readme-generator

aliemrevezir's avatarfrom aliemrevezir

Generate a comprehensive, developer-friendly README.md in English by analyzing the project structure and source code. This skill scans the repository to understand the project's purpose, technical implementation, and setup requirements. Use this when a user asks to create, initialize, or update a README file for their project.

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[Technical Writing]

When & Why to Use This Skill

The README Generator is a specialized Claude skill designed to automate the creation of professional, developer-centric documentation. By performing a deep analysis of a project's file structure, dependencies, and source code, it generates comprehensive README.md files that cover technical architecture, installation procedures, and usage examples, ensuring high-quality project presentation with minimal manual effort.

Use Cases

  • Automated Project Onboarding: Quickly generate a complete README for a new repository by analyzing the initial codebase to identify the tech stack and setup requirements.
  • Documentation Maintenance: Update existing README files to reflect recent architectural changes, such as new API endpoints, authentication modules, or updated dependency versions.
  • Standardizing Repository Docs: Ensure a consistent documentation style across multiple team projects by generating structured sections like Technical Overview, Features, and Contribution guidelines.
  • Legacy Code Documentation: Scan older or undocumented projects to automatically extract and document core logic and execution flows for better maintainability.
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README Generator Skill

This skill automates the creation of high-quality, developer-friendly README.md files in English by performing a deep analysis of the local codebase.

Workflow

  1. Project Discovery:

    • List files in the root directory to identify the project type (e.g., package.json for Node.js, requirements.txt or pyproject.toml for Python, go.mod for Go).
    • Identify the project name and primary programming languages.

  2. Code Analysis:

    • Read entry point files (e.g., index.js, main.py, src/App.tsx) to understand the core logic.
    • Identify key dependencies and their roles.
    • Scan for configuration requirements like environment variables (.env.example).

  3. Content Generation:

    • Draft the README in English with a professional yet "dev-friendly" tone.
    • Include the following mandatory sections:
      • Project Title: Clear and concise.
      • Description: A "What it does" section explaining the value proposition.
      • Technical Overview: A brief explanation of the internal architecture and code structure.
      • Features: Bullet points of key functionalities.
      • Prerequisites: Tools or versions needed (e.g., Node.js v18+).
      • Installation: Step-by-step setup commands.
      • Usage: Examples of how to run or use the project.
      • Contributing: Basic guidelines for others to help.
      • License: Default to MIT if not specified, or detect existing LICENSE file.

Guidelines for Claude

  • Tone: Use active voice and developer-centric language. Avoid overly corporate jargon.
  • Formatting: Use clear Markdown hierarchy (H1 for title, H2 for sections). Use code blocks for all terminal commands and code snippets.
  • Accuracy: Do not hallucinate features. Only document what is actually present in the code or explicitly requested by the user.
  • Context: If the project is complex, create a "Directory Structure" section to help users navigate the source code.

Examples

Example 1: User asks for a new README

User: "Can you create a README for this project?" Claude: (Uses ls and Read to explore) "I've analyzed your Python FastAPI project. I'll generate a README.md that covers the async endpoints, Pydantic models, and Docker setup I found."

Example 2: Updating an existing project

User: "Update my readme to reflect the new auth changes." Claude: (Scans src/auth and middleware) "I see you've added JWT authentication. I will update the 'Usage' and 'Technical Overview' sections of the README.md to include these security details."

Technical Overview Section Requirements

When writing the "Technical Overview" part of the README:

  • Mention the core frameworks used.
  • Briefly describe how data flows through the application (e.g., "The application uses a Redux-Saga pattern to handle asynchronous side effects...").
  • Highlight specific design patterns if they are prominent (e.g., Factory pattern, Middleware, etc.).