CONTRIBUTING.md

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# How to contribute to Apache Arrow .NET

We utilize [Conventional
Commits](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/en/v1.0.0/) for our
commit messages. This helps maintain the semantic versioning of this
module.

Please use the following commit types: `chore`, `feat`, `fix`.

If a PR includes any breaking change, please add `!` such as `feat!`
and `fix!`.

We will use these commit types to determine the next version. If we
have only `fix` (and `chore`) changes, we will increase the patch
version. If we have any `feat` change, we will increase the minor
version. If we have any `feat!` or `fix!` change, we will increase the
major version.

For example:

```
fix: Handle empty structs in C data interface

fix!: Fix performance regression with API change

chore: Update CI environment

feat: Support new encoding type

feat!: Reconstruct API
```

## Did you find a bug?

The Apache Arrow .NET project uses GitHub as a bug tracker. To report a bug,
sign in to your GitHub account, navigate to [GitHub
issues](https://github.com/apache/arrow-dotnet/issues) and click on
**New issue** .

Before you create a new bug entry, we recommend you first search among
existing issues in
[GitHub](https://github.com/apache/arrow-dotnet/issues).

## Did you write a patch that fixes a bug or brings an improvement?

- Create a GitHub issue and submit your changes as a GitHub Pull Request.
- [Reference the issue](https://docs.github.com/en/issues/tracking-your-work-with-issues/using-issues/linking-a-pull-request-to-an-issue#linking-a-pull-request-to-an-issue-using-a-keyword) in your PR description.
- Add the PR title. The PR title will be used as the eventual commit message, so please make it descriptive but succinct.

Example #1:

```
chore: Document the pull request process

## What's Changed

Explain how to open a pull request and what the title, body, and labels should be.

Closes #12345.
```

Example #2:

```
feat: Expose Netty server builder in Flight

## What's Changed

Allow direct usage of gRPC APIs for low-level control.

Closes #42424.
```

### Minor fixes

Any functionality change should have a GitHub issue opened. For minor
changes that affect documentation, you do not need to open up a GitHub
issue. If your changes meet one of the following, they're minor
changes:

*  Grammar, usage and spelling fixes that affect no more than 2 files
*  Documentation updates affecting no more than 2 files and not more
   than 500 words.

## Do you want to propose a significant new feature or an important refactoring?

We ask that all discussions about major changes in the codebase happen
publicly on the GitHub issues or [arrow-dev
mailing-list](https://lists.apache.org/list.html?dev@arrow.apache.org).

## Do you have questions about the source code, the build procedure or the development process?

You can also ask on the [arrow-dev
mailing-list](https://lists.apache.org/list.html?dev@arrow.apache.org)
or [GitHub
Discussions](https://github.com/apache/arrow-dotnet/discussions).

## Further information

Please read our [development
documentation](https://arrow.apache.org/docs/developers/index.html) or
look through the [New Contributor's
Guide](https://arrow.apache.org/docs/developers/guide/index.html).