diff --git a/.githooks/pre-commit b/.githooks/pre-commit
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..985248ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.githooks/pre-commit
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Git pre-commit hook to automatically sync package-lock.json
+# Install: ln -sf ../../.githooks/pre-commit .git/hooks/pre-commit
+
+export GIT_HOOK="pre-commit"
+
+# Run the sync script
+./scripts/sync-lockfile.sh
+
+exit $?
diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate-lockfile.yml b/.github/workflows/validate-lockfile.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..af9d32f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate-lockfile.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+name: Validate Package Lock File
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    paths:
+      - 'npm/**/package.json'
+      - 'npm/package-lock.json'
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+      - develop
+    paths:
+      - 'npm/**/package.json'
+      - 'npm/package-lock.json'
+
+jobs:
+  validate-lockfile:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Setup Node.js
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: '18'
+          cache: 'npm'
+          cache-dependency-path: npm/package-lock.json
+
+      - name: Validate lock file is in sync
+        run: |
+          cd npm
+          npm ci --dry-run
+
+      - name: Check for lock file changes needed
+        if: failure()
+        run: |
+          echo "❌ package-lock.json is out of sync with package.json"
+          echo ""
+          echo "To fix this issue:"
+          echo "  1. Run: cd npm && npm install"
+          echo "  2. Commit the updated package-lock.json"
+          echo "  3. Push to your branch"
+          echo ""
+          echo "Or use the automated script:"
+          echo "  ./scripts/sync-lockfile.sh"
+          exit 1
diff --git a/docs/CONTRIBUTING.md b/docs/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..64fa1c9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,226 @@
+# Contributing to RuVector
+
+Thank you for your interest in contributing to RuVector!
+
+## Development Setup
+
+### 1. Clone the Repository
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/ruvnet/ruvector.git
+cd ruvector
+```
+
+### 2. Install Dependencies
+
+```bash
+cd npm
+npm install
+```
+
+### 3. Install Git Hooks (Recommended)
+
+We provide git hooks that automatically keep `package-lock.json` in sync:
+
+```bash
+./scripts/install-hooks.sh
+```
+
+This will:
+- Automatically run `npm install` when you modify `package.json`
+- Stage the updated `package-lock.json` automatically
+- Prevent CI/CD failures due to lock file mismatches
+
+## Package Management
+
+### Adding Dependencies
+
+When adding new dependencies to any package:
+
+```bash
+cd npm/packages/<package-name>
+npm install <dependency>
+```
+
+**Important**: Always commit the updated `package-lock.json` with your changes!
+
+### Manual Lock File Sync
+
+If you forget to sync the lock file, you can use our helper script:
+
+```bash
+./scripts/sync-lockfile.sh
+```
+
+## Common Issues
+
+### CI/CD Fails with "Lock file out of sync"
+
+**Problem**: `npm ci` fails with:
+```
+npm error `npm ci` can only install packages when your package.json and package-lock.json are in sync
+```
+
+**Solution**:
+```bash
+cd npm
+npm install
+git add package-lock.json
+git commit -m "fix: Sync package-lock.json"
+git push
+```
+
+Or use the automated script:
+```bash
+./scripts/sync-lockfile.sh
+```
+
+### Pre-commit Hook Not Working
+
+If the git hook isn't triggering:
+
+```bash
+# Reinstall hooks
+./scripts/install-hooks.sh
+
+# Verify hook is executable
+ls -la .git/hooks/pre-commit
+```
+
+## Development Workflow
+
+1. **Create a feature branch**
+   ```bash
+   git checkout -b feat/your-feature-name
+   ```
+
+2. **Make your changes**
+   - Write code in the appropriate package
+   - Add tests for new features
+   - Update documentation
+
+3. **Build and test**
+   ```bash
+   cd npm
+   npm run build
+   npm test
+   ```
+
+4. **Commit your changes**
+   ```bash
+   git add .
+   git commit -m "feat: Your descriptive commit message"
+   ```
+
+   The pre-commit hook will automatically sync the lock file if needed.
+
+5. **Push and create PR**
+   ```bash
+   git push origin feat/your-feature-name
+   ```
+
+## Package Structure
+
+```
+ruvector/
+├── npm/
+│   ├── core/              # @ruvector/core - Native Rust bindings
+│   ├── packages/
+│   │   ├── ruvector/      # ruvector - Wrapper package
+│   │   └── ruvector-extensions/  # ruvector-extensions - Feature extensions
+│   └── package-lock.json  # Workspace lock file
+├── scripts/
+│   ├── sync-lockfile.sh   # Auto-sync lock file
+│   ├── install-hooks.sh   # Install git hooks
+│   └── ci-sync-lockfile.sh  # CI/CD lock file sync
+└── .githooks/
+    └── pre-commit         # Pre-commit hook script
+```
+
+## Testing
+
+### Run All Tests
+```bash
+cd npm
+npm test
+```
+
+### Test Specific Package
+```bash
+cd npm/packages/ruvector-extensions
+npm test
+```
+
+### Manual Testing
+```bash
+cd npm/packages/ruvector-extensions/examples
+tsx complete-integration.ts
+```
+
+## Code Style
+
+- **TypeScript**: Use strict mode, full type annotations
+- **Formatting**: 2 spaces, semicolons, single quotes
+- **Comments**: JSDoc for public APIs
+- **Naming**: camelCase for variables/functions, PascalCase for classes
+
+## Commit Messages
+
+Follow [Conventional Commits](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/):
+
+- `feat:` - New features
+- `fix:` - Bug fixes
+- `docs:` - Documentation changes
+- `refactor:` - Code refactoring
+- `test:` - Test updates
+- `chore:` - Build/tooling changes
+
+Examples:
+```
+feat: Add OpenAI embeddings provider
+fix: Resolve CommonJS export issue
+docs: Update embeddings API documentation
+chore: Sync package-lock.json
+```
+
+## Pull Request Process
+
+1. **Ensure CI passes**
+   - All tests pass
+   - Build succeeds
+   - No linting errors
+
+2. **Update documentation**
+   - README.md if public API changes
+   - JSDoc comments for new functions
+   - CHANGELOG.md with notable changes
+
+3. **Describe your changes**
+   - Clear PR title and description
+   - Reference related issues
+   - Include examples if applicable
+
+4. **Request review**
+   - Maintainers will review within 48 hours
+   - Address feedback promptly
+   - Keep discussion focused and professional
+
+## Release Process
+
+Releases are handled by maintainers:
+
+1. Version bump in package.json
+2. Update CHANGELOG.md
+3. Create git tag
+4. Publish to npm
+5. Create GitHub release
+
+## Questions?
+
+- 📖 Check the [documentation](../README.md)
+- 🐛 Report bugs in [Issues](https://github.com/ruvnet/ruvector/issues)
+- 💬 Ask questions in [Discussions](https://github.com/ruvnet/ruvector/discussions)
+
+## License
+
+By contributing, you agree that your contributions will be licensed under the MIT License.
diff --git a/scripts/README.md b/scripts/README.md
index 2276f6d7..ebc61b86 100644
--- a/scripts/README.md
+++ b/scripts/README.md
@@ -1,83 +1,38 @@
-# Ruvector Scripts
+# RuVector Automation Scripts
 
