diff --git a/.github/copilot-instructions.md b/.github/copilot-instructions.md
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+# Copilot Instructions for NVSentinel
+
+This file provides repository-level instructions for GitHub Copilot to improve
+code reviews and suggestions.
+
+## Project Overview
+
+NVSentinel is the NVIDIA Device API — a Protocol Buffer and gRPC-based API for
+GPU device management. The codebase consists primarily of `.proto` definitions
+and their generated Go code.
+
+## Repository Structure
+
+```
+api/
+├── proto/                    # Protocol Buffer source definitions (edit these)
+│   └── device/v1alpha1/
+│       └── gpu.proto
+├── gen/go/                   # Generated Go code (DO NOT edit manually)
+│   └── device/v1alpha1/
+│       ├── gpu.pb.go
+│       └── gpu_grpc.pb.go
+├── go.mod
+└── Makefile
+```
+
+## Code Review Guidelines
+
+### Protocol Buffers
+
+When reviewing `.proto` files:
+
+- **Field naming**: Use `snake_case` for field names
+- **Message/Service naming**: Use `CamelCase`
+- **Documentation**: Every message, field, and RPC must have documentation
+  comments explaining purpose and usage
+- **Field numbers**: Never reuse or change field numbers in existing messages
+- **Backwards compatibility**: New fields should be optional; avoid breaking
+  changes to existing APIs
+- **Style**: Follow [Google's Protocol Buffer Style Guide](https://protobuf.dev/programming-guides/style/)
+
+### Generated Code
+
+- Files in `api/gen/` are **auto-generated** — do not suggest edits to these
+- If generated code appears outdated, suggest running `make protos-generate`
+
+### Go Code
+
+- Use `gofmt` formatting (enforced by golangci-lint)
+- Documentation comments should wrap at 80 characters
+- Follow standard Go idioms and error handling patterns
+- No manual edits to `*.pb.go` or `*_grpc.pb.go` files
+
+## Commit Standards
+
+### Conventional Commits
+
+All commits must follow conventional commit format:
+
+```
+feat: add new GPU condition type
+fix: correct timestamp handling in conditions
+docs: update API documentation
+chore: update protoc-gen-go version
+```
+
+### DCO Sign-off
+
+All commits **must** include a DCO sign-off line:
+
+```
+Signed-off-by: Name <email@example.com>
+```
+
+Use `git commit -s` to add this automatically.
+
+## License Headers
+
+All source files must include the Apache 2.0 license header:
+
+```
+Copyright (c) 2026, NVIDIA CORPORATION.  All rights reserved.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+...
+```
+
+## What to Flag in Reviews
+
+1. **Breaking API changes** without migration path
+2. **Missing documentation** on proto messages/fields/RPCs
+3. **Manual edits** to generated files
+4. **Missing license headers**
+5. **Unsigned commits** (missing DCO)
+6. **Non-conventional commit messages**
+
+## What NOT to Flag
+
+1. Style issues in generated `*.pb.go` files
+2. Import ordering in generated code
+3. Line length in generated code
+
+## Build Commands
+
+```bash
+make protos-generate  # Regenerate Go code from .proto files
+make build            # Build the Go module
+make lint             # Run go vet
+make test             # Run tests
+```
+
+## Tool Versions
+
+Tool versions are centralized in `.versions.yaml`. When suggesting dependency
+updates, reference this file.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/device-api-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/device-api-ci.yml
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+# Copyright (c) 2026, NVIDIA CORPORATION.  All rights reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+name: Device API CI
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - device-api
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - device-api
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+concurrency:
+  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+jobs:
+  lint-test:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 15
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Setup Go
+        uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+        with:
+          go-version-file: api/go.mod
+          cache-dependency-path: api/go.sum
+
+      - name: Install yq
+        run: |
+          sudo wget -qO /usr/local/bin/yq https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/releases/latest/download/yq_linux_amd64
+          sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/yq
+
+      - name: Install protoc
+        run: |
+          PROTOC_VERSION=$(yq eval '.protobuf.protobuf' .versions.yaml | sed 's/v//')
+          curl -LO https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/download/v${PROTOC_VERSION}/protoc-${PROTOC_VERSION}-linux-x86_64.zip
+          sudo unzip -o protoc-${PROTOC_VERSION}-linux-x86_64.zip -d /usr/local
+          rm protoc-${PROTOC_VERSION}-linux-x86_64.zip
+
+      - name: Generate protobuf code
+        run: make -C api protos-generate
+
+      - name: Verify no changes
+        run: |
+          if [ -n "$(git status --porcelain)" ]; then
+            echo "Generated code is out of date. Please run 'make protos-generate' and commit the changes."
+            git diff
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+      - name: Run go vet
+        run: cd api && go vet ./...
+
+      - name: Build
+        run: make -C api build
+
+      - name: Run tests
+        run: cd api && go test -v ./...