contributing.txt

Note: We accept contributions to the SOFA project in any form including pulling new
requests via Github or discussing with us in the SOFA Google group. By contributing 
codes to the SOFA project, you agree to release your codes under the terms of 
the Apache license 2.0 that you can find in the COPYING file included in the 
SOFA source distribution. You will include Apache license 2.0 in the COPYING file
within each source file that you contribute.


# IMPORTANT: How to Use SOFA Github Issues.

* GitHub issues SHOULD only be used to report bugs and feature requests. Please 
  NOT report questions which Not belong to bugs and feature requests in the 
  GitHub issue system.


# IMPORTANT: How to Use the SOFA Google Group 

* Any questions except bugs and feature requests belong to the SOFA Google Group. 
  Please feel free to provide us with your feedback and general questions in 
  this mailing list.
  
    https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/itri-sofa


# How to provide a patch for a new feature

1. If you plan to add new major feature, please don't start coding right away. 
   Please first discuss with us in the SOFA Google group and share your 
   conceptions, which might save your efforts and time.

2. If in step 1 you get any acknowledgment from project leaders, use the 
   following procedure to submit a patch.

    A. Fork SOFA on Github   ( http://help.github.com/fork-a-repo/ )
    B. Create a topic branch ( git checkout -b your_branch )
    C. Push to your branch   ( git push origin your_branch )
    D. Pull a new request on Github ( https://help.github.com/articles/creating-a-pull-request/ )

3. For minor updates, please just pull a new request on Github


Thanks a lot.