-Automation scripts for development, publishing, and maintenance.
+This directory contains automation scripts to streamline development and prevent common issues.
 
-## Publishing Scripts
+## 📜 Available Scripts
 
-### publish-crates.sh
+### 🔄 sync-lockfile.sh
+Automatically syncs `package-lock.json` with `package.json` changes.
 
-Automated script to publish all Ruvector crates to crates.io in the correct dependency order.
+**Usage:** `./scripts/sync-lockfile.sh`
 
-**Prerequisites**:
-- Rust and Cargo installed
-- `CRATES_API_KEY` in `.env` file (never hardcoded!)
-- All crates build successfully
-- All tests pass
+### 🪝 install-hooks.sh
+Installs git hooks for automatic lock file management.
 
-**Usage**:
+**Usage:** `./scripts/install-hooks.sh`
 
-```bash
-# Make executable
-chmod +x scripts/publish-crates.sh
+### 🤖 ci-sync-lockfile.sh
+CI/CD script for automatic lock file fixing.
 
-# Run publishing
-./scripts/publish-crates.sh
-```
+**Usage:** `./scripts/ci-sync-lockfile.sh`
 
-**What it does**:
-1. Loads `CRATES_API_KEY` from `.env` (secure, not hardcoded)
-2. Authenticates with crates.io
-3. Publishes crates in dependency order:
-   - Phase 1: `ruvector-core`, `router-core` (base crates)
-   - Phase 2: `ruvector-node`, `ruvector-wasm`, `ruvector-cli`, `ruvector-bench`
-   - Phase 3: `router-cli`, `router-ffi`, `router-wasm`
-4. Waits between publishes for crates.io indexing
-5. Reports success/failure summary
+## 🚀 Quick Start
 
-**Safety Features**:
-- ✅ Reads credentials from `.env` (gitignored)
-- ✅ Never hardcodes API keys
-- ✅ Verifies packages before publishing
-- ✅ Skips already published versions
-- ✅ Provides detailed error messages
-- ✅ Waits for crates.io indexing
+1. **Install git hooks** (recommended):
+   ```bash
+   ./scripts/install-hooks.sh
+   ```
 
-## Security
+2. **Test the hook**:
+   ```bash
+   cd npm/packages/ruvector
+   npm install chalk
+   git add package.json
+   git commit -m "test: Add chalk dependency"
+   # Hook automatically updates lock file
+   ```
 
