While setting up Pandas for local development, I noticed the docs assume familiarity with certain tools and skip details that could benefit new contributors.
Observations:
The prerequisites section doesn’t specify the recommended Python version.
Instructions lack an example pip install -e . for editable installs.
A short “Troubleshooting” section for common issues (e.g., missing Cython, build failures) could prevent confusion.
Proposed Solution:
Update CONTRIBUTING.md to include:
Recommended Python version(s)
Example for editable install (pip install -e .)
Basic troubleshooting tips for errors during setup
Making these additions will streamline onboarding and reduce repetitive setup questions.
I’d be happy to create a PR for this, if it sounds helpful.