I have played through much of the regular repertory in ad hoc groups, for fun, and I've been in one or two longer-lived quintets. The point is that I'm an admirer, not an expert. What follows are some observations, some half-baked truths, some principles I try to follow but often can't. It flourished briefly around 1800, all but disappeared until the late 19th century, and made a triumphant reappearance in the 20th. Since 19th-century values and repertory still dominate concert life, the woodwind quintet has never achieved the status with audiences that its tireless and passionate sister, the string quartet, enjoys.
Amateur quintets abound.
The repertory, overwhelmingly 20th century, has been enriched by hundreds of composers, including some of the most eminent. The first things to consider when composing for this medium are the capabilities and limitations of the individual instruments. I won't say much about that here. But don't think primarily in terms of limitations. Wind players can do much more than is customarily required of them.