diff --git a/.github/workflows/guidelines.yaml b/.github/workflows/guidelines.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d6f0bf4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/guidelines.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+name: Code Check
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: ['main']
+  pull_request:
+    branches: ['main', 'format_tooling']
+
+jobs:
+  validate-format:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
+      - name: Run clang-format style check
+        uses: jidicula/clang-format-action@v4.11.0
+        with:
+          clang-format-version: '16'
+          check-path: '.'
+
+  static-analysis:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+
+    # might be enabled in the future:
+    # https://github.com/marketplace/actions/clang-tidy-review
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
+      - name: Fetch & install RISC-V GNU Compiler Toolchain
+        run: |
+          curl -Lo riscv32-elf-ubuntu-22.04-nightly.tar.gz 'https://github.com/riscv-collab/riscv-gnu-toolchain/releases/download/2023.06.09/riscv32-elf-ubuntu-22.04-nightly-2023.06.09-nightly.tar.gz'
+          tar -xf riscv32-elf-ubuntu-22.04-nightly.tar.gz
+          echo "${PWD}/riscv/bin" >> $GITHUB_PATH
+
+      - name: Configure CMake
+        run: cmake -B "${{github.workspace}}/build" -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug
+
+      - name: Run clang-tidy
+        id: linter
+        uses: cpp-linter/cpp-linter-action@v2
+        with:
+          style: 'file'
+          version: '16'
+          thread-comments: false # do not post review summary
+          file-annotations: false # disable review comments
+          lines-changed-only: false # scan everything
+          database: '${{github.workspace}}/build'
+
+      - name: Analysis failed
+        if: steps.linter.outputs.checks-failed > 0
+        run: exit 1