diff --git a/cspell.json b/cspell.json
index 52c4213..eefef18 100644
--- a/cspell.json
+++ b/cspell.json
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
     "aouei",
     "subcmd",
     "ENDJSON",
+    "RLENGTH",
     "unrecognised",
     "tokenisation"
   ]
diff --git a/script-guards/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/script-guards/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..55a616e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script-guards/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "name": "script-guards",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "description": "Prevents unnecessary script generation - enforces research-first, native-tool-first patterns via PreToolUse and UserPromptSubmit hooks",
+  "author": {"name": "JacobPEvans"},
+  "homepage": "https://github.com/JacobPEvans/claude-code-plugins",
+  "keywords": ["scripts", "guards", "direct-execution", "hooks", "nix", "inline-scripts"],
+  "license": "Apache-2.0"
+}
diff --git a/script-guards/hooks/hooks.json b/script-guards/hooks/hooks.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7434828
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script-guards/hooks/hooks.json
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+{
+  "hooks": {
+    "PreToolUse": [
+      {
+        "matcher": "Write",
+        "hooks": [
+          {
+            "type": "command",
+            "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/write-script-guard.sh",
+            "timeout": 10
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      {
+        "matcher": "Edit",
+        "hooks": [
+          {
+            "type": "command",
+            "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/inline-script-guard.sh",
+            "timeout": 5
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      {
+        "matcher": "Bash",
+        "hooks": [
+          {
+            "type": "command",
+            "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/bash-script-guard.sh",
+            "timeout": 5
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    ],
+    "UserPromptSubmit": [
+      {
+        "matcher": "*",
+        "hooks": [
+          {
+            "type": "command",
+            "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/research-reminder.sh",
+            "timeout": 3
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/script-guards/scripts/bash-script-guard.sh b/script-guards/scripts/bash-script-guard.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..770a3ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script-guards/scripts/bash-script-guard.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# bash-script-guard.sh - PreToolUse hook to prevent script creation via Bash tool
+#
+# Detects patterns where Bash is used to write script files (redirects, heredocs)
+# and blocks them, directing to the Write tool instead.
+#
+# Exit codes: 0=allow, 2=deny
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Read JSON input from stdin (fail-open if jq fails)
+input=$(cat)
+command=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.tool_input.command // empty' 2>/dev/null) || exit 0
+
+# If no command, allow
+if [[ -z "$command" ]]; then
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+# Shared deny helper to reduce duplication
+deny() {
+    jq -n --arg reason "$1" '{
+        hookSpecificOutput: {
+            hookEventName: "PreToolUse",
+            permissionDecision: "deny",
+            permissionDecisionReason: $reason
+        }
+    }' >&2
+    exit 2
+}
+
+# All regexes use [[:space:]] and [^[:space:]] for BSD grep/sed compatibility on macOS
+# (\s and \S are GNU extensions not supported by BSD tools)
+
+# Check for file-writing patterns to script files (e.g., echo > file.sh, cat >> script.py)
+if echo "$command" | grep -qE '\b(cat|tee|echo|printf)\b[^|;&]*>>?[[:space:]]+[^[:space:]]+\.(sh|py|rb|pl|js|bash)\b'; then
+    deny "BLOCKED: Use the Write tool for file creation, not Bash redirects.\n\nThe Write tool provides proper file creation with atomic writes. Bash redirects to script files are not allowed."
+fi
+
+# Check for heredoc patterns writing to script files (e.g., cat > file.sh <<EOF)
+if echo "$command" | grep -qE '(cat[[:space:]]+>>?[[:space:]]+[^[:space:]]+\.(sh|py|rb|pl|js|bash)[[:space:]]*<<|tee[[:space:]]+[^[:space:]]+\.(sh|py|rb|pl|js|bash)[[:space:]]*<<)'; then
+    deny "BLOCKED: Use the Write tool for file creation, not heredocs.\n\nThe Write tool provides proper file creation with atomic writes. Heredoc-based file creation via Bash is not allowed."
+fi
+
+# Check for chmod +x on non-existent files (likely creating a new script outside allowed dirs)
+if echo "$command" | grep -qE 'chmod[[:space:]]+\+x[[:space:]]+'; then
+    target_file=$(echo "$command" \
+        | grep -oE 'chmod[[:space:]]+\+x[[:space:]]+[^[:space:]]+' \
+        | head -1 \
+        | sed 's/chmod[[:space:]]*+x[[:space:]]*//')
+    if [[ -n "$target_file" ]] && [[ ! -f "$target_file" ]]; then
+        deny "BLOCKED: Scripts must be placed in scripts/ directory.\n\nUse the Write tool to create scripts in the appropriate directory (scripts/, hooks/, .github/, or tests/)."
