diff --git a/pkgs/native_assets_builder/CONTRIBUTING.md b/pkgs/native_assets_builder/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7bf301b266
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/native_assets_builder/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+`package:native_assets_builder` and `package:native_assets_cli/native_assets_cli_internal.dart` are used in [`package:dartdev`] and [`package:flutter_tools`].
+
+Dartdev and Flutter Tools are the commandline interfaces for `dart ...` and `flutter ...` commands.
+
+## Downstream builds
+
+Both Dartdev and Flutter Tools are built in open source, and inside g3.
+
+* Dartdev as part of the Dart SDK build on the [Dart CI].
+* Dartdev as part of the g3 build (see CBuild comments on CLs on [Gerrit]).
+* Flutter Tools as part of the workflows on GitHub.
+* Flutter Tools as part of the g3 build (see the "Google testing" workflow on PRs on GitHub).
+
+The versions used in these different places are as follows:
+
+* The Dart SDK uses pinned dependencies in [DEPS], the current hash is in `native_rev`.
+* The Flutter build on GitHub ussed published dependencies in [its `pubspec.yaml`].
+* The g3 build uses the pinned dependencies that are rolled in from the Dart SDK. **Both for Dartdev _and_ Flutter Tools**.
+
+## Rolling
+
+The above means the following.
+
+1. The DEPS in the Dart SDK can only be rolled forward as much as is still compatible with the published deps currently used in Flutter Tools.
+2. Flutter Tools can only be rolled forward as much as is still compatible with with the deps pinned in the Dart SDK.
+
+So, any breaking change must be done in the following way:
+
+1. Introduce a new API.
+2. Release a new version to pub (minor version).
+3. Roll that version into Dart SDK, and migrate uses in the Dart SDK.
+4. Wait for that Dart version to roll into g3.
+5. Update the dependencies to Flutter Tools, and migrate uses.
+6. Get the Flutter PR reviewed.
+7. Wait for the Flutter PR to roll into g3.
+8. Only then, remove the old API.
+9. Release a new version to pub (major version, old API removed).
+10. Roll both in to Dart/Flutter.
+
+The roll status can be seen on internal corp links only:
+
+* Dart roll to g3: https://dart-in-g3-qa-prod.corp.google.com/dg3/Home#/cbuild
+* Flutter roll to g3: https://frob.corp.google.com/
+
+[`package:dartdev`]: https://github.com/dart-lang/sdk/tree/main/pkg/dartdev
+[`package:flutter_tools`]: https://github.com/flutter/flutter/tree/master/packages/flutter_tools
+[Dart CI]: https://ci.chromium.org/p/dart/g/be/console?reload=300
+[Gerrit]: https://dart-review.googlesource.com/
+[DEPS]: https://github.com/dart-lang/sdk/blob/main/DEPS
+[its `pubspec.yaml`]: https://github.com/flutter/flutter/blob/master/packages/flutter_tools/pubspec.yaml