diff --git a/.githooks/pre-commit b/.githooks/pre-commit
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..112ab8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.githooks/pre-commit
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+./gradlew spotlessApply --quiet
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+  echo "spotlessApply failed — commit aborted"
+  exit 1
+fi
+git diff --name-only | xargs -r git add
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f225f91..8e919a6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -72,7 +72,9 @@ Use the Gradle wrapper — no separate Gradle installation needed.
 
 ## Code Formatting
 
-This project uses [Spotless](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless) with Google Java Format. Formatting is applied automatically on every build.
+This project uses [Spotless](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless) with Google Java Format. Formatting is applied automatically on every build and on every commit (via `.githooks/pre-commit`).
+
+The hook is installed automatically the first time you run `./gradlew build`.
 
 **Apply formatting manually:**
 ```bash
@@ -142,7 +144,7 @@ This project is licensed under the [BSD 3-Clause License](LICENSE). See individu
 
 ### Triple Helix Robotics (FRC Team 2363)
 
-The robot-specific subsystems and supporting utilities are original work by Triple Helix Robotics, copyright 2025.
+The robot-specific subsystems and supporting utilities are original work by Triple Helix Robotics, copyright 2025-2026.
 
 ### AdvantageKit — Littleton Robotics (FRC 6328)
 
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index bf72faa..bc3248d 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -203,6 +203,13 @@ task(eventDeploy) {
 }
 createVersionFile.dependsOn(eventDeploy)
 
+// Install git hooks on first build
+task installHooks(type: Exec) {
+    onlyIf { !System.getenv("CI") }
+    commandLine "git", "config", "core.hooksPath", ".githooks"
+}
+project.compileJava.dependsOn(installHooks)
+
 // Spotless formatting
 project.compileJava.dependsOn(spotlessApply)
 spotless {
diff --git a/doc/CONTRIBUTING.md b/doc/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 22268a2..ed81b3c 100644
--- a/doc/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/doc/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -166,20 +166,13 @@ If `main` has changes that overlap with your branch, Git will flag conflicts. Do
 
 ### Final check before opening a PR
 
-Run the full build and formatting check one more time before pushing. Use `./gradlew` on Mac/Linux or Git Bash; use `gradlew` in Windows Command Prompt:
+Run the full build one more time before pushing. Use `./gradlew` on Mac/Linux or Git Bash; use `gradlew` in Windows Command Prompt:
 
 ```bash
 ./gradlew build
-./gradlew spotlessCheck
 ```
 
-If `spotlessCheck` fails, it means there are formatting issues. Apply the formatter automatically:
-
-```bash
-./gradlew spotlessApply
-```
-
-Review the diff, then stage and commit the formatting changes before pushing. CI will run `spotlessCheck` automatically on your PR and will fail if formatting is not clean.
+Formatting is applied automatically on every commit by the pre-commit hook (installed on first build), so it should already be clean. CI will run `spotlessCheck` on your PR and will fail if formatting is not clean — if that happens, run `./gradlew spotlessApply`, commit, and push.
 
 ### Open a pull request
 
@@ -207,7 +200,7 @@ Once approved and CI is green, a mentor or senior programmer will merge the PR.
 
 ### Formatting
 
-This project uses [Spotless](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless) with Google Java Format to keep code style consistent across the whole codebase. Formatting is applied automatically every time you run `./gradlew build`, so in most cases you do not need to think about it. If you ever want to apply it manually without building:
+This project uses [Spotless](https://github.com/diffplug/spotless) with Google Java Format to keep code style consistent across the whole codebase. Formatting is applied automatically on every build and on every commit via a pre-commit hook in `.githooks/`. The hook is installed automatically the first time you run `./gradlew build`, so in most cases you do not need to think about it. If you ever want to apply it manually:
 
 ```bash
 ./gradlew spotlessApply