+    fi
+fi
+
+# All checks passed, allow operation
+exit 0
diff --git a/script-guards/scripts/inline-script-guard.sh b/script-guards/scripts/inline-script-guard.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..c7e14a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script-guards/scripts/inline-script-guard.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# inline-script-guard.sh - PreToolUse hook to prevent inline scripts in .nix and .yml files
+#
+# Detects complex inline shell logic in Nix files and GitHub Actions workflows,
+# enforcing extraction to separate script files.
+#
+# Exit codes: 0=allow, 2=deny
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Read JSON input from stdin (fail-open if jq fails)
+input=$(cat)
+file_path=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.tool_input.file_path // empty' 2>/dev/null) || exit 0
+new_string=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.tool_input.new_string // empty' 2>/dev/null) || exit 0
+
+# If no file path or no new content, allow
+if [[ -z "$file_path" ]] || [[ -z "$new_string" ]]; then
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+# Extract file extension (lowercase, tr for macOS bash 3.x compatibility)
+extension=$(echo "${file_path##*.}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
+
+# --- Check .nix files for inline shell scripts ---
+if [[ "$extension" == "nix" ]]; then
+    # Count lines containing shell control-flow keywords or pipeline operators
+    # Uses grep -c on the whole string instead of a per-line loop
+    shell_keyword_count=$(echo "$new_string" \
+        | grep -cE '\b(if|then|else|fi|for|while|do|done|case|esac)\b|&&|\|\|' 2>/dev/null) || true
+
+    if [[ "$shell_keyword_count" -gt 3 ]]; then
+        jq -n --arg fp "$file_path" '{
+            hookSpecificOutput: {
+                hookEventName: "PreToolUse",
+                permissionDecision: "deny",
+                permissionDecisionReason: ("BLOCKED: Inline script detected in Nix file \(.fp).\n\nExtract to scripts/ directory and reference via builtins.readFile or writeShellApplication.\n\nShell scripts must NEVER be inline in .nix files. Use separate files in scripts/ with proper extensions.")
+            }
+        }' >&2
+        exit 2
+    fi
+fi
+
+# --- Check .yml/.yaml files for complex inline bash ---
+if [[ "$extension" == "yml" ]] || [[ "$extension" == "yaml" ]]; then
+    # Check for multiline run blocks (run: | or run: >)
+    # Uses [[:space:]] for BSD compatibility on macOS
+    if echo "$new_string" | grep -qE 'run:[[:space:]]*[|>]'; then
+        # Count run-block lines using indentation-aware awk (handles indented YAML steps)
+        run_block_lines=$(printf '%s\n' "$new_string" | awk '
+            /run:[[:space:]]*[|>]/ {
+                match($0, /^[[:space:]]*/); base = RLENGTH; counting = 1; n = 0; next
+            }
+            counting {
+                match($0, /^[[:space:]]*/);
+                if (RLENGTH <= base && $0 !~ /^[[:space:]]*$/) { counting = 0 }
+                else n++
+            }
+            END { print n+0 }
+        ')
+
+        if [[ "$run_block_lines" -gt 5 ]]; then
+            jq -n --arg fp "$file_path" '{
+                hookSpecificOutput: {
+                    hookEventName: "PreToolUse",
+                    permissionDecision: "deny",
+                    permissionDecisionReason: ("BLOCKED: Complex inline bash in workflow YAML \(.fp).\n\nExtract to .github/scripts/ or scripts/ and call from the workflow step.\n\nNever embed complex bash logic inline in GitHub Actions workflow YAML.")
+                }
+            }' >&2
+            exit 2
+        fi
+    fi
+fi
+
+# All checks passed, allow operation
+exit 0
diff --git a/script-guards/scripts/research-reminder.sh b/script-guards/scripts/research-reminder.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..74c12e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script-guards/scripts/research-reminder.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# research-reminder.sh - UserPromptSubmit hook to remind about research-first approach
+#
+# When the user's prompt contains implementation keywords, injects a system message
+# reminding to check for existing tools before creating new ones.
