Add more info to CONTRIBUTING [ci skip]

Author: bf4

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -1,42 +1,167 @@
 ![Commit Strip
 http://www.commitstrip.com/en/2014/05/07/the-truth-behind-open-source-apps/](docs/how-open-source-maintained.jpg)
 
+## Common issues and resolutions
+
+- Using `grape-active_model_serializers`, or any non-Rails server. See
+    [issue](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/issues/1258).
+
 ## How can I help?
 
-Everyone is encouraged to open issues that are affecting you: bugs, ideas, performance problems – everything helps!
+### Filing an issue
+
+Everyone is encouraged to open issues that are affecting you:
+bugs, ideas, documentation, performance problems – everything helps!
+
+#### Before
+
+1. The first place to start is by looking at our [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/issues).
+
+  - Check if your issue has already reported.
+  - If you find an existing issue report, feel free to add further information to that report.
+
+
+#### Writing
+
+If possible, please include the following information when [reporting an
+issue](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/issues/new):
+
+- ActiveModelSerializers version (0.8.x, 0.9.x, 0.10.x, commit ref).
+- What are you using ActiveModelSerializers with? Rails? Grape? Other? Which versions?
+- If you are not running the latest version (please check), and you cannot update it,
+  please specify in your report why you can't update to the latest version.
+- Operating system type + version
+- Ruby version with patch level.  And if you're using rvm, rbenv, etc.
+  - Include your ruby -e "puts RUBY_DESCRIPTION".
+- Clearly-written steps to reproduce the issue (i.e. "Show me how to show myself." ), including:
+  - What were you doing? Include code if possible.
+    - Command line parameters used, if any.
+    - RubyGems code in your Gemfile, if any. Gemfile.lock, if possible
+    - Any configuration you've made
+  - What did you expect to happen?
+  - What happened? Include as much information as possible.
+    - Nature of reported defect (e.g. user name missing, not "It doesn't work."). Is it intermittent?
+    - The best help here is a failing test.
+    - Then the steps to reproduce and/or a gist or repository that demonstrates the defect.
+    - Then examples of the code you were using.
+    - Any error messages (including stacktrace, i.e. ""Show me the error.")
+  - Things you've tried.
+  - A pull request for your fix would be great.  Code should have tests.
+  - Link to source code, if available
+
+Please make sure only to include one issue per report.
+If you encounter multiple, unrelated issues, please report them as such.
+
+Simon Tatham has written an excellent on article on
+[How to Report Bugs Effectively](http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html)
+which is well worth reading, although it is not specific to ActiveModelSerializers.
+
+
 
-The first place to start is by looking at our [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/issues).
+1. What have you tried?
 
-The vast majority of development is happening under the `master` branch, currently slated for release as `0.10.x`. This is where we would suggest you start.
+Include as much sample code as you can to help us reproduce the issue. (Inline, repo link, or gist, are fine. A failing test would help the most.)
 
-Fixing bugs is extraordinarily helpful and requires the least familiarity with AMS. Look for issues labeled [**Needs Bug Verification**](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/labels/Needs%20Bug%20Verification) and [**Bug**](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/labels/bug).
+This is extremely important for narrowing down the cause of your problem.
 
-We are also actively working to identify tasks under the label [**Good for New Contributors**](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/labels/Good%20for%20New%20Contributors). Some bugs are expressly not good for new contributors, so don't expect 100% overlap between the two.
+Thanks!
 
-If you want to work on new feature development, look for the label [**Feature**](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/labels/Feature).
+Sometimes an issue will be closed by a maintainer for various reasons.  In some cases, this is
+an invitation to make a better case for your issue or be able to reproduce a bug, and
+its being close is just an opportunity to help out some more, and then re-open.
 
-We are also encouraging comments to substantial changes (larger than bugfixes and simple features) under an "RFC" (Request for Comments) process before we start active development. Look for the [**RFC**](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/labels/RFC) label.
+#### After
+
+Thanks to everyone involved!
+
+If you get help, sharing it back in the form of a pull-request or making an issue to document
+what you've found is *extremely* helpful.
+
+If you solve your issue, stop working on it, or realize the problem was something else,
+please share that in a comment to an issue and close it.  That way, everyone can learn and
+we don't have closing issues without a clear resolution. Even if it's just a stackoverflow link :)
+And please don't forget to stay involved in the issue until it is closed! Thanks to all!
+
+### Writing code and comments
+
+- We are actively working to identify tasks under the label [**Good for New
+  Contributors**](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/labels/Good%20for%20New%20Contributors).
+  Some bugs are expressly not good for new contributors, so don't expect 100% overlap between the two.
+  - [Changelog
+      Missing](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/issues?q=label%3A%22Changelog+Missing%22+is%3Aclosed) is
+    an easy way to help out.
+
+- If you want to work on new feature development, look for the label [**Feature**](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/labels/Feature).
+
+- We are also encouraging comments to substantial changes (larger than bugfixes and simple features) under an
+  "RFC" (Request for Comments) process before we start active development.
+   Look for the [**RFC**](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/labels/RFC) label.
 
