Update README.md and Contributing guidelines

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -200,3 +200,31 @@ OBJECT_STORE_BUCKET=test-bucket \
 GOOGLE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT=/tmp/gcs.json \
 cargo test -p object_store --features=gcp
 ```
+
+
+# Deprecation Guidelines
+
+Minor releases may deprecate, but not remove APIs. Deprecating APIs allows
+downstream Rust programs to still compile, but generate compiler warnings. This
+gives downstream crates time to migrate prior to API removal.
+
+To deprecate an API:
+
+- Mark the API as deprecated using `#[deprecated]` and specify the exact object_store version in which it was deprecated
+- Concisely describe the preferred API to help the user transition
+
+The deprecated version is the next version which will be released (please
+consult the list above). To mark the API as deprecated, use the
+`#[deprecated(since = "...", note = "...")]` attribute.
+
+For example
+
+```rust
+#[deprecated(since = "0.11.0", note = "Use `date_part` instead")]
+```
+
+In general, deprecated APIs will remain in the codebase for at least two major releases after
+they were deprecated (typically between 6 - 9 months later). For example, an API
+deprecated in `0.10.0` can be removed in `0.13.0` (or later). Deprecated APIs
+may be removed earlier or later than these guidelines at the discretion of the
+maintainers.

README.md

@@ -38,10 +38,38 @@ Originally developed by [InfluxData](https://www.influxdata.com/) and later dona
 
 See [docs.rs](https://docs.rs/object_store) for usage instructions
 
+See [CONTRIBUTING.md] to learn how to contribute to this project.
+
+[CONTRIBUTING.md]: https://github.com/apache/arrow-rs-object-store/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md
+
 ## Support for `wasm32-unknown-unknown` target
 
 It's possible to build `object_store` for the `wasm32-unknown-unknown` target, however the cloud storage features `aws`, `azure`, `gcp`, and `http` are not supported.
 
 ```
 cargo build -p object_store --target wasm32-unknown-unknown
-```
+```
+
+Here are several related crates in different repositories
+
+| Crate                    | Description                                 | Documentation                           |
+| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
+| [`object_store_opendal`] | Use [`opendal`] as [`object_store`] backend | [(README)][object_store_opendal-readme] |
+
+[`object_store_opendal`]: https://crates.io/crates/object_store_opendal
+[`opendal`]: https://crates.io/crates/opendal
+[object_store_opendal-readme]: https://github.com/apache/opendal/blob/main/integrations/object_store/README.md
+
+## Release Schedule
+
+The [`object_store`] crate follows [Semantic Versioning]. We aim to release new
+versions approximately every 2 months.
+
+[`object_store`]: https://crates.io/crates/object_store
+
+Planned Release Schedule
+
+| Approximate Date | Version  | Notes                                   |
+| ---------------- | -------- | --------------------------------------- |
+| Feb 2025         | `0.12.0` | Major, potentially breaking API changes |
+| Apr 2025         | `0.12.1` | Minor, NO breaking API changes          |