diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f2f133c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+name: CI
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    branches: ["**"]
+  push:
+    branches: ["integration", "bootstrap", "bootstrap-cicd"]
+
+jobs:
+  checks:
+    runs-on: docker
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Build CI image
+        run: docker build -f ci.Dockerfile -t local/ci:latest .
+
+      - name: Lint
+        run: docker run --rm -v ${{ github.workspace }}:/workspace local/ci:latest bash -lc "cd /workspace && IN_CI_CONTAINER=1 scripts/ci lint"
+
+      - name: Build validation
+        run: docker run --rm -v ${{ github.workspace }}:/workspace local/ci:latest bash -lc "cd /workspace && IN_CI_CONTAINER=1 scripts/ci build"
+
diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/nightly.yml b/.gitea/workflows/nightly.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d12627
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/nightly.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+name: Nightly
+
+on:
+  schedule:
+    - cron: '0 3 * * *'
+
+jobs:
+  report:
+    runs-on: docker
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Build CI image
+        run: docker build -f ci.Dockerfile -t local/ci:latest .
+
+      - name: Lint (nightly)
+        run: docker run --rm -v ${{ github.workspace }}:/workspace local/ci:latest bash -lc "cd /workspace && IN_CI_CONTAINER=1 scripts/ci lint"
+
diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ecc296c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+name: Release
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: ["main"]
+
+jobs:
+  tag-and-notes:
+    runs-on: docker
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Build CI image
+        run: docker build -f ci.Dockerfile -t local/ci:latest .
+
+      - name: Compute tag
+        id: tag
+        run: |
+          TZ=UTC date +"v%Y.%m.%d-%H%M" > tag.txt
+          echo "tag=$(cat tag.txt)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+
+      - name: Create annotated tag
+        run: |
+          git config user.name "ci"
+          git config user.email "ci@local"
+          git tag -a ${{ steps.tag.outputs.tag }} -m "Release ${{ steps.tag.outputs.tag }}"
+          git push origin ${{ steps.tag.outputs.tag }}
+
diff --git a/.githooks/commit-msg b/.githooks/commit-msg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..69abee3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.githooks/commit-msg
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+scripts/commitlint-hook "$1"
+
diff --git a/.githooks/pre-commit b/.githooks/pre-commit
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9b3ecda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.githooks/pre-commit
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+echo "> pre-commit: format + lint + commit message check"
+
+# Run format and lint inside the CI container
+scripts/ci format
+scripts/ci lint
+
+echo "pre-commit completed."
+
diff --git a/.githooks/pre-push b/.githooks/pre-push
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..17a2682
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.githooks/pre-push
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+echo "> pre-push: build validation + placeholders for tests/security"
+
+scripts/ci build
+scripts/ci test
+scripts/ci security
+
+echo "pre-push completed."
+
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ff8b74f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+SHELL := /usr/bin/env bash
+
+.PHONY: all check quick format lint build test security ci-image hooks-setup
+
+all: check
+
+check:
+	./scripts/ci all
+
+quick:
+	./scripts/ci format && ./scripts/ci lint
+
+format:
+	./scripts/ci format
+
+lint:
+	./scripts/ci lint
+
+build:
+	./scripts/ci build
+
+test:
+	./scripts/ci test
+
+security:
+	./scripts/ci security
+
+ci-image:
+	docker build -f ci.Dockerfile -t local/ci:latest .
+
+hooks-setup:
+	./scripts/setup-hooks
+
diff --git a/ci.Dockerfile b/ci.Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e7c097
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ci.Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+FROM debian:12-slim
+
+ARG DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+    ca-certificates curl git bash coreutils findutils file python3 python3-pip \
+    && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+
+# Install shfmt, hadolint, actionlint (static), shellcheck, yamllint, node tools
+RUN set -eux; \
+    # shellcheck
+    apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends shellcheck && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*; \
+    # shfmt
+    SHFMT_VER=3.7.0; curl -fsSL -o /usr/local/bin/shfmt https://github.com/mvdan/sh/releases/download/v${SHFMT_VER}/shfmt_v${SHFMT_VER}_linux_amd64 && chmod +x /usr/local/bin/shfmt; \
+    # hadolint
+    HADOLINT_VER=2.12.0; curl -fsSL -o /usr/local/bin/hadolint https://github.com/hadolint/hadolint/releases/download/v${HADOLINT_VER}/hadolint-Linux-x86_64 && chmod +x /usr/local/bin/hadolint; 
+
+# actionlint
+RUN set -eux; \
+    AL_VER=1.7.1; \
+    curl -fsSL -o /usr/local/bin/actionlint https://github.com/rhysd/actionlint/releases/download/v${AL_VER}/actionlint_${AL_VER}_linux_amd64.tar.gz; \
+    tar -C /usr/local/bin -xzf /usr/local/bin/actionlint; \
+    rm -f /usr/local/bin/actionlint
+
+# yamllint via pip
+RUN pip3 install --no-cache-dir yamllint==1.35.1
