contribution guidelines and project workflow

Author: hemanta-gayen

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+# Contributing to Exprify
+
+First off, thanks for taking the time to contribute!
+
+Contributions are welcome — whether it's reporting a bug, discussing improvements, or submitting a pull request.
+
+---
+
+## Getting Started
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/code-hemu/exprify.git
+cd exprify
+npm install
+npm run build
+```
+
+## Development Workflow
+
+| Command | Description |
+|---|---|
+| `npm test` | Run Jest test suite |
+| `npm run test:coverage` | Run tests with coverage report |
+| `npm run lint` | Lint source with ESLint |
+| `npm run lint:fix` | Auto-fix lint issues |
+| `npm run format:check` | Check formatting with Prettier |
+| `npm run format` | Auto-format all files with Prettier |
+| `npm run typecheck` | Type-check with TypeScript (`tsc --noEmit`) |
+| `npm run build` | Clean and rebuild all dist bundles |
+
+**Before submitting a PR**, make sure:
+- `npm run lint` passes
+- `npm run typecheck` passes
+- `npm test` passes (all tests green)
+- `npm run format:check` passes
+
+## Project Structure
+
+```
+exprify/
+├── src/          # Source code (ESM)
+├── test/         # Jest test files
+├── dist/         # Build output (ESM, CJS, UMD, minified)
+├── docs/         # Documentation assets
+└── .github/      # CI workflows and config
+```
+
+## Pull Request Process
+
+1. **Fork** the repository.
+2. **Create a branch**: `git checkout -b feature/your-feature` — use prefixes like `feature/`, `fix/`, or `docs/`.
+3. **Make your changes** — keep the PR focused on a single concern.
+4. **Run all checks** — lint, typecheck, tests, format.
+5. **Commit** your changes with a clear message: `git commit -m "Add your feature"`
+6. **Push** your branch: `git push origin feature/your-feature`
+7. **Open a pull request** against the `master` branch.
+
+Your PR will be reviewed. Please respond to any feedback — it's appreciated, not required.
+
+## Style & Conventions
+
+- Code is formatted with **Prettier** (see `.prettierrc`).
+- Linting rules are enforced via **ESLint** (see `eslint.config.js`).
+- The project uses **ESM** (`"type": "module"`) — use `import`/`export` syntax.
+- Follow the patterns you see in existing source and tests.
+
+## Reporting Issues
+
+Report bugs and request features via [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/code-hemu/exprify/issues).
+
+When reporting a bug, include:
+- A clear title and description
+- Steps to reproduce
+- Expected vs actual behavior
+- Environment (Node version, browser, OS)
+- Minimal example code if possible
+
+## License
+
+By contributing, you agree that your contributions will be licensed under the [GPL-3.0 License](LICENSE).