chore: create CONTRIBUTING.md

CONTRIBUTING.md

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+# Contributing to `akash-api`
+
+Welcome and thank you for considering contributing to the **akash-api** repo!
+We follow the Akash Network’s general contribution standards, updated specifically for this repository.
+Please read this document in full before submitting issues or PRs.
+
+## 🚀 Getting Started
+
+### Requirements
+
+To contribute successfully, ensure you have:
+
+- **Go** ≥ 1.24
+- **GNU Make** ≥ 4.0
+- **Bash** ≥ 4.0
+- **Git**, **curl**, **jq**, **wget**  
+
+### Setup
+
+1. Fork and clone this repo:
+    ```bash
+   git clone https://github.com/<your-username>/akash-api.git
+   cd akash-api
+   ```
+2. Install [direnv](https://direnv.net) and hook it to the [shell](https://direnv.net/docs/hook.html)
+    - **MacOS**
+    ```shell
+    brew install go git direnv jq make wget curl
+    ```
+3. Allow direnv within project
+    ```shell
+    direnv allow
+    ```
+4. Generate protobuf code:
+	```
+	make proto-gen
+	```
+## 🛠 How to Contribute
+
+### Feature Requests & Bugs
+* Report issues at the Akash support repo, tagged with repo/akash-api.
+* All PRs must reference an open issue in the support repo. 
+* Label issues suitable for new contributors as good first issue or ready-for-community-dev.
+### PR Submission Checklist
+Make sure you complete all items in your PRs checklist.
+
+## 🧑‍💻 Development Guidelines
+
+### Code Style & Format
+* Use `go fmt` on all Go code. 
+* Maintain idiomatic Go naming conventions (CamelCase, explicit error checks).
+* Adhere to the principles of clean code.
+
+### Error Handling & Comments
+* Handle errors explicitly, don’t ignore them.
+* Document exported types/functions with GoDoc comments.
+* Document complex unexported functions.
+
+### Protocol Buffer & Code Generation
+* After editing .proto, run:
+	```
+	make proto-gen
+	```
+* Verify generated Go code is checked in, so downstream users can import without rebuilding.
+
+### Commit Sign-Off
+Every commit must include a sign-off:
+```
+Signed-off-by: Jane Doe <jane.doe@example.com>
+```
+or use:
+```
+git commit -s
+```
+The sign-off certifies DCO compliance.
+
+## 🧪 Testing & CI/CD
+
+* Tests should cover your changes—place them in `_test.go` files.
+* All CI checks (format, lint, proto-gen, tests) must pass before merging.
+* The CI pipeline runs workflows on pushes and PRs using GitHub Actions.
+
+## 🏷 Release Process
+
+Releases track only this repo’s versioning (e.g., v0.5.2).
+API-breaking changes require a major version increment and announcement.
+* Releases are cut by maintainers after code review and CI approval.
+
+## 👥 Community & Support
+
+For help, chat in Discord or raise an issue in the support repo with `repo/akash-api` tag.
+Engage with SIGs and Working Groups via the Akash community calendar and Discord.
+
+## License
+
+By contributing, you agree that your contributions will be licensed under the project's [Apache 2.0 License](LICENSE).
+
+
+## 🙏 Thank You
+
+Your contributions help Akash grow!
+By following these guidelines, you aid in maintaining code quality, clarity, and consistency for both current and future contributors.
+Welcome aboard!