOURCEDIR)" "$(BUILDDIR)" $(SPHINXOPTS) $(O)
+
+.PHONY: help Makefile
+
+# Catch-all target: route all unknown targets to Sphinx using the new
+# "make mode" option.  $(O) is meant as a shortcut for $(SPHINXOPTS).
+%: Makefile
+	@$(SPHINXBUILD) -M $@ "$(SOURCEDIR)" "$(BUILDDIR)" $(SPHINXOPTS) $(O)
diff --git a/docs/chap_cli.md b/docs/chap_cli.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f9e4123
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/chap_cli.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# CHAP CLI
+```{eval-rst}
+.. argparse::
+   :ref: CHAP.runner.parser
+   :prog: CHAP
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..638d26f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# Configuration file for the Sphinx documentation builder.
+#
+# For the full list of built-in configuration values, see the documentation:
+# https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html
+
+# -- Project information -----------------------------------------------------
+# https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html#project-information
+
+project = 'ChessAnalysisPipeline'
+copyright = '2023 CHESSComputing'
+author = 'V. Kuznetsov, K. Soloway, R. Verberg'
+release = 'PACKAGE_VERSION'
+
+# -- General configuration ---------------------------------------------------
+# https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html#general-configuration
+
+extensions = [
+    'myst_parser',
+    'autodoc2',
+    'sphinxarg.ext'
+]
+autodoc2_packages = [
+    '../CHAP',
+    '../MLaaS'
+]
+autodoc2_render_plugin = 'myst'
+myst_enable_extensions = ['fieldlist']
+
+templates_path = ['_templates']
+exclude_patterns = []
+
+
+
+# -- Options for HTML output -------------------------------------------------
+# https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html#options-for-html-output
+
+html_static_path = ['_static']
+html_show_copyright = False
+html_theme = 'classic'
+html_sidebars = {
+    '**': ['globaltoc.html',
+           'localtoc.html',
+           'relations.html',
+           'searchbox.html']
+}
diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e83f8b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# ChessAnalysisPipeline (CHAP)
+
+```{toctree}
+:maxdepth: 2
+:caption: Contents
+chap_cli.md
+apidocs/index.rst
+Galaxy.md
+ShedTool.md
+```
diff --git a/docs/make.bat b/docs/make.bat
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..747ffb7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/make.bat
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+@ECHO OFF
+
+pushd %~dp0
+
+REM Command file for Sphinx documentation
+
+if "%SPHINXBUILD%" == "" (
+	set SPHINXBUILD=sphinx-build
+)
+set SOURCEDIR=source
+set BUILDDIR=build
+
+%SPHINXBUILD% >NUL 2>NUL
+if errorlevel 9009 (
+	echo.
+	echo.The 'sphinx-build' command was not found. Make sure you have Sphinx
+	echo.installed, then set the SPHINXBUILD environment variable to point
+	echo.to the full path of the 'sphinx-build' executable. Alternatively you
+	echo.may add the Sphinx directory to PATH.
+	echo.
+	echo.If you don't have Sphinx installed, grab it from
+	echo.https://www.sphinx-doc.org/
+	exit /b 1
+)
+
+if "%1" == "" goto help
+
+%SPHINXBUILD% -M %1 %SOURCEDIR% %BUILDDIR% %SPHINXOPTS% %O%
+goto end
+
+:help
+%SPHINXBUILD% -M help %SOURCEDIR% %BUILDDIR% %SPHINXOPTS% %O%
+
+:end
+popd
diff --git a/docs/requirements.txt b/docs/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..387bcd5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+sphinx
+myst-parser
+sphinx-autodoc2
+sphinx-argparse