Contributing

## Welcome!

We're so glad you're thinking about contributing to SMD's Guidelines for Open Science!

Before contributing, we encourage you to read our CONTRIBUTING guide (you are here), our [LICENSE](https://github.com/nasa/Transform-to-Open-Science/blob/main/LICENSE.MD), our [README](https://github.com/nasa/Transform-to-Open-Science/blob/main/README.MD), and our [Code of Conduct](https://github.com/nasa/Transform-to-Open-Science/blob/main/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.MD), all of which should be in this repository.

## Ways to Contribute

If you do not already have a GitHub account, you can [sign up for GitHub here](https://github.com/). In the spirit of open source software, everyone is encouraged to help improve this project. Here are some ways you can contribute:
- by reporting bugs
- by suggesting new features
- by translating content to a new language
- by writing or editing documentation
- by writing specifications
- by writing code and documentation (**no pull request is too small**: fix typos, add code comments, clean up inconsistent whitespace)
- by reviewing [pull requests](https://github.com/nasa/Transform-to-Open-Science/pulls).
- by closing issues

#### Submit Great Issues
* Before submitting a new [issue](https://github.com/nasa/Transform-to-Open-Science/issues), check to make sure [a similar issue isn't already open](https://github.com/nasa/Transform-to-Open-Science/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue). If one is, contribute to that issue thread with your feedback.
* When submitting a bug report, please try to provide as much detail as possible, i.e. a screenshot or [gist](https://gist.github.com/) that demonstrates the problem, the technology you are using, and any relevant links. 

#### Ready for your Help 
Issues labeled :sparkles:[`help wanted`](https:/github.com/nasa/Transform-to-Open-Science/labels/help%20wanted):sparkles: make it easy for you to find ways you can contribute today. 

## Development Model

For accepting new contributions, the repository uses the [forking workflow](https://guides.github.com/activities/forking/). As the first step of your contribution, you'll want to fork this repository, make a local clone of it, add your contribution, and then create a pull request back to the TOPS repository.  

All documentation should be written using Markdown.  

## Public Domain

This project constitutes a work of the United States Government and is not subject to domestic copyright protection under [17 USC § 105](https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2010-title17/USCODE-2010-title17-chap1-sec105). Additionally, we waive copyright and related rights in the work worldwide through the [CC0 1.0 Universal public domain dedication](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/).

All contributions to this project will be released under the CC0
dedication. By submitting a pull request, you are agreeing to comply
with this waiver of copyright interest.