Contributing to ConsenSys Quorum

This guide outlines a pathway for contributing to the ConsenSys Quorum project, hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/consensys/quorum.

Getting Started

  1. Fork the repository: Create a fork of the official Quorum repository on your GitHub account. This will serve as your personal workspace for making changes.
  2. Clone your fork: Clone your forked repository to your local machine.
  3. Set up your development environment: Ensure you have the necessary tools and dependencies for building and running Quorum. This may involve installing Go, Node.js, and other required software.
  4. Review the codebase: Familiarize yourself with the existing codebase and architecture of Quorum. Understanding the project’s structure and conventions will help you contribute effectively.

Contributing

Identifying Contributions

  • Review the issue tracker: The Quorum GitHub repository likely has an issue tracker. Browse through open issues to find tasks that interest you. You can also contribute by suggesting new features or improvements.
  • Look for areas needing improvement: Analyze the codebase and identify potential areas where improvements can be made, such as performance enhancements, bug fixes, or better documentation.

Submitting Your Contribution

  1. Create a new branch: Create a new branch from the main branch of your forked repository to isolate your changes.
  2. Implement your changes: Make your changes and ensure they adhere to the project’s coding style and conventions.
  3. Run tests: Thoroughly test your changes to ensure they don’t break existing functionality.
  4. Document your changes: Update any relevant documentation to reflect your contributions.
  5. Commit your changes: Commit your changes with a clear and concise message explaining the purpose of the changes.
  6. Create a pull request: Submit a pull request to the official Quorum repository. This will initiate a review process where maintainers will assess your changes.

Building and Testing

  • Build: Use the make command to build GoQuorum from source.
  • Example: make
  • Run: Use the ./geth command to run the GoQuorum binary.
  • Example: ./geth --datadir <path>
  • Test: Run the tests using the make test or go test command.
  • Example: make test

Specific Contributions

The following sections provide more detailed information on contributing to specific aspects of the Quorum project:

Code Contributions

  • Bug Fixes: Identify and fix bugs within the existing codebase.
  • Feature Enhancements: Implement new features or improve existing functionality.
  • Refactorings: Improve the codebase by restructuring or optimizing existing code without altering its behavior.

Documentation Contributions

  • Update existing documentation: Ensure documentation is accurate, up-to-date, and clear.
  • Create new documentation: Write documentation for new features or improvements.

Community Engagement

  • Answering questions: Provide assistance to other users and contributors by answering questions on forums or issue trackers.
  • Participating in discussions: Share your insights and engage in discussions about the project.

Additional Information

  • Project roadmap: Check the project’s roadmap for planned future development and identify areas where you can contribute.
  • Communication channels: The Quorum project likely has communication channels such as forums or mailing lists where you can connect with other contributors.

Remember: Be respectful, patient, and collaborative throughout the contribution process. Your contributions are valuable and will help improve the project for everyone.