diff --git a/doc/HowToCommit.md b/doc/HowToCommit.md
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+++ b/doc/HowToCommit.md
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+## Process used by committers to review and submit patches
+
+1. Make sure that there is an issue for the patch(s) you are about to commit in our [Jira issue tracker]({{ conf.jira_url }})
+ 
+1. Check out the latest version of the source code
+	
+	* git clone https://git-wip-us.apache.org/repos/asf/thrift.git thrift 
+
+1. Apply the patch
+	
+	* curl https://issues.apache.org/jira/... |git apply --ignore-space-change
+	
+	or
+	
+	* curl https://github.com/<GitHub User>/thrift/commit/<Commit ID>.patch |git apply --ignore-space-change
+	
+	
+1. Inspect the applied patch to ensure that all [Legal aspects on Submission of Contributions (Patches)](http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html#contributions) are met
+
+1. Run the necessary unit tests and cross language test cases to verify the patch
+
+1. Commit the patch
+
+		git --config user.name "Your Name"
+		git --config user.email "YourApacheID@apache.org"
+		git add -A
+		git commit
+		
+		
+1. The commit message should be in the format:
+	
+		THRIFT-###:<Jira description>
+		Client: <component>
+		Patch: <Name of person contributing the patch>
+		
+		Description of what was fixed or addressed.
+		
+		<%
+			if this is a github pull request then copy the below block 
+			from the GitHub email that came to dev@ list, this will 
+			automatically close the GitHub pull request 
+		%>
+		Github Pull Request: This closes #XX
+		----
+		commit 1234567
+		Author: docbrown <docbrown@example.com>
+		Date:   1985-06-03T01:21:00Z
+
+    		fix for THRIFT-1234
+
+    		fix for THRIFT-1234 fixes the flux capacitor
+
+
+1. Double check the patch committed and that nothing was missed then push the patch
+
+		git status
+		git show HEAD
+		git push origin master
+
+		
+1. Resolve the jira issue and set the following for the changelog
+
+	* Component the patch is for  
+	* fixVersion to the current version on master
+	
+
+ 
diff --git a/doc/HowToContribute.md b/doc/HowToContribute.md
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+++ b/doc/HowToContribute.md
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+## How to contribute
+
+ 1. Make sure your issue is not all ready in the [Jira issue tracker]({{ conf.jira_url }})
+ 1. If not, create a ticket describing the change you're proposing in the [Jira issue tracker]({{ conf.jira_url }})
+ 1. Contribute your patch using one of the two methods below
+ 
+### Contributing via a patch
+ 
+1. Check out the latest version of the source code
+	
+	* git clone https://git-wip-us.apache.org/repos/asf/thrift.git thrift 
+
+1. Modify the source to include the improvement/bugfix
+	
+	* Verify that you follow the same CodingStyle you see within the language you are working on
+	* Verify that your change works by adding a unit test.
+
+1. Create a patch from project root directory (e.g. you@dev:~/thrift $ ):
+	
+	* git diff > ../thrift-XXX-my-new-feature.patch
+
+1. Attach the newly generated patch to the issue
+1. Wait for other contributors or committers to review your new addition
+1. Wait for a committer to commit your patch
+ 
+### Contributing via GitHub pull requests
+
+1. Create a fork for http://github.com/apache/thrift
+1. Create a branch with the jira ticket number you are working on
+1. Modify the source to include the improvement/bugfix
+	
+	* Verify that you follow the same CodingStyle you see within the language you are working on
+	* Verify that your change works by adding a unit test. 
+
+1. Issue a pull request for your new feature
+1. Wait for other contributors or committers to review your new addition
+1. Wait for a committer to commit your patch
+
+### More info
+ 
+ Plenty of information on why and how to contribute is available on the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) web site. In particular, we recommend the following:
+ 
+ * [Contributors Tech Guide](http://www.apache.org/dev/contributors)
+ * [Get involved!](http://www.apache.org/foundation/getinvolved.html)
+ * [Legal aspects on Submission of Contributions (Patches)](http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html#contributions)
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