Please check out a recent version of dev branch before starting work, and rebase onto dev before creating a pull request.
This helps keep the commit graph clean and easy to follow. In addition, please sign off each of your commits.
If you want to work on a GitHub issue, check to make sure it's not assigned to someone first. If it's not assigned to anyone, assign yourself once you start writing code. (Please don't assign yourself just because you'd like to work on the issue, but only when you actually start.) This helps avoid duplicate work.
If you start working on an issue but find that you won't be able to finish, please un-assign yourself so other people know the issue is available. If you assign yourself but aren't making progress, we may assign the issue to someone else.
If you're working on issue 123, please put "Fixes #123" (without quotes) in the commit message below everything else and separated by a blank line. For example, if issue 123 is a feature request to add foobar, the commit message might look like:
Add foobar
Some longer description goes here, if you
want to describe your change in detail.
Fixes #123
This will close the bug once your pull request is merged.
If you're a first-time contributor, try looking for an issue with the label "good first issue", which should be easier for someone unfamiliar with the codebase to work on.