The previous CONTRIBUTING.md read like a stock Rust contributing
template that mentioned FIPS. Replace it with an entry-point doc
that gives new contributors the FIPS-specific mental model they
need to make a useful first PR: the FMP/FSP layering and why
mesh-level changes need multi-node testing, the three-branch
release model and how to choose a target branch, structured bug
reporting expectations, and PR submission requirements (scope
discipline, the local-CI ladder, separate requirements for feature
PRs vs bug-fix PRs, squash-merge mechanics).
Add a contributor-facing AI coding assistant policy: use is
welcome, but the contributor must do a thorough manual review and
editorial pass before submission. The agent is a tool; the
contributor is accountable for the submission. Review effort
scales with submission effort -- unreviewed agent output will
receive an agent reply in turn, without human review.
Add docs/branching.md as the long-form companion covering the
release workflow, version conventions, and merge-direction
rationale. The new CONTRIBUTING.md is the day-to-day entry point;
docs/branching.md is the reference.
All cross-references resolve against current HEAD. Previous
stale links to fips-intro.md, fips-wire-formats.md, and
fips-configuration.md are gone; the doc points at the current
docs/design/ layout, docs/getting-started.md,
docs/tutorials/join-the-test-mesh.md, and testing/README.md.
No code changes.
