diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index a021497..e763f61 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -38,3 +38,4 @@ Instructions for Claude Code when working on this project.
   - On-demand URL preview loading with caching
 
 See `docs/dev-plan.md` for complete roadmap and technical details.
+- when updating documentation, do not record intermediate changes - write them always as a matter-of-fact information
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/dev-plan.md b/docs/dev-plan.md
index 72a9f24..5db989b 100644
--- a/docs/dev-plan.md
+++ b/docs/dev-plan.md
@@ -303,18 +303,6 @@ Astrolabe is a focused tool for managing, editing, and previewing Vega-Lite visu
 ### **Phase 12: Advanced Dataset Features** ✅ **COMPLETE**
 **Goal**: Enhanced dataset workflows
 
-- [x] Detect inline data in Vega-Lite specs
-- [x] "Extract to dataset" feature for inline data
-- [x] Update snippet UI to show linked datasets
-- [x] Dataset usage tracking (which snippets reference which datasets)
-- [x] Bidirectional linking between snippets and datasets
-- [x] Usage count badges on dataset list items
-- [x] "New Snippet" button to create snippet from dataset
-- [x] Import datasets from file upload
-- [x] Export individual datasets
-- [x] Dataset preview with table view
-- [x] Column type detection and display
-
 **Deliverables**:
 - Recursive dataset reference extraction from Vega-Lite specs
 - Extract to Dataset modal with automatic spec transformation
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index cb28fe3..cd53863 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -321,6 +321,42 @@
         </div>
     </div>
 
+    <!-- Help Modal -->
+    <div id="help-modal" class="modal" style="display: none;">
+        <div class="modal-content" style="max-width: 600px; height: auto;">
+            <div class="modal-header">
+                <span class="modal-title">Help</span>
+                <button class="btn btn-icon" id="help-modal-close">×</button>
+            </div>
+            <div class="modal-body">
+                <div style="padding: 20px;">
+                    <h3 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">Keyboard Shortcuts</h3>
+
+                    <table class="help-shortcuts-table">
+                        <tbody>
+                            <tr>
+                                <td class="shortcut-key">Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+N</td>
+                                <td class="shortcut-desc">Create new snippet</td>
+                            </tr>
+                            <tr>
+                                <td class="shortcut-key">Cmd/Ctrl+K</td>
+                                <td class="shortcut-desc">Toggle dataset manager</td>
+                            </tr>
+                            <tr>
+                                <td class="shortcut-key">Cmd/Ctrl+S</td>
+                                <td class="shortcut-desc">Publish draft (save)</td>
+                            </tr>
+                            <tr>
+                                <td class="shortcut-key">Escape</td>
+                                <td class="shortcut-desc">Close any open modal</td>
+                            </tr>
+                        </tbody>
+                    </table>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
     <script src="src/js/config.js"></script>
     <script src="src/js/snippet-manager.js"></script>
     <script src="src/js/dataset-manager.js"></script>
diff --git a/src/js/app.js b/src/js/app.js
index db0b5ba..e68f2f8 100644
--- a/src/js/app.js
+++ b/src/js/app.js
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
     // Initialize resize functionality
     initializeResize();
 
+    // Initialize keyboard shortcuts
+    initializeKeyboardShortcuts();
+
     // Initialize Monaco Editor
     require.config({ paths: { vs: 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/monaco-editor/0.47.0/min/vs' } });
     require(['vs/editor/editor.main'], async function () {
@@ -70,6 +73,9 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
             formatOnType: true
         });
 
+        // Register custom keyboard shortcuts in Monaco
+        registerMonacoKeyboardShortcuts();
+
         // Add debounced auto-render on editor change
         editor.onDidChangeModelContent(() => {
             debouncedRender();
@@ -118,7 +124,7 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
 
     if (helpLink) {
         helpLink.addEventListener('click', function () {
-            alert('Coming soon in a future phase!');
+            openHelpModal();
         });
     }
 
@@ -229,6 +235,23 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
         });
     }
 
