Improving the CONTRIBUTING.md file for mruby/mruby is crucial for attracting and retaining contributors. A clear, concise, and friendly guide makes it easier for newcomers to get involved.

10 Suggestions for Improving the mruby/mruby CONTRIBUTING.md

Here are 10 suggestions to enhance the mruby/mruby repository's CONTRIBUTING.md file:

1. Start with a Welcoming Tone and Mission Statement

Begin with a warm greeting that encourages participation. Briefly state the purpose of mruby and why contributions are valued.

• Suggestion: "Welcome! We're thrilled you're considering contributing to mruby. Your contributions, big or small, are vital to improving this lightweight Ruby implementation. This guide will help you get started."
• Why: Sets a positive tone and makes contributors feel appreciated from the outset.

2. Clearly Define "How to Contribute" Categories

Break down contributions into distinct types. This helps potential contributors find their niche.

• Suggestion: Use clear headings like:
  • Reporting Bugs
  • Suggesting Enhancements/Features
  • Writing Code (Bug Fixes, New Features, Optimizations)
  • Improving Documentation
  • Testing and Reviewing
• Why: Provides a quick overview of how one can help, catering to different skill sets.

3. Detailed "Getting Started with Development" Section

Provide a step-by-step guide for setting up a development environment.

• Suggestion:
  • Prerequisites (e.g., C compiler, make, git).
  • Cloning the repository.
  • Building mruby locally.
  • Running tests.
  • (Optional but helpful) Basic IDE setup advice if common patterns exist.
• Why: Reduces friction for new developers, allowing them to quickly get to a state where they can contribute code.

4. Comprehensive Guide for Reporting Bugs

Ensure bug reports are useful and actionable.

• Suggestion:
  • Check existing issues: "Before opening a new issue, please search mruby's issue tracker to see if the bug has already been reported."
  • Provide a Minimal Reproducible Example (MRE): Emphasize the importance of small, self-contained code snippets that demonstrate the bug.
  • Environment details: Request compiler version, OS, mruby commit hash, etc.
  • Expected vs. Actual behavior: Clearly state what should happen and what does happen.
• Why: High-quality bug reports are essential for efficient debugging and resolution.

5. Clear Pull Request (PR) Guidelines

Set expectations for code contributions to streamline the review process.

• Suggestion:
  • Forking and Branching: Explain the standard fork -> branch -> PR workflow. Suggest clear branch naming conventions (e.g., feature/my-new-feature, bugfix/issue-123).
  • Commit Messages: Recommend a standard for commit messages (e.g., Conventional Commits or a simple type: description format).
  • Coding Style: Link to or briefly outline mruby's coding style guidelines (e.g., C code formatting, Ruby style if applicable for tests/tools).
  • Testing: Emphasize the need for new or updated tests to cover changes.
  • PR Description: Request a clear description of the change, why it's needed, and reference any related issues.
• Why: Ensures consistency in contributions and speeds up code reviews.

6. Guidance on Writing Tests

mruby has a robust testing framework. Guide contributors on how to use it.

• Suggestion:
  • Briefly explain where tests reside (test/ directory).
  • How to write a new test case (e.g., using mrbtest).
  • How to run all tests or specific tests (make test).
  • Emphasize that new features must come with tests, and bug fixes should include regression tests.
• Why: Good tests are crucial for maintaining code quality and preventing regressions.

7. Link to "Good First Issues" and Community Channels

Help newcomers find manageable tasks and connect with the community.

• Suggestion:
  • Good First Issues: Provide a direct link to a filtered view of issues suitable for new contributors (e.g., "Good First Issue" label on GitHub/Jira).
  • Community: Link to relevant mailing lists, Discord, or Gitter channels for discussions and questions.
• Why: Lowers the barrier for initial contributions and fosters community interaction.

8. Licensing and DCO (Developer Certificate of Origin) Information

Make legal requirements clear upfront.

• Suggestion:
  • State that contributions are under the MIT License (or whichever mruby uses for contributions).
  • Explain the Developer Certificate of Origin (DCO) requirement, if applicable (common in Apache projects, though mruby is MIT). Provide instructions on how to git commit -s.
• Why: Ensures legal compliance and protects both contributors and the project.

9. Documentation Contribution Guidelines

Documentation is just as important as code.

• Suggestion:
  • Where documentation resides (e.g., doc/ directory, README, source comments).
  • Preferred format (e.g., Markdown, RDoc).
  • How to submit documentation changes via PR.
• Why: Encourages improvements to user guides, API docs, and examples, which are vital for usability.

10. Code of Conduct Link

Ensure a respectful and inclusive environment for all contributors.

• Suggestion: Include a clear statement and a prominent link to the project's Code of Conduct.
• Why: Promotes a positive and safe community environment.