In the top level directory of the project. This is where someone who is new to your project will start out. It allows you to add some lightweight formatting. You can learn more about it at the CommonMark website , which also has a helpful reference guide and an interactive tutorial.
Some other formats that you might see are plain text , reStructuredText common in Python projects , and Textile. You can use any text editor. There are plugins for many editors e. You can also use a dedicated Markdown editor like Typora or an online one like StackEdit or Dillinger. You can even use the editable template below. Markdown Input editable. Pull requests are welcome. For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change.
Every project is different, so consider which of these sections apply to yours. The sections used in the template are suggestions for most open source projects. If you think your README is too long, consider utilizing another form of documentation rather than cutting out information. Let people know what your project can do specifically. Provide context and add a link to any reference visitors might be unfamiliar with. A list of Features or a Background subsection can also be added here.
If there are alternatives to your project, this is a good place to list differentiating factors. On some READMEs, you may see small images that convey metadata, such as whether or not all the tests are passing for the project.
Many services also have instructions for adding a badge. If you want to insert an indented numbered list within an existing indented numbered one, just press the tab key again. Formatted text: Blockquotes: Sometimes in Markdown, we will want to reference an external source using quotation marks.
It is called a blockquote. Horizontal rules: A horizontal rule is a tiny functional element that you can use to visually split up blocks of text within your Markdown file. Code blocks: Formatting code blocks is useful when you have a bigger chunk of code to include in your Markdown file.
Format your code blocks by indenting every line of your code block using one tab or four spaces. Escaping: In Markdown, you will often need to include characters in your text for example, an asterisk that may be part of the Markdown syntax. You escape characters in Markdown using a backslash before the character , with no space in between. Lists within a blockquote: Nest your list formatting inside your blockquote formatting.
Since we are discussing readme. These include mentions as well as references to Issues and Pull Requests. Syntax highlighting: Highlights the syntax. Example: Formatted code: 2. Task Lists: To create a task list If you include a task list in the first comment of an Issue, you will get a handy progress indicator in your issue list.
It also works in Pull Requests. Tables: You can create tables by assembling a list of words and dividing them with hyphens — for the first row , and then separating each column with a pipe.
Example: First Header Second Header Content from cell 1 Content from cell 2 Content in the first column content in the second column Formatted text: 4. Username mentions: Typing an symbol, followed by a username, will notify that person to come and view the comment.
You can also mention teams within an organization. Since now you know everything about r eadme. The file also fulfills different purposes for different users: For end users , a readme file answers questions about installing, updating or using the software. For your own development work , a readme file provides two advantages. On the one hand, a readme file written prior to the start of development provides a guideline for implementing the project.
On the other hand, it lets you resume work quickly if a project was previously set aside for a prolonged period of time. For other developers , a readme file clarifies the codex and provides key information for further development or use of a system, software or an open-source project. What should a readme file contain?
Depending on the purpose of a readme file, the following content in particular may be relevant: A general description of the system or project The project status is important if the project is still in development. Use the file to mention planned changes and the development direction or indicate the completion date of the project.
How should problems be handled? How should developers advance the changes? Possible file formats for readme files You can write and save a readme file in any text file format you wish. Readme example in markdown format:. For extensive documentation, a clear table of contents provides a useful overview:.
Table of Contents 1. The table of contents are followed by the individual blocks of content on the respective points:. It is a good idea to always put a project status in the readme file. This is where you can add it. Readme example template Below you will find a summary of examples from the article as a readme template:. Some of the most common guidelines include the Contributor Covenant and the Contributing guide. Thes docs will give you the help you need when setting rules for your project.
Go the extra mile and write tests for your application. Then provide code examples and how to run them. This will help show that you are certain and confident that your project will work without any challenges, which will give other people confidence in it, too.
There you have it, everything you need to improve your README files, or even get you started with writing your first one. At this point I am confident that you are in a position to add an interactive and inforamative guide to your next project or even an existing one and make your project standout.
There are many tools which you can also use to automatically generate a README for your project, but it's always a good practice to try it on your own before moving to automation.
In case you want to check them out, they include:. If you have read this far I really appreciate it. If you enjoyed this article and found it helpful, please share it so you can help another developer improve their projects.
Be sure to share a link with me via any of the links below:. If you read this far, tweet to the author to show them you care. Tweet a thanks. Learn to code for free. Get started. Forum Donate. Hillary Nyakundi. It is essential for you as a developer to know how to document your project by writing a README because: It is the first file a person will see when they encounter your project, so it should be fairly brief but detailed.
It will make your project standout from a bunch of others. Also be sure your project is good too. It will help you focus on what your project needs to deliver and how. It will improve your writing skills, just as Friedrich Nietzsche said: A good writer possesses not only his own spirit but also the spirit of his friends.
So, let's get started on how to write one for you too.
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