diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 67b48a2..3e9df62 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -21,9 +21,6 @@ services: {}
 jobs: {}
 EOF
 
-# Sync all projects (git submodules + dependencies)
-castle sync
-
 # See what's here
 castle list
 
@@ -64,7 +61,6 @@ castle test [NAME]                    Run tests (one or all)
 castle lint [NAME]                    Run linter (one or all)
 castle deploy [NAME]                  Deploy to ~/.castle/ (spec -> runtime)
 castle run NAME                       Run a service in the foreground
-castle sync                           Sync submodules + install deps
 castle logs NAME [-f] [-n 50]         View service/job logs
 castle gateway start|stop|reload      Manage Caddy reverse proxy
 castle service enable|disable NAME    Manage a systemd service
diff --git a/cli/src/castle_cli/commands/sync.py b/cli/src/castle_cli/commands/sync.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 1ba70bb..0000000
--- a/cli/src/castle_cli/commands/sync.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,104 +0,0 @@
-"""castle sync - sync submodules and install dependencies."""
-
-from __future__ import annotations
-
-import argparse
-import shutil
-import subprocess
-from pathlib import Path
-
-from castle_cli.config import ensure_dirs, load_config
-
-
-def run_sync(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
-    """Sync submodules and install dependencies in all projects."""
-    config = load_config()
-    ensure_dirs()
-
-    # Update git submodules
-    print("Updating git submodules...")
-    result = subprocess.run(
-        ["git", "submodule", "update", "--init", "--recursive"],
-        cwd=config.root,
-    )
-    if result.returncode != 0:
-        print("Warning: git submodule update failed (may not be a git repo)")
-
-    # Sync dependencies in each component's source directory
-    all_ok = True
-    synced_dirs: set[Path] = set()
-
-    for name, comp in config.programs.items():
-        source_dir = comp.source_dir
-        if not source_dir:
-            continue
-        project_dir = config.root / source_dir
-
-        if project_dir in synced_dirs or not project_dir.is_dir():
-            continue
-
-        # Determine sync command based on project type
-        cmd = None
-        if (project_dir / "pyproject.toml").exists():
-            cmd = ["uv", "sync"]
-        elif (project_dir / "package.json").exists():
-            pm = "pnpm" if (project_dir / "pnpm-lock.yaml").exists() else "npm"
-            cmd = [pm, "install"]
-
-        if cmd is None:
-            continue
-
-        label = cmd[0]
-        print(f"\nSyncing {name} ({label})...")
-        result = subprocess.run(cmd, cwd=project_dir)
-        if result.returncode != 0:
-            print(f"  Warning: sync failed for {name}")
-            all_ok = False
-        else:
-            print("  OK")
-        synced_dirs.add(project_dir)
-
-    # Install python-runner services as uv tools
-    uv_path = shutil.which("uv") or "uv"
-    installed_dirs: set[Path] = set()
-
-    for name, svc in config.services.items():
-        if svc.run.runner != "python":
-            continue
-        # Find source from component reference
-        source = None
-        if svc.component and svc.component in config.programs:
-            source = config.programs[svc.component].source_dir
-        if not source:
-            continue
-        source_dir = config.root / source
-        if source_dir in installed_dirs:
-            continue
-        if (source_dir / "pyproject.toml").exists():
-            print(f"\nInstalling {name}...")
-            prog = config.programs.get(svc.component or "") if svc.component else None
-            extras = prog.install_extras if prog else []
-            pkg_spec = str(source_dir)
-            if extras:
-                pkg_spec += "[" + ",".join(extras) + "]"
-            result = subprocess.run(
-                [uv_path, "tool", "install", "--editable", pkg_spec, "--force"],
-                capture_output=True,
-                text=True,
-            )
-            if result.returncode != 0:
-                if "already installed" in result.stderr.lower():
-                    print(f"  {name}: already installed")
-                else:
-                    print(f"  Warning: {result.stderr.strip()}")
-                    all_ok = False
-            else:
-                print(f"  {name}: OK")
-            installed_dirs.add(source_dir)
-
-    if all_ok:
-        print("\nAll projects synced.")
-    else:
-        print("\nSync completed with warnings.")
-
-    return 0
diff --git a/cli/src/castle_cli/main.py b/cli/src/castle_cli/main.py
index 9bd8545..d77d766 100644
--- a/cli/src/castle_cli/main.py
+++ b/cli/src/castle_cli/main.py
@@ -59,9 +59,6 @@ def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     build_parser = subparsers.add_parser("build", help="Build projects")
     build_parser.add_argument("project", nargs="?", help="Project to build (default: all)")
 
-    # castle sync
-    subparsers.add_parser("sync", help="Sync submodules and install dependencies")
-
     # castle gateway
     gateway_parser = subparsers.add_parser("gateway", help="Manage the Caddy gateway")
     gateway_sub = gateway_parser.add_subparsers(dest="gateway_command")
@@ -163,11 +160,6 @@ def main() -> int:
 
         return run_build(args)
 
-    elif args.command == "sync":
-        from castle_cli.commands.sync import run_sync
-
-        return run_sync(args)
-
     elif args.command == "gateway":
         from castle_cli.commands.gateway import run_gateway