Contributing to NexoralDNS

Thank you for your interest in NexoralDNS! We appreciate your support and feedback.

How You Can Contribute

Even though we don't accept code contributions, there are many valuable ways you can help improve NexoralDNS:

1. Report Bugs

Found a bug? We want to know! Please help us by:

1. Check existing issues first to avoid duplicates
2. Create a new issue with the "Bug Report" template
3. Provide detailed information:
   • NexoralDNS version (found in dashboard or VERSION file)
   • Operating system and version
   • Steps to reproduce the bug
   • Expected behavior vs actual behavior
   • Error messages or logs (if any)
   • Screenshots (if applicable)

Example of a Good Bug Report:

Title: DNS queries fail for custom domains after restart

Environment:
- NexoralDNS version: 1.2.3
- OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
- Docker version: 24.0.5

Steps to reproduce:
1. Create custom domain "app.local" pointing to 192.168.1.100
2. Restart NexoralDNS using `docker compose restart`
3. Query the domain using `dig app.local`

Expected: Should resolve to 192.168.1.100
Actual: Returns NXDOMAIN error

Error logs:
[paste relevant logs here]

2. Suggest Features

Have an idea to make NexoralDNS better? We'd love to hear it!

1. Check existing feature requests to see if it's already suggested
2. Create a new issue with the "Feature Request" template
3. Describe your use case:
   • What problem does this solve?
   • Who would benefit from this feature?
   • How should it work?
   • Any alternative solutions you've considered?

We prioritize features based on:

• Number of users requesting it
• Alignment with product vision
• Technical feasibility
• Premium vs free tier strategy

3. Improve Documentation

Found a typo, unclear instructions, or missing documentation?

1. Create an issue describing what's wrong or missing
2. Suggest improvements for documentation sections
3. Report broken links or outdated information

We review all documentation feedback and update accordingly.

4. Report Security Vulnerabilities

5. Help Other Users

• Answer questions in GitHub issues
• Share your experience and solutions
• Help troubleshoot problems others are facing
• Provide helpful information in discussions

6. Spread the Word

• Star the repository on GitHub
• Share NexoralDNS with others who might find it useful
• Write blog posts or tutorials about your use case
• Provide feedback on your experience

Issue Guidelines

Before Creating an Issue

• Search existing issues to avoid duplicates
• Ensure you're using the latest version
• Check the troubleshooting section
• Gather relevant information (version, OS, logs, etc.)

Issue Etiquette

• Be respectful and professional in all interactions
• Provide context - help us understand your situation
• Be patient - we review all issues but may take time to respond
• Follow up - respond to questions and provide updates
• Close resolved issues - let us know when your problem is fixed

Issue Labels

We use the following labels to organize issues:

What Happens After You Report?

Bug Reports

1. We'll review and attempt to reproduce
2. May ask for additional information
3. Will update the issue with findings
4. Fix will be included in a future release
5. Issue will be closed when fix is deployed

Feature Requests

1. We'll evaluate the request
2. May ask clarifying questions
3. Will label as feature-request
4. May be marked for future releases or declined
5. Premium features go to premium customers first

Why No Code Contributions?

We understand this may be different from traditional open source projects. Here's why:

1. Commercial Product: NexoralDNS is a commercial product with free and premium tiers
2. Code Quality Control: Ensures consistent code quality and architecture
3. Support Obligations: We're responsible for supporting all features
4. Intellectual Property: Protects our proprietary technology and business model
5. Rapid Development: Allows us to move quickly without PR review overhead

However, your feedback is invaluable! Many features and improvements come directly from user suggestions and bug reports.

Paid Support & Custom Development

Need custom features or priority support?

• Premium License: Includes priority support - nexoral.in
• Enterprise Support: Custom SLAs and dedicated support available
• Custom Development: Contact us for bespoke features and integrations

Visit nexoral.in or email us for more information.

Recognition

While we don't accept code contributions, we value all contributions:

• Bug reporters who help us improve stability
• Feature requesters who shape our roadmap
• Community helpers who assist other users
• Documentation improvers who make NexoralDNS easier to use

Thank you for being part of the NexoralDNS community!

Questions?

• 📖 Check the README for basic information
• 🆘 See Troubleshooting guide
• 💬 Open a GitHub issue for questions
• 🌐 Visit nexoral.in for commercial inquiries