Contributing.md Generator Free Online Tool 2026

Last updated March 22, 2026

Contributing.md Generator Examples

The Contributing.md Generator creates a complete CONTRIBUTING.md file for your open source project. Below are examples of the sections it generates and what they look like for different project types.

Basic Node.js Project — Getting Started Section

## Getting Started

Thank you for considering contributing to **my-project**!

### Prerequisites

- Node.js 18 or higher
- npm 9 or higher
- Git

### Setup

1. Fork the repository on GitHub
2. Clone your fork locally:
   ```bash
   git clone https://github.com/your-username/my-project.git
   cd my-project
   ```
3. Install dependencies:
   ```bash
   npm install
   ```
4. Copy the example environment file:
   ```bash
   cp .env.example .env
   ```
5. Start the development server:
   ```bash
   npm run dev
   ```

Contribution Workflow Section

## Contribution Workflow

1. Create a new branch from `main`:
   ```bash
   git checkout -b feat/your-feature-name
   ```
2. Make your changes and commit using Conventional Commits:
   ```
   feat: add user authentication
   fix: resolve null pointer in parser
   docs: update API reference
   chore: upgrade dependencies
   ```
3. Push your branch and open a Pull Request against `main`
4. Fill in the PR template completely
5. Wait for a maintainer review — we aim to respond within 3 business days

### Branch Naming

- `feat/` — new features
- `fix/` — bug fixes
- `docs/` — documentation only
- `chore/` — maintenance tasks
- `test/` — adding or updating tests

Code Style Section

## Code Style

This project uses ESLint and Prettier for consistent formatting.

Run the linter before submitting:
```bash
npm run lint
npm run lint:fix   # auto-fix issues
```

Run the formatter:
```bash
npm run format
```

Key conventions:
- 2-space indentation
- Single quotes for strings
- Trailing commas in multi-line expressions
- No unused variables or imports

Testing Section

## Testing

All new features and bug fixes must include tests.

Run the test suite:
```bash
npm test
```

Run tests in watch mode during development:
```bash
npm run test:watch
```

Check coverage:
```bash
npm run test:coverage
```

We aim to maintain at least 80% code coverage. Tests live in the `__tests__/` directory alongside the source files they test.

Pull Request Guidelines

## Pull Request Guidelines

- Keep PRs focused — one feature or fix per PR
- Update documentation if your change affects public APIs
- Add or update tests for all changed behavior
- Ensure all CI checks pass before requesting review
- Link to any related issues using "Closes #123" in the PR description
- Screenshots or screen recordings are appreciated for UI changes

### PR Title Format

Follow Conventional Commits for PR titles:
- `feat: add dark mode support`
- `fix: correct date parsing in timezone converter`
- `docs: add contributing guide`

Reporting Issues Section

## Reporting Issues

Before opening an issue:
- Search existing issues to avoid duplicates
- Check if the issue is already fixed in the latest release

When opening a bug report, include:
- Steps to reproduce the issue
- Expected behavior
- Actual behavior
- Your environment (OS, Node version, browser if applicable)
- Relevant logs or screenshots

For feature requests, describe:
- The problem you are trying to solve
- Your proposed solution
- Any alternatives you have considered

Community Guidelines Section

## Community Guidelines

This project follows the [Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct](CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md).

- Be respectful and constructive in all interactions
- Welcome newcomers and help them get started
- Focus feedback on the code, not the person
- Assume good intent

### Communication Channels

- GitHub Issues — bug reports and feature requests
- GitHub Discussions — questions and general discussion
- Discord — real-time chat (link in README)

Python Project Variant — Setup Section

## Setup

1. Fork and clone the repository
2. Create a virtual environment:
   ```bash
   python -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate   # Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
   ```
3. Install development dependencies:
   ```bash
   pip install -e ".[dev]"
   ```
4. Run tests to verify setup:
   ```bash
   pytest
   ```

Common Use Cases

• Creating a CONTRIBUTING.md for a new open source project
• Updating an outdated contributing guide with modern conventions
• Standardizing contribution workflows across multiple repositories
• Onboarding first-time contributors with clear setup instructions
• Documenting commit message conventions and branch naming rules
• Setting expectations for code review timelines and PR requirements

Generate a complete, professional CONTRIBUTING.md in seconds. Customize each section for your project's stack and workflow, then commit it to your repository to start attracting and retaining contributors.