Add docs explaining how to contribute to the project

docs/contributing.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+============
+Contributing
+============
+
+DroneKit is an open-source project. We welcome any contribution that will improve the API — adding new features and making it easier to use. 
+
+
+Getting started
+================
+
+The dronekit-python project is `hosted on Github here <https://github.com/diydrones/dronekit-python/>`_. This where you get the source code, and is the best place to raise `bug reports and enhancement suggestions <https://github.com/diydrones/dronekit-python/issues>`_.
+
+.. tip:: Before starting new work, first create an issue in Github so it can be tracked and discussed! 
+
+In addition to creating defect reports, a good starting point is to work on the `open issues <https://github.com/diydrones/dronekit-python/issues>`_ on Github. In particular, :ref:`documentation issues <contributing-to-documentation>` can be resolved without a deep knowledge of the code, and will help you learn more about the project.
+
+
+How to submit changes
+=====================
+
+Contributors should fork the main project Github repository and contribute changes back to the project using pull requests:
+
+* Ideas should be discussed with the project team first (using an issue) 
+* Pull requests should be as small and focussed as possible to make them easier to review
+* Rebase your code against the main project before submission to make integration easier
+
+
+
+.. _contributing-to-documentation:
+
+Contributing to the API documentation
+=====================================
+
+One of the best ways that you can help is by improving this documentation.  
+
+The documentation source files are `stored in Github <https://github.com/diydrones/dronekit-python/tree/master/docs>`_. The content is written in plain-text files (file-extension :file:`.rst`) using `reStructuredText <http://sphinx-doc.org/rest.html>`_ markup, and is compiled into HTML using the `Sphinx Documentation Generator <http://sphinx-doc.org/index.html>`_. As with any other contributions to this project, you should fork the main project Github repository and contribute changes back to the project using pull requests.
+
+We've made it very easy to get started by providing a `Vagrant <https://www.vagrantup.com/>`_ based setup for :program:`Sphinx`. Using :program:`Vagrant` you can work with source files on your host machine using a familiar :program:`git` client and text editor, and then invoke :program:`Sphinx` in the :program:`Vagrant` VM to compile the source to HTML.
+
+The instructions below explain how to get the documentation source, and build it using our Vagrant VM:
+
+* Install the Vagrant pre-conditions:
+
+  * `Download and install VirtualBox <https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads>`_.
+  * `Download and install Vagrant for your platform <https://www.vagrantup.com/downloads.html>`_ (Windows, OS-X and Linux are supported).
+
+* `Fork the official dronekit-python repo <https://github.com/diydrones/dronekit-python#fork-destination-box>`_
+* Clone your fork of the Github repository anywhere on the host PC: ::
+
+    git clone https://github.com/YOUR-REPOSITORY/dronekit-python.git
+
+* Navigate to the root of *dronekit-python* and start the Vagrant VM:  
+
+	::
+
+		cd /your-path-to-clone/dronekit-python/
+		vagrant up
+
+	.. note:: This may take a long time to complete the first time it is run  — Vagrant needs to download the virtual machine and then set up Sphinx.
+
+* When the VM is running, you can build the source by entering the following command in the prompt: 
+
+	::
+
+		vagrant ssh -c "cd /vagrant/docs && make html"
+
+	The files will be built by :program:`Sphinx`, and will appear on the host system in :file:`<clone-path>/dronekit-python/docs/\_build/html/`. To preview, simply open them in a Web browser.
+
+	.. note:: 
+
+		The ``vagrant ssh -c "cd /vagrant/docs && make html"`` command starts (and closes) an SSH session with the VM. If you plan on building the source a number of times it is much faster to keep the session open: 
+
+		::
+
+			vagrant ssh        # Open an SSH session with the Vagrant VM
+			cd /vagrant/docs   # Navigate to the docs root (contains Sphinx configuration files)
+			make html          # Build the HTML
+			...                # Repeat "make html" as many time as needed
+			make html          
+			exit               # Close the SSH session.
+
+
+
+* When you are finished you can suspend the VM. Next time you need to build more HTML simply restart it (this is a fast operation):
+
+	::
+
+		vagrant suspend   #Suspend the VM
+		vagrant resume    #Restart the VM
+		vagrant ssh -c "cd /vagrant/docs && make html"   #Build files when needed.
+
+
+* After making changes, follow the normal process to submit them to the project (i.e.commit and push them to your fork on Github, and then create a pull request on Github to the project repository).
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+

docs/index.rst

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ Contents:
    example_2
    example_3
    example_4
+   contributing
    automodule