+    // Help Modal
+    const helpModal = document.getElementById('help-modal');
+    const helpModalClose = document.getElementById('help-modal-close');
+
+    if (helpModalClose) {
+        helpModalClose.addEventListener('click', closeHelpModal);
+    }
+
+    // Close on overlay click
+    if (helpModal) {
+        helpModal.addEventListener('click', function (e) {
+            if (e.target === helpModal) {
+                closeHelpModal();
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
     // View mode toggle buttons
     document.getElementById('view-draft').addEventListener('click', () => {
         switchViewMode('draft');
@@ -315,3 +338,113 @@ function initializeURLStateManagement() {
         handleURLStateChange();
     }
 }
+
+// Keyboard shortcut action handlers (shared between Monaco and document)
+const KeyboardActions = {
+    createNewSnippet: function() {
+        createNewSnippet();
+    },
+
+    toggleDatasetManager: function() {
+        const modal = document.getElementById('dataset-modal');
+        if (modal && modal.style.display === 'flex') {
+            closeDatasetManager();
+        } else {
+            openDatasetManager();
+        }
+    },
+
+    publishDraft: function() {
+        if (currentViewMode === 'draft' && window.currentSnippetId) {
+            publishDraft();
+        }
+    },
+
+    closeAnyModal: function() {
+        const helpModal = document.getElementById('help-modal');
+        const datasetModal = document.getElementById('dataset-modal');
+        const extractModal = document.getElementById('extract-modal');
+
+        if (helpModal && helpModal.style.display === 'flex') {
+            closeHelpModal();
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (datasetModal && datasetModal.style.display === 'flex') {
+            closeDatasetManager();
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (extractModal && extractModal.style.display === 'flex') {
+            hideExtractModal();
+            return true;
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+};
+
+// Keyboard shortcuts handler (document-level)
+function initializeKeyboardShortcuts() {
+    document.addEventListener('keydown', function(e) {
+        // Escape: Close any open modal
+        if (e.key === 'Escape') {
+            if (KeyboardActions.closeAnyModal()) {
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Detect modifier key: Cmd on Mac, Ctrl on Windows/Linux
+        const modifierKey = e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey;
+
+        // Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+N: Create new snippet
+        if (modifierKey && e.shiftKey && e.key.toLowerCase() === 'n') {
+            e.preventDefault();
+            KeyboardActions.createNewSnippet();
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // Cmd/Ctrl+K: Toggle dataset manager
+        if (modifierKey && e.key.toLowerCase() === 'k') {
+            e.preventDefault();
+            KeyboardActions.toggleDatasetManager();
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // Cmd/Ctrl+S: Publish draft
+        if (modifierKey && e.key.toLowerCase() === 's') {
+            e.preventDefault();
+            KeyboardActions.publishDraft();
+            return;
+        }
+    });
+}
+
+// Register keyboard shortcuts in Monaco Editor
+function registerMonacoKeyboardShortcuts() {
+    if (!editor) return;
+
+    // Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+N: Create new snippet
+    editor.addCommand(monaco.KeyMod.CtrlCmd | monaco.KeyMod.Shift | monaco.KeyCode.KeyN,
+        KeyboardActions.createNewSnippet);
+
+    // Cmd/Ctrl+K: Toggle dataset manager
+    editor.addCommand(monaco.KeyMod.CtrlCmd | monaco.KeyCode.KeyK,
+        KeyboardActions.toggleDatasetManager);
+
+    // Cmd/Ctrl+S: Publish draft
+    editor.addCommand(monaco.KeyMod.CtrlCmd | monaco.KeyCode.KeyS,
+        KeyboardActions.publishDraft);
+}
+
+// Help modal functions
+function openHelpModal() {
+    const modal = document.getElementById('help-modal');
+    if (modal) {
+        modal.style.display = 'flex';
+    }
+}
+
+function closeHelpModal() {
+    const modal = document.getElementById('help-modal');
+    if (modal) {
+        modal.style.display = 'none';
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/styles.css b/src/styles.css
index 665777f..a89292f 100644
--- a/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/styles.css
@@ -298,3 +298,11 @@ body { font-family: var(--font-main); height: 100vh; overflow: hidden; backgroun
 .detection-preview-label { font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 4px; }
 .dataset-form-error { color: #f00; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 12px; min-height: 16px; }
 .dataset-form-actions { display: flex; gap: 8px; margin-top: 16px; }
+
+/* Help Modal */
+.help-shortcuts-table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }
+.help-shortcuts-table tbody tr { border-bottom: 1px solid var(--bg-lighter); }
+.help-shortcuts-table tbody tr:last-child { border-bottom: none; }
+.help-shortcuts-table td { padding: 12px 8px; font-size: 12px; }
+.shortcut-key { font-family: var(--font-mono); font-weight: bold; background: var(--bg-light); border: 1px solid var(--win-gray-dark); padding: 6px 10px; border-radius: 2px; white-space: nowrap; width: 180px; }
+.shortcut-desc { color: var(--win-gray-darker); }