How to Contribute

The contribution process

Contributing to The Byzantine General is straightforward. All contributions go through GitHub pull requests, which provides a natural review process and full attribution.

Step 1: Fork the repository

Go to the GitHub repository and click "Fork" to create your own copy.

Step 2: Add your research

Create a new file or modify existing files in your fork. If you're adding new research, use the contribution template below.

Step 3: Open a pull request

Submit a pull request (PR) from your fork to the main repository. In your PR description, include a brief summary of what you're contributing and why it matters.

Step 4: Review

The editorial team will review your submission against the project's methodology and evidence standards. This is not about gatekeeping - it's about ensuring consistency and quality. Reviews typically focus on:

• Are the sources verifiable?

• Is the reasoning clear and sound?

• Does it contradict established evidence without addressing why?

• Is the evidence tier correctly assigned?

Step 5: Merge and attribution

Accepted contributions are merged into the main branch and the contributor is credited in the Contributors page. You choose how you want to be attributed - real name, pseudonym, GitHub handle, or wallet address.

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Contribution template

When adding new research, please use this template:

## [Title of your contribution]

**Contributor:** [Your name, handle, or wallet address]
**Date:** [Date of submission]
**Evidence tier:** [Documented / Corroborated / Disputed / Unverified]

### What I found

[Describe your finding clearly and concisely.]

### Sources

- [Source 1: description and link]
- [Source 2: description and link]

### Why it matters

[Explain the significance of this finding in the context of the investigation.]

### Analysis (optional)

[If you're drawing inferences or making connections, explain your reasoning here. Clearly separate documented facts from interpretation.]

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Types of contributions

You don't need to write a thesis to contribute. Here are some examples of valuable contributions:

• Timeline corrections - A date was wrong, an event was missing, a sequence was inaccurate

• New source documents - Court filings, correspondence, public records that aren't yet in the archive

• Translation - Making existing research accessible in other languages

• Technical analysis - Blockchain forensics, code analysis, cryptographic verification

• Contextual research - Historical, legal, or technical context that illuminates existing evidence

• Corrections - Errors in existing research, broken links, outdated information

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What we don't accept

• Unsourced speculation presented as fact

• Personal attacks or doxxing of private individuals

• Content that could expose individuals to legal or physical risk

• Plagiarised content

• Promotional material or content unrelated to the investigation