make doc references links

Author: rsgalloway

README.md

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ Later layers override earlier ones. Use envstack -t VAR to trace where a value
 comes from. envstack focuses on **configuration and activation**, not dependency
 resolution.
 
-For the core concepts, see `docs/index.md`.
+For the core concepts, see [docs/index.md](docs/index.md).
 
 ## Installation
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ pip install -U envstack
 
 ## Quickstart
 
-Start by getting the latest `default.env` example file:
+Start by getting the latest [default.env](examples/default/default.env) example file:
 
 ```bash
 curl -o \
@@ -130,13 +130,13 @@ committed, or distributed.
 Encryption protects values **at rest** and integrates with environment stacks and
 includes. envstack does not attempt to be a full secret management system.
 
-See `docs/secrets.md` for details.
+See [docs/secrets.md](docs/secrets.md) for details.
 
 ## Documentation
 
-- Design & philosophy → `docs/design.md`
-- Examples & patterns → `docs/examples.md`
-- Tool comparisons → `docs/comparison.md`
-- Secrets and encryption → `docs/secrets.md`
-- FAQ & gotchas → `docs/faq.md`
-- API docs → `docs/api.md`
+- [Design & philosophy](docs/design.md)
+- [Examples & patterns](docs/examples.md)
+- [Tool comparisons](docs/comparison.md)
+- [Secrets and encryption](docs/secrets.md)
+- [FAQ & gotchas](docs/faq.md)
+- [API docs](docs/api.md)

docs/examples.md

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ flowchart LR
 ```
 
 Typical characteristics:
-- A base environment defines common paths and defaults
+- A default base environment defines common paths and defaults
 - Environment tiers override a small number of variables
 - The active environment is explicit