# Contributing

PhotoDock treats files on camera media as irreplaceable. Read `AGENTS.md`,
`docs/safety.md`, and the relevant ADR before changing code.

Open an issue and ADR before changing runtime dependencies, source support,
verification, backup qualification, recovery, protocol compatibility, or
eject behavior. Keep changes narrow and cite requirement/invariant IDs,
state transitions, error codes, tests, fault points, documentation, and
hardware impact.

Use deterministic generated fixtures. Never commit personal/client media,
real serials or UUIDs, EXIF/GPS, private paths, secrets, or screenshots with
identifying data.

Changes to copy/verify/commit, duplicate policy, backup independence,
recovery, or eject require focused safety tests and a Changelog entry under
**Safety**.