diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 89baae7..80a235d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -116,3 +116,13 @@ python .\scripts\run_release_smoke.py --root . --mode live-public
 Для локального воспроизводимого прогона есть отдельный runbook: `docs/runbooks/reproducible_local_runbook.md`.
 Для отдельного тяжелого smoke-прогона есть workflow `.github/workflows/release_smoke.yml`.
 Для честной сверки реализации со спецификацией есть `docs/status/spec_coverage_map.yaml` и `docs/status/spec_gap_audit.md`.
+
+## Developer docs
+
+- `docs/development/onboarding.md` — быстрый путь от clone до reviewable local run.
+- `docs/development/local_setup.md` — установка и editable/dev режим.
+- `docs/development/commands.md` — Makefile, CLI и quality gate команды.
+- `docs/development/environment.md` — безопасная работа с env и adapter variables.
+- `docs/development/troubleshooting.md` — типовые локальные сбои и диагностика.
+- `docs/development/project_structure.md` — ответственность ключевых папок.
+- `docs/development/contribution_workflow.md` — branch, commit и PR workflow.
diff --git a/docs/development/commands.md b/docs/development/commands.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ab8253
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/development/commands.md
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# Command reference
+
+Use this page as the local command index. The Makefile exposes the shortest
+aliases, while the Python module commands are useful when debugging from a shell
+or CI step.
+
+## Make targets
+
+| Command | Purpose |
+| --- | --- |
+| `make bootstrap` | Create local bootstrap artifacts through the CLI. |
+| `make validate-config` | Validate the default configuration contract. |
+| `make dry-run` | Execute the pipeline dispatcher without material side effects. |
+| `make test` | Run the default pytest suite. |
+
+## Python commands
+
+| Command | Purpose |
+| --- | --- |
+| `python -m alpha_research config-validate` | Validate config files and adapter contracts. |
+| `python -m alpha_research bootstrap` | Prepare local runtime directories and manifests. |
+| `python -m alpha_research run-full-pipeline --dry-run` | Check the orchestration graph without running the full research workload. |
+| `python .\scripts\verify_release_bundle.py --root .` | Verify release evidence artifacts. |
+| `python .\scripts\run_release_smoke.py --root . --mode configured-local` | Run deterministic configured-local smoke. |
+| `python .\scripts\run_release_smoke.py --root . --mode live-public` | Run live-public smoke against external providers. |
+
+## Quality gates
+
+```bash
+python -m ruff check src tests
+python -m mypy src/alpha_research
+python -m pytest
+```
+
+Run the smaller unit/integration slices while developing. Run the full set before
+opening a pull request that touches shared pipeline behavior.
diff --git a/docs/development/contribution_workflow.md b/docs/development/contribution_workflow.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c7b39c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/development/contribution_workflow.md
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# Contribution workflow
+
+Use small branches and keep every commit tied to one reviewable change.
+
+## Branch checklist
+
+1. Start from `master`.
+2. Create a branch with a scope prefix: `docs/`, `fix/`, `test/`, `refactor/`,
+   `ci/`, or `chore/`.
+3. Make the smallest coherent change.
+4. Add or update tests when behavior changes.
+5. Run the local checks that match the touched area.
+6. Open a pull request with validation notes and linked issue.
+
+## Commit style
+
+Use Conventional Commits:
+
+- `docs: add reproducible run notes`
+- `test: cover configured adapter fallback`
+- `fix: reject same-bar execution timestamps`
+- `refactor: isolate report bundle writer`
+- `ci: add release bundle verification step`
+
+Avoid vague messages such as `update`, `fix`, `changes`, or `wip`.
+
+## Pull request validation
+
+At minimum, record:
+
+- install command or dependency state;
+- lint/typecheck result when Python code changed;
+- pytest target(s) run;
+- release smoke or reason it was not relevant;
+- manual review notes for docs-only changes.
