CONTRIBUTING.md: First version

diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644 (file)
index 0000000..bac216c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# Contributing to Dovecot
+
+We welcome contributions to the Dovecot project. To help us maintain a
+consistent and high‑quality codebase, please follow the guidelines below.
+
+## How to Contribute
+
+1. **Open a Pull Request**
+
+   * All changes should be submitted as a pull request against the `dovecot/core` repository.
+   * Clearly describe the problem your change solves and provide any relevant background.
+
+2. **Follow the Coding Style**
+
+   * All contributions should adhere to the Dovecot coding style:
+     [https://doc.dovecot.org/latest/developers/coding_style.html](https://doc.dovecot.org/latest/developers/coding_style.html)
+   * Submissions that do not follow the required style may be requested to change before review.
+
+3. **Be Prepared for Review**
+
+   * Maintainers may request adjustments or clarifications.
+   * Tests or additional documentation may be required depending on the change.
+
+4. **We will not participate in any kind of contribution contests**
+
+## Acceptance of Contributions
+
+While we appreciate all contributions, **the Dovecot team reserves the right to
+accept or reject any pull request at its discretion**. This helps ensure quality,
+security, maintainability, and alignment with project goals.
+
+Even so, **all contributions are welcome**, and discussion on proposed changes
+is encouraged.
+
+Dovecot core repository is mirrored from our internal instance, so your pull
+request will be processed and merged outside github.
+
+Thank you for helping improve Dovecot!