README Template

Overview

A README is the front door of your project. Pair it with the Contributing Guide and Code of Conduct for community standards. It is the first thing developers see on GitHub, npm, PyPI, or Docker Hub. A well-structured README reduces onboarding friction, answers common questions, and sets expectations for contributors.

This template provides a battle-tested structure you can copy, adapt, and ship in minutes.

When to Use

Use this template when:

• Starting a new open-source project
• Documenting an internal library or tool
• Publishing a package to a public registry
• Handing off a project to another team

Solution

Copy the template below and replace the [bracketed] placeholders:

# [Project Name]

[![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-blue.svg)](LICENSE)

> [One-line description of what this project does.]

## Table of Contents

- [Overview](#overview)
- [Installation](#installation)
- [Usage](#usage)
- [API Reference](#api-reference)
- [Contributing](#contributing)
- [License](#license)

## Project Description

[2-3 paragraphs explaining what the project does, why it exists, and who should use it.]

## Installation

### Prerequisites

- [Node.js 18+](https://nodejs.org/)
- [Python 3.10+](https://python.org/)

### Quick Start

```bash
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/username/repo.git
cd repo

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Run the project
npm run dev

Usage

Basic Example

import { myFunction } from 'my-package';

const result = myFunction({ option: true });
console.log(result);

Configuration

Option	Type	Default	Description
timeout	number	5000	Request timeout in milliseconds
retries	number	3	Number of retry attempts

API Reference

See API.md for the full API documentation.

Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please read CONTRIBUTING.md for details.

License

MIT © [Author Name]

## Explanation

Each section serves a specific purpose:

- **Badges**: Instantly communicate build status, version, and license
- **One-liner**: Hook the reader in under 10 seconds
- **Table of Contents**: Essential for long READMEs; auto-generated on GitHub
- **Installation**: Lower the barrier to first success; include copy-paste commands
- **Usage**: Show a minimal working example before explaining edge cases
- **API Reference**: Link to detailed docs; keep the README scannable
- **Contributing**: Set expectations for PRs, issues, and code style. Link to [Contributing Guide](/docs/templates/contributing-guide) for details.
- **License**: Protects both authors and users legally

## README Example

```text
=== README: payment-service ===

# Payment Service

Payment processing service for the platform.

## Quick Start

Requirements:
  - Node.js 20+
  - Docker 24+
  - PostgreSQL 16+

Installation:
  git clone https://github.com/company/payment-service.git
  cd payment-service
  npm install
  cp .env.example .env  # edit with your values
  docker compose up -d  # postgres and redis
  npm run db:migrate
  npm run dev

Tests:
  npm test           # unit tests
  npm run test:e2e   # end-to-end tests
  npm run test:cov   # coverage report

## Architecture

  Client -> API Gateway -> payment-service -> PostgreSQL
                                       -> Redis (cache)
                                       -> Carrier API (shipping)

## Endpoints

  POST   /payments          Create a payment
  GET    /payments/:id      Get a payment
  POST   /payments/:id/refund  Refund a payment
  GET    /health            Health check

## Configuration

  Variable          | Required | Default | Description
  ------------------|----------|---------|-------------------
  DATABASE_URL      | Yes      | -       | PostgreSQL URL
  REDIS_URL         | Yes      | -       | Redis URL
  CARRIER_API_KEY   | Yes      | -       | Carrier API key
  LOG_LEVEL         | No       | info    | Log level
  PORT              | No       | 3000    | Server port

## Monitoring

  - Dashboard: https://grafana.company.com/d/payment
  - Logs: https://kibana.company.com/app/discover#/payment
  - Alerts: PagerDuty service PD-1234
  - SLO: 99.9% availability, p95 < 500ms

## Contributing

  See CONTRIBUTING.md for the contribution flow.
  Contact: #payments-team on Slack.

Variants

Project Type	Sections to Add	Sections to Skip
Library / SDK	API Reference, Changelog	Screenshots
CLI Tool	Commands, Flags, Config	Architecture
Web App	Screenshots, Demo link, Deploy	API Reference
Internal Tool	Onboarding, Internal Slack channel	License, Contributing

What Works

• Keep the first 100 lines scannable — most readers never scroll past the fold
• Use a demo GIF or screenshot — visual proof beats paragraphs
• Link, don’t inline — detailed docs belong in /docs, not the README
• Update the TOC — stale TOCs frustrate readers; use doctoc or auto-generate
• Add a troubleshooting section — collect the top 3 issues from your issue tracker
• Include a changelog link — users need to know what changed between versions. Use Changelog Template for structure.

Common Mistakes

• No installation instructions — assume the reader has zero context
• Missing prerequisites — “it works on my machine” syndrome
• Giant blocks of text — break into sections, lists, and tables
• Outdated examples — broken code examples erode trust immediately
• No license — legally blocks usage and contribution
• Copy-paste from another project — stale links and wrong project names

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long should a README be? A: As short as possible while answering: What is this? How do I install it? How do I use it? Where do I get help?

Q: Should I include a Table of Contents? A: Yes, if the README exceeds 300 lines. GitHub auto-generates one from H2 headings, but a manual TOC is more flexible.

Q: Can I use HTML in a README? A: Yes, GitHub Flavored Markdown supports a subset of HTML. Use it sparingly for layout (e.g., centering badges) but prefer Markdown for content.

Can I modify this template for my organization?

Yes. Adapt the sections, fields, and structure to match your organization’s needs. Keep the template minimal so team members actually use it consistently.

Who should review documents created from this template?

Assign reviewers based on the document type. Technical documents need engineering review. Process documents need stakeholder review. Always have at least one reviewer.

How do I version documents created from this template?

Use your version control system. Store documents in a docs/ directory with clear naming. Tag or branch significant versions. Review and update living documents quarterly.

How do we structure the README for open source projects?

For open source: the README is the first impression. Start with the name and a 1-line description. Add badges (CI status, coverage, npm version, license). Include a “Why?” section — what problem does it solve. Add “Quick Start” with copy-paste commands. Include a requirements section. Add usage examples — not just installation. Include an architecture diagram if complex. Add a contributing section with link to CONTRIBUTING.md. Include the license. Add a code of conduct. Keep the README concise — if it is too long, move details to docs/. A clear README attracts more users and contributors than an exhaustive but unreadable one.

What sections are mandatory in a README?

Mandatory: title and description, installation/quick start, basic usage, license. Recommended: requirements, configuration, tests, contributing, support/contact. Optional: architecture, roadmap, FAQ, changelog, credits. For libraries: API table, code examples, comparison with alternatives. For services: endpoints, configuration, monitoring, deployment. For monorepos: directory structure, what goes in each package. The rule: if a new engineer cannot use the project in 15 minutes reading only the README, the README is incomplete.

How do we keep the README up to date?

The README should live in the same repo as the code — PRs that change behavior should update the README. Add a CI check that verifies the README has no broken links. Review the README at each release — if installation changed, update it. Assign an owner to the README (usually the main maintainer). Use a markdown linter to keep formatting consistent. If the README has code examples: automate that examples work with tests. A stale README is worse than no README — it misleads users. Mark the README with last-reviewed date in frontmatter or a comment.

End of document. Review and update quarterly.