Create CONTRIBUTING.md

Author: thesues

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+# Contributing to infinistore
+
+Thank you for your interest in contributing to infinistore! We welcome all contributions, whether it's fixing bugs, adding new features, improving documentation, or helping others in the community.
+
+## Table of Contents
+
+- [Getting Started](#getting-started)
+- [Code of Conduct](#code-of-conduct)
+- [How to Contribute](#how-to-contribute)
+  - [Reporting Issues](#reporting-issues)
+  - [Suggesting Enhancements](#suggesting-enhancements)
+  - [Submitting Changes](#submitting-changes)
+  - [Code Style Guidelines](#code-style-guidelines)
+- [Development Workflow](#development-workflow)
+- [License](#license)
+
+## Getting Started
+
+To get started with contributing, please follow these steps:
+
+1. Fork the repository and clone it to your local machine.
+2. Set up your development environment following the [installation guide](./docs/INSTALLATION.md).
+3. Create a new branch for your changes.
+
+## Code of Conduct
+
+This project adheres to the [Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct](./CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md). By participating, you agree to abide by its terms.
+
+## How to Contribute
+
+### Reporting Issues
+
+If you find a bug or have a feature request, please open an issue in the [issue tracker](https://github.com/bd-iaas-us/infiniStore/issues) with the following details:
+
+- A clear and descriptive title.
+- Steps to reproduce the issue (if applicable).
+- Expected vs. actual behavior.
+- Any relevant logs, screenshots, or code snippets.
+
+### Suggesting Enhancements
+
+We welcome suggestions for new features and improvements! Before submitting an enhancement request, please check if a similar idea has already been proposed. If not, open a new issue describing:
+
+- The problem or limitation you are trying to solve.
+- A possible solution or implementation.
+- Any alternative approaches considered.
+
+### Submitting Changes
+
+1. Fork the repository and create a new branch for your changes:
+   ```sh
+   git checkout -b feature-or-fix-name
+   ```
+2. Make your modifications and commit them:
+   ```sh
+   git commit -m "Description of changes"
+   ```
+3. Push your branch to your fork and open a pull request:
+   ```sh
+   git push origin feature-or-fix-name
+   ```
+4. In your pull request, provide a clear explanation of the changes.
+
+### Code Style Guidelines
+
+- Follow the existing code style in the project.
+- Use meaningful commit messages.
+- Ensure all tests pass before submitting.
+- Run the linter (if applicable) before committing.
+
+## Development Workflow
+
+1. Clone the repository and install dependencies.
+2. Run tests locally before submitting changes.
+3. If adding new functionality, update the documentation accordingly.
+4. Ensure your branch is up to date with the latest `main` branch before submitting a PR.
+5. Work with reviewers to address feedback.
+
+## License
+
+By contributing to this project, you agree that your contributions will be licensed under the same license as the project ([Apache 2.0](./LICENSE)).