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+.DS_Store
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+# CLAUDE.md
+
+This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.
+
+## Overview
+
+This is the **Dash Improvement Proposals (DIPs)** repository — a collection of technical specification documents for the Dash cryptocurrency protocol. Similar to Bitcoin's BIPs, each DIP describes a new feature, protocol change, or informational specification unique to Dash. This is a documentation-only repo with no application code.
+
+## Repository Structure
+
+- Each DIP is a markdown file at the root: `dip-NNNN.md` (zero-padded 4-digit number)
+- Some DIPs have companion directories `dip-NNNN/` containing images, JSON schemas, supplementary documents, or scripts
+- `README.md` contains the master table of all DIPs with their number, layer, title, owner, type, and status
+- Gaps in numbering are intentional (e.g., no DIP 17-19)
+
+## DIP Document Format
+
+Every DIP begins with a metadata header in `<pre>` tags:
+
+```
+<pre>
+  DIP: NNNN
+  Title: ...
+  Author(s): ...
+  Comments-Summary: ...
+  Status: Proposed | Final | Withdrawn
+  Type: Standard | Informational
+  Created: YYYY-MM-DD
+  License: MIT License
+</pre>
+```
+
+Some DIPs include additional fields like `Chain`, `Special-Thanks`, or `Requires`. The body follows BIP 2 style conventions with sections like Abstract, Motivation, Specification, and Copyright.
+
+## Linting
+
+Markdown linting runs on PRs via GitHub Actions (`.github/workflows/markdownlint.yml`). Only changed `.md` files are linted.
+
+```bash
+# Run locally (requires markdownlint-cli2)
+npx markdownlint-cli2 "dip-0031.md" --config .markdownlint.json
+```
+
+### Markdownlint Configuration (`.markdownlint.json`)
+
+Key rule overrides:
+- **MD004**: List style must use asterisks (`*`), not dashes
+- **MD013**: Line length limit is **disabled** (long lines are allowed)
+- **MD033**: Inline HTML is **allowed** (needed for `<pre>` headers and images)
+- **MD041**: First-line-heading rule is **disabled** (DIPs start with `<pre>` block)
+
+## Editing Guidelines
+
+- When adding a new DIP, also add its entry to the summary table in `README.md`
+- DIP numbers are assigned by editors — drafts should use an alias name, not a self-assigned number
+- Place supporting assets (images, JSON, scripts) in a `dip-NNNN/` directory matching the DIP number
+- Use asterisks for unordered lists, not dashes (enforced by MD004)