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+# Contributing to Distributed Task Engine
+
+Thank you for your interest in contributing! We welcome bug fixes, documentation improvements, architectural proposals, and performance optimizations.
+
+## Getting Started
+1. Fork the repository and clone your fork locally.
+2. Create a virtual environment with Python 3.11+.
+3. Install dependencies: `pip install -r requirements.txt`.
+4. Install pre-commit or run `ruff check .` and `ruff format .` before pushing.
+
+## Development Workflow
+- Create a feature branch: `git checkout -b feature/my-new-feature`.
+- Write unit tests under `tests/` for any new logic.
+- Run the test suite: `pytest -v`.
+- Open a Pull Request targeting the `main` branch.
+
+## Code Standards
+- Adhere to PEP 8 standards enforced via Ruff.
+- Type hints are required for all public function signatures.
+- Async database operations must use explicit transaction boundaries.