+
+## Artifact discipline
+
+Do not commit local `.env`, caches, generated dependency directories, ad hoc
+notebooks, or release outputs unless the repository explicitly treats the
+artifact as source-controlled evidence.
diff --git a/docs/development/environment.md b/docs/development/environment.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41ea30c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/development/environment.md
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# Environment variables
+
+The repository should run in deterministic local mode without private secrets.
+Live provider credentials are optional and should stay in a local `.env` file or
+the shell environment.
+
+## Core variables
+
+| Variable | Required | Example | Notes |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| `ALPHA_RESEARCH_ENV` | no | `local` | Describes the active runtime environment. |
+| `ALPHA_RESEARCH_TRACKING_URI` | no | `./mlruns` | Local tracking output directory. |
+| `ALPHA_RESEARCH_LOG_LEVEL` | no | `INFO` | Logging verbosity for local runs. |
+
+## Configured adapter variables
+
+Configured adapters may reference variables through `api_key_env`,
+`user_agent_env`, or `local_path_env` in YAML config. Keep those values out of
+Git unless they are harmless placeholders.
+
+| Variable pattern | Purpose | Safe example |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `*_API_KEY` | API key for a live provider. | `replace-me` |
+| `*_USER_AGENT` | Provider-specific user agent. | `alpha-research-local/0.1` |
+| `*_LOCAL_PATH` | Local CSV, JSON, or Parquet fixture path. | `./tests/fixtures/provider.csv` |
+
+## Secret handling rules
+
+- commit `.env.example`, never a real `.env`;
+- use fake placeholder values in documentation;
+- prefer configured-local smoke for pull requests;
+- run live-public smoke only when external access is intended and documented.
diff --git a/docs/development/local_setup.md b/docs/development/local_setup.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..48f8caf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/development/local_setup.md
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Local setup
+
+The project targets Python 3.12 and keeps runtime and developer dependencies in
+lock files. Prefer a dedicated virtual environment so release smoke artifacts and
+cache files do not mix with other projects.
+
+## Windows PowerShell
+
+```powershell
+py -3.12 -m venv .venv
+.\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1
+python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+python -m pip install -r requirements.lock -r requirements-dev.lock
+```
+
+## macOS and Linux
+
+```bash
+python3.12 -m venv .venv
+source .venv/bin/activate
+python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+python -m pip install -r requirements.lock -r requirements-dev.lock
+```
+
+## Editable install
+
+Use an editable install when changing package code or CLI entry points:
+
+```bash
+python -m pip install -e ".[dev,research]"
+```
+
+The lock-file install is better for release reproduction. The editable install is
+better for local feature work.
+
+## Smoke check
+
+After installation, run:
+
+```bash
+python -m alpha_research config-validate
+python -m alpha_research run-full-pipeline --dry-run
+python -m pytest tests/unit
+```
+
+These commands should complete without network access. Network-backed adapter
+checks belong in explicit live-public smoke runs.
diff --git a/docs/development/onboarding.md b/docs/development/onboarding.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ef2f3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/development/onboarding.md
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Developer onboarding
+
+This guide is the short path from a fresh clone to a reviewable local run of the
+Alpha Research Platform. The canonical product and research contracts still live
+in `docs/specs/MASTER_SPEC.md`, but this document explains the engineering
+sequence a contributor should follow before opening a pull request.
+
+## First read
+
+Read these files in order:
+
+1. `README.md` for the platform intent and current capability map.
+2. `docs/specs/MASTER_SPEC.md` for the research and operational invariants.
+3. `docs/specs/machine_spec.yaml` for machine-readable stage contracts.
+4. `docs/runbooks/reproducible_local_runbook.md` for deterministic local runs.
+5. `docs/status/spec_coverage_map.yaml` for the implementation-to-spec map.
+
+## Local confidence path
+
+The lightweight local confidence path is:
+
+```bash
+python -m pip install -r requirements.lock -r requirements-dev.lock
+python -m alpha_research config-validate
+python -m pytest tests/unit
+python -m pytest tests/integration/test_config_loader.py
+python .\scripts\run_release_smoke.py --root . --mode configured-local
+```
+
+Use the full CI-equivalent path before merging changes that affect the pipeline,
+release bundle, point-in-time joins, OOF training, or reporting outputs.
