diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e83e0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+## Summary
+What does this PR do?
+
+## Type
+- [ ] Feature
+- [ ] Fix
+- [ ] Docs
+- [ ] CI
+
+## Testing
+- [ ] Tested locally
+- [ ] Tests added
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
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index 0000000..7665965
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+name: ShieldCommit CI
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+  push:
+    branches: [main]
+
+jobs:
+  test:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Set up Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.10"
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: |
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+          pip install -e .
+          pip install -r requirements.txt || true
+
+      - name: Verify CLI loads
+        run: |
+          shieldcommit --help
+
+      - name: Run tests (if available)
+        run: |
+          if [ -d tests ]; then
+            pip install pytest
+            pytest
+          else
+            echo "No tests directory, skipping tests"
+          fi
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0f6ea7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Contributing to ShieldCommit
+
+## Branch Rules
+- main → stable only
+- feature/* → new features
+- fix/* → bug fixes
+- docs/* → documentation
+
+## Workflow
+1. Fork repo
+2. Create branch from main
+3. Open PR to main
+4. CI must pass
+
+## Run locally
+pip install -e .
+pytest