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CONTRIBUTING.Rmd

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 # Contributing

CONTRIBUTING.md

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+---
+title: "Contributing"
+output: md_document
+---
+
+# Contributing
+
+Contributions to `qcoder` whether in the form of bug fixes, issue reports, new
+code or documentation improvement are welcome. Please use the github issue
+tracker. For any pull request please link to or open a corresponding issue in the
+issue tracker. Please ensure that you have notifications turned on and respond to
+questions, comments or needed changes promptly.
+
+In making contributions and suggestions please keep in mind the general approach
+and road map outlined below as well as the motivation for qcoder. The intent
+of this project is not to replace a full featured proprietary QDA application.
+In our view, the advantage of open source is that, instead, qcoder can offer
+the distinctive features of qualitative coding while providing ways to 
+interact with other R packages that implement specific analytical techniques.
+In deciding whether to implement specific features we will always first
+ask whether it would be possible to interact with (or possibly help to build)
+a separate R package. Our main focus is on coding and providing ways to
+interact with other packages, not analysis.
+
+Our approach is currently highly focused on ease of use for 
+people who have not used R previously and who have possibly 
+not used QDA software at all.  Therefore
+we have made the decision to first focus on a simple, tightly structured 
+project model that does not require the installation of Java or of a data base.
+
+Once we have a satisfactory interface there are a number of extensions that
+we will make that will allow more flexibility and power and hence support 
+larger and more complex projects and users with more experience.  These will
+include more flexiblity on the location of files (including the ability to
+use text accessible on the Web) and storage in a data base. Therefore, all
+code contributions should be made with this future in mind.  Functions should
+work from the command line, which also ensures that they can be efficiently
+tested. We welcome interested people, both users and developers, to discuss
+these plans in our issue tracker and help make them happen.
+
+If you would like to make a code or documentation contribution, please open
+an issue in the tracker that you link to a pull request. 
+