Add CHANGELOG, add missing README files.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Changelog
+
+All notable changes to this repository are documented here.
+
+The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/).
+
+## [2026-04-08] — Quicknode fork modernization (Mike MacCana)
+
+Mike MacCana led the Quicknode fork of the [Solana Foundation program examples](https://github.com/solana-developers/program-examples) from late 2025. The first commits on this repository lineage are dated **8 April 2026**; the summary below covers that work through the initial merge.
+
+### What changed (high level)
+
+**Toolchain and frameworks.** The tree had accumulated examples from several years of Solana development (including Anchor releases going back to the ~0.26 era in 2022 and many intermediate versions). The fork brought the Anchor examples up to **Anchor 1.0.0** stable (from 1.0.0-rc.5), refreshed Agave/Solana CLI pins, standardized on **pnpm**, and added parallel implementations in **[Quasar](https://quasar-lang.com/docs)**, **Pinocchio**, **Native Rust**, and **ASM** where applicable. Token-2022 examples were renamed to **`token-extensions`**.
+
+**Testing.** Replaced the old pattern of local validators, Bankrun, and scattered TypeScript `anchor test` flows with **LiteSVM in-process tests** for most Anchor programs — matching current Anchor defaults (`cargo test` wired through `Anchor.toml` / `pnpm test`). Fixed broken or flaky tests across Native, Pinocchio, and Anchor; added missing harnesses (e.g. block-list Pinocchio). CI was reworked for a repo this size: path filtering, caching, matrix sharding, and reliable detection of framework roots.
+
+**Programs and layout.** Broke large monolithic `lib.rs` files into **instruction handler modules**; adopted **`InitSpace`** and explicit PDA bumps instead of magic account sizes; corrected several logic bugs (escrow, token swap invariant, counter authority checks, compression Bubblegum program id, and more). Expanded finance and token-extension coverage; reorganized transfer-hook examples (including block-list under Pinocchio).
+
+**Documentation.** Rewrote the root README (framework badges, clearer example blurbs, ASM links), ran a style and **truth audit** on READMEs, and linked canonical [Solana terminology](https://solana.com/docs/references/terminology) on first mention. Added this changelog, `CONTRIBUTING.md` (aligned with LiteSVM testing), README templates, per-example Anchor and Quasar READMEs, fixed Husky for GUI git clients, removed unused maintainer scripts (`sync-package-json`, `cicd.sh`, local-validator helpers for the allow/block-list UI), dropped the orphan `tokens/spl-token-minter/` tree, and removed legacy root `package.json` dependencies (web3.js, Bankrun, chai).
+
+**Removed / deferred.** Dropped duplicate or WIP trees (duplicate block-list Pinocchio copy, Quasar metadata example blocked on `sol_realloc`, root `yarn.lock`). Some examples remain excluded from CI via `.ghaignore` until they build cleanly again (compression, escrow, pyth, and others — see that file for the live list).
+
+## Before June 2026
+
+There was **no changelog** before June 2026. Older history lives in git only.

README.md

@@ -339,4 +339,4 @@ Work with Metaplex compressed NFTs.
 
 ---
 
-**PRs welcome!** Follow the [contributing guidelines](./CONTRIBUTING.md) to keep things consistent.
+**PRs welcome!** Follow the [contributing guidelines](./CONTRIBUTING.md) and see [CHANGELOG.md](./CHANGELOG.md) for release history.

basics/account-data/quasar/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Account Data (Quasar)
+
+Store and retrieve data in a [program](https://solana.com/docs/terminology#program)-owned [account](https://solana.com/docs/terminology#account).
+
+See also: the [repository catalog](../../../README.md).
+
+## Major concepts
+
+- Account layout and serialization
+- Quasar account views
+
+## Setup
+
+From `basics/account-data/quasar/`:
+
+```bash
+quasar build
+```
+
+Prerequisites: [Quasar](https://quasar-lang.com/docs) CLI and [Agave](https://docs.anza.xyz/) toolchain (see `Quasar.toml`).
+
+## Testing
+
+In-process tests via **Quasar SVM** (`quasar-svm` in `Quasar.toml`):
+
+```bash
+cargo test
+```
+
+Tests invoke instruction handlers and assert onchain state. No local validator.
+
+## Usage
+
+Read `src/` and `Quasar.toml`. Compare with the [Anchor](../anchor/) variant in the same example where present.

