diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index ee3d6c29d7..ee258a3ce8 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -11,3 +11,78 @@ If you want to contribute something more substantial, see our "Projects seeking
 ## Claiming an issue
 
 If you want to claim an issue to work on, you can write the word `take` as a comment in it and you will be automatically assigned.
+
+## Quick start
+
+- Install Rust, e.g. as described [here](https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/getting-started/installation.html)
+- Have a compatible Python version installed (check `python/pyproject.toml` for current requirement)
+- Create a Python virtual environment (required for development builds), e.g. as described [here](https://packaging.python.org/en/latest/guides/installing-using-pip-and-virtual-environments/)
+- Build the project for development (this requires an active virtual environment and will also install `deltalake` in that virtual environment)
+```
+cd python
+make develop
+```
+
+- Run some Python code, e.g. to run a specific test
+```
+python -m pytest tests/test_writer.py -s -k "test_with_deltalake_schema"
+```
+
+- Run some Rust code, e.g. run an example
+```
+cd crates/deltalake
+cargo run --examples basic_operations
+```
+
+## Run the docs locally
+*This serves your local contens of docs via a web browser, handy for checking what they look like if you are making changes to docs or docstings*
+```
+(cd python; make develop)
+pip install -r docs/requirements.txt
+mkdocs serve
+```
+
+## To make a pull request (PR)
+- Make sure all the following steps run/pass locally before submitting a PR
+```
+cargo fmt -- --check
+cd python
+make check-rust
+make check-python
+make develop
+make unit-test
+make build-docs
+```
+
+## Developing in VSCode
+
+*These are just some basic steps/components to get you started, there are many other very useful extensions for VSCode*
+
+- For a better Rust development experience, install [rust extention](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=1YiB.rust-bundle)
+- For debugging Rust code, install [CodeLLDB](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=vadimcn.vscode-lldb). The extension should even create Debug launch configurations for the project if you allow it, an easy way to get started. Just set a breakpoint and run the relevant configuration.
+- For debugging from Python into Rust, follow this procedure:
+1. Add this to `.vscode/launch.json`
+```
+{
+            "type": "lldb",
+            "request": "attach",
+            "name": "LLDB Attach to Python'",
+            "program": "${command:python.interpreterPath}",
+            "pid": "${command:pickMyProcess}",
+            "args": [],
+            "stopOnEntry": false,
+            "environment": [],
+            "externalConsole": true,
+            "MIMode": "lldb",
+            "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
+        }
+```
+2. Add a `breakpoint()` statement somewhere in your Python code (main function or at any point in Python code you know will be executed when you run it)
+3. Add a breakpoint in Rust code in VSCode editor where you want to drop into the debugger
+4. Run the relevant Python code function in your terminal, execution should drop into the Python debugger showing `PDB` prompt
+5. Run the following in that promt to get the Python process ID: `import os; os.getpid()`
+6. Run the `LLDB Attach to Python` from the `Run and Debug` panel of VSCode. This will prompt you for a Process ID to attach to, enter the Python process ID obtained earlier (this will also be in the dropdown but that dropdown will have many process IDs)
+7. LLDB make take couple of seconds to attach to the process
+8. When the debugger is attached to the process (you will notice the debugger panels get filled with extra info), enter `c`+Enter in the `PDB` prompt in your terminal - the execution should continue until the breakpoint in Rust code is hit. From this point it's a standard debugging procecess.
+
+
diff --git a/python/Makefile b/python/Makefile
index b876c51a7e..1a95a95695 100644
--- a/python/Makefile
+++ b/python/Makefile
@@ -86,6 +86,11 @@ build-documentation: ## Build documentation with Sphinx
 	$(info --- Run build of the Sphinx documentation ---)
 	sphinx-build -Wn -b html -d ./docs/build/doctrees ./docs/source ./docs/build/html
 
+.PHONY: build-docs
+build-docs: ## Build documentation with mkdocs
+	$(info --- Run build of the documentation ---)
+	(cd ..; pip install -r docs/requirements.txt; mkdocs build)
+
 .PHONY: clean
 clean: ## Run clean
 	$(warning --- Clean virtualenv and target directory ---)