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# How to contribute to Apache Arrow Java

## Did you find a bug?

The Arrow Java 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-java/issues)
and click on **New issue** .

Before you create a new bug entry, we recommend you first search among
existing Arrow issues in [GitHub](https://github.com/apache/arrow-java/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 one or more of the labels "bug-fix", "chore", "dependencies", "documentation", and "enhancement" to your PR as appropriate.
  - "bug-fix" is for PRs that fix a bug.
  - "chore" is for other administrative work (build system, release process, etc.).
  - "dependencies" is for PRs that upgrade a dependency.  (Usually only used by dependabot.)
  - "documentation" is for documentation updates.
  - "enhancement" is for PRs that add new features.
- Add the "breaking-change" label to your PR if there are breaking API changes.
- Add the PR title. The PR title will be used as the eventual commit message, so please make it descriptive but succinct.

Example #1:

```
GH-12345: Document the pull request process

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

Closes #12345.
```

Example #2:

```
GH-42424: Expose Netty server builder in Flight

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. Instead you can
prefix the title of your PR with "MINOR: " if it meets one of the following:

*  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 [arrow-dev mailing-list](https://mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/arrow-dev/).

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

You can also ask on the mailing-list, see above.

## 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).