diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3b03a07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+<!--
+Hey! Thanks for submitting a pull request. Please use this template for all PRs.
+
+*** Please format the title of your PR using the following style: ***
+
+TEMPLATE TITLE: <type>(<scope>): <subject>
+       Example title: feat(ui): Add "NEW" button to map screen
+
+       <type> can be one of:
+            feat – new feature
+            fix – bug fix
+            docs – documentation only
+            style – formatting, whitespace, missing semicolons
+            refactor – code change that neither fixes a bug nor adds a feature
+            perf – performance improvement
+            test – adding or correcting tests
+            chore – maintenance (build scripts, dependencies, CI)
+       <scope> can be one of:
+            Flutter side: ui, widget, screen, map, bus, route, notif, firebase
+            Backend side: api, service, db, ci, or specific module (raptor, docu, notif, etc.)
+            Shared: auth
+       <subject> is the subject of your PR, e.g. "Add 'NEW' button to map screen"
+
+For more info, please see the Contribution Guide:
+https://github.com/mbusdev/maizebus-markdown-docs/blob/main/contribution-guide.md
+
+-->
+
+## Description
+(1-2 sentences: what changed and why — e.g., "Added Firebase push notifications for real-time bus arrivals")
+
+## Type of Change
+- [ ] New feature (`feat`)
+- [ ] Bug fix (`fix`)
+- [ ] Refactor / code improvement
+- [ ] Dependency / build update
+- [ ] Documentation
+- [ ] Other (explain)
+
+## Changed Files
+(Please list *all* files you changed, each with a description of what you changed and why.)
+*Tip: see a list of everything you changed on the "Files changed" tab*
+
+Example:
+* `map_screen.dart`
+    * Added "New" button to top toolbar
+* `bluebus_api.dart`
+    * Added try/catch statements to `fetchRoutes()` for better reliability
+
+## Related Issues
+Closes #XX, Prereq of #XX, etc.
+
+## Does your code rely on another PR
+(attach PR number here)
+
+## Testing Done
+**Flutter:**
+- [ ] Tested on:
+  - [ ] iOS Simulator
+  - [ ] Android Emulator
+  - [ ] Physical device
+**Vitest:**
+- [ ] existing test(s) with coverage: (which tests?)
+- [ ] new tests added: (describe)
+
+## Screenshots / Demo (if UI or notification change)
+<!-- Drag & drop images or screen recordings here -->
+
+## Checklist
+- [ ] Commit messages follow Conventional Commits
+- [ ] PR title follows `<type>(scope): short description`
+- [ ] PR target branch is not `main` and is our current working update branch (e.g. `maizebus2.1`, `dev`)
+- [ ] No `print()` / `debugPrint()` / `console.log()` left in production code
+- [ ] Secrets / keys not committed
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 9d7f9df..a4ef521 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ jobs:
           do
             sleep 1 # waits for the walking cache to populate
           done
-          sleep 10 # waits for the graph/predictions to be built
+          sleep 60 # waits for the graph/predictions to be built
           npx vitest run test
 
   Typecheck:
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 69aa221..ea670a3 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     "type": "module",
     "main": "src/app.ts",
     "scripts": {
-        "start": "tsx src/app.ts",
+        "start": "tsx --env-file=.env --experimental-loader=@opentelemetry/instrumentation/hook.mjs --import @/services/observability.ts src/app.ts",
         "test": "vitest run test",
         "stress-test": "vitest run test/search-stress.test.ts",
         "docs": "typedoc --entryPointStrategy expand ./src"
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
     "license": "ISC",
     "dependencies": {
         "@datastructures-js/priority-queue": "^6.3.3",
+        "@hyperdx/node-opentelemetry": "^0.11.0",
+        "@opentelemetry/host-metrics": "^0.40.0",
         "axios": "^1.7.2",
         "dotenv": "^16.4.5",
         "express": "^4.19.2",
diff --git a/src/services/observability.ts b/src/services/observability.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..32c7e17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/services/observability.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import * as HyperDX from '@hyperdx/node-opentelemetry';
+import { HostMetrics } from '@opentelemetry/host-metrics';
+import { metrics } from '@opentelemetry/api'
+
+// dotenv is NOT used because the otlp endpoint var needs to already be set to work properly
+const otelKey = process.env.OTEL_KEY;
+const otelExporterOtlpEndpoint = process.env.OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT;
+const serviceName = process.env.SERVICE_NAME ?? 'local/mbus-backend-dev';
+
+if (otelKey && otelExporterOtlpEndpoint) {
+    // must be before any meters are created
+    HyperDX.initSDK({
+        apiKey: otelKey,
+        service: serviceName,
+        experimentalExceptionCapture: true,
+    });
+
+    new HostMetrics({
+        meterProvider: metrics.getMeterProvider(),
+    }).start();
+
+    console.log('otel initialized as ' + serviceName);
+} else {
+    console.log('otel is off, make sure key and endpoint are set');
+}
+
diff --git a/src/services/reminder.ts b/src/services/reminder.ts
index 509db08..337368f 100644
--- a/src/services/reminder.ts
+++ b/src/services/reminder.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { applicationDefault, initializeApp } from "firebase-admin/app";
 import * as state from "@/state/transitState";
 import { BaseEvent, DelayEvent, eventsEqual, toKey, Key, RegistrationToken, ThresholdEvent, fromKey, delayEvent, thresholdEvent } from "./reminderTypes";
 
-export * from "./reminderTypes";
+export { baseEvent, fromKey, toKey, registrationToken, sameBaseEvent } from './reminderTypes';
 
 dotenv.config()
 
diff --git a/tsconfig.json b/tsconfig.json
index 3422bf1..72796ca 100644
--- a/tsconfig.json
+++ b/tsconfig.json
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
         "forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true,
         "strict": true,
         "skipLibCheck": true,
-        // "baseUrl": "./",
         "paths": {
             "@/*": [
                 "./src/*"