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+# GraphFusion Core: Best Practices
+
+This document provides guidelines and recommendations to help maintain a high standard of quality, performance, and maintainability in the GraphFusion Core repository.
+
+## Table of Contents
+
+1. [Coding Standards](#coding-standards)
+2. [Documentation](#documentation)
+3. [Testing](#testing)
+4. [Code Reviews](#code-reviews)
+5. [Performance Optimization](#performance-optimization)
+6. [Security](#security)
+
+---
+
+### 1. Coding Standards
+
+- **Follow PEP 8**: Ensure code is consistent with Python's PEP 8 style guide. Use linters like `flake8` to catch any issues.
+- **Use Type Hints**: Type annotations improve code readability and help with debugging and refactoring.
+- **Organize Imports**: Group and order imports as follows:
+  1. Standard library imports
+  2. Third-party libraries
+  3. Local module imports
+- **Keep Functions Small and Focused**: Aim for functions to do one thing well. This improves readability, testing, and maintenance.
+- **Consistent Naming**: Use descriptive names for variables, functions, and classes. Follow naming conventions (e.g., snake_case for variables, CamelCase for classes).
+
+### 2. Documentation
+
+- **Docstrings**: Every module, class, and public function should have a clear and concise docstring describing its purpose. Use [Google Style Docstrings](https://google.github.io/styleguide/pyguide.html#38-comments-and-docstrings).
+- **README Updates**: Keep the `README.md` up to date with any significant changes or additions to core functionalities.
+- **Code Comments**: Write comments to clarify complex logic, but avoid unnecessary comments for self-explanatory code.
+- **API Documentation**: Update API docs under `docs/api/` with any new functionality or modifications.
+
+### 3. Testing
+
+- **Write Unit Tests for New Features**: Ensure that every new feature has corresponding unit tests to validate its behavior.
+- **Coverage Goal**: Aim for at least 90% test coverage across the codebase.
+- **Test Naming**: Use descriptive names for test functions, e.g., `test_confidence_score_calculation()`.
+- **Mock External Dependencies**: Use mocking libraries to isolate the unit of code being tested.
+- **Run Tests Locally**: Before pushing code, always run `pytest` locally to verify your changes.
+
+### 4. Code Reviews
+
+- **Review Small, Focused PRs**: Submit pull requests that are limited in scope and focused on a single feature or fix.
+- **Be Clear and Constructive**: Offer specific feedback, ask questions for clarification, and suggest improvements. Avoid nit-picking over minor style issues if they don’t impact functionality or readability.
+- **Automated Checks**: Ensure that all CI checks pass before approving a PR, including linting, testing, and type checking.
+- **Use CODEOWNERS for Accountability**: Each module should have designated code owners who review and approve changes for that module.
+
+### 5. Performance Optimization
+
+- **Efficient Algorithms**: When dealing with large graph structures or memory management, consider time and space complexity. Use efficient algorithms and data structures.
+- **Profiling Tools**: Use tools like `cProfile` and `memory_profiler` to analyze bottlenecks in critical code paths.
+- **Caching**: Utilize caching where possible, especially in repetitive operations, to improve speed.
+- **Batch Processing**: Avoid looping over single items when processing large datasets; consider batch processing for efficiency.
+- **Optimize Imports**: Only import what is necessary to keep memory usage low.
+
+### 6. Security
+
+- **Sanitize Inputs**: Validate all external inputs to prevent injection attacks and buffer overflows.
+- **Secrets Management**: Avoid hardcoding sensitive information like API keys. Use environment variables or secure vaults.
+- **Regular Dependency Checks**: Monitor and update dependencies regularly to patch security vulnerabilities. Review findings from security scans in the CI/CD pipeline.
+- **Error Handling**: Use exception handling to catch and handle errors gracefully. Avoid exposing sensitive information in error messages.
+
+---
+
+Adhering to these best practices will ensure a maintainable, performant, and secure codebase, contributing to GraphFusion’s long-term success. If you have questions or suggestions, please reach out to the core team.