diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
index 33ffff0..025779e 100644
--- a/.github/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ updates:
     schedule:
       interval: weekly
     open-pull-requests-limit: 5
+    ignore:
+      # Node 26 is a preview runtime; keep the current Node 24 type contract.
+      - dependency-name: '@types/node'
+        versions: ['26.x']
     groups:
       development:
         dependency-type: development
diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
index 77502c6..019dd55 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 # v7.0.1
         with:
           persist-credentials: false
-      - uses: github/codeql-action/init@cdf488f595d80d6e07e03d4674febd5ab45fa938 # v4.37.9 (2026-09-13)
+      - uses: github/codeql-action/init@b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63 # v4.38.0
         with:
           languages: ${{ matrix.language }}
           build-mode: none
-      - uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@cdf488f595d80d6e07e03d4674febd5ab45fa938 # v4.37.9 (2026-09-13)
+      - uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63 # v4.38.0
         with:
           category: /language:${{ matrix.language }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scorecard.yml b/.github/workflows/scorecard.yml
index e6baa56..6496801 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/scorecard.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/scorecard.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,6 @@ jobs:
           path: results.sarif
           if-no-files-found: error
           retention-days: 14
-      - uses: github/codeql-action/upload-sarif@cdf488f595d80d6e07e03d4674febd5ab45fa938 # v4.37.9 (2026-09-13)
+      - uses: github/codeql-action/upload-sarif@b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63 # v4.38.0
         with:
           sarif_file: results.sarif
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index e7a09c9..e2d755b 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -21,6 +21,14 @@ Start from an issue labeled `good first issue`. Comment on the issue before open
 
 For scoring-rule work, follow [docs/methodology.md](docs/methodology.md): every rule change needs an evidence class plus positive, negative, and false-positive fixtures. Pull requests that claim ranking, citation, or AI-visibility outcomes will not be merged.
 
+### Adding a scoring rule
+
+Before changing scoring behavior, read [docs/methodology.md](docs/methodology.md) and choose the applicable documented A–D evidence class. Record a current primary source for evidence-backed behavior or an explicit heuristic rationale for a content heuristic, including the rule's scope and known false positives. Class D experiments are informational only and earn no readiness points; do not add zero-weight Class D experiments to the scored fixture corpus.
+
+Create a stable rule ID in [`src/core/rules.ts`](src/core/rules.ts), implement the rule there, and register it in the exported `allRules` array. In [`fixtures/v0.6/rule-corpus.ts`](fixtures/v0.6/rule-corpus.ts), add cases under the matching ID: `positive`, `negative`, and `boundary` for the false-positive boundary. Give each case a purpose and expected `score`, `issues`, and `suggestions`; the [release-contract tests](src/core/__tests__/release-contract.test.ts) cover every scored rule and enforce these expectations through the parser boundary.
+
+Record expected JSON/output changes, score-contract compatibility, and any migration impact in the pull request. Keep claims within the documented scope and do not present a rule or score as evidence of ranking, citation, indexing, or adoption outcomes.
+
 ## Pull requests
 
 Keep each pull request focused. Include:
diff --git a/docs/action-pins.md b/docs/action-pins.md
index 2cace8a..4d4435b 100644
--- a/docs/action-pins.md
+++ b/docs/action-pins.md
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 Resolved through official GitHub repositories on 2026-09-13. Annotated tag objects
 were dereferenced to commits; tag-object SHAs are not used as Action pins.
 
+CodeQL was updated to v4.38.0 on 2026-09-21 after checking its upstream tag
+and [official release notes](https://github.com/github/codeql-action/releases/tag/v4.38.0).
+
 | Action | Upstream tag | Full commit |
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | actions/checkout | v7.0.1 | 3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 |
@@ -10,7 +13,7 @@ were dereferenced to commits; tag-object SHAs are not used as Action pins.
 | actions/upload-artifact | v7.0.1 | 043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a |
 | actions/download-artifact | v8.0.1 | 3e5f45b2cfb9172054b4087a40e8e0b5a5461e7c |
 | actions/dependency-review-action | v5.0.0 | a1d282b36b6f3519aa1f3fc636f609c47dddb294 |
-| github/codeql-action | v4.37.9 | cdf488f595d80d6e07e03d4674febd5ab45fa938 |
+| github/codeql-action | v4.38.0 | b96794f015dfd88f77b49b1c93e0fa7110f94c63 |
 | ossf/scorecard-action | v2.4.4 | 2d1146689b8cda280b9bc96326124645441f03bc |
 | actions/attest-build-provenance | v4.2.2 | 4d101475d8b20a2381f78447822ac1eab6504dd8 |
 