+
+# Node + npm for prettier, markdownlint, commitlint
+RUN set -eux; \
+    curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | bash - && \
+    apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends nodejs && \
+    rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+
+RUN npm --location=global install \
+    prettier@3.3.3 \
+    markdownlint-cli@0.39.0 \
+    @commitlint/cli@19.5.0 @commitlint/config-conventional@19.5.0
+
+WORKDIR /workspace
+ENTRYPOINT ["bash","-lc"]
+CMD ["bash"]
+
diff --git a/commitlint.config.cjs b/commitlint.config.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3acb487
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commitlint.config.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+module.exports = {
+  extends: ['@commitlint/config-conventional'],
+};
+
diff --git a/docker/ci.compose.yml b/docker/ci.compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f370e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker/ci.compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+services:
+  ci:
+    build:
+      context: ..
+      dockerfile: ci.Dockerfile
+    working_dir: /workspace
+    volumes:
+      - "../:/workspace:Z"
+    environment:
+      - IN_CI_CONTAINER=1
+    entrypoint: ["bash","-lc"]
+    command: ["bash"]
+
diff --git a/proposals/bootstrap-cicd.md b/proposals/bootstrap-cicd.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c5b44b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proposals/bootstrap-cicd.md
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+**Bootstrap CI/CD Proposal (Phase 1)**
+
+- Scope: Local developer parity via Docker-first tooling and hooks, minimal CI placeholders (no runners required yet). Applies to this repo (docs/scripts/docker-compose), with an easy path to template for others.
+
+**Checks To Implement Now (Local via Docker)**
+
+- Stacks: shell, Dockerfiles/Compose, Markdown/Docs, YAML; Python/Node optional later.
+- Formatters/Linters:
+  - shell: shfmt + shellcheck
+  - docker: hadolint
+  - markdown: markdownlint + prettier
+  - yaml: yamllint + actionlint (for workflows)
+- Tests: none for now (lint-only baseline).
+- Security: skip for this repo now.
+
+**Execution Model**
+
+- Docker-only: all checks run inside a pinned `ci` image. Host only orchestrates Docker/Compose.
+- Single entrypoint: `scripts/ci` with phases: `format`, `lint`, `build` (compose validate), `test` (no-op for now), `security` (no-op), `all`.
+- Compose file: `docker/ci.compose.yml` defines `ci` service that mounts repo and executes `scripts/ci <phase>`.
+
+**Hooks Parity**
+
+- Provide Git hooks via pre-commit framework and native Git hooks:
+  - pre-commit: run `format`, `lint`, and commit message check (Conventional Commits).
+  - pre-push: run `build` (compose config validation) and keep `test`/`security` as no-ops for now.
+- Commit message style: Conventional Commits via `commitlint` rule-set; enforce in CI later and locally via `commit-msg` hook.
+
+**Minimal CI (Deferred Enablement)**
+
+- Workflows will be prepared but can stay disabled until runners are available:
+  - `.gitea/workflows/ci.yml`: mirrors local `lint` + `build` using the same `ci` image; triggered on PRs when enabled.
+  - `.gitea/workflows/release.yml`: on `main` merges, tags with `vYYYY.MM.DD-HHMM` and (optionally) creates release notes; can be enabled later.
+  - `.gitea/workflows/nightly.yml`: scheduled dependency/lint refresh; optional for later.
+- All jobs execute inside the `ci` container image; no host package installs.
+
+**Caching & Matrix**
+
+- Matrix: single Linux image for now.
+- Caching: enable Docker layer cache when CI runners are available; no special local caching required.
+
+**Concurrency & Timeouts (defaults for later)**
+
+- Cancel in-progress on same ref: enabled for PRs.
+- Job timeout: 30 minutes.
+
+**Protected Check Names (for later enforcement)**
+
+- `ci / lint`, `ci / build`, `ci / commitlint`. Tests/Security can be added when introduced.
+
+**Files To Add (upon approval)**
+
+- `scripts/ci` (bash) — phases and Docker/host detection (host executes Docker only).
+- `ci.Dockerfile` — pinned versions: shfmt, shellcheck, hadolint, yamllint, markdownlint-cli, prettier, actionlint, commitlint.
+- `docker/ci.compose.yml` — `ci` service to run checks.
+- `.pre-commit-config.yaml` — wire to `scripts/ci` phases; enable `commit-msg` hook for commitlint.
+- `commitlint.config.cjs` — Conventional Commits rules.
+- `.gitea/workflows/ci.yml`, `release.yml`, `nightly.yml` — prepared but can be disabled until runners are ready.
+- `Makefile` — `check`, `quick`, `lint`, `format`, `build` targets mapping to scripts.
+
+**Rollout Plan**
+
+1) Implement local tooling and hooks on `bootstrap-cicd`.
+2) Document quickstart in `docs/engineering/ci-cd.md`.
+3) Later: enable Gitea workflows when runners are ready; add protected checks.
+4) Optionally expand with tests/security scanners and language stacks per repo.
+
+If this matches your intent, I will scaffold the above on `bootstrap-cicd` and then capture the finalized process in `instructions/bootstrap-cicd.md`.
+
diff --git a/questions/bootstrap-cicd.md b/questions/bootstrap-cicd.md
index d2599e9..26b6fd5 100644
--- a/questions/bootstrap-cicd.md
+++ b/questions/bootstrap-cicd.md
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ Answer style: short codes + notes, e.g. `1:a,c 2:b 3:docker`.
    - f) Node/JS
    - g) Other (specify)
 
