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+# Contributing to QuantumTerminal
+
+Thank you for your interest in contributing to QuantumTerminal! This is a free, open-source project and we welcome contributions from developers of all experience levels.
+
+---
+
+## Table of Contents
+
+- [Code of Conduct](#code-of-conduct)
+- [How Can I Contribute?](#how-can-i-contribute)
+- [Getting Started](#getting-started)
+- [Development Workflow](#development-workflow)
+- [Commit Message Guidelines](#commit-message-guidelines)
+- [Pull Request Process](#pull-request-process)
+
+---
+
+## Code of Conduct
+
+Be respectful, constructive, and collaborative. We are here to build something useful together.
+
+---
+
+## How Can I Contribute?
+
+There are many ways to contribute, regardless of your skill level:
+
+### High Priority Areas
+
+| Area | Description | Skills Needed |
+|------|-------------|---------------|
+| **MT5 Thread Safety** | Fix concurrency issues in `backend/data_server.py` | Python, Threading |
+| **New Broker Providers** | Add Interactive Brokers, Alpaca, or other providers | Python, REST/WebSocket APIs |
+| **Open-Source React UI** | Rebuild the frontend as open-source JSX/React source | React, TypeScript |
+| **Backend Architecture** | Refactor and improve the FastAPI backend structure | Python, FastAPI |
+| **Documentation** | Improve setup guides, add inline comments, write wiki pages | Markdown, Python |
+| **Testing** | Add unit and integration tests for backend modules | Python, pytest |
+
+### Other Ways to Help
+
+- Report bugs by opening an Issue
+- Suggest new features or overlays
+- Review open Pull Requests
+- Improve the README or this CONTRIBUTING guide
+- Share the project with others who might be interested
+
+---
+
+## Getting Started
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+- Python 3.10+
+- Node.js (optional, for Electron packaging)
+- Git
+- A broker account for live data (MT5, Rithmic, or Tradovate) — optional for backend-only work
+
+### Local Setup
+
+```bash
+# 1. Fork the repository on GitHub
+# 2. Clone your fork
+git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/QuantumTerminal.git
+cd QuantumTerminal
+
+# 3. Install Python dependencies
+cd backend
+pip install fastapi uvicorn websockets watchfiles yfinance MetaTrader5
+
+# 4. Run the backend server
+python launcher.py
+
+# 5. Open the UI
+# Navigate to http://127.0.0.1:8502 in your browser
+```
+
+---
+
+## Development Workflow
+
+1. **Fork** the repository and create your branch from `main`
+2. **Name your branch** descriptively: `feature/add-ibkr-provider` or `fix/mt5-thread-safety`
+3. **Make your changes** with clear, focused commits
+4. **Test your changes** before submitting
+5. **Open a Pull Request** with a clear description of what you changed and why
+
+---
+
+## Commit Message Guidelines
+
+Use clear, descriptive commit messages:
+
+```
+feat: add Interactive Brokers provider
+fix: resolve MT5 thread-safety issue in data_server.py
+docs: update installation instructions
+refactor: reorganize backend provider structure
+test: add unit tests for websocket broadcaster
+```
+
+Prefixes: `feat`, `fix`, `docs`, `refactor`, `test`, `chore`
+
+---
+
+## Pull Request Process
+
+1. Ensure your PR description clearly explains **what** changed and **why**
+2. Reference any related Issues using `Closes #issue_number`
+3. Keep PRs focused — one feature or fix per PR is preferred
+4. Be responsive to review feedback
+5. PRs are merged by the maintainer after review
+
+---
+
+## Questions?
+
+Feel free to open an Issue with the `question` label if you need help getting started or have any questions about the codebase.
+
+We appreciate every contribution, no matter how small.