Contributing to Vitessce

July 30, 2025 · View on GitHub

Thank you for your interest in contributing to Vitessce! We welcome contributions from the community and are excited to collaborate with you. Please follow the guidelines below to ensure a smooth contribution process.

Issues and Bug Reporting

If you encounter a bug, briefly search the existing issues to see if it has already been reported. If not, create a new issue with the following details:

  1. A clear title summarizing the problem.
  2. Steps to reproduce the issue.
  3. Expected and actual behavior.
  4. Any relevant logs, screenshots, or environment details.
  5. If relevant to a cell atlasing effort or consortium, feel free to mention this so that we are aware of the context.

How to Contribute

1. Fork the Repository

Start by forking the repository to your GitHub account. You can do this by clicking the Fork button at the top right of the Vitessce repository.

2. Clone Your Fork

Clone your fork to your local machine:

git clone https://github.com/your-username/vitessce.git

3. Create a New Branch

Create a new branch for your feature or bugfix. Use a descriptive name for the branch, such as:

git checkout -b user/my-new-feature

Please use one of the following naming conventions for new branches:

  • {github-username}/{feature-name}
  • {github-username}/fix-{issue-num}

4. Make Your Changes

Make your changes in the codebase. Ensure that your code adheres to the project’s coding style and conventions. If you’re adding new features, consider including tests and documentation updates.

Development Guidelines

For detailed information about setting up the development environment, please refer to the Development section in the README.

5. Run Tests

Before submitting your changes, run the existing tests following the testing guidelines to ensure your changes don’t break anything.

If applicable, write new tests for the functionality you’ve added or modified.

6. Commit Your Changes

Commit your changes with a clear and concise message:

git commit -m "Fix: Resolve issue with rendering component"

7. Push Your Changes

Push your branch to your forked repository:

git push origin user/my-new-feature

8. Open a Pull Request

Go to the Vitessce repository and open a pull request from your branch. Be sure to include:

  • A descriptive title and summary of your changes.
  • Links to any relevant issues.
  • Any special instructions for reviewers.

If you have any questions or need help, feel free to open an issue.