governance: add MIT LICENSE + plain-MIT contribution terms (closes #10)

.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+<!--
+Thanks for contributing to the P2Pool Starter Stack site! Please fill out the checklist below.
+For anything non-trivial, open an issue first to discuss the change.
+-->
+
+## What & why
+
+<!-- What does this PR change, and why? -->
+
+## Related issue
+
+<!-- e.g. Closes #123 -->
+Closes #
+
+## Checklist
+
+- [ ] Strict build passes: `hugo --gc --minify --panicOnWarning --baseURL "http://localhost/"`
+- [ ] Link/anchor/image check passes: `htmltest`
+- [ ] Copy changes were made in `data/content.yaml`, not the templates (where applicable)
+- [ ] Docs/README updated for any user-facing change
+- [ ] This PR is focused on a single logical change

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# Contributing to the P2Pool Starter Stack site
+
+Thanks for taking the time to contribute! Whether it's fixing a typo, tweaking copy,
+or reworking a layout, contributions are very welcome. This guide covers the workflow.
+
+## Before you start
+
+- **Found a bug or have an idea?** Open an issue first. For anything beyond a small fix,
+  please discuss it in an issue before writing code — it saves everyone time.
+- Check the [open issues](https://github.com/p2pool-starter-stack/p2pool-starter-stack.github.io/issues)
+  to see if someone's already on it.
+
+## Dev environment
+
+You need [Hugo **extended**](https://gohugo.io/installation/) (≥ 0.162). On macOS:
+`brew install hugo`.
+
+```bash
+hugo server          # live reload at http://localhost:1313
+```
+
+Most landing-page copy lives in [`data/content.yaml`](data/content.yaml) — edit text there,
+not in the templates. See the [README](README.md#where-the-content-lives) for the full file map.
+
+## Development workflow
+
+1. Fork the repo and create a branch off `main`.
+2. Make your change. Keep it focused — one logical change per PR.
+3. Run the same two checks CI does (no server, no network):
+
+   ```bash
+   hugo --gc --minify --panicOnWarning --baseURL "http://localhost/"   # strict build
+   htmltest                                                            # link/anchor/image check
+   ```
+4. Update the README or other docs for any user-facing change.
+
+## Opening a pull request
+
+- Target the `main` branch and fill out the PR template.
+- Link the issue your PR addresses (e.g. `Closes #123`).
+- Make sure both checks above pass — CI will run the same ones.
+- PRs require review before merging.
+
+By contributing, you agree that your contributions are licensed under the project's
+[MIT License](LICENSE). Thanks again! 🙌

LICENSE

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+MIT License
+
+Copyright (c) 2026 Vijit Singh
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+SOFTWARE.

README.md

@@ -107,4 +107,10 @@ automatically thereafter.
 To put it on a custom domain later: add `static/CNAME` containing the domain and set `baseURL` in
 `hugo.toml`.
 
-— MIT, like everything else here.
+## License & contributing
+
+Released under the **[MIT License](LICENSE)** — same as
+[Pithead](https://github.com/p2pool-starter-stack/pithead) and
+[RigForge](https://github.com/p2pool-starter-stack/rigforge).
+
+Contributions are welcome — see **[CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md)**.