diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 46610c0..e40907d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Patternizer
 
-![Version: 2.0.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/Version-2.0.0-informational?style=flat-square)
+![Version: 2.1.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/Version-2.1.0-informational?style=flat-square)
 [![Quay Repository](https://img.shields.io/badge/Quay.io-patternizer-blue?logo=quay)](https://quay.io/repository/validatedpatterns/patternizer)
 [![CI Pipeline](https://github.com/validatedpatterns/patternizer/actions/workflows/build-push.yaml/badge.svg?branch=main)](https://github.com/validatedpatterns/patternizer/actions/workflows/build-push.yaml)
 
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
       - [**Initialize without secrets:**](#initialize-without-secrets)
       - [**Initialize with secrets support:**](#initialize-with-secrets-support)
       - [**Upgrade an existing pattern repository:**](#upgrade-an-existing-pattern-repository)
+      - [**Shell alias (optional):**](#shell-alias-optional)
     - [Understanding Secrets Management](#understanding-secrets-management)
     - [Generated Files](#generated-files)
     - [AI Coding Skills](#ai-coding-skills)
@@ -106,6 +107,21 @@ podman run --pull=newer -v "$PWD:$PWD:z" -w "$PWD" quay.io/validatedpatterns/pat
 podman run --pull=newer -v "$PWD:$PWD:z" -w "$PWD" quay.io/validatedpatterns/patternizer upgrade --replace-makefile
 ```
 
+#### **Shell alias (optional):**
+
+You can shorten the patternizer command by adding a shell function to your shell's startup file (e.g. `~/.bashrc` or `~/.zshrc`):
+
+```bash
+pattern() {
+  podman run --pull=newer \
+    -v "$PWD:$PWD:z" \
+    -w "$PWD" \
+    quay.io/validatedpatterns/patternizer "$@"
+}
+```
+
+Then run commands as `pattern init`, `pattern upgrade`, etc.
+
 What upgrade does:
 
 - Removes the `common/` directory if it exists
diff --git a/src/cmd/init_test.go b/src/cmd/init_test.go
index 1f6d9fe..3b8b392 100644
--- a/src/cmd/init_test.go
+++ b/src/cmd/init_test.go
@@ -272,6 +272,22 @@ var _ = Describe("patternizer init", func() {
 		})
 	})
 
+	for _, alias := range []string{"create", "bootstrap"} {
+		alias := alias
+		Context("using the "+alias+" alias on an empty directory", Ordered, func() {
+			var tempDir string
+
+			BeforeAll(func() {
+				tempDir = createTestDir()
+				_ = runCLI(tempDir, alias)
+			})
+
+			It("should produce the same result as init", func() {
+				verifyScaffoldFilesCopied(tempDir)
+			})
+		})
+	}
+
 	Context("on a directory with singleArgoCD explicitly set to false", Ordered, func() {
 		var tempDir string
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/root.go b/src/cmd/root.go
index 4464d0a..bd9fc4f 100644
--- a/src/cmd/root.go
+++ b/src/cmd/root.go
@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ values-global.yaml, values-<clustergroup>.yaml, and optional secrets configurati
 	}
 
 	var initCmd = &cobra.Command{
-		Use:   "init",
-		Short: "Initialize pattern files",
+		Use:     "init",
+		Aliases: []string{"create", "bootstrap"},
+		Short:   "Initialize pattern files",
 		Long: `Initialize pattern files creates or updates the necessary YAML configuration files
 for a validated pattern, including values-global.yaml and values-<clustergroup>.yaml.
 
@@ -41,8 +42,9 @@ configures the pattern.sh script for secrets usage.`,
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(initCmd)
 
 	var upgradeCmd = &cobra.Command{
-		Use:   "upgrade",
-		Short: "Upgrade an existing pattern repository",
+		Use:     "upgrade",
+		Aliases: []string{"update"},
+		Short:   "Upgrade an existing pattern repository",
 		Long: `Upgrade an existing pattern repository by refreshing common assets.
 
 This will remove the legacy common/ directory and pattern.sh symlink if present,
diff --git a/src/cmd/upgrade_test.go b/src/cmd/upgrade_test.go
index 0005f3c..2721a3f 100644
--- a/src/cmd/upgrade_test.go
+++ b/src/cmd/upgrade_test.go
@@ -97,6 +97,24 @@ var _ = Describe("patternizer upgrade", func() {
 	})
 })
 
+var _ = Describe("patternizer update (upgrade alias)", func() {
+	Context("on a repo using common", Ordered, func() {
+		var tempDir string
+
+		BeforeAll(func() {
+			tempDir = createTestDir()
+			cloneMCGWithCommon(tempDir)
+			_ = runCLI(tempDir, "update")
+		})
+
+		It("should produce the same result as upgrade", func() {
+			verifyPattenShCopied(tempDir)
+			verifyMakefileCommonCopied(tempDir)
+			verifyAnsibleCfgCopied(tempDir)
+		})
+	})
+})
+
 var _ = Describe("patternizer upgrade --replace-makefile", func() {
 	Context("on a repo using common", Ordered, func() {
 		var tempDir string