Add 'Choosing an issue to work on' doc (#22092)

README.md

@@ -250,10 +250,11 @@ Before attempting to develop on Element you **must** read the [developer guide
 for `matrix-react-sdk`](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk#developer-guide), which
 also defines the design, architecture and style for Element too.
 
-Before starting work on a feature, it's best to ensure your plan aligns well
+Read the [Choosing an issue](docs/choosing-an-issue.md) page for some guidance
-with our vision for Element. Please chat with the team in
+about where to start. Before starting work on a feature, it's best to ensure
-[#element-dev:matrix.org](https://matrix.to/#/#element-dev:matrix.org) before you
+your plan aligns well with our vision for Element. Please chat with the team in
-start so we can ensure it's something we'd be willing to merge.
+[#element-dev:matrix.org](https://matrix.to/#/#element-dev:matrix.org) before
+you start so we can ensure it's something we'd be willing to merge.
 
 You should also familiarise yourself with the ["Here be Dragons" guide
 ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/12jYzvkidrp1h7liEuLIe6BMdU0NUjndUYI971O06ooM)

docs/choosing-an-issue.md

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+# Choosing an issue to work on
+
+So you want to contribute to Element Web? That is awesome!
+
+If you're not sure where to start, make sure you read
+[CONTRIBUTING.md](../CONTRIBUTING.md), and the
+[Development](../README.md#development) and
+[Setting up a dev environment](../README.md#setting-up-a-dev-environment)
+sections of the README.
+
+Maybe you've got something specific you'd like to work on? If so, make sure you
+create an issue and
+[discuss it with the developers](https://matrix.to/#/#element-dev:matrix.org)
+before you put a lot of time into it.
+
+If you're looking for inspiration on where to start, keep reading!
+
+## Finding a good first issue
+
+All the issues for Element Web live in the
+[element-web](https://github.com/vector-im/element-web) repository, including
+issues that actually need fixing in `matrix-react-sdk` or one of the related
+repos.
+
+The first place to look is for
+[issues tagged with "good first issue"](https://github.com/vector-im/element-web/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue+label%3A%22good+first+issue%22).
+
+Look through that list and find something that catches your interest. If there
+is nothing, there, try gently asking in
+[#element-dev:matrix.org](https://matrix.to/#/#element-dev:matrix.org) for
+someone to add something.
+
+When you're looking through the list, here are some things that might make an
+issue a **GOOD** choice:
+
+* It is a problem or feature you care about.
+* It concerns a type of code you know a little about.
+* You think you can understand what's needed.
+* It already has approval from Element Web's designers (look for comments from
+  members of the
+  [Product](https://github.com/orgs/vector-im/teams/product/members) or
+  [Design](https://github.com/orgs/vector-im/teams/design/members) teams).
+
+Here are some things that might make it a **BAD** choice:
+
+* You don't understand it (maybe add a comment asking a clarifying question).
+* It sounds difficult, or is part of a larger change you don't know about.
+* **It is tagged with `X-Needs-Design` or `X-Needs-Product`.**
+
+**Element Web's Design and Product teams tend to be very busy**, so if you make
+changes that require approval from one of those teams, you will probably have
+to wait a very long time. The kind of change affected by this is changing the
+way the product works, or how it looks in a specific area.
+
+## Finding a good second issue
+
+Once you've fixed a few small things, you can consider taking on something a
+little larger. This should mostly be driven by what you find interesting, but
+you may also find the
+[Help Wanted](https://github.com/vector-im/element-web/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+sort%3Aupdated-desc+label%3A%22Help+Wanted%22)
+label useful.
+
+Note that the same comment applies as in the previous section: if you want to
+work in areas that require Design or Product approval, you should look to join
+existing work that is already designed, as getting approval for your random
+change will take a very long time.
+
+So you should **always avoid issues tagged with `X-Needs-Design` or
+`X-Needs-Product`**.
+
+## Asking questions
+
+Feel free to ask questions about the issues or how to choose them in the
+[#element-dev:matrix.org](https://matrix.to/#/#element-dev:matrix.org) Matrix
+room.
+
+## Thank you
+
+Thank you again for contributing to Element Web. We welcome your contributions
+and are grateful for your work. We find working on it great fun, and we hope
+you do too!