+   a,b,c,d potentially e. 
+
 2) Formatters/linters per stack:
    - shell: a) shfmt b) shellcheck c) both
    - docker: a) hadolint
@@ -20,12 +22,21 @@ Answer style: short codes + notes, e.g. `1:a,c 2:b 3:docker`.
    - yaml: a) yamllint b) actionlint (for workflows) c) both
    - python (if used): a) black b) ruff c) pytest (tests)
    - node (if used): a) eslint b) prettier c) jest (tests)
+   
+   shell: c
+   docker: a
+   markdown: c
+   yaml: c
+
+   I will leave python/node testing up to you. It isn't needed for this repo unless you create python scripts at some point.
 
 3) Testing scope now:
    - a) none (docs/scripts only)
    - b) smoke tests for scripts (bats/pytest-sh)
    - c) unit tests for scripts (specify framework)
 
+   A (other then linting)
+
 4) Security scanning:
    - a) trivy fs
    - b) grype
@@ -33,21 +44,29 @@ Answer style: short codes + notes, e.g. `1:a,c 2:b 3:docker`.
    - d) npm audit (node)
    - e) skip for this repo
 
+   e
+
 5) Execution environment for CI:
    - a) run inside repo’s `ci.Dockerfile`
    - b) run on runner host with packages
    - c) mix (specify)
 
+   All execution MUST be done in docker containers. Absolutely no work must be done on the host beyond git operations and docker orchestration.
+
 6) Matrix needs (now):
    - a) none (single Linux image)
    - b) multiple language versions (specify)
    - c) OS matrix (Linux only for now?)
 
+   Um. I don't know. I think just a simle Linux environment can be assumed? 
+
 7) Caching:
    - a) enable tool caches (pip/npm) in CI
    - b) enable Docker layer cache
    - c) none
 
+   I guess docker layer cache? It will be two weeks before I'm working on software (and therefore setup gitea CI runners etc). 
+
 8) Check names to protect on branches (final labels):
    - a) ci / lint
    - b) ci / test
@@ -55,9 +74,11 @@ Answer style: short codes + notes, e.g. `1:a,c 2:b 3:docker`.
    - d) ci / security
    - e) ci / commitlint
 
+   I don't know, leave it up to you
+
 9) Hooks parity:
-   - pre-commit: run format+lint+commitlint? (y/n)
-   - pre-push: run test+build+security (fast profile)? (y/n)
+   - pre-commit: run format+lint+commitlint? (y/n) y
+   - pre-push: run test+build+security (fast profile)? (y/n) y
 
 10) Concurrency & timeouts:
    - cancel in-progress on new commits to same PR? (y/n)
@@ -85,3 +106,5 @@ Answer style: short codes + notes, e.g. `1:a,c 2:b 3:docker`.
 
 Notes: add any constraints about runners, container registry, or build tools.
 
