docs(README): Clarify Cedar's purpose and value proposition (#486)

Co-authored-by: copilot-swe-agent[bot] <[email protected]>
Co-authored-by: Tobbe <[email protected]>
Co-authored-by: Tobbe Lundberg <[email protected]>
Co-authored-by: Lars Væhrens <[email protected]>

Author: 3 people

README.md

@@ -13,19 +13,78 @@
 
 ## About
 
-CedarJS is a fork of the [RedwoodJS](https://redwoodjs.com/) framework with the
-goal of taking it into the modern web development era with a smooth transition
-path for existing RedwoodJS applications.
-
-CedarJS is a reliable, modern, and actively maintained full-stack React
-framework used in production by both large and small companies.
+CedarJS is an opinionated, full-stack React framework that makes building web
+applications fast and enjoyable. It includes everything you need: React for the
+frontend, GraphQL for the API, Prisma for the database, and built-in support
+for authentication, testing, and deployment.
+
+CedarJS is a fork of the
+[RedwoodJS GraphQL](https://github.com/redwoodjs/graphql) framework that is
+actively maintained and used in production by companies of all sizes. With
+active development focused on modern web standards and developer experience,
+Cedar is evolving with new features and improvements that aren't available in
+RedwoodJS.
 
 CedarJS would obviously not be where it is today without the vision and heroic
 efforts of the RedwoodJS founders, maintainers and community.
 
 > cedar has become a powerful symbol of strength and revitalization\
 > _— https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/cedar/_
 
+## Why Cedar?
+
+### For RedwoodGraphQL (formerly RedwoodJS) Users
+
+If you're currently using RedwoodGraphQL, here's why you might want to consider
+Cedar:
+
+- Cedar is actively maintained by developers who use it in production daily. New
+  features, bug fixes, and security updates are consistently delivered.
+- Cedar includes improvements and features that aren't available in RedwoodJS,
+  like
+  [Recurring Jobs](https://cedarjs.com/docs/background-jobs/#recurring-jobs) and
+  [experimental ESM support](https://github.com/cedarjs/cedar/tree/f824d9dbd87965fa96c9b7a06f62a14dc7f5b0a1/packages/create-cedar-app/templates/esm-ts).
+- Moving toward ESM-only packages and modern JavaScript standards to
+  future-proof your applications.
+- Cedar maintains backward compatibility with RedwoodJS
+  v8.6, making migration straightforward with a clear upgrade path.
+
+### For Everyone Else
+
+Whether you're building a startup MVP, a departmental tool, or a full production
+application, here's what you get with Cedar:
+
+- Fast Setup. Get from zero to deployed application with a database in minutes,
+  not days.
+- An extensive CLI with generator and setup commands for most things you want to
+  do. A dedicated CLI is faster and cheaper than asking AI to do it for you, and
+  100% predictable.
+- Team empowerment. Keep your entire stack in TypeScript/JavaScript. No context
+  switching between languages or separate teams for frontend and backend.
+  Everyone is empowered to contribute across the entire application.
+- Architectural decisions made for you, so you don't get stuck in analysis
+  paralysis or get decision fatigue. But it doesn't lock you in. You have full
+  control over your code, your auth, your database, and your deployment.
+- Ready made integrations for hosting on Vercel, Netlify, AWS, Render, or your
+  own servers. Switch providers easily without major rewrites.
+- A production ready framework. Used by companies in production with a mature
+  ecosystem and comprehensive documentation.
+- You start with a working app that includes routing, database setup, and
+  testing – all configured and ready to go. And if there's more you need, like
+  authorization, there's most likely a setup command or a generator for it.
+
+### Who Is Cedar For?
+
+Cedar is ideal for:
+
+**Startups** that need to move fast and iterate quickly. **Solo developers** who
+want to build full-stack apps without managing complex tooling. **Development
+teams** that value standardization and clear conventions. **Companies**
+transitioning from RedwoodJS or looking for an actively maintained full-stack
+framework with a dedicated API layer. Or just about **anyone** who wants to
+focus on building features rather than configuring build tools and
+infrastructure
+
 ## Migrating from RedwoodJS to CedarJS
 
 1. Search and replace all instances of `"@redwoodjs/(.*)": "\d+\.\d+\.\d+"`