+
+## Review posture
+
+Every change should preserve these invariants:
+
+- no same-bar execution in backtests;
+- no future fundamentals in point-in-time joins;
+- preprocessing is fit only on train folds;
+- release-grade runs do not silently fall back to fixture-only data;
+- reports identify uncertainty, stability, and FDR evidence.
+
+If a change intentionally relaxes one of these rules, document the reason in the
+pull request and update the relevant spec/status artifact in the same branch.
diff --git a/docs/development/project_structure.md b/docs/development/project_structure.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5e92834
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/development/project_structure.md
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# Project structure
+
+The repository is organized around research validity first and implementation
+convenience second. Keep new code close to the invariant it protects.
+
+| Path | Responsibility |
+| --- | --- |
+| `configs/` | Runtime configuration and adapter contracts. |
+| `schemas/` | Machine-readable data and feature registry contracts. |
+| `src/alpha_research/config` | Config loading, validation, hashing, and snapshots. |
+| `src/alpha_research/time` | Trading calendars and decision/execution timestamp rules. |
+| `src/alpha_research/data` | Provider contracts, raw/bronze ingest, QA, and storage. |
+| `src/alpha_research/pit` | Point-in-time interval logic and as-of joins. |
+| `src/alpha_research/features` | Registry-driven feature engineering. |
+| `src/alpha_research/labels` | Label generation with explicit forward windows. |
+| `src/alpha_research/splits` | Purged walk-forward split construction. |
+| `src/alpha_research/models` | Baseline models and model-facing interfaces. |
+| `src/alpha_research/training` | OOF training and tuning orchestration. |
+| `src/alpha_research/portfolio` | Target weights, constraints, and turnover handling. |
+| `src/alpha_research/execution` | Execution simulation and cost handling. |
+| `src/alpha_research/evaluation` | Metrics, uncertainty, stability, and reports. |
+| `src/alpha_research/pipeline` | Stage graph, dispatcher, and runtime handlers. |
+| `tests/unit` | Fast deterministic checks for pure logic. |
+| `tests/integration` | Cross-module pipeline and artifact checks. |
+| `tests/leakage` | Time and fold leakage guards. |
+| `docs/status` | Machine-readable implementation and acceptance evidence. |
+
+When adding a new subsystem, add tests in the same branch and update the status
+map when the change enforces or documents a specification clause.
diff --git a/docs/development/troubleshooting.md b/docs/development/troubleshooting.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6b3635e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/development/troubleshooting.md
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Troubleshooting
+
+This page lists common local failures and the shortest useful recovery path.
+
+## Import errors after cloning
+
+Install the package in editable mode:
+
+```bash
+python -m pip install -e ".[dev,research]"
+```
+
+If the error only appears in an IDE, make sure the IDE interpreter points to the
+same virtual environment used by the shell.
+
+## Config validation fails
+
+Run:
+
+```bash
+python -m alpha_research config-validate
+```
+
+Then inspect the failing config path and field name. Unknown fields are treated
+as contract drift, not harmless extras.
+
+## Configured adapter cannot find local data
+
+Check whether the adapter uses `local_path` or `local_path_env`. Relative paths
+are resolved from the repository root during local runs.
+
+## Release smoke fails in live-public mode
+
+Live-public mode can fail because of provider availability, rate limits, or
+missing external configuration. Reproduce with configured-local mode first:
+
+```bash
+python .\scripts\run_release_smoke.py --root . --mode configured-local
+```
+
+Only debug external transport after the configured-local path is clean.
+
+## Leakage tests fail
+
+Treat leakage failures as correctness failures. Re-run the targeted test, then
+inspect timestamp joins, fold boundaries, preprocessing fit points, and any
+shortcut that may have pulled future data into the decision timestamp.