-⚠️ **Important**: This directory may contain scripts that use sensitive credentials.
-
-**Always**:
-- Store credentials in `.env` (gitignored)
-- Use `.env.example` for templates
-- Never hardcode API keys in scripts
-- Review scripts before execution
-
-See [SECURITY.md](../docs/development/SECURITY.md) for security best practices.
-
-## Development Scripts
-
-*More scripts will be added here as the project grows*
-
-Potential additions:
-- `test-all.sh` - Run all tests across crates
-- `bench-all.sh` - Run all benchmarks
-- `check-format.sh` - Verify code formatting
-- `update-docs.sh` - Update documentation
-
-## Contributing
-
-When adding new scripts:
-
-1. **Document thoroughly** - Add comments and usage examples
-2. **Use .env for secrets** - Never hardcode credentials
-3. **Make executable** - `chmod +x scripts/your-script.sh`
-4. **Add to this README** - Document purpose and usage
-5. **Test thoroughly** - Verify on clean checkout
-6. **Error handling** - Exit on errors (`set -e`)
-7. **Colored output** - Use colors for clarity
-
-## Resources
-
-- [Publishing Documentation](../docs/development/PUBLISHING.md)
-- [Security Guidelines](../docs/development/SECURITY.md)
-- [Contributing Guide](../docs/development/CONTRIBUTING.md)
+See [CONTRIBUTING.md](../docs/CONTRIBUTING.md) for full documentation.
diff --git a/scripts/ci-sync-lockfile.sh b/scripts/ci-sync-lockfile.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..7f279684
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/ci-sync-lockfile.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# CI/CD script to auto-fix package-lock.json and create a commit
+# Use this in GitHub Actions to automatically fix lock file issues
+
+set -e
+
+echo "🔍 Checking package-lock.json sync for CI/CD..."
+
+cd npm
+
+# Try npm ci first to check if lock file is in sync
+if npm ci --dry-run 2>&1 | grep -q "can only install packages when your package.json and package-lock.json"; then
+    echo "❌ Lock file out of sync - fixing automatically..."
+
+    # Update lock file
+    npm install
+
+    # Check if we're in a git repository and have changes
+    if git diff --quiet npm/package-lock.json; then
+        echo "✅ Lock file is now in sync (no changes needed)"
+    else
+        echo "✅ Lock file updated"
+
+        # If running in GitHub Actions, commit and push
+        if [ -n "$GITHUB_ACTIONS" ]; then
+            git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
+            git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
+            git add npm/package-lock.json
+            git commit -m "chore: Auto-sync package-lock.json [skip ci]"
+            git push
+            echo "✅ Lock file committed and pushed"
+        else
+            echo "⚠️  Lock file updated but not committed (not in GitHub Actions)"
+        fi
+    fi
+else
+    echo "✅ Lock file is already in sync"
+fi
diff --git a/scripts/install-hooks.sh b/scripts/install-hooks.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..0d99bf58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/install-hooks.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Install git hooks for automatic lock file syncing
+
+set -e
+
+echo "🔧 Installing git hooks..."
+
+# Create .git/hooks directory if it doesn't exist
+mkdir -p .git/hooks
+
+# Install pre-commit hook
+if [ -f ".githooks/pre-commit" ]; then
+    ln -sf ../../.githooks/pre-commit .git/hooks/pre-commit
+    chmod +x .git/hooks/pre-commit
+    chmod +x .githooks/pre-commit
+    echo "✅ Pre-commit hook installed"
+else
+    echo "❌ Pre-commit hook file not found"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "✨ Git hooks installed successfully!"
+echo ""
+echo "The following hooks are now active:"
+echo "  • pre-commit: Automatically syncs package-lock.json when package.json changes"
+echo ""
+echo "To disable, run: rm .git/hooks/pre-commit"
diff --git a/scripts/sync-lockfile.sh b/scripts/sync-lockfile.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..d1c7e5df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/sync-lockfile.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Automatically sync package-lock.json with package.json changes
+# Can be used as git hook, CI/CD step, or manual script
+
+set -e
+
+echo "🔍 Checking package-lock.json sync..."
+
+# Change to npm directory
+cd "$(dirname "$0")/../npm"
+
+# Check if package.json or any workspace package.json changed
+CHANGED_PACKAGES=$(git diff --cached --name-only | grep -E 'package\.json$' || true)
+
+if [ -n "$CHANGED_PACKAGES" ]; then
+    echo "📦 Package.json changes detected:"
+    echo "$CHANGED_PACKAGES"
+    echo ""
+    echo "🔄 Running npm install to sync lock file..."
+
+    # Run npm install to update lock file
+    npm install
+
+    # Check if lock file changed
+    if git diff --name-only | grep -q 'package-lock.json'; then
+        echo "✅ Lock file updated successfully"
+
+        # If running as pre-commit hook, add the lock file
+        if [ "${GIT_HOOK}" = "pre-commit" ]; then
+            git add npm/package-lock.json
+            echo "✅ Lock file staged for commit"
+        else
+            echo "⚠️  Lock file modified but not staged"
+            echo "   Run: git add npm/package-lock.json"
+        fi
+    else
+        echo "✅ Lock file already in sync"
+    fi
+else
+    echo "✅ No package.json changes detected"
+fi