diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index ec103c2..3a5de14 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@
 - [ ] `go build ./...` passes
 - [ ] `go vet ./...` passes
 - [ ] `go test ./...` passes (or relevant subset)
+- [ ] `make test-controller` passes (if you changed the API or reconciler)
 - [ ] No private-repo content leaked into OSS core
 - [ ] Commit is signed off (`git commit -s`)
+- [ ] Commits are human-authored. No AI names in `Signed-off-by` or `Co-authored-by` trailers (the AI Attribution Guard rejects Claude, Copilot, Cursor, GPT-*, Codex, etc.)
 - [ ] Documentation updated (if applicable)
 
 ## How to test
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 08d6e64..ed8fe47 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -10,15 +10,58 @@ Thank you for contributing to Agentic Operator.
 
 ## Development Setup
 
-1. Fork and clone the repository.
-2. Create a branch from `main`.
-3. Run local validation before opening a PR:
+### Prerequisites
+
+- Go 1.25+ and `make`.
+- Controller tests need nothing extra. `make test-controller` downloads the envtest binaries for you on first run.
+- End-to-end tests need a local cluster. `kind` is the default.
+- Python runtime code under `agents/` needs Python 3. The Makefile builds a venv for you.
+
+### Everyday loop
+
+Fork, clone, and branch from `main`. Then:
 
 ```bash
+# Fast unit tests (Go + ANF snapshot + Python)
+make test
+
+# Or just the Go unit tests
 go test ./...
 ```
 
-If your change touches Python runtime code under `agents/`, run the relevant Python tests as well.
+### Controller and CRD tests
+
+The reconciler tests run against envtest. This target installs the binaries on first run:
+
+```bash
+make test-controller
+```
+
+If you changed the API types, regenerate manifests and deepcopy code first:
+
+```bash
+make manifests generate
+```
+
+### End-to-end against a cluster
+
+These need a running cluster. `kind` works:
+
+```bash
+make test-cluster   # apply CRDs and run against the cluster
+make test-smoke     # smoke checks, including the demo CLI
+make test-e2e-cluster
+```
+
+### Before you open a PR
+
+Run the same gate CI runs:
+
+```bash
+make validate   # fmt-check, lint, controller + Go + ANF + Python tests, helm-lint
+```
+
+If your change touches Python runtime code under `agents/`, run `make test-python` as well.
 
 ## Pull Request Guidelines