Skip to content

CONTRIBUTING.md

Latest commit

 

History

History
133 lines (90 loc) · 4.48 KB

CONTRIBUTING.md

File metadata and controls

133 lines (90 loc) · 4.48 KB
Raw

Contributing to Our Project

First off, thank you for considering contributing! We welcome everyone — whether you're fixing a typo, reporting a bug, suggesting a feature, or writing code. Every contribution matters.

Welcome

We're glad you're here. This project is built by people who care, and we'd love for you to be part of it. No contribution is too small — from fixing a typo in documentation to implementing a new feature, we appreciate it all.

If you're new to open source, look for issues labeled good first issue or help wanted. Those are great starting points.

How to Contribute

1. Fork the Repository

Click the Fork button at the top right of the repository page. This creates your own copy of the project.

2. Clone Your Fork

git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/REPO_NAME.git
cd REPO_NAME

3. Create a Branch

git checkout -b my-contribution

Use a descriptive branch name like fix/login-bug or feature/add-search.

4. Make Your Changes

Write your code, fix that bug, improve that doc — whatever you set out to do.

5. Commit Your Changes

git add .
git commit -m "Brief description of what you changed"

Write clear, concise commit messages. Explain what and why, not how.

6. Push to Your Fork

git push origin my-contribution

7. Open a Pull Request

Go to the original repository on GitHub. You'll see a Compare & pull request button. Click it, fill out the PR template, and submit!

Development Setup

  1. Fork and clone the repo (see above)
  2. Install dependencies: 
    # Check the README or package.json / requirements.txt / etc.
# for project-specific setup instructions
  3. Create a branch for your work
  4. Make changes and test them locally
  5. Ensure existing tests pass before submitting

Note: Setup instructions may vary by project. Check the repository's README for specific details.

Code Style Guidelines

  • Consistency matters more than personal preference. Follow the existing code style.
  • Use meaningful variable and function names.
  • Write comments for complex logic — help the next person understand your thinking.
  • Keep functions small and focused.
  • Run any existing linters or formatters before committing: 
    # Examples (project-dependent):
npm run lint        # JavaScript/TypeScript
flake8 .            # Python
cargo clippy        # Rust
  • If the project has a .editorconfig or formatting config, respect it.

Reporting Bugs

Found a bug? Please open an issue and include:

  1. What happened — the unexpected behavior
  2. What you expected — what should have happened
  3. Steps to reproduce — how to trigger the bug
  4. Environment — OS, browser, runtime version, etc.
  5. Screenshots or logs — if applicable

The more detail you provide, the faster we can fix it.

Suggesting Features

We love feature ideas! Open an issue with:

  1. The problem — what are you trying to solve?
  2. Your proposed solution — how would you like it to work?
  3. Alternatives considered — any other approaches you thought of
  4. Additional context — screenshots, links, examples from other projects

Even if we can't implement it right away, good feature requests help us plan.

Pull Request Process

  1. One thing per PR — keep PRs focused on a single change. It's easier to review and merge.
  2. Update documentation — if your change affects behavior, update the relevant docs.
  3. Add tests — if applicable, add tests for your changes.
  4. Ensure CI passes — fix any failing checks before requesting review.
  5. Be responsive — if a reviewer asks questions or suggests changes, respond promptly.
  6. Be patient — maintainers review PRs as time allows. We'll get to yours.

PR Checklist

Before submitting, make sure you've:

  • Read the contributing guidelines
  • Made your changes in a new branch (not main)
  • Written clear commit messages
  • Added/updated tests if applicable
  • Updated documentation if applicable
  • Verified all existing tests still pass

Questions?

Feel free to open an issue with the question label, or start a discussion in the Discussions tab if enabled. There are no silly questions — we're all here to learn and build together.

Thank You

Every contribution makes this project better. Whether it's your first PR or your hundredth, we appreciate you taking the time to contribute. Thank you! 💙