docs: add sponsorship playbook and monthly metrics automation

.github/workflows/monthly-metrics.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+name: Monthly Metrics Snapshot
+
+on:
+  schedule:
+    - cron: '0 14 1 * *' # Monthly on the 1st at 14:00 UTC
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  issues: write
+
+jobs:
+  snapshot:
+    name: Update metrics issue
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Update monthly metrics issue
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7
+        with:
+          script: |
+            const owner = context.repo.owner;
+            const repo = context.repo.repo;
+            const title = "Monthly Metrics Snapshot";
+            const label = "metrics-snapshot";
+            const monthKey = new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 7);
+
+            function parseLastPage(linkHeader) {
+              if (!linkHeader) return null;
+              const match = linkHeader.match(/&page=(\d+)>; rel="last"/);
+              return match ? Number(match[1]) : null;
+            }
+
+            function fmt(value) {
+              if (value === null || value === undefined) return "n/a";
+              return Number(value).toLocaleString("en-US");
+            }
+
+            async function getNpmDownloads(range, pkg) {
+              try {
+                const res = await fetch(`https://api.npmjs.org/downloads/point/${range}/${pkg}`);
+                if (!res.ok) return null;
+                const data = await res.json();
+                return data.downloads ?? null;
+              } catch {
+                return null;
+              }
+            }
+
+            async function getContributorsCount() {
+              try {
+                const resp = await github.rest.repos.listContributors({
+                  owner,
+                  repo,
+                  per_page: 1,
+                  anon: "false"
+                });
+                return parseLastPage(resp.headers.link) ?? resp.data.length;
+              } catch {
+                return null;
+              }
+            }
+
+            async function getReleasesCount() {
+              try {
+                const resp = await github.rest.repos.listReleases({
+                  owner,
+                  repo,
+                  per_page: 1
+                });
+                return parseLastPage(resp.headers.link) ?? resp.data.length;
+              } catch {
+                return null;
+              }
+            }
+
+            async function getTraffic(metric) {
+              try {
+                const route = metric === "clones"
+                  ? "GET /repos/{owner}/{repo}/traffic/clones"
+                  : "GET /repos/{owner}/{repo}/traffic/views";
+                const resp = await github.request(route, { owner, repo });
+                return resp.data?.count ?? null;
+              } catch {
+                return null;
+              }
+            }
+
+            const [
+              mainWeek,
+              shieldWeek,
+              mainMonth,
+              shieldMonth,
+              repoData,
+              contributors,
+              releases,
+              views14d,
+              clones14d
+            ] = await Promise.all([
+              getNpmDownloads("last-week", "ecc-universal"),
+              getNpmDownloads("last-week", "ecc-agentshield"),
+              getNpmDownloads("last-month", "ecc-universal"),
+              getNpmDownloads("last-month", "ecc-agentshield"),
+              github.rest.repos.get({ owner, repo }),
+              getContributorsCount(),
+              getReleasesCount(),
+              getTraffic("views"),
+              getTraffic("clones")
+            ]);
+
+            const stars = repoData.data.stargazers_count;
+            const forks = repoData.data.forks_count;
+
+            const tableHeader = [
+              "| Month (UTC) | ecc-universal (week) | ecc-agentshield (week) | ecc-universal (30d) | ecc-agentshield (30d) | Stars | Forks | Contributors | GitHub App installs (manual) | Views (14d) | Clones (14d) | Releases |",
+              "|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|"
+            ].join("\n");
+
+            const row = `| ${monthKey} | ${fmt(mainWeek)} | ${fmt(shieldWeek)} | ${fmt(mainMonth)} | ${fmt(shieldMonth)} | ${fmt(stars)} | ${fmt(forks)} | ${fmt(contributors)} | n/a | ${fmt(views14d)} | ${fmt(clones14d)} | ${fmt(releases)} |`;
+
+            const intro = [
+              "# Monthly Metrics Snapshot",
+              "",
+              "Automated monthly snapshot for sponsor/partner reporting.",
+              "",
+              "- `GitHub App installs (manual)` is intentionally manual until a stable public API path is available.",
+              "- Traffic metrics are 14-day rolling windows from the GitHub traffic API and can show `n/a` if unavailable.",
+              "",
+              tableHeader
+            ].join("\n");
+
+            try {
+              await github.rest.issues.getLabel({ owner, repo, name: label });
+            } catch (error) {
+              if (error.status === 404) {
+                await github.rest.issues.createLabel({
+                  owner,
+                  repo,
+                  name: label,
+                  color: "0e8a16",
+                  description: "Automated monthly project metrics snapshots"
+                });
+              } else {
+                throw error;
+              }
+            }
+
+            const issuesResp = await github.rest.issues.listForRepo({
+              owner,
+              repo,
+              state: "open",
+              labels: label,
+              per_page: 100
+            });
+
+            let issue = issuesResp.data.find((item) => item.title === title);
+
+            if (!issue) {
+              const created = await github.rest.issues.create({
+                owner,
+                repo,
+                title,
+                labels: [label],
+                body: `${intro}\n${row}\n`
+              });
+              console.log(`Created issue #${created.data.number}`);
+              return;
+            }
+
+            const currentBody = issue.body || "";
+            if (currentBody.includes(`| ${monthKey} |`)) {
+              console.log(`Issue #${issue.number} already has snapshot row for ${monthKey}`);
+              return;
+            }
+
+            const body = currentBody.includes("| Month (UTC) |")
+              ? `${currentBody.trimEnd()}\n${row}\n`
+              : `${intro}\n${row}\n`;
+
+            await github.rest.issues.update({
+              owner,
+              repo,
+              issue_number: issue.number,
+              body
+            });
+            console.log(`Updated issue #${issue.number}`);

README.md

@@ -45,12 +45,15 @@ Use these live signals when presenting ECC to sponsors, platforms, or ecosystem
 - **Main package installs:** [`ecc-universal` on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/ecc-universal)
 - **Security companion installs:** [`ecc-agentshield` on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/ecc-agentshield)
 - **GitHub App distribution:** [ECC Tools marketplace listing](https://github.com/marketplace/ecc-tools)
+- **Automated monthly metrics issue:** powered by `.github/workflows/monthly-metrics.yml`
 - **Repo adoption signal:** stars/forks/contributors badges at the top of this README
 
 Download counts for Claude Code plugin installs are not currently exposed as a public API. For partner reporting, combine npm metrics with GitHub App installs and repository traffic/fork growth.
 