+#
+# Exit codes: 0 always (never blocks user prompts)
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Read JSON input from stdin (fail-open if jq fails)
+input=$(cat)
+prompt=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.tool_input.prompt // .tool_input.content // .prompt // .content // empty' 2>/dev/null) || exit 0
+
+# If no prompt found, exit silently
+if [[ -z "$prompt" ]]; then
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+# Check for implementation keywords (case-insensitive via grep -i)
+if echo "$prompt" | grep -qiwE 'create|write|build|implement|add|make|generate|automate|script|function|helper|utility|tool|wrapper'; then
+    jq -n '{
+        systemMessage: "Before implementing: check if a native tool, CLI, module, or existing function handles this. Use Context7 MCP for library docs. Check the direct-execution alternatives table. Script files are blocked by hooks unless placed in scripts/, hooks/, .github/, or tests/ directories."
+    }'
+fi
+
+exit 0
diff --git a/script-guards/scripts/write-script-guard.sh b/script-guards/scripts/write-script-guard.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..402ed31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script-guards/scripts/write-script-guard.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# write-script-guard.sh - PreToolUse hook to prevent unnecessary script file creation
+#
+# Two-stage guard:
+#   Stage 1 (instant): Skip non-script files by extension/shebang
+#   Stage 2 (for suspected scripts): Allow known directories, existing files,
+#     then consult local MLX model for nuanced evaluation
+#
+# Exit codes: 0=allow, 2=deny
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Read JSON input from stdin (fail-open if jq fails)
+input=$(cat)
+file_path=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.tool_input.file_path // empty' 2>/dev/null) || exit 0
+content=$(echo "$input" | jq -r '.tool_input.content // empty' 2>/dev/null) || exit 0
+
+# If no file path, allow (fail-open)
+if [[ -z "$file_path" ]]; then
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+# --- Stage 1: Fast pattern check ---
+
+# Extract file extension (lowercase, tr for macOS bash 3.x compatibility)
+extension=$(echo "${file_path##*.}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')
+
+# If NOT a script extension AND no shebang, allow immediately (most files exit here)
+case "$extension" in
+    sh|py|rb|pl|js|bash|zsh|fish) ;;  # fall through to stage 2
+    *) [[ "$content" == "#!"* ]] || exit 0 ;;
+esac
+
+# --- Stage 2: Evaluate suspected scripts ---
+
+# Allow files in known script directories
+case "$file_path" in
+    */scripts/*|*/hooks/*|*/.github/*|*/tests/*|*/test/*|*/plugins/*|*/.claude/plugins/*) exit 0 ;;
+esac
+
+# Expand ~ to $HOME for path normalization (Claude Code may pass ~ paths)
+file_path="${file_path/#\~/$HOME}"
+
+# Check if file already exists (editing existing scripts is fine)
+if [[ -f "$file_path" ]]; then
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+# Consult local MLX model for nuanced evaluation
+# Fail-open: if curl fails or model is unreachable, allow
+response=$(curl -s --max-time 5 http://localhost:11434/v1/chat/completions \
+    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+    -d "$(jq -n \
+        --arg fp "$file_path" \
+        '{
+            model: "mlx-community/Qwen3.5-27B-4bit",
+            messages: [{
+                role: "user",
+                content: ("You are a script-prevention guardrail. A file is being created at: " + $fp + "\n\nIs this a legitimate committed artifact (CI workflow, plugin hook, test fixture, build tool) or an unnecessary custom script?\n\nRespond with ONLY '\''allow'\'' or '\''deny'\'' followed by a brief reason.")
+            }],
+            max_tokens: 100,
+            temperature: 0
+        }')" 2>/dev/null) || { exit 0; }
+
+# Parse response (fail-open on parse errors)
+decision=$(echo "$response" | jq -r '.choices[0].message.content // empty' 2>/dev/null) || { exit 0; }
+
+# Check if response starts with "deny" (case-insensitive)
+if echo "$decision" | head -1 | grep -qi '^deny'; then
+    reason=$(echo "$decision" | sed 's/^[Dd]eny[[:space:]]*//')
+    jq -n --arg fp "$file_path" --arg reason "$reason" '{
+        hookSpecificOutput: {
+            hookEventName: "PreToolUse",
+            permissionDecision: "deny",
+            permissionDecisionReason: ("BLOCKED: Script creation at \(.fp) was denied.\n\nReason: \(.reason)\n\nUse existing tools, CLIs, or native patterns instead of creating new scripts. If this script is a legitimate committed artifact, place it in scripts/, hooks/, .github/, or tests/ directories.")
+        }
+    }' >&2
+    exit 2
+fi
+
+# Allow by default (model said allow, or response could not be parsed)
+exit 0