diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e01ca941967dfdc29ab3928bec0487138f065dcd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.md
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+---
+name: Bug Report
+about: Create a report to help us squash bugs!
+
+---
+
+<!-- < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < ☺
+v ✰ Thanks for opening an issue! ✰
+v Before smashing the submit button please review the template.
+v Please also ensure that this is not a duplicate issue :)
+☺ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -->∂
+
+## Summary of Bug
+
+<!-- Concisely describe the issue -->
+
+## Version
+
+<!-- git commit hash or tagged version -->
+
+## Steps to Reproduce
+
+<!-- Also please note what feature flags the library was compiled with? -->
+<!-- If this is a build issue, also indicate your OS and compiler versions (clang --version) -->
+
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_request.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_request.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..7d5ed5dfe750c85cfb77b974177078cd2c628230
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_request.md
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+name: Feature Request
+about: Create a proposal to request a feature
+
+---
+
+<!-- < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < ☺
+v ✰ Thanks for opening an issue! ✰
+v Before smashing the submit button please review the template.
+v Word of caution: poorly thought-out proposals may be rejected
+v without deliberation
+☺ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -->
+
+## Summary
+
+<!-- Short, concise description of the proposed feature -->
+
+## Problem Definition
+
+<!-- Why do we need this feature?
+What problems may be addressed by introducing this feature?
+Are there any disadvantages of including this feature? -->
+
+## Proposal
+
+<!-- Detailed description of requirements of implementation -->
+
+____
+
+#### For Admin Use
+
+- [ ] Not duplicate issue
+- [ ] Appropriate labels applied
+- [ ] Appropriate contributors tagged
+- [ ] Contributor assigned/self-assigned
diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..37f2f6c1ef0465b6de4317c8d625ecf7f8e46701
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+<!-- < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < ☺
+v ✰ Thanks for creating a PR! ✰
+v Before hitting that submit button please review the checkboxes.
+v If a checkbox is n/a - please still include it but + a little note why
+☺ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -->
+
+## Description
+
+<!-- Add a description of the changes that this PR introduces and the files that
+are the most critical to review.
+-->
+
+closes: #XXXX
+
+---
+
+Before we can merge this PR, please make sure that all the following items have been
+checked off. If any of the checklist items are not applicable, please leave them but
+write a little note why.
+
+- [ ] Targeted PR against correct branch (master)
+- [ ] Linked to Github issue with discussion and accepted design OR have an explanation in the PR that describes this work.
+- [ ] Wrote unit tests
+- [ ] Updated relevant documentation in the code
+- [ ] Added a relevant changelog entry to the `Pending` section in `CHANGELOG.md`
+- [ ] Re-reviewed `Files changed` in the Github PR explorer
diff --git a/.github/workflows/linkify_changelog.yml b/.github/workflows/linkify_changelog.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..0cbe85f1ebc4906a88957839e24936dd8316364d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/linkify_changelog.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+name: Linkify Changelog
+
+on:
+ workflow_dispatch
+
+jobs:
+ linkify:
+ runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+ steps:
+ - name: Checkout
+ uses: actions/checkout@v2
+ - name: Add links
+ run: python3 scripts/linkify_changelog.py CHANGELOG.md
+ - name: Commit
+ run: |
+ git config user.name github-actions
+ git config user.email github-actions@github.com
+ git add .
+ git commit -m "Linkify Changelog"
+ git push
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..5ef9c79930c2ec6bfe0150096a31d3ed232fc8b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+## Pending
+
+### Breaking changes
+
+### Features
+
+### Improvements
+
+### Bug fixes
diff --git a/scripts/linkify_changelog.py b/scripts/linkify_changelog.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..867ae14daa3e53c09144e812b83f725dbe094a5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/linkify_changelog.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import re
+import sys
+import fileinput
+import os
+
+# Set this to the name of the repo, if you don't want it to be read from the filesystem.
+# It assumes the changelog file is in the root of the repo.
+repo_name = ""
+
+# This script goes through the provided file, and replaces any " \#<number>",
+# with the valid mark down formatted link to it. e.g.
+# " [\#number](https://github.com/arkworks-rs/template/pull/<number>)
+# Note that if the number is for a an issue, github will auto-redirect you when you click the link.
+# It is safe to run the script multiple times in succession.
+#
+# Example usage $ python3 linkify_changelog.py ../CHANGELOG.md
+if len(sys.argv) < 2:
+ print("Must include path to changelog as the first argument to the script")
+ print("Example Usage: python3 linkify_changelog.py ../CHANGELOG.md")
+ exit()
+
+changelog_path = sys.argv[1]
+if repo_name == "":
+ path = os.path.abspath(changelog_path)
+ components = path.split(os.path.sep)
+ repo_name = components[-2]
+
+for line in fileinput.input(inplace=True):
+ line = re.sub(r"\- #([0-9]*)", r"- [\\#\1](https://github.com/arkworks-rs/" + repo_name + r"/pull/\1)", line.rstrip())
+ # edits the current file
+ print(line)
\ No newline at end of file