+
+Lets just ignore all things CI for now? I'm brand new to CI. Use your best judgement/adopt best practices and/or ignore CI as needed. Do track that it's an outstanding item to go in depth on though. I don't want it to block moving forward with the dozen or so docs repos I need to use this LLM workflow with though.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/ci b/scripts/ci
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c55b36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/ci
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+PHASE="${1:-}"
+
+usage() {
+  echo "Usage: scripts/ci <format|lint|build|test|security|all>" >&2
+  exit 2
+}
+
+if [[ -z "${PHASE}" ]]; then
+  usage
+fi
+
+repo_root() {
+  git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || pwd
+}
+
+run_outside_container() {
+  local phase="$1"
+  local root
+  root="$(repo_root)"
+  if ! command -v docker >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "Docker is required to run CI tasks locally." >&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+  if ! command -v docker-compose >/dev/null 2>&1 && ! docker compose version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "Docker Compose v2+ is required (docker compose)." >&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+  # Build ci image if needed and run the requested phase inside the container
+  (cd "$root" && docker compose -f docker/ci.compose.yml run --rm \
+    -e IN_CI_CONTAINER=1 \
+    ci bash -lc "cd /workspace && scripts/ci --inside ${phase}")
+}
+
+run_format() {
+  echo ">> Formatting"
+  # shell: format in-place
+  shfmt -bn -ci -i 2 -w .
+  # prettier for markdown/yaml/json/etc
+  prettier --log-level warn --write \
+    "**/*.md" "**/*.yaml" "**/*.yml" "**/*.json" \
+    "**/*.css" "**/*.html" 2>/dev/null || true
+}
+
+run_lint() {
+  echo ">> Linting"
+  # shellcheck
+  mapfile -t sh_files < <(git ls-files -z | xargs -0 file --mime-type | awk -F: '/(x-shellscript|text\/x-shellscript)/{print $1}'; git ls-files "*.sh")
+  if [[ ${#sh_files[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
+    shellcheck -x "${sh_files[@]}" || (echo "Shellcheck failed" && exit 1)
+    shfmt -d .
+  fi
+  # hadolint on Dockerfiles
+  if ls Dockerfile* docker/*Dockerfile* 1>/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    hadolint Dockerfile* docker/*Dockerfile* 2>/dev/null || true
+  fi
+  # yamllint
+  if git ls-files "*.yml" "*.yaml" | grep -q .; then
+    yamllint -s $(git ls-files "*.yml" "*.yaml")
+  fi
+  # markdownlint
+  if git ls-files "*.md" | grep -q .; then
+    markdownlint $(git ls-files "*.md")
+  fi
+  # actionlint for workflow files if present
+  if [ -d .gitea/workflows ]; then
+    actionlint -color
+  fi
+}
+
+run_build() {
+  echo ">> Build checks"
+  # Validate docker compose configs if present
+  if [ -f docker-compose.yml ] || [ -f docker/compose.yml ]; then
+    docker compose config -q
+  fi
+}
+
+run_test() {
+  echo ">> Tests (none defined)"
+}
+
+run_security() {
+  echo ">> Security checks (skipped for this repo)"
+}
+
+run_inside_container() {
+  local phase="$1"
+  case "$phase" in
+    format) run_format ;;
+    lint) run_lint ;;
+    build) run_build ;;
+    test) run_test ;;
+    security) run_security ;;
+    all) run_format; run_lint; run_build; run_test; run_security ;;
+    *) usage ;;
+  esac
+}
+
+if [[ "${1:-}" == "--inside" ]]; then
+  shift
+  PHASE="${1:-}"
+  [[ -z "$PHASE" ]] && usage
+  run_inside_container "$PHASE"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+if [[ "${IN_CI_CONTAINER:-}" != "1" ]]; then
+  run_outside_container "$PHASE"
+else
+  run_inside_container "$PHASE"
+fi
+
diff --git a/scripts/commitlint-hook b/scripts/commitlint-hook
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..021f21c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/commitlint-hook
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+MSG_FILE="${1:-.git/COMMIT_EDITMSG}"
+
+# Run commitlint inside the CI container against the commit message file
+docker compose -f docker/ci.compose.yml run --rm \
+  -e IN_CI_CONTAINER=1 \
+  ci bash -lc "commitlint --edit ${MSG_FILE}"
+
diff --git a/scripts/setup-hooks b/scripts/setup-hooks
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e62f375
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/setup-hooks
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+root_dir="$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || pwd)"
+
+mkdir -p "$root_dir/.git/hooks"
+
+for hook in pre-commit pre-push commit-msg; do
+  src="$root_dir/.githooks/$hook"
+  dest="$root_dir/.git/hooks/$hook"
+  if [[ -f "$src" ]]; then
+    cp "$src" "$dest"
+    chmod +x "$dest"
+    echo "Installed hook: $hook"
+  fi
+done
+
+echo "Git hooks installed."
+