diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 9f709a05d..864f9fbcf 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -61,7 +61,17 @@ Pull requests
 
 When creating pull request, please heed the following:
 
-* Base your code on the latest master branch to avoid manual merges
-* Code review may ensue in order to help shape your proposal
+* Base your code on the latest `master` branch to avoid manual merges
+* Code review by the team may occur to help you shape your proposal
+* Test your proposal operationally to catch mistakes and avoid merge delay
 * Pull request must adhere to 2-Clause BSD licensing
 * Explain the problem and your proposed solution
+* If applicable cite the issue(s) number(s) in your pull-request description,
+    for example `Fixes: #1234`, `Closes: #1234`, or `Ref: #1234`.
+* Read [README.md](./README.md) to learn about the commands to shape your code
+
+Stable release updates
+----------------------
+
+After merging a pull-request into the `master` branch a team member may cherry-pick
+your work to update the current stable version (branches: `stable/<major>.<minor>`).
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1ca39d155..48ab1797a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ You can contribute to the project in many ways, e.g. testing
 functionality, sending in bug reports or creating pull requests
 directly via GitHub.  Any help is always very welcome!
 
+You can learn more about contributing on [CONTRIBUTING.md](./CONTRIBUTING.md).
+
 License
 =======
 
@@ -104,8 +106,15 @@ before issuing a pull request on GitHub.
 make style
 ----------
 
-Run the PSR2 and PEP8 style checks on MVC PHP code and Python,
+Run the PSR12 and PEP8 style checks on MVC PHP code and Python,
 respectively.
+For php code you will need to have `phpcs` and `phpcbf` installed.
+
+You can use the package `php-codesniffer` on Debian/Ubuntu.
+Python code will require `pycodestyle`.
+
+For easier development you may want to use an OPNsense VM and run:
+`pkg install os-debug` that will install all the necessary tools.
 
 make sweep
 ----------