Add CONTRIBUTING.md and small improvements in README.md.

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Contributing to cx_Oracle
+
+*Copyright (c) 2017, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.*
+
+Pull requests can be made under
+[The Oracle Contributor Agreement](https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/community/oca-486395.html)
+(OCA).
+
+For pull requests to be accepted into cx_Oracle, the bottom of
+your commit message must have the following line using your name and
+e-mail address as it appears in the OCA Signatories list.
+
+```
+Signed-off-by: Your Name <[email protected]>
+```
+
+This can be automatically added to pull requests by committing with:
+
+```
+git commit --signoff
+````
+
+Only pull requests from committers that can be verified as having
+signed the OCA can be accepted.

README.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#Open Source Python/Oracle Utility - cx_Oracle
+# Open Source Python/Oracle Utility - cx_Oracle
 
 cx_Oracle is a Python extension module that enables access to Oracle Database
 and conforms to the Python database API 2.0 specifications with a considerable
@@ -15,17 +15,25 @@ capabilities.
 
 cx_Oracle is licensed under a BSD license which you can find [here][3].
 
+cx_Oracle has been tested with Python version 2.7, and with versions 3.4 and
+higher. You can use cx_Oracle with Oracle 11.2, 12.1 and 12.2 client libraries,
+allowing connection to multiple Oracle Database versions. Oracle's standard
+client-server version interoperability allows connection to both older and
+newer databases, for example Oracle 11.2 client libraries can connect to Oracle
+Database 10.2 or later.
+
 Please note that an Oracle client (or server) installation is required in order
 to use cx_Oracle. If you do not require the tools that come with a full client
 installation, it is recommended to install the [Instant Client][4].
 which is far easier to install.
 
-For feedback or patches, contact Anthony Tuininga at
-[email protected]. For help or to ask questions, please use the
-[mailing list][5].
+## Help
+
+Issues and questions can be raised with the cx_Oracle community on
+[GitHub][9] or on the [mailing list][5].
 
 
-#Installation
+## Installation
 
 Binaries for some platforms and Oracle versions are available at
 [PyPI][6]. If you prefer to build your own you can use this command
@@ -42,10 +50,10 @@ commands instead
 This module has been built with Oracle client 11.2, 12.1 and 12.2 on Linux and
 Windows. Others have reported success with other platforms such as macOS.
 
-See BUILD.txt for additional information.
+See [BUILD.txt][10] for additional information.
 
 
-#Usage Example
+## Usage Example
 
 
 ```python
@@ -77,10 +85,12 @@ samples in the samples directory. You can also look at the scripts in the
 
 [1]: https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0249
 [2]: http://cx-oracle.readthedocs.io
-[3]: http://cx-oracle.readthedocs.io/en/latest/license.html
+[3]: https://github.com/oracle/python-cx_Oracle/blob/master/LICENSE.txt
 [4]: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/features/instant-client/index.html
 [5]: http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/cx-oracle-users
 [6]: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/cx_Oracle
 [7]: http://cx-oracletools.sourceforge.net
 [8]: http://cx-pyoraclelib.sourceforge.net
+[9]: https://github.com/oracle/python-cx_Oracle/issues
+[10]: https://github.com/oracle/python-cx_Oracle/blob/master/BUILD.txt