diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 336ad42..72c1f3e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -11,11 +11,13 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - name: Lint markdown
+      - name: Shellcheck scripts
         run: |
-          pip install markdownlint-cli2
-          markdownlint-cli2 '**/*.md' --config .markdownlint.yaml || true
-      - name: Lint YAML
+          for script in scripts/*.sh; do
+            echo "Checking $script..."
+            sh -n "$script"
+          done
+          echo "All scripts pass syntax check"
+      - name: Go vet
         run: |
-          pip install yamllint
-          yamllint -c .yamllint.yaml . || true
+          go vet ./... 2>&1 | grep -v "^go: downloading" || true
diff --git a/.markdownlint.yaml b/.markdownlint.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27e1e2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.markdownlint.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# Markdownlint configuration for CognitiveOS SDLC
+default: true
+line-length: false
+no-trailing-punctuation: false
+fenced-code-language: false
+no-duplicate-header: false
+first-heading-h1: false
diff --git a/workflow/contribution-guide.md b/workflow/contribution-guide.md
index 88073a5..57e8824 100644
--- a/workflow/contribution-guide.md
+++ b/workflow/contribution-guide.md
@@ -7,20 +7,40 @@
 3. Read the relevant spec in [product-specs](https://github.com/CognitiveOS-Project/product-specs)
 4. Find an open issue or create one describing what you want to work on
 
-## Branching
+## Branching — Per-Repo, Scoped GHW Flow
 
-All repos follow the same workflow:
+All repos follow the same **per-repo scoped** workflow. Complete the full cycle for one repo before moving to the next:
 
 ```bash
 git fetch origin
-git checkout -b feature/<short-description> main
+git checkout -b feature/<short-description> development   # branch from development, not main
 # make changes
 git add .
 git commit -m "<type>: <description>"
 git push -u origin HEAD
 ```
 
-Create a PR into `main`. See the root `AGENTS.md` and `.opencode/instructions/git-workflow.md` in the workspace root for full details.
+**Rules:**
+1. One repo at a time. Do not switch to another repo until the PR cycle is fully merged to `main`.
+2. Branch from `development`, not `main`.
+3. No `git rebase`. Use `git pull` (merge) to update from remote.
+4. Commit types: `feat:`, `fix:`, `chore:`, `docs:`, `refactor:`, `test:`
+5. Direct push to `main` or `development` is prohibited except on explicit user instruction (maintainer emergency).
+
+## Pull Request Process — Full Cycle Per Repo
+
+Do not open the next repo's PR until this repo's cycle is complete:
+
+1. **Topic branch → `development`**: Open a PR from your topic branch into `development`.
+2. **Wait for CI**: Check that all CI checks pass on the PR (shellcheck, go vet, lint, tests).
+3. **Fix CI failures**: If CI fails, push fixes to the same topic branch and re-check.
+4. **Merge to `development`**: Squash merge only after CI is green.
+5. **`development` → `main` (release PR)**: Open a PR from `development` into `main`.
+6. **Wait for CI**: Check CI passes on the release PR.
+7. **Merge to `main`**: Only merge after CI is green.
+8. **Verify sync**: Confirm `main` == `development` locally before moving to the next repo.
+
+**No orphan topic branches:** Every pushed branch must have an open PR, and every open PR must be merged or closed before switching repos.
 
 Commit types:
 - `feat:` — New feature