 ## Issue Labeling
 
-AMS uses a subset of [StandardIssueLabels](https://github.com/wagenet/StandardIssueLabels) for Github Issues. You can [see our labels here](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/labels).
-
-## Contributing
-
-1. Fork it ( https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/fork )
-2. Create your feature branch (`git checkout -b my-new-feature`)
-3. Write tests for your feature, or regression tests highlighting a bug
-4. Write the feature itself, or fix your bug
-5. Commit your changes (`git commit -am 'Add some feature'`)
-6. Push to the branch (`git push origin my-new-feature`)
-7. Create a new Pull Request
-8. Update [CHANGELOG.md](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md)
-with a brief description of any breaking changes, fixes, features, or
-miscellaneous changes under the proper version section.
-9. Iterate on feedback given by the community (fix syntax, modify bits of code, add
+ActiveModelSerializers uses a subset of [StandardIssueLabels](https://github.com/wagenet/StandardIssueLabels) for Github Issues. You can [see our labels here](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/labels).
+
+## Submitting a pull request (PR)
+
+1. The vast majority of development is happening under the `master` branch, currently slated for release as `0.10.x`.
+  This is where we would suggest you start.
+1. Fixing bugs is extraordinarily helpful and requires the least familiarity with ActiveModelSerializer.
+  Look for issues labeled [**Needs Bug Verification**](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/labels/Needs%20Bug%20Verification) and [**Bug**](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/labels/bug).
+1. Adding or fixing documentation is also fantastic!
+
+To fetch & test the library for development, do:
+
+1. Fork the repository ( https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/fork )
+1. `git clone https://github.com/{whoami}/active_model_serializers.git`
+1. `cd active_model_serializers`
+1. `bundle`
+  - To test against a particular rails version, 4.0 is usually the most buggy, set then
+      RAILS_VERSION environment variable as described in the [.travis.yml](.travis.yml).
+      e.g. `export RAILS_VERSION=4.0`.
+1. Create your PR branch (`git checkout -b my-helpful-pr`)
+1. Write tests for your feature, or regression tests highlighting a bug.
+  This is important so AcitveModel Serializers doesn't break it in a future version unintentionally.
+1. Write the feature itself, or fix your bug
+1. `bundle exec rake`
+1. Commit your changes (`git commit -am 'Add some feature'`)
+  - Use well-described, small (atomic) commits.
+1. Push to the branch (`git push origin my-helpful-pr`)
+1. Create a new Pull Request
+  - Include links to any relevant github issues.
+  - *Don't* change the VERSION file.
+  - Extra Credit: [Confirm it runs and tests pass on the rubies specified in the travis
+    config](.travis.yml). A maintainer will otherwise confirm it runs on these.
+
+1. *Bonus Points** Update [CHANGELOG.md](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md)
+  with a brief description of any breaking changes, fixes, features, or
+  miscellaneous changes under the proper version section.
+1. Iterate on feedback given by the community (fix syntax, modify bits of code, add
 tests), pushing the new commits to the PR each time
 
-Remember to squash your commits and rebase off `master`.
+Remember to [squash your commits] and rebase off `master`.
+
+#### How maintainers handle pull requests:
+
+- If the tests pass and the pull request looks good, a maintainer will merge it.
+- If the pull request needs to be changed,
+  - you can change it by updating the branch you generated the pull request from
+    - either by adding more commits, or
+    - by force pushing to it
+  - A maintainer can make any changes themselves and manually merge the code in.
+
+### Commit Messages
+
+- [A Note About Git Commit Messages](http://tbaggery.com/2008/04/19/a-note-about-git-commit-messages.html)
+- [http://stopwritingramblingcommitmessages.com/](http://stopwritingramblingcommitmessages.com/)
+- [ThoughtBot style guide](https://github.com/thoughtbot/guides/tree/master/style#git)
+
+### About Pull Requests (PR's)
+
+- [Using Pull Requests](https://help.github.com/articles/using-pull-requests)
+- [Github pull requests made easy](http://www.element84.com/github-pull-requests-made-easy.html)
+- [Exercism Git Workflow](http://help.exercism.io/git-workflow.html).
+- [Level up your Git](http://rakeroutes.com/blog/deliberate-git/)
+- [All Your Open Source Code Are Belong To Us](http://www.benjaminfleischer.com/2013/07/30/all-your-open-source-code-are-belong-to-us/)
 
 ### Running tests