Add a contributing guide in the readme

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# Contributing guide
+
+## Windows - C++ development environment setup
+
+There's usually 2 main ways of developing C++ code on Windows: 
+1. Heavy: Using the dedicated Visual Studio Community IDE.
+2. Light: Installing only the necessary MSVC C++ build tools for compilation.
+
+> [!TIP]
+> Both approaches install all the necessary tools and thus allow for code development outside of Visual Studio IDE.
+> With that said, the heavy installation with the IDE is usually the recommended beginner friendly approach as the installer automatically does most of the heavy lifting for you.
+
+### Heavy - Visual Studio IDE
+Grab the latest version of Visual Studio Community on the [download page](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/) and follow the [installation instructions](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/vscpp-step-0-installation?view=msvc-170) on the official microsoft page.
+
+> [!TIP]
+> Make sure that at least **Desktop development with C++** workload is selected
+
+~~Launch the IDE and start hating it!~~
+
+### Light - Build Tools only
+
+#### CLI install:
+> [!NOTE]
+> If you prefer to avoid running unknown commands, follow the [Manual install](#manual-install) section below instead.
+
+Launch a powershell terminal from anywhere then run the following to download the *build tools executable*:
+```powershell
+Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://aka.ms/vs/stable/vs_buildtools.exe" -OutFile "vs_buildtools.exe"
+```
+Run the following to install the **Desktop development with C++** workload with the recommended components:
+```powershell
+./vs_buildtools.exe --quiet --wait --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.VCTools --includeRecommended 
+```
+This will launch the visual studio installer, it may ask for an elevation of priviledges then it will close itself and install the tools in the background (because of the `--quiet` option). 
+
+After a moment, depending on your internet speed, the tools will be installed on your system. 
+The installation can be checked by running:
+```powershell
+& "${env:ProgramFiles(x86)}\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\vswhere.exe" -latest -products * -requires Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64 -property installationPath
+```
+If the installation was successful, it should display the following: 
+> C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\18\BuildTools
+
+Otherwise it may have not yet finished installing.
+
+> [!TIP]
+> Alternatively, you can also manually check inside the directory `C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\18\BuildTools` which will be populated when it has finished installing.
+
+#### Manual install:
+
+Download the latest build tools from the [download page](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/).
+
+> [!TIP]
+> For some reason, the download button is hidden at the bottom of the page.
+> Go under the section **[All Downloads]**, expand **[Tools for Visual Studio]** and get **Build Tools for Visual Studio 2026**
+
+Launch the executable then from the visual studio installer page, make sure to select the **Desktop development with C++** among other tools you may be interested in. 
+
+## Visual Studio Code setup
+
+Get the extension **C/C++ Extension Pack** from the marketplace (`ms-vscode.cpptools-extension-pack`)  
+
+> WIP

README.md

@@ -1,29 +1,44 @@
 # Hell 2 Modding
+![Hell 2 Modding](https://github.com/SGG-Modding/Hell2Modding/blob/master/thunderstore/icon.png?raw=true)
 
-[Hades Modding Discord](https://discord.com/invite/KuMbyrN)
+[![Thunderstore Version](https://img.shields.io/thunderstore/v/Hell2Modding/Hell2Modding?style=for-the-badge&logo=thunderstore&logoColor=white)](https://thunderstore.io/c/riskofrain2/p/Hell2Modding/Hell2Modding/)
+[![Thunderstore Downloads](https://img.shields.io/thunderstore/dt/Hell2Modding/Hell2Modding?style=for-the-badge&logo=thunderstore&logoColor=white)](https://thunderstore.io/c/riskofrain2/p/Hell2Modding/Hell2Modding/)
+[![GitHub Actions Workflow Status](https://img.shields.io/github/actions/workflow/status/SGG-Modding/Hell2Modding/nightly.yml?branch=master&style=for-the-badge&logo=github)](https://github.com/SGG-Modding/Hell2Modding/actions/workflows/nightly.yml)
 
----
 
-## About
+Hell 2 Modding is a modding plugin / framework for **Hades II**.
 
-If you're enjoying this project, and want to support me, you can [buy me a coffee here](https://ko-fi.com/xiaoxiao921).
+## About
 
-Hell 2 Modding is a modding plugin / framework for Hades II.
+Hell 2 Modding is based on [ReturnOfModding](https://github.com/xiaoxiao921/ReturnOfModdingBase). 
 
-It's using [ReturnOfModding](https://github.com/xiaoxiao921/ReturnOfModdingBase) as a base. You can check its README for more information on how it works.
+*You can check out its README for more information on how it works.*
 
-It also uses [lovely-lib](https://github.com/xiaoxiao921/lovely-lib), a library that employs the same patching system as [lovely-injector](https://github.com/ethangreen-dev/lovely-injector/), except for `module` patching, which is already handled by RoM. For more details, see the [lovely-lib documentation](https://github.com/xiaoxiao921/lovely-lib?tab=readme-ov-file#patches).
+It also uses [lovely-lib](https://github.com/xiaoxiao921/lovely-lib), a library that employs the same patching system as [lovely-injector](https://github.com/ethangreen-dev/lovely-injector/), except for `module` patching, which is already handled by RoM. 
+For more details, see the [lovely-lib documentation](https://github.com/xiaoxiao921/lovely-lib?tab=readme-ov-file#patches).
 
-## Mod Manager Installation
+## Installation
 
-- [Follow the instructions here.](https://github.com/ebkr/r2modmanPlus?tab=readme-ov-file#first-time-installing)
+### Mod Manager
+Follow the instructions from [r2modman](https://github.com/ebkr/r2modmanPlus?tab=readme-ov-file#first-time-installing)
 
-## Manual Installation
+### Manual
+1. Locate your Hades II installation folder.
+2. Open the `Ship` directory.
+3. Copy `d3d12.dll` next to `Hades2.exe`.
 
-- Place the main Hell2Modding file, called `d3d12.dll`, next to the game executable called `Hades2.exe` in the game's `Ship` folder.
+*To uninstall or revert to a vanilla experience, simply rename or delete `d3d12.dll`.*
 
-- To uninstall the mod loader or revert to a vanilla experience without mods, you can simply rename or delete the `d3d12.dll` file.
 
 ## Creating mods
+Follow the instructions from the [community mod template](https://github.com/SGG-Modding/Hades2ModTemplate).
+
+## Contributing
+
+If you are interested in contributing in this project, developer setup is documented in [CONTRIBUTING](https://github.com/SGG-Modding/Hell2Modding/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md)
+
+## Join the Hades Modding Community
+[![Discord](https://img.shields.io/badge/Discord-%235865F2.svg?style=for-the-badge&logo=discord&logoColor=white)](https://discord.com/invite/KuMbyrN)
 
-- [Checkout the template created by the modding community](https://github.com/SGG-Modding/Hades2ModTemplate)
+## Support this project
+[![Ko-Fi](https://img.shields.io/badge/Ko--fi-F16061?style=for-the-badge&logo=ko-fi&logoColor=white)](https://ko-fi.com/xiaoxiao921)