diff --git a/.githooks/pre-commit b/.githooks/pre-commit
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..f37072b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.githooks/pre-commit
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Pre-commit hook: lint check on staged Python files using ruff.
+#
+# Install once per clone:
+#   git config core.hooksPath .githooks
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+STAGED=$(git diff --cached --name-only --diff-filter=ACM | grep '\.py$' || true)
+
+if [ -z "$STAGED" ]; then
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+echo "Running ruff lint check..."
+
+if command -v uv &>/dev/null; then
+    RUFF="uv run ruff"
+else
+    RUFF="ruff"
+fi
+
+if ! $RUFF check $STAGED; then
+    echo ""
+    echo "Lint check failed. Fix the issues above, re-stage the files, and commit again."
+    echo "To auto-fix:  $RUFF check --fix $STAGED"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "Lint check passed."
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index b03d47f..cedc79c 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -5,11 +5,21 @@ Thanks for your interest in contributing!
 ## Getting Started
 
 ```bash
-git clone https://github.com/iamvirul/vecgrep
-cd vecgrep
-uv sync
+git clone https://github.com/VecGrep/VecGrep
+cd VecGrep
+uv sync --extra dev
 ```
 
+### Install the git hooks
+
+Run once after cloning to enable the pre-commit lint check:
+
+```bash
+git config core.hooksPath .githooks
+```
+
+This runs `ruff` against staged Python files before every commit and blocks the commit if any violations are found.
+
 ## Development
 
 Run the server locally: