Add WIP verbose contributing guidelines

docs/source/contributing/contrib_code.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+.. _contrib_doc_dev:
+
+Contributing to the AboutCode
+=============================
+
+Here are some general guidelines to contribute to AboutCode both
+for new contributors and veterans, so you know how we do things Here
+and what to expect from us. If you are a new contributor, make sure you
+go through the entire contributing page, before you start interacting with
+the project through issues/PRs or in our public chatrooms.
+
+First interactions
+------------------
+
+- To be completed.
+
+What can you contribute to?
+---------------------------
+
+Most of our repositories have issues labeled as a `good-first-issue`
+to help new conributors get started, with a small, clearly described
+issue which helps you:
+
+- understand the codebase and the concepts
+- understand how we do PR reviews, and how you have to
+  seek and integrate feedback into your PR
+- understand our code/documentation and other standards
+
+You can pick up an issue generally if:
+
+- It is labeled as a `good-first-issue` or you think you understand the problem/fix
+- Doesn't have anyone (maintainers/others) assigned
+- Is not assigned to a aboutcode project (see the `Projects` section on the right) 
+- Has a PR open for the issue, but this is stale (2-3 months old)
+- Has an open PR, but you want to add more modifications
+
+Working on the same issue
+-------------------------
+
+You can work on something which others are already working on, but always try to
+use their commits directly or at the minimum credit them for their work.
+Open Source is collaborative developement, not a competetion.
+
+- Use commits directly by adding a git remote and fetching the commits from there
+- Clearly mention/reference the commits/PRs in your commit/PR
+
+We do not assign issues to new contributors as this blocks the issue for everyone else,
+and in case the issue is not resolved by the assigned person, this only hampers
+productivity for the project. So:
+
+- Please don't comment on the issue asking to be assigned to it
+- No need to comment on the issue stating that you've started working on it
+  or expressing interest
+- Comment on a issue, only to ask specific questions/more details and discuss the
+  problem/fix
+
+Use an issue to only discuss/communicate about the problem/fix, as this helps us help
+you contribute and also helps any other contributor, as they only need to go
+through the things needed for the issue.
+
+You are always encouraged to work on issues together with other contributors, and
+improve on PRs, with proper communication and credit.
+
+What you need to do before a PR review
+--------------------------------------
+
+Reviewing a PR takes significant time from the maintainers to
+properly evaluate and provide feedback, and make sure the code
+contributed works as expected, and can be maintained. So Please
+make sure you've made the PR easy to review for us by doing the
+following:
+
+- The PR has the issue referenced clearly
+  (or contains explanation on why it is needed)
+- The PR is from a current branch and there is no merge conflicts
+- Populate the PR template with necessary information which we ask for
+- All the tests for the PR pass on the CI, or the failures are explained
+- If you have regenerated test expectations make sure they are related to
+  your PR and the changes make sense
+- Provide a commit signoff so this can be properly attributed to you
+- If you are changing any functionalty you have to update the CHANGELOG,
+  documentation, and not just the code
+- Refrain from populating the PR title/description with AI, just write a
+  concise summary yourself
+- If you are adding new functionalty or fixing an issue, you must add a test
+  to check your fix/feature works as expected
+
+
+Your code must be tested
+-------------------------
+
+To be completed.
+
+Communicating with maintainers
+------------------------------
+
+AboutCode has a small team of maintainers working on maintaining
+and improving all the AboutCode projects, and it might take us
+some time to review
+
+Why you want to follow our guidelines
+-------------------------------------
+
+To be completed.
+