diff --git a/COLLABORATING.md b/COLLABORATING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2dd71e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/COLLABORATING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# a small guide to collaborating
+
+The approach we use is like this:
+
+- we create modules that solve a single problem (by modules I mean ES6 modules: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Guide/Modules#introducing_an_example)
+- if your main goal A requires a sub goal B, create (or get it delegated to someone to create) module B
+- each module exports <ins>pure functions</ins>
+- pure functions should always check their inputs and either
+  - throw errors (when something should break, let it break) (note that it's not "if it must" but "if it should"!)
+  - warn developers by console.warn if something is discouraged but doesn't affect the workflow/use case
+- for each class or function please add API documentation using the JSDoc format (https://github.com/jsdoc/jsdoc)
+
+I advise you to check out https://git.fybx.dev/fyb/zkl-kds/src/branch/main/key-derivation.js and https://git.fybx.dev/fyb/zkl-kds/src/branch/main/key.js to get an idea on how to develop modules with pure functions.
+
+might get updated occasionally, any questions -> [yigid](https://fybx.dev/telegram)
\ No newline at end of file