diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 775a4a5e5d..1eb7d80ec0 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -16,20 +16,40 @@
 
 If installation fails due to a `node-gyp` issue you may need to perform some additional system configuration.
 
-### on Linux (Ubuntu-based)
-
-- Make sure `npm` commands are not run as `root`.
-- If you get an error that `make` isn't installed you might need to also install the `build-essential` package
- - example `sudo apt update && sudo apt install build-essential`
+note: Ganache uses [node-gyp v7.1.2](https://github.com/nodejs/node-gyp/tree/v7.1.2) as part of its build system, which requires Python v2.7, v3.5, v3.6, v3.7, or v3.8 to be installed on the system.
 
 ### on Windows
 
 - Install [https://www.npmjs.com/package/windows-build-tools](Windows-Build-Tools)
   - `npm install --global windows-build-tools`
 
+### on Linux (Ubuntu-based)
+
+- Make sure `npm` commands are not run as `root`.
+- If you get an error that `make` isn't installed you might need to also install the `build-essential` package
+ - example `sudo apt update && sudo apt install build-essential`
+- Determine whether you have a compatible version of Python installed:
+  - example: `python --version` (and `python3 --version` if `python3` is installed)
+- If you do not have a compatible version installed: (v2.7, v3.5, v3.6, v3.7, or v3.8), you will need to install it:
+  - example: `sudo apt update && sudo apt install python2.7`
+- You may need to configure the python dependency (see [node-gyp for details on different ways to do this](https://github.com/nodejs/node-gyp/tree/v7.1.2#configuring-python-dependency)):
+  - example: `npm config set python <path-to-python-executable>`
+
 ### on macOS
 
-- I have no idea.
+- Attempt to install Xcode command line tools (the console will tell you if they're already installed)
+  - example: `xcode-select --install`
+- Determine whether you have a compatible version of Python installed:
+  - example: `python --version` (and `python3 --version` if `python3` is installed)
+- If you do not have a compatible version installed: (v2.7, v3.5, v3.6, v3.7, or v3.8), you will need to install it: (we recommend [pyenv](https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv) to manage your python installation)
+  1. [Install `pyenv`](https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv#homebrew-in-macos)
+  2. [Setup your shell environment for `pyenv`](https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv#set-up-your-shell-environment-for-pyenv)
+  3. Install Python: `pyenv install 2.7`
+  4. You may need to configure the python dependency (see [node-gyp for details on different ways to do this](https://github.com/nodejs/node-gyp/tree/v7.1.2#configuring-python-dependency)):
+  - example: `npm config set python <path-to-python-executable>`
+- If the above steps don't fix the `node-gyp` issue and you've recently updated your OS, you may need to re-install Xcode command line tools:
+  1. Remove the existing, broken installation: `rm -rf /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools`
+  2. Install them again: `xcode-select --install`
 
 ## Clean install