diff --git a/examples/github-action-sample/README.md b/examples/github-action-sample/README.md
index cfd835e..640ee87 100644
--- a/examples/github-action-sample/README.md
+++ b/examples/github-action-sample/README.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ This directory is a copyable end-to-end sample for the v0.6 Action contract.
 - `.github/workflows/geoptimize.yml` checks the static site on pull requests and manual runs.
 - `site/index.html` is a deterministic public input.
 - The Action is advisory by default. The sample does not block a pull request on an unreviewed score threshold.
+- [VitePress workflow example](vitepress/README.md) adapts the check for an existing npm-based VitePress project.
 
 The workflow pins `geoptimize@0.11.0` through the immutable `v0.11.0` Git tag.
 Change this exact version only when deliberately adopting another release.
diff --git a/examples/github-action-sample/vitepress/.github/workflows/geoptimize.yml b/examples/github-action-sample/vitepress/.github/workflows/geoptimize.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2f7cc69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/github-action-sample/vitepress/.github/workflows/geoptimize.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+name: VitePress content readiness
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+jobs:
+  readiness:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 # v7.0.1
+        with:
+          persist-credentials: false
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@820762786026740c76f36085b0efc47a31fe5020 # v7.0.0
+        with:
+          node-version: '24'
+          cache: npm
+      - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm run docs:build
+      - uses: cucuwang/geoptimize@v0.11.0
+        with:
+          path: docs/.vitepress/dist
+          fail-on-low-score: 'false'
diff --git a/examples/github-action-sample/vitepress/README.md b/examples/github-action-sample/vitepress/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a68c90b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/github-action-sample/vitepress/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# VitePress GitHub Action sample
+
+This is a copyable advisory-mode workflow for an existing npm-based VitePress project. It is not a standalone runnable site fixture.
+
+Copy the [sample workflow](.github/workflows/geoptimize.yml) to `.github/workflows/geoptimize.yml` at the repository root of your project.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- `package.json` at the repository root and a committed `package-lock.json`.
+- VitePress installed as a local dependency.
+- A `docs:build` script that runs `vitepress build docs`.
+- VitePress sources in `docs/`, with the default output at `docs/.vitepress/dist`.
+
+The workflow runs `npm ci`, builds the site, and scans `docs/.vitepress/dist` with `cucuwang/geoptimize@v0.11.0`. Advisory mode lets a low score pass; installation, build, and scan errors still fail the job.
+
+For another site root or a custom `outDir`, adjust the `docs:build` command and the Action `path` together so they point to the same build output. See the [official VitePress deployment guide](https://vitepress.dev/guide/deploy) for deployment details.
diff --git a/src/cli/__tests__/resolve-target.test.ts b/src/cli/__tests__/resolve-target.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d06063
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cli/__tests__/resolve-target.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { resolveTarget } from '../interactive.js';
+
+describe('resolveTarget', () => {
+  it('keeps HTTPS URLs unchanged', () => {
+    expect(resolveTarget('https://example.com')).toEqual({
+      type: 'url',
+      path: 'https://example.com',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('normalizes a bare domain to HTTPS', () => {
+    expect(resolveTarget('example.com')).toEqual({
+      type: 'url',
+      path: 'https://example.com',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('throws actionable guidance for relative paths without --dir', () => {
+    expect(() => resolveTarget('./dist')).toThrowError(/--dir/);
+  });
+
+  it('throws actionable guidance for absolute paths without --dir', () => {
+    expect(() => resolveTarget('/tmp/site')).toThrowError(/--dir/);
+  });
+
+  it('resolves paths as directory when --dir is set', () => {
+    expect(resolveTarget('./dist', true)).toEqual({
+      type: 'directory',
+      path: './dist',
+    });
+  });
+});