 For a sponsor-call metrics checklist and command snippets, see [`docs/business/metrics-and-sponsorship.md`](docs/business/metrics-and-sponsorship.md).
 
+[**Sponsor ECC**](https://github.com/sponsors/affaan-m) | [Sponsor Tiers](SPONSORS.md) | [Sponsorship Program](SPONSORING.md)
+
 ---
 
 ## The Guides
@@ -1217,7 +1220,7 @@ These configs work for my workflow. You should:
 
 This project is free and open source. Sponsors help keep it maintained and growing.
 
-[**Become a Sponsor**](https://github.com/sponsors/affaan-m) | [Sponsor Tiers](SPONSORS.md)
+[**Become a Sponsor**](https://github.com/sponsors/affaan-m) | [Sponsor Tiers](SPONSORS.md) | [Sponsorship Program](SPONSORING.md)
 
 ---
 

SPONSORING.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# Sponsoring ECC
+
+ECC is maintained as an open-source agent harness performance system across Claude Code, Cursor, OpenCode, and Codex app/CLI.
+
+## Why Sponsor
+
+Sponsorship directly funds:
+
+- Faster bug-fix and release cycles
+- Cross-platform parity work across harnesses
+- Public docs, skills, and reliability tooling that remain free for the community
+
+## Sponsorship Tiers
+
+These are practical starting points and can be adjusted for partnership scope.
+
+| Tier | Price | Best For | Includes |
+|------|-------|----------|----------|
+| Pilot Partner | $200/mo | First sponsor engagement | Monthly metrics update, roadmap preview, prioritized maintainer feedback |
+| Growth Partner | $500/mo | Teams actively adopting ECC | Pilot benefits + monthly office-hours sync + workflow integration guidance |
+| Strategic Partner | $1,000+/mo | Platform/ecosystem partnerships | Growth benefits + coordinated launch support + deeper maintainer collaboration |
+
+## Sponsor Reporting
+
+Metrics shared monthly can include:
+
+- npm downloads (`ecc-universal`, `ecc-agentshield`)
+- Repository adoption (stars, forks, contributors)
+- GitHub App install trend
+- Release cadence and reliability milestones
+
+For exact command snippets and a repeatable pull process, see [`docs/business/metrics-and-sponsorship.md`](docs/business/metrics-and-sponsorship.md).
+
+## Expectations and Scope
+
+- Sponsorship supports maintenance and acceleration; it does not transfer project ownership.
+- Feature requests are prioritized based on sponsor tier, ecosystem impact, and maintenance risk.
+- Security and reliability fixes take precedence over net-new features.
+
+## Sponsor Here
+
+- GitHub Sponsors: [https://github.com/sponsors/affaan-m](https://github.com/sponsors/affaan-m)
+- Project site: [https://ecc.tools](https://ecc.tools)

docs/business/metrics-and-sponsorship.md

@@ -70,3 +70,5 @@ Use this on calls:
 > We track adoption through npm distribution, GitHub App installs, and repository growth.  
 > Claude plugin installs are structurally undercounted publicly, so we use a blended metrics model.  
 > The project supports Claude Code, Cursor, OpenCode, and Codex app/CLI with production-grade hook reliability and a large passing test suite.
+
+For launch-ready social copy snippets, see [`social-launch-copy.md`](./social-launch-copy.md).

docs/business/social-launch-copy.md

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+# Social Launch Copy (X + LinkedIn)
+
+Use these templates as launch-ready starting points. Replace placeholders before posting.
+
+## X Post: Release Announcement
+
+```text
+ECC v1.8.0 is live.
+
+We moved from “config pack” to an agent harness performance system:
+- hook reliability fixes
+- new harness commands
+- cross-tool parity (Claude Code, Cursor, OpenCode, Codex)
+
+Start here: <repo-link>
+```
+
+## X Post: Proof + Metrics
+
+```text
+If you evaluate agent tooling, use blended distribution metrics:
+- npm installs (`ecc-universal`, `ecc-agentshield`)
+- GitHub App installs
+- repo adoption (stars/forks/contributors)
+
+We now track this monthly in-repo for sponsor transparency.
+```
+
+## X Quote Tweet: Eval Skills Article
+
+```text
+Strong point on eval discipline.
+
+In ECC we turned this into production checks via:
+- /harness-audit
+- /quality-gate
+- Stop-phase session summaries
+
+This is where harness performance compounds over time.
+```
+
+## X Quote Tweet: Plankton / deslop workflow
+
+```text
+This workflow direction is right: optimize the harness, not just prompts.
+
+Our v1.8.0 focus was reliability + parity + measurable quality gates across toolchains.
+```
+
+## LinkedIn Post: Partner-Friendly Summary
+
+```text
+We shipped ECC v1.8.0 with one objective: improve agent harness performance in production.
+
+Highlights:
+- more reliable hook lifecycle behavior
+- new harness-level quality commands
+- parity across Claude Code, Cursor, OpenCode, and Codex
+- stronger sponsor-facing metrics tracking
+
+If your team runs AI coding agents daily, this is designed for operational use.
+```