Update Contribution Guidelines and Define Paths to Contributor and Committer Status

[ssteinbuss]

To foster a welcoming and productive community, it is important to have clear and comprehensive contribution guidelines. These guidelines should not only outline how to contribute to the project but also provide a clear path for contributors to achieve the status of a contributor and a committer.

Proposed Solution

• Review Existing Contribution Guidelines: Examine the current contribution guidelines to identify any gaps or areas for improvement.
• Define Paths to Contributor and Committer Status: Establish clear criteria and processes for contributors to achieve the status of a recognized contributor and a committer. This should include:
  • Contributor Status: Guidelines on how to become a recognized contributor, including the types of contributions that are valued (e.g., code, documentation, issue triage), expected conduct, and the review process.
  • Committer Status: Criteria for becoming a committer, such as demonstrated expertise in the project, a history of quality contributions, and community involvement. Also, outline the responsibilities and privileges that come with committer status.
• Update Contribution Guidelines: Revise the contribution guidelines to include the new paths to contributor and committer status. Ensure the guidelines are clear, detailed, and accessible to all potential contributors.
• Document the Process: Create a clear, step-by-step process for contributors to follow, including:
  • How to submit contributions (e.g., pull requests, issues)
  • How contributions are reviewed and accepted
  • How to apply for or be nominated for contributor or committer status
  • Expectations and responsibilities for contributors and committers
• Communicate the Changes: Update the README and other relevant documentation to reference the new contribution guidelines. Announce the changes to the community through appropriate channels (e.g., mailing list, GitHub Discussions).

Action Items

• [ ] Review and revise the current contribution guidelines.
• [ ] Define clear criteria and processes for achieving contributor and committer status.
• [ ] Update the contribution guidelines with the new information.
• [ ] Document the step-by-step process for contributing and achieving new statuses.
• [ ] Communicate the updated guidelines to the community.

[juliapampus]

Some guidelines provided by the EDC project and EF:

• committer retirement
• onboarding contributors
• EF's project roles

I will come up with an example CONTRIBUTING.md