feature: add Contributing Doc

Contributing.md

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+---
+Title: Contributing
+Author: Jonathan Zollinger
+Date: January 16 2024
+Comment: It's expected that these instructions are edited with each repo, namely 
+  - prerequisites
+  - any mention of threshr
+  - variations from maven 3.8.6, graal, or java  version 17.0.8
+---
+
+# Contributing
+
+By participating in this project, you agree to abide our
+[code of conduct](CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md).
+
+## Set up your machine
+
+[//]: # (TODO: remnove azul, add blurb on windows config for Graal )
+`threshr` is written in [Java] using
+Oracle's [GraalVM] and uses [Maven] as its build tool
+
+Prerequisites:
+
+- [Java 17.0.8]
+- [Maven 3.8.6]
+
+Other things you might need to run the tests:
+
+- [Docker]
+
+[//]: # (TODO: add docker configuration)
+
+Create your own fork of `threshr`, then clone your fork anywhere:
+
+```shell
+git clone [email protected]:Graqr/Threshr.git
+```
+
+`cd` into the directory and install the dependencies:
+
+```shell
+mvn clean compile
+```
+
+## Branch off of main
+
+It's a good practice not to put your changes in the main branch. Branch naming conventions aren't enforced, but I
+personally like naming my branches with a `tag`/`task` convention. See [Create a commit].
+
+See our [style guide] for supported coding practices.
+## Test your change
+
+Adequate acceptance testing is to be included with pull requests for new code. See
+our [style guide] for our testing standards.
+
+```sh
+mvn clean test
+```
+
+## Validate `threshr` builds
+
+```sh
+mvn clean install
+```
+
+
+## Create a commit
+
+Commit messages should be well formatted and conform to [Conventional Commits].
+
+## Submit a pull request
+
+Push your branch to your `threshr` fork and open a pull request against the original `threshr` main branch.
+
+[Java]:https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/java-se-glance.html
+[Maven]:https://maven.apache.org/what-is-maven.html
+[GraalVM]:https://github.com/oracle/graal
+[java 17.0.8]:https://sdkman.io/jdks#graalvm
+[maven 3.8.6]:https://maven.apache.org/install.html
+[Docker]:https://www.docker.com/
+[Convertional Commits]:https://www.conventionalcommits.org
+[Create a commit]:#create-a-commit
+[style guide]:https://github.com/Graqr#general-styling-guide