diff --git a/.husky/pre-commit b/.husky/pre-commit
index c83fdfc4..3c103710 100644
--- a/.husky/pre-commit
+++ b/.husky/pre-commit
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Run quick checks before commit (typecheck + lint + format only).
-# Full CI parity is enforced by .husky/pre-push via validate:ci-parity.
+# Protected branches still enforce full CI parity in .husky/pre-push.
+# Feature branches use a faster pre-push gate plus GitHub CI.
 bun run typecheck && bun run lint:fix && bun run format:check
 
 # Validate UI if changes detected (typecheck + lint only)
diff --git a/.husky/pre-push b/.husky/pre-push
index 012f1386..1a54c477 100755
--- a/.husky/pre-push
+++ b/.husky/pre-push
@@ -1,3 +1,61 @@
-# Enforce CI parity before pushing to remote.
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Protected branches keep the full CI parity gate.
+# Feature branches use a faster gate and let GitHub CI run the full suite.
 # Override in emergencies only: CCS_SKIP_PREPUSH_GATE=1 git push --no-verify
-bun run validate:ci-parity
+
+CURRENT_BRANCH="$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)"
+BASE_BRANCH="${CCS_PR_BASE:-}"
+
+if [[ -z "$BASE_BRANCH" ]]; then
+  if [[ "$CURRENT_BRANCH" == "main" || "$CURRENT_BRANCH" =~ ^hotfix/ || "$CURRENT_BRANCH" =~ ^kai/hotfix- ]]; then
+    BASE_BRANCH="main"
+  else
+    BASE_BRANCH="dev"
+  fi
+fi
+
+if [[ "$CURRENT_BRANCH" == "main" || "$CURRENT_BRANCH" == "dev" || "$CURRENT_BRANCH" =~ ^hotfix/ || "$CURRENT_BRANCH" =~ ^kai/hotfix- ]]; then
+  echo "[i] Protected branch detected, running full CI parity gate..."
+  bun run validate:ci-parity
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+echo "[i] Feature branch detected, running fast pre-push gate..."
+echo "    branch: $CURRENT_BRANCH"
+echo "    base:   $BASE_BRANCH"
+
+bun run typecheck
+bun run lint:fix
+bun run format:check
+
+git fetch origin "$BASE_BRANCH" --quiet || true
+DIFF_RANGE="HEAD"
+if git show-ref --verify --quiet "refs/remotes/origin/$BASE_BRANCH"; then
+  DIFF_RANGE="origin/$BASE_BRANCH...HEAD"
+fi
+
+CHANGED_FILES="$(git diff --name-only "$DIFF_RANGE" || true)"
+
+if printf '%s\n' "$CHANGED_FILES" | grep -q '^ui/'; then
+  echo "[i] UI changes detected, running ui:validate..."
+  bun run ui:validate
+fi
+
+if printf '%s\n' "$CHANGED_FILES" | grep -qE '^(\.github/workflows/|scripts/github/|tests/unit/scripts/github/)'; then
+  echo "[i] GitHub workflow changes detected, running workflow tests..."
+  bun test tests/unit/scripts/github
+fi
+
+if printf '%s\n' "$CHANGED_FILES" | grep -qE '^(src/commands/update-command.ts|tests/unit/commands/update-command-current-install.test.ts|tests/integration/update-command-install-origin.test.ts)'; then
+  echo "[i] Update command changes detected, running targeted update tests..."
+  bun test tests/unit/commands/update-command-current-install.test.ts tests/integration/update-command-install-origin.test.ts
+fi
+
+if printf '%s\n' "$CHANGED_FILES" | grep -qE '^(src/cursor/cursor-models.ts|tests/unit/cursor/cursor-models.test.ts)'; then
+  echo "[i] Cursor model changes detected, running targeted cursor model tests..."
+  bun test tests/unit/cursor/cursor-models.test.ts
+fi
+
+echo "[OK] Fast pre-push gate passed."
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 4755d598..3c182ac2 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ Quality gates MUST pass before pushing. **Both projects have identical workflow.
 bun run format              # Step 1: Fix formatting
 bun run lint:fix            # Step 2: Fix lint issues
 bun run validate            # Step 3: Full gate (typecheck + lint + format + maintainability + tests)
-bun run validate:ci-parity  # Step 4: CI parity gate (build + validate + base branch check)
+bun run validate:ci-parity  # Step 4: full CI parity gate (build + validate + base branch check)
 
 # UI project (if UI changed)
 cd ui
@@ -230,7 +230,8 @@ bun run validate            # Step 3: Final check (must pass)
 - `prepublishOnly` / `prepack` runs `build:all` + `validate` + `sync-version.js`
 - CI/CD runs `bun run validate` on every PR (maintainability is warning mode on PR events)
 - husky `pre-commit` runs quick lint/type/format checks
-- husky `pre-push` runs `bun run validate:ci-parity` to block CI drift before push
+- husky `pre-push` runs the full `bun run validate:ci-parity` gate on `main`/`dev`/hotfix branches
+- husky `pre-push` runs a faster feature-branch gate (`typecheck` + `lint:fix` + `format:check` + targeted checks based on changed files) before GitHub CI handles the full matrix
 
 ### Maintainability Baseline Gate
 
@@ -503,7 +504,7 @@ rm -rf ~/.ccs             # Clean environment
 **Quality (BLOCKERS):**
 - [ ] `bun run format` — formatting fixed
 - [ ] `bun run validate` — all checks pass
-- [ ] `bun run validate:ci-parity` — CI parity passed (also enforced by pre-push hook)
+- [ ] `bun run validate:ci-parity` — CI parity passed (required before protected-branch pushes; recommended before PRs)
 - [ ] `cd ui && bun run format && bun run validate` — if UI changed
 - [ ] If touching debt-sensitive code, run `bun run maintainability:check:strict` before opening/merging PR
 - [ ] If strict mode fails and increase is intentional: `bun run maintainability:baseline` and commit `docs/metrics/maintainability-baseline.json`