Merge pull request #89 from walters-labs/migrate-towards-REST-style-API

create `CONTRIBUTING.md`

Author: jacksonwalters

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+# Contributing to Open Encrypt
+
+Thank you for your interest in contributing to Open Encrypt! We welcome contributions from everyone. To help us keep the project organized and maintain a high standard, please follow these guidelines.
+
+## How to Contribute
+
+### Fork the repository
+
+1. Fork the Open Encrypt repository to your own GitHub account.
+2. Clone your fork locally:
+
+```
+git clone https://github.com/your-username/open-encrypt.git
+cd open-encrypt
+```
+
+3. Create a new branch for your feature or bugfix:
+
+```
+git checkout -b my-feature-branch
+```
+
+### Make your changes
+
+- Write clear, concise commit messages.
+- Ensure your code follows the project's coding style.
+- Add tests for new features or bug fixes.
+- Update documentation if necessary.
+
+### Submit your changes
+
+1. Push your branch to your fork:
+
+```
+git push origin my-feature-branch
+```
+
+2. Open a pull request on the main Open Encrypt repository.
+3. Fill out the PR template with a clear description of your changes.
+4. Respond to any feedback or requested changes from maintainers.
+
+## Code of Conduct
+
+By participating in this project, you agree to abide by our [Code of Conduct](CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md). Please be respectful and considerate.
+
+## Reporting Issues
+
+If you find a bug or want to request a new feature, please open an issue in the repository. Provide as much detail as possible to help us understand the problem.
+
+---
+
+Thanks again for helping improve Open Encrypt!