diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aa1da645
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# CLAUDE.md
+
+This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.
+
+See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for build commands, testing, code style, and development workflow.
+
+## Workspace Structure
+
+- **ldk-server** - Main daemon server (entry point: `src/main.rs`)
+- **ldk-server-cli** - CLI client using clap
+- **ldk-server-client** - Reqwest-based client library
+- **ldk-server-protos** - Protocol buffer definitions and generated Rust code
+
+## Development Rules
+
+- Always ensure tests pass and lints are fixed before committing
+- Run `cargo fmt --all` after every code change
+- Never add new dependencies unless explicitly requested
+- Please always disclose the use of any AI tools in commit messages and PR descriptions
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9a783dfb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+# Contributing to LDK Server
+
+Contributions are welcome and encouraged! Whether you're fixing bugs, adding features, improving documentation, or
+helping with testing, we appreciate your help!
+
+## Building
+
+```bash
+cargo build                    # Build all crates
+cargo build --release          # Production build (LTO enabled)
+```
+
+## Running
+
+```bash
+cargo run --bin ldk-server ./ldk-server/ldk-server-config.toml
+```
+
+## Testing
+
+```bash
+cargo test                     # Run all tests
+cargo test --all-features      # Run tests with all features
+```
+
+## Code Quality
+
+```bash
+cargo fmt --all                                                      # Format code
+cargo fmt --all -- --check                                           # Check formatting
+cargo clippy --all-features -- -D warnings -A clippy::drop_non_drop  # Lint (CI uses this on MSRV)
+```
+
+## Code Style
+
+- MSRV: Rust 1.85.0
+- Hard tabs, max width 100 chars
+- Imports grouped: std, external crates, local crates
+
+## Protocol Buffer Generation
+
+```bash
+RUSTFLAGS="--cfg genproto" cargo build -p ldk-server-protos
+cargo fmt --all
+```
+
+## Adding a New API Endpoint
+
+1. Define request/response messages in `ldk-server-protos/src/proto/api.proto`
+2. Regenerate protos (see above)
+3. Create handler in `ldk-server/src/api/` (follow existing patterns)
+4. Add route in `ldk-server/src/service.rs`
+5. Add CLI command in `ldk-server-cli/src/main.rs`
+
+## Configuration
+
+- Config template with all options: `ldk-server/ldk-server-config.toml`
+- When updating config options, also update the tests in `ldk-server/src/util/config.rs`
+
+## Before Submitting
+
+- Ensure all tests pass
+- Ensure all lints are fixed
+- Run `cargo fmt --all`
+- Please disclose the use of any AI tools in commit messages and PR descriptions
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8497da57..10f0c609 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -70,3 +70,7 @@ eval "$(ldk-server-cli completions zsh)"
 # Fish (add to ~/.config/fish/config.fish)
 ldk-server-cli completions fish | source
 ```
+
+## Contributing
+
+Contributions are welcome! Please see [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for guidelines on building, testing, code style, and development workflow.
diff --git a/ldk-server-protos/build.rs b/ldk-server-protos/build.rs
index 32b9f6b0..35066fc7 100644
--- a/ldk-server-protos/build.rs
+++ b/ldk-server-protos/build.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,20 @@
 extern crate prost_build;
 
 #[cfg(genproto)]
-use std::{env, fs, path::Path};
+use std::{env, fs, io::Write, path::Path};
+
+#[cfg(genproto)]
+const COPYRIGHT_HEADER: &str =
+	"// This file is Copyright its original authors, visible in version control
+// history.
+//
+// This file is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 <LICENSE-APACHE
+// or http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0> or the MIT license
+// <LICENSE-MIT or http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT>, at your option.
+// You may not use this file except in accordance with one or both of these
+// licenses.
+
+";
 
 /// To generate updated proto objects, run `RUSTFLAGS="--cfg genproto" cargo build`
 fn main() {
@@ -38,13 +51,13 @@ fn generate_protos() {
 			&["src/proto/"],
 		)
 		.expect("protobuf compilation failed");
-	println!("OUT_DIR: {}", &env::var("OUT_DIR").unwrap());
-	let from_path = Path::new(&env::var("OUT_DIR").unwrap()).join("api.rs");
-	fs::copy(from_path, "src/api.rs").unwrap();
-	let from_path = Path::new(&env::var("OUT_DIR").unwrap()).join("types.rs");
-	fs::copy(from_path, "src/types.rs").unwrap();
-	let from_path = Path::new(&env::var("OUT_DIR").unwrap()).join("events.rs");
-	fs::copy(from_path, "src/events.rs").unwrap();
-	let from_path = Path::new(&env::var("OUT_DIR").unwrap()).join("error.rs");
-	fs::copy(from_path, "src/error.rs").unwrap();
+	let out_dir = env::var("OUT_DIR").unwrap();
+	println!("OUT_DIR: {}", &out_dir);
+	for file in &["api.rs", "types.rs", "events.rs", "error.rs"] {
+		let from_path = Path::new(&out_dir).join(file);
+		let content = fs::read(&from_path).unwrap();
+		let mut dest = fs::File::create(Path::new("src").join(file)).unwrap();
+		dest.write_all(COPYRIGHT_HEADER.as_bytes()).unwrap();
+		dest.write_all(&content).unwrap();
+	}
 }