wip - docs: specifies commit message format

Author: bjacobgordon

docs/contributing/commit-message-format.md

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+# Format for Commit Messages
+
+## Goal
+
+## Template
+
+```plaintext
+<type>(<optional scope>): <message>
+
+<optional description>
+```
+
+## Headers
+
+### Types
+
+Must be one of the following:
+
+| Type          | Description                                                                                         | User-facing?       | Developer-facing?  | In other words...                                            |
+|---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
+| `feature`     | New functionality                                                                                   | :white_check_mark: | :white_check_mark: | adding a new user story                                      |
+| `fix`         | Corrections to broken functionality                                                                 | :white_check_mark: | :white_check_mark: | fixing a bug                                                 |
+| `preliminary` | New _internal_ functionality                                                                        | :x:                | :white_check_mark: | adding a new utility to be used in the next commit           |
+| `refactor`    | Internal restructuring to existing functionality that unblocks future development                   | :x:                | :white_check_mark: | addressing a code smell                                      |
+| `performance` | A refactor that specifically improves speed, efficiency, etc.                                       | :x:                | :white_check_mark: | load times, power consumption                                |
+| `types`       | A refactor that specifically affects compile-time only, not runtime                                 | :x:                | :white_check_mark: | adding a missing type annotation                             |
+| `test`        | Affects validation of existing functionality without changing the functionality itself              | :x:                | :x:                | adding a missing unit test, correction an existing unit test |
+| `build`       | Affects the build system or external dependencies                                                   | :x:                | :x:                | something about npm                                          |
+| `ci`          | Affects files and scripts that define our CI configuration                                          | :x:                | :x:                | something about Github Actions/Apps                          |
+| `docs`        | Made to "human-executable" files                                                                    | :x:                | :x:                | a README update                                              |
+| `chore`       | Addresses a housekeeping item                                                                       | :grey_question:    | :grey_question:    | a dependency update                                          |
+| `revert`      | Reverses an existing commit                                                                         | :grey_question:    | :grey_question:    |                                                              |
+| `linter`      | Affects the files and script that define our lint rules, might also include changes for conformance | :x:                | :white_check_mark: | adding an ESLint Rule                                        |
+
+### Scopes
+
+[TODO]
+
+### Summaries
+
+[TODO]
+
+## Bodies
+
+[TODO]
+
+## Footers
+
+[TODO]