docs: add badges and contributing guidelines

Author: matzehuels

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# Contributing to Stacktower
+
+Thanks for your interest in contributing!
+
+## Getting Started
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/matzehuels/stacktower.git
+cd stacktower
+make install-tools  # Install golangci-lint, goimports, govulncheck
+make check          # Run all CI checks locally
+```
+
+## Development Workflow
+
+1. Fork the repository
+2. Create a feature branch (`git checkout -b feat/amazing-feature`)
+3. Make your changes
+4. Run checks: `make check`
+5. Commit with [Conventional Commits](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/) format:
+   - `feat: add new feature`
+   - `fix: resolve bug`
+   - `docs: update readme`
+   - `refactor: restructure code`
+   - `test: add tests`
+   - `ci: update workflows`
+6. Push and open a Pull Request
+
+## Code Style
+
+- Run `make fmt` before committing
+- Run `make lint` to check for issues
+- Keep changes focused and minimal
+
+## Running Tests
+
+```bash
+make test       # Unit tests
+make e2e        # End-to-end tests
+make cover      # Tests with coverage
+```
+
+## Questions?
+
+Open an [issue](https://github.com/matzehuels/stacktower/issues) — we're happy to help!
+

README.md

@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Stacktower
 
+[![CI](https://github.com/matzehuels/stacktower/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/matzehuels/stacktower/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
+[![Go Report Card](https://goreportcard.com/badge/github.com/matzehuels/stacktower)](https://goreportcard.com/report/github.com/matzehuels/stacktower)
+[![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-Apache_2.0-blue.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/Apache-2.0)
+
 Inspired by [XKCD #2347](https://xkcd.com/2347/), Stacktower renders dependency graphs as **physical towers** where blocks rest on what they depend on. Your application sits at the top, supported by libraries below—all the way down to that one critical package maintained by *some dude in Nebraska*.
 
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