diff --git a/.gitea/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug.yml b/.gitea/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b5fc14e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitea/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+name: Bug report
+description: Report a reproducible defect.
+title: 'bug: '
+labels: [bug]
+body:
+  - type: textarea
+    id: reproduction
+    attributes:
+      label: Reproduction
+      description: List the smallest deterministic reproduction and expected behavior.
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: textarea
+    id: verification
+    attributes:
+      label: Verification context
+      description: Include repository, branch, version, and relevant checks. Never include secrets.
+    validations:
+      required: true
diff --git a/.gitea/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature.yml b/.gitea/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3a651ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitea/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+name: Feature request
+description: Propose a change that is consistent with PLAN.md.
+title: 'feature: '
+labels: [enhancement]
+body:
+  - type: textarea
+    id: problem
+    attributes:
+      label: Problem and proposed behavior
+    validations:
+      required: true
+  - type: checkboxes
+    id: plan
+    attributes:
+      label: Planning
+      options:
+        - label: I checked PLAN.md and this does not silently change an existing decision.
+          required: true
diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/release-check.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/release-check.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..564a3cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/release-check.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+name: API release check
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+  push:
+    tags: ['v*.*.*']
+
+jobs:
+  release-check:
+    runs-on: debian-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: 22
+      - name: Validate release metadata
+        run: test -s CHANGELOG.md && test -s README.md && test -s docs/versioning.md
+      - name: Validate JSON
+        run: node --input-type=module -e "import { readdir, readFile } from 'node:fs/promises'; for (const d of ['contracts/v1','fixtures/v1']) for (const f of await readdir(d)) if (f.endsWith('.json')) JSON.parse(await readFile(d + '/' + f, 'utf8'));"
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..84c0cf8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Changelog
+
+All notable API contract changes are recorded here. The format follows
+[Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/). Development work is
+performed on `dev`; stable release entries are added when the user authorizes a
+release.
+
+## [Unreleased]
+
+- Add versioned backup inventory and manual-backup response contracts.