diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e28e3e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# Pre-commit hooks mirroring Fair Code CI. See CONTRIBUTING.md.
+# One-time install:  pre-commit install
+# Run against the whole repo:  pre-commit run --all-files
+default_install_hook_types: [pre-commit, pre-push]
+
+repos:
+  - repo: local
+    hooks:
+      - id: em-dash
+        name: em-dash-free check
+        entry: python3 scripts/check_em_dash.py
+        language: system
+        pass_filenames: false
+        always_run: true
+
+      - id: build-explainers
+        name: regenerate explainer pages
+        entry: python3 scripts/build_explainers.py
+        language: system
+        pass_filenames: false
+        files: '^(explainers/.*\.md|assets/explainers-data\.json)$'
+
+      - id: pytest
+        name: pytest (full suite)
+        entry: python3 -m pytest tests/ -q
+        language: system
+        pass_filenames: false
+        always_run: true
+        stages: [pre-push]
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index bd06a46..a8f59d9 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -60,6 +60,28 @@ If you are unsure whether an idea fits, open an issue first and ask.
 
 ---
 
+## Local setup and checks
+
+A `Makefile` and a `.pre-commit-config.yaml` reproduce what CI runs, so you can catch failures before you open a PR:
+
+```bash
+make setup             # install faircode + pytest + pre-commit
+make check             # everything CI runs: em-dash lint + full test suite
+make test              # just the test suite
+make build-explainers  # regenerate explainer pages after editing explainers/*.md
+make lint              # em-dash-free check only
+```
+
+Optionally install the git hooks so the checks run automatically:
+
+```bash
+pre-commit install
+```
+
+With the hooks installed, the em-dash lint runs on every commit (and explainer pages rebuild when you touch `explainers/*.md`), while the full test suite runs on `git push`. Run `make check` any time to reproduce CI on demand.
+
+---
+
 ## 1. Before you start
 
 - Read the relevant section in this guide before writing code.
@@ -463,4 +485,4 @@ Include in the PR description:
 
 ---
 
-All datasets used in this project are publicly available. Fair Code is for educational and awareness purposes.
\ No newline at end of file
+All datasets used in this project are publicly available. Fair Code is for educational and awareness purposes.
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b43356
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Fair Code - contributor task runner.  See CONTRIBUTING.md.
+# Reproduces locally what CI runs (.github/workflows: audits.yml, lint.yml,
+# build-explainers.yml) so you can catch failures before you push.
+
+.DEFAULT_GOAL := help
+PY := python3
+
+.PHONY: help setup test build-explainers lint check
+
+help:  ## Show the available targets
+	@grep -E '^[a-zA-Z_-]+:.*?## ' $(MAKEFILE_LIST) | \
+		awk 'BEGIN{FS = ":.*?## "}{printf "  %-16s %s\n", $$1, $$2}'
+
+setup:  ## Install the package plus the dev tools (pytest, pre-commit)
+	$(PY) -m pip install -e . pytest pre-commit
+
+test:  ## Run the full test suite (mirrors CI)
+	$(PY) -m pytest tests/ -q
+
+build-explainers:  ## Regenerate explainer pages, data.js, and sitemap
+	$(PY) scripts/build_explainers.py
+
+lint:  ## Enforce the em-dash-free rule (mirrors the lint workflow)
+	$(PY) scripts/check_em_dash.py
+
+check: lint test  ## Run everything CI runs (em-dash lint + full test suite)
+	@echo "All checks passed."