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CONTRIBUTING.md

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+# Contributing to Asclepios AI
+
+Thank you for your interest in contributing to **Asclepios AI**!\
+We welcome contributions that help improve the platform, documentation,
+models, and code quality.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+## 🚀 How to Contribute
+
+### 1. Fork the Repository
+
+Click the **Fork** button at the top of the project repository to create
+your own copy.
+
+### 2. Clone Your Fork
+
+``` bash
+git clone git@github.com:MIT-Emerging-Talent/ELO2_Asclepios_Ai.git
+cd asclepios-ai
+```
+
+### 3. Create a New Branch
+
+Always create a feature or fix branch in your fork:
+
+``` bash
+git checkout -b feature/new-enhancement
+```
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+## 🧪 Development Setup
+
+Install dependencies:
+
+``` bash
+pip install -r requirements.txt
+```
+
+Ensure you are using **Python 3.10+**.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+## 📝 Code Standards
+
+To maintain consistency, contributors are expected to follow:
+
+### ✔️ Python Standards
+
+- Use **PEP8** formatting.
+
+- Run linters before submitting a PR:
+
+    ``` bash
+    ruff check .
+    ```
+
+### ✔️ Markdown Standards
+
+Markdown files are checked using: - `.markdownlint.yml`
+
+Run markdown linting:
+
+``` bash
+markdownlint .
+```
+
+### ✔️ Folder & File Naming
+
+We follow `.ls-lint.yml` rules for consistent file naming across the
+project.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+## 🧪 Testing
+
+Ensure all code added or modified includes tests where applicable.
+
+Run tests:
+
+``` bash
+pytest
+```
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+## 🔄 Submitting a Pull Request (PR)
+
+1. Commit your changes:
+
+    ``` bash
+    git commit -m "Add: new enhancement"
+    ```
+
+2. Push to your fork:
+
+    ``` bash
+    git push origin feature/new-enhancement
+    ```
+
+3. Create a Pull Request on GitHub.
+
+**Include the following in your PR:** - Clear description of the
+change - Related issue number (if applicable) - Screenshots (for
+UI/visual tools) - Test results (if required)
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+## 💬 Community Guidelines
+
+- Be respectful and helpful.
+- Use clear communication.
+- Provide meaningful commit messages.
+- Document major changes clearly.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+## 📄 License
+
+By contributing, you agree that your contributions will be licensed
+under the **MIT License**, included in this repository.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Thank you for helping make **Asclepios AI** better!\
+For questions or suggestions, feel free to open an issue.