basics/checking-accounts/quasar/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Checking Accounts (Quasar)
+
+Validate signers, owners, and addresses on incoming [instructions](https://solana.com/docs/terminology#instruction).
+
+See also: [Checking Accounts overview](../README.md) and the [repository catalog](../../../README.md).
+
+## Major concepts
+
+- Compile-time account checks
+- Signer and mut constraints
+
+## Setup
+
+From `basics/checking-accounts/quasar/`:
+
+```bash
+quasar build
+```
+
+Prerequisites: [Quasar](https://quasar-lang.com/docs) CLI and [Agave](https://docs.anza.xyz/) toolchain (see `Quasar.toml`).
+
+## Testing
+
+In-process tests via **Quasar SVM** (`quasar-svm` in `Quasar.toml`):
+
+```bash
+cargo test
+```
+
+Tests invoke instruction handlers and assert onchain state. No local validator.
+
+## Usage
+
+Read `src/` and `Quasar.toml`. Compare with the [Anchor](../anchor/) variant in the same example where present.

basics/close-account/quasar/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Close Account (Quasar)
+
+Create a PDA [account](https://solana.com/docs/terminology#account), then close it and return [rent](https://solana.com/docs/terminology#rent) to the user.
+
+See also: the [repository catalog](../../../README.md).
+
+## Major concepts
+
+- PDA init and close
+- Rent reclamation
+
+## Setup
+
+From `basics/close-account/quasar/`:
+
+```bash
+quasar build
+```
+
+Prerequisites: [Quasar](https://quasar-lang.com/docs) CLI and [Agave](https://docs.anza.xyz/) toolchain (see `Quasar.toml`).
+
+## Testing
+
+In-process tests via **Quasar SVM** (`quasar-svm` in `Quasar.toml`):
+
+```bash
+cargo test
+```
+
+Tests invoke instruction handlers and assert onchain state. No local validator.
+
+## Usage
+
+Read `src/` and `Quasar.toml`. Compare with the [Anchor](../anchor/) variant in the same example where present.

basics/counter/quasar/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Counter (Quasar)
+
+Global counter in a [PDA](https://solana.com/docs/terminology#program-derived-address-pda) with initialize and increment handlers.
+
+See also: [Counter overview](../README.md) and the [repository catalog](../../../README.md).
+
+## Major concepts
+
+- PDA state
+- Handler dispatch
+
+## Setup
+
+From `basics/counter/quasar/`:
+
+```bash
+quasar build
+```
+
+Prerequisites: [Quasar](https://quasar-lang.com/docs) CLI and [Agave](https://docs.anza.xyz/) toolchain (see `Quasar.toml`).
+
+## Testing
+
+In-process tests via **Quasar SVM** (`quasar-svm` in `Quasar.toml`):
+
+```bash
+cargo test
+```
+
+Tests invoke instruction handlers and assert onchain state. No local validator.
+
+## Usage
+
+Read `src/` and `Quasar.toml`. Compare with the [Anchor](../anchor/) variant in the same example where present.

basics/create-account/quasar/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Create Account (Quasar)
+
+Create and fund rent-exempt accounts via the System Program.
+
+See also: [Create Account overview](../README.md) and the [repository catalog](../../../README.md).
+
+## Major concepts
+
+- System Program CPI
+- Rent-exempt lamports
+
+## Setup
+
+From `basics/create-account/quasar/`:
+
+```bash
+quasar build
+```
+
+Prerequisites: [Quasar](https://quasar-lang.com/docs) CLI and [Agave](https://docs.anza.xyz/) toolchain (see `Quasar.toml`).
+
+## Testing
+
+In-process tests via **Quasar SVM** (`quasar-svm` in `Quasar.toml`):
+
+```bash
+cargo test
+```
+
+Tests invoke instruction handlers and assert onchain state. No local validator.
+
+## Usage
+
+Read `src/` and `Quasar.toml`. Compare with the [Anchor](../anchor/) variant in the same example where present.

basics/favorites/quasar/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Favorites (Quasar)
+
+Per-user favorites in a PDA; only the owner can update their data.
+
+See also: the [repository catalog](../../../README.md).
+
+## Major concepts
+
+- Per-user PDA
+- Authority checks
+
+## Setup
+
+From `basics/favorites/quasar/`:
+
+```bash
+quasar build
+```
+
+Prerequisites: [Quasar](https://quasar-lang.com/docs) CLI and [Agave](https://docs.anza.xyz/) toolchain (see `Quasar.toml`).
+
+## Testing
+
+In-process tests via **Quasar SVM** (`quasar-svm` in `Quasar.toml`):
+
+```bash
+cargo test
+```
+
+Tests invoke instruction handlers and assert onchain state. No local validator.
+
+## Usage
+
+Read `src/` and `Quasar.toml`. Compare with the [Anchor](../anchor/) variant in the same example where present.

