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+# Contributing to stoke
+
+Read the role instructions in [`.ceremony/`](.ceremony/) first. This file
+contains only facts specific to the stoke repository.
+
+## Review panel
+
+| Identity |
+| --- |
+| `codex-bot-andresmgsl` |
+| `glm-bot-andresmgsl` |
+| `claude-bot-andresmgsl` |
+| `kimi-bot-andresmgsl` |
+
+The `panel=` line in [`.github/labels.conf`](.github/labels.conf) is
+authoritative; this table is its human-readable restatement.
+
+## The `scope:*` set
+
+| Scope | Covers |
+| --- | --- |
+| `scope:cli` | `src/` — the command surface (`cli.js`, `api.js`, and `config.js`) |
+| `scope:packaging` | `scripts/` and the release workflow — Debian package builds, registry publishing, and the APT install path |
+| `scope:manifests` | `manifests/` — fleet repository registry data |
+| `scope:ci` | `.forgejo/workflows/` — test and label gates |
+| `scope:docs` | `README.md` and `docs/` — the prose contract |
+
+These names and path descriptions restate the scope rows in
+[`.github/labels.conf`](.github/labels.conf).
+
+## Drills
+
+Stoke currently practises no drill. The repository has no `drills/` directory;
+releases use stoke's own tag-driven
+[`.forgejo/workflows/release.yml`](.forgejo/workflows/release.yml), not the
+ceremony release flow; and the maintainer-created `blocker:drill-pending` label
+(label 252) carries no open item.
+
+If the open ruling in #27 adopts ceremony's release workflow, that work must
+update this section. This description of the current route takes no position on
+the ruling's alternatives.
+
+## Code conventions
+
+- The package uses CommonJS: `package.json` declares `"type": "commonjs"`, and
+  files under `src/` use `require()` and `module.exports` rather than ESM.
+- Tests use Node's built-in `node:test` module, live in `test/*.test.js`, and run
+  through `node --test`; there is no separate test framework dependency.
+- `package.json` requires Node.js 22.12.0 or newer.
+- Shell programs under `scripts/` use the `#!/usr/bin/env bash` shebang.
+
+## Work issue ownership
+
+Only triage mints work issues; anyone may file a proposal, which triage converts
+or refuses.