# Contributing Guidelines
The following is a set of guidelines for contributing to NGINX Unit. We do
appreciate that you are considering contributing!
## Table Of Contents
- [Getting Started](#getting-started)
- [Ask a Question](#ask-a-question)
- [Contributing](#contributing)
- [Git Style Guide](#git-style-guide)
## Getting Started
Check out the [Quick Installation](README.md#quick-installation) and
[Howto](https://unit.nginx.org/howto/) guides to get NGINX Unit up and running.
## Ask a Question
Please open an [issue](https://github.com/nginx/unit/issues/new) on GitHub with
the label `question`. You can also ask a question on
[GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/nginx/unit/discussions) or the NGINX Unit mailing list,
unit@nginx.org (subscribe
[here](https://mailman.nginx.org/mailman3/lists/unit.nginx.org/)).
## Contributing
### Report a Bug
Ensure the bug was not already reported by searching on GitHub under
[Issues](https://github.com/nginx/unit/issues).
If the bug is a potential security vulnerability, please report using our
[security policy](https://unit.nginx.org/troubleshooting/#getting-support).
To report a non-security bug, open an
[issue](https://github.com/nginx/unit/issues/new) on GitHub with the label
`bug`. Be sure to include a title and clear description, as much relevant
information as possible, and a code sample or an executable test case showing
the expected behavior that doesn't occur.
### Suggest an Enhancement
To suggest an enhancement, open an
[issue](https://github.com/nginx/unit/issues/new) on GitHub with the label
`enhancement`. Please do this before implementing a new feature to discuss the
feature first.
### Open a Pull Request
Before submitting a PR, please read the NGINX Unit code guidelines to know more
about coding conventions and benchmarks. Fork the repo, create a branch, and
submit a PR when your changes are tested and ready for review. Again, if you'd
like to implement a new feature, please consider creating a feature request
issue first to start a discussion about the feature.
## Git Style Guide
- Keep a clean, concise and meaningful `git commit` history on your branch,
rebasing locally and squashing before submitting a PR
- For any user-visible changes, updates, and bugfixes, add a note to
`docs/changes.xml` under the section for the upcoming release, using `<change
type="feature">` for new functionality, `<change type="change">` for changed
behavior, and `<change type="bugfix">` for bug fixes.
- In the subject line, use the past tense ("Added feature", not "Add feature");
also, use past tense to describe past scenarios, and present tense for
current behavior
- Limit the subject line to 67 characters, and the rest of the commit message
to 80 characters
- Use subject line prefixes for commits that affect a specific portion of the
code; examples include "Tests:", "Packages:", or "Docker:", and also
individual languages such as "Java:" or "Ruby:"
- Reference issues and PRs liberally after the subject line; if the commit
remedies a GitHub issue, [name
it](https://docs.github.com/en/issues/tracking-your-work-with-issues/linking-a-pull-request-to-an-issue)
accordingly
- Don't rely on command-line commit messages with `-m`; use the editor instead
