Add contributing guide

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -1,14 +1,143 @@
-# Contributing
+# Contributing to OpenTelemetry Protocol (OTLP) Specification
 
-Read OpenTelemetry project [contributing
-guide](https://github.com/open-telemetry/community/blob/main/guides/contributor/README.md)
-for general information about the project.
+## Introduction
+
+Welcome to the OpenTelemetry Protocol (OTLP) Specification repository! 🎉
+
+Your contributions help improve the interoperability of OpenTelemetry clients across various programming languages.
+
+If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the community channels. We're happy to help! 😊
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
-- `Docker`
+Before getting started, ensure you have the following installed:
+
+* **Docker** – [Install Docker](https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/)
+* **Make** (for running development tasks)
+
+Additional Notes:
+
+* Windows users may need [Git Bash](https://gitforwindows.org/) for better compatibility.
+
+## Workflow
+
+We follow a structured workflow to ensure smooth collaboration:
+
+### Commit Message Format
+
+* Use descriptive commit messages (e.g., `fix(proto): resolve issue with trace spec`)
+* Follow [Conventional Commits](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/) where possible.
+
+### Pull Request Guidelines
+
+- Fork the repository and create a new branch.
+- Ensure `make all` pass locally before pushing.
+- Link relevant issues in the PR description.
+
+---
+
+## Local Setup & Development
+
+To set up your local development environment:
+
+```bash
+# Clone the repository
+git clone https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-proto.git
+cd opentelemetry-proto
+
+# Generate all implementations
+make gen-all
+```
+
+## Testing
+
+To test your changes, run:
+
+```bash
+make test
+```
+
+To verify the protobuf definitions:
+
+```bash
+make proto-lint
+```
+
+## Contributing Rules
+
+- Follow OpenTelemetry’s [Contribution Guidelines](https://github.com/open-telemetry/community/blob/main/guides/contributor/README.md).
+- Ensure that `.proto` files adhere to OpenTelemetry's stability guarantees.
+- Include clear and concise documentation updates if needed.
+
+Check for issues labeled [`good first issue`](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-proto/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3A%22good+first+issue%22) to start contributing.
+
+## Further Help
+
+Need help? Join our community:
+
+- **Slack**: [OpenTelemetry Slack](https://opentelemetry.io/community/)
+- **Issues**: If you encounter a bug, [open an issue](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-proto/issues)
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### Protobuf Compiler Issues
+
+**Error:** `protoc: command not found`
+
+**Fix:** Install the protobuf compiler:
+
+```bash
+sudo apt install protobuf-compiler  # Linux
+brew install protobuf  # macOS
+```
+
+### Build Failures
+
+**Error:** `Failed to generate gRPC client libraries`
+
+**Fix:** Ensure Docker is running and retry:
+
+```bash
+make clean && make gen-all
+```
+
+### Linting Errors
+
+**Error:** `proto-lint: some files do not conform to style guidelines`
+
+**Fix:** Run:
+
+```bash
+make proto-lint-fix
+```
+
+## Additional Information
+
+### Stability Guidelines
+
+This repository follows OpenTelemetry’s stability guarantees:
+
+* Stable components will not introduce breaking changes
+* Development components may be removed or changed without prior notice.
+
+### Generating gRPC Client Libraries
+
+To generate raw gRPC client libraries for supported languages, run:
+
+```bash
+make gen-<language>
+```
+
+Currently supported languages:
 
-## Making changes to the .proto files
+* cpp
+* csharp
+* go
+* java
+* objc
+* openapi (swagger)
+* php
+* python
+* ruby
 
-After making any changes to .proto files make sure to generate all
-implementation by running `make gen-all`.
+Thank you for contributing! 🚀