#14 Add Contributing guide (#17)

* #14 Add Contributing guide

Signed-off-by: Chris Gibson <cgibson@outlook.com>

Author: gibson9583

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+
+# Contributing to Open Integration Engine
+
+Thank you for your interest in contributing to the **Open Integration Engine** project. Contributions are vital to the continued growth and success of the project, and we welcome all forms of participation, whether you are a developer, a documentation contributor, or a user providing feedback.
+
+The contribution process is straightforward and can be completed in a few simple steps:
+
+## How to Contribute
+
+### 1. Open an Issue
+Before making any changes, please open an issue in the [GitHub Issues Tracker](https://github.com/OpenIntegrationEngine/engine/issues). This step helps us discuss the problem or feature before work begins, ensuring alignment and reducing redundant efforts.
+
+### 2. Fork the Repository
+Start by forking the [Open Integration Engine GitHub repository](https://github.com/OpenIntegrationEngine/engine) to your own GitHub account.
+
+### 3. Clone Your Fork
+Clone your fork locally to your development environment:
+```bash
+git clone git@github.com:OpenIntegrationEngine/engine.git
+```
+
+### 4. Make Changes
+Create a new branch for your feature or bug fix:
+```bash
+git checkout -b feature/your-feature-name
+```
+Implement the necessary changes, ensuring that they align with the project’s coding standards and practices.
+
+### 5. Test Your Changes
+Before submitting your changes, please ensure that all tests pass and that your changes work as expected in your local environment.
+
+### 6. Submit a Pull Request
+Once your changes are ready, push them to your fork and create a **draft pull request (PR)** from your branch to the `main` branch of the project. Draft PRs help indicate that the work is in progress.  
+Mark the PR as **"Ready for review"** only when it is actually complete and ready for feedback. Include a brief description of the changes and reference the related issue.
+
+## Reporting Bugs
+
+If you encounter a bug, please report it using the **GitHub Issues Tracker**:
+1. **Search for existing issues** to check if the problem has already been reported.
+2. If the issue is not listed, create a new issue with the following information:
+   - A clear and descriptive title.
+   - Steps to reproduce the issue.
+   - The expected vs. actual behavior.
+   - Any relevant logs, error messages, or screenshots to help diagnose the issue.
+
+## Suggesting Features
+
+If you would like to suggest a new feature or enhancement:
+1. Open a new issue in the **GitHub Issues Tracker**.
+2. Label the issue as a **feature request**.
+3. Provide a detailed description of the feature and the problem it aims to solve.
+4. If applicable, include examples or use cases to demonstrate the value of the feature.
+
+## Community Guidelines
+
+- Be respectful and professional in all interactions.
+- Provide constructive feedback and suggestions.
+- Engage in discussions around pull requests and issues with an open and collaborative mindset.
+
+## License
+
+By contributing to **Open Integration Engine**, you agree that your contributions will be licensed under the [Mozilla Public License (MPL) 2.0](./LICENSE).
+
+Thank you for your interest in improving **Open Integration Engine**.