basics/hello-solana/quasar/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Hello Solana (Quasar)
+
+Minimal program that logs a greeting.
+
+See also: [Hello Solana overview](../README.md) and the [repository catalog](../../../README.md).
+
+## Major concepts
+
+- Program entrypoint
+- Instruction data
+
+## Setup
+
+From `basics/hello-solana/quasar/`:
+
+```bash
+quasar build
+```
+
+Prerequisites: [Quasar](https://quasar-lang.com/docs) CLI and [Agave](https://docs.anza.xyz/) toolchain (see `Quasar.toml`).
+
+## Testing
+
+In-process tests via **Quasar SVM** (`quasar-svm` in `Quasar.toml`):
+
+```bash
+cargo test
+```
+
+Tests invoke instruction handlers and assert onchain state. No local validator.
+
+## Usage
+
+Read `src/` and `Quasar.toml`. Compare with the [Anchor](../anchor/) variant in the same example where present.

basics/pda-rent-payer/quasar/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# PDA Rent Payer (Quasar)
+
+A [PDA](https://solana.com/docs/terminology#program-derived-address-pda) pays [rent](https://solana.com/docs/terminology#rent) when creating another account.
+
+See also: [Pda Rent Payer overview](../README.md) and the [repository catalog](../../../README.md).
+
+## Major concepts
+
+- PDA signer
+- Rent payer pattern
+
+## Setup
+
+From `basics/pda-rent-payer/quasar/`:
+
+```bash
+quasar build
+```
+
+Prerequisites: [Quasar](https://quasar-lang.com/docs) CLI and [Agave](https://docs.anza.xyz/) toolchain (see `Quasar.toml`).
+
+## Testing
+
+In-process tests via **Quasar SVM** (`quasar-svm` in `Quasar.toml`):
+
+```bash
+cargo test
+```
+
+Tests invoke instruction handlers and assert onchain state. No local validator.
+
+## Usage
+
+Read `src/` and `Quasar.toml`. Compare with the [Anchor](../anchor/) variant in the same example where present.

basics/processing-instructions/quasar/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Processing Instructions (Quasar)
+
+Pass arguments into an [instruction handler](https://solana.com/docs/terminology#instruction-handler).
+
+See also: [Processing Instructions overview](../README.md) and the [repository catalog](../../../README.md).
+
+## Major concepts
+
+- Instruction data
+- Handler parameters
+
+## Setup
+
+From `basics/processing-instructions/quasar/`:
+
+```bash
+quasar build
+```
+
+Prerequisites: [Quasar](https://quasar-lang.com/docs) CLI and [Agave](https://docs.anza.xyz/) toolchain (see `Quasar.toml`).
+
+## Testing
+
+In-process tests via **Quasar SVM** (`quasar-svm` in `Quasar.toml`):
+
+```bash
+cargo test
+```
+
+Tests invoke instruction handlers and assert onchain state. No local validator.
+
+## Usage
+
+Read `src/` and `Quasar.toml`. Compare with the [Anchor](../anchor/) variant in the same example where present.

basics/program-derived-addresses/quasar/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Program Derived Addresses (Quasar)
+
+Derive and use PDAs for deterministic program-owned addresses.
+
+See also: the [repository catalog](../../../README.md).
+
+## Major concepts
+
+- Seed derivation
+- PDA-owned state
+
+## Setup
+
+From `basics/program-derived-addresses/quasar/`:
+
+```bash
+quasar build
+```
+
+Prerequisites: [Quasar](https://quasar-lang.com/docs) CLI and [Agave](https://docs.anza.xyz/) toolchain (see `Quasar.toml`).
+
+## Testing
+
+In-process tests via **Quasar SVM** (`quasar-svm` in `Quasar.toml`):
+
+```bash
+cargo test
+```
+
+Tests invoke instruction handlers and assert onchain state. No local validator.
+
+## Usage
+
+Read `src/` and `Quasar.toml`. Compare with the [Anchor](../anchor/) variant in the same example where present.