diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4ce8643e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Welcome to the Project :)
+
+There are several ways to contribute to posixutils-rs:
+
+* coding
+* writing tests
+* writing documentation
+* testing, especially POSIX compliance testing
+
+### Coding considerations
+
+1. Separate logical changes into separate commits.  For example, bug fixes
+   and new features should be separate commits.
+2. All commits should pass tests.  This keeps `git bisect` working.
+3. All PRs must pass tests before merging.
+4. All code contributions must be **copyright clean**:  either freshly written,
+   or copied from source code with a compatible open source license.
+
+### CLI utility and Rust style guidelines
+
+1. `cargo fmt` is required.
+2. Ideal goal:  **Each utility should look like a standard Rust CLI program.** 
+   Small, lightweight utility with command line processing,
+   core algorithm, and zero external crate dependencies.
+3. When an external crate is required, avoid mega-crates.  Prefer tiny
+   crates that perform a single, lightweight function.
+4. Correctness, readability, performance, in that order.
+   Code should be readable by unfamiliar developers.
+   Avoid dense, uncommented code.
+
+### Testing and POSIX compliance goals
+
+* All utilities should have tests.
+* Only "quick" tests should be run automatically in `cargo test`
+* Goal #1: POSIX compliance
+* Goal #2: Support the most popular Linux/BSD extesnsions
+
+### Testing and Bug Reporting
+
+* Include information about your system (`uname -a`) in every issue.
+* Provide any input data can that be used to reproduce the bug.
+* Provide any error output from the utility.
+* Describe expected results:  What did you expect to happen, and did not?
+
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e90d1eb5..3b2e54d4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ Implementation goals include clean, safe Rust code and maximal use of
 Rust community crates.  This project's utilities should "look like
 normal Rust programs."
 
+Contributions are welcome.  Developers and helpers, please read [CONTRIBUTING](CONTRIBUTING.md) for details.
+
 Core specification: https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/
 
 ### Non-goals