diff --git a/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md b/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c4f1e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# Code of Conduct
+
+## Our Pledge
+
+We as members, contributors, and leaders pledge to make participation in our
+community a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of age, body
+size, visible or invisible disability, ethnicity, sex characteristics, gender
+identity and expression, level of experience, education, socio-economic status,
+nationality, personal appearance, race, caste, religion, or sexual identity
+and orientation.
+
+We pledge to act and interact in ways that contribute to an open, welcoming,
+diverse, inclusive, and healthy community.
+
+## Our Standards
+
+Examples of behavior that contributes to a positive environment for our
+community include:
+
+* Demonstrating empathy and kindness toward other people
+* Being respectful of differing opinions, viewpoints, and experiences
+* Giving and gracefully accepting constructive feedback
+* Accepting responsibility and apologizing to those affected by our mistakes,
+  and learning from the experience
+* Focusing on what is best not just for us as individuals, but for the
+  overall community
+
+## Enforcement
+
+Instances of abusive, harassing, or otherwise unacceptable behavior may be
+reported to the project maintainers. All complaints will be reviewed and
+investigated promptly and fairly.
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3ac3d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+# Contributing to Git Pulsar
+
+First off, thanks for taking the time to contribute! 🎉
+
+## How to Contribute
+
+### Reporting Bugs
+1. Check if the issue has already been reported.
+2. Open a new issue with a clear title and description.
+3. Include relevant logs (`git-pulsar log`) or reproduction steps.
+
+### Development Setup
+
+This project uses [uv](https://github.com/astral-sh/uv) for dependency management and Python 3.12+.
+
+1. **Fork & Clone**
+   Fork the repo and clone it locally:
+   ```bash
+   git clone https://github.com/jacksonfergusondev/git-pulsar.git
+   cd git-pulsar
+   ```
+
+2. **Environment Setup**
+   We use `uv` to manage the virtual environment and dependencies.
+   ```bash
+   # Creates .venv and installs dependencies (including dev groups)
+   uv sync
+   ```
+
+   *Optional: If you use `direnv`, allow the automatically generated configuration:*
+   ```bash
+   direnv allow
+   ```
+
+3. **Install Hooks**
+   Set up pre-commit hooks to handle linting (Ruff) and type checking (Mypy) automatically.
+   ```bash
+   pre-commit install
+   ```
+
+### Running Tests
+
+We use `pytest` for the test suite.
+
+```bash
+uv run pytest
+```
+
+### Pull Requests
+
+1. **Create a Branch**
+   ```bash
+   git checkout -b feature/my-amazing-feature
+   ```
+
+2. **Make Changes**
+   Write code and add tests for your changes.
+
+3. **Verify**
+   Ensure your code passes the linter and tests locally.
+   ```bash
+   uv run pytest
+   ```
+   (Pre-commit will also run `ruff` and `mypy` when you commit).
+
+4. **Commit & Push**
+   Please use clear commit messages.
+   ```bash
+   git commit -m "feat: add support for solar flares"
+   git push origin feature/my-amazing-feature
+   ```
+
+5. **Open a Pull Request**
+   Submit your PR against the `main` branch.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1c6da0c..21ad9a5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -25,6 +25,24 @@ It ensures that even if your laptop dies (or you forget to push before leaving t
 
 ---
 
+## 🧬 Environment Bootstrap (macOS)
+
+Pulsar includes a one-click scaffolding tool to set up a modern, robust Python environment.
+
+```bash
+git-pulsar --env
+```
+
+This bootstraps the current directory with:
+
+- **uv:** Initializes a project with fast package management and Python 3.12+ pinning.
+
+- **direnv:** Creates an .envrc for auto-activating virtual environments and hooking into the shell.
+
+- **VS Code:** Generates a .vscode/settings.json pre-configured to exclude build artifacts and use the local venv.
+
+---
+
 ## 📦 Installation
 
 ### macOS (Recommended)
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 2254bc7..eac6b17 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ tag_name = "v{new_version}"
 tag_message = "Bump version: {current_version} → {new_version}"
 allow_dirty = false
 commit = true
-message = "Bump version: {current_version} → {new_version}"
+message = "chore: bump version {current_version} → {new_version}"
 commit_args = ""
 
 [[tool.bumpversion.files]]