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crafting-effective-readmes

majiayu000
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About

This Claude Skill helps developers create and improve README files by providing audience-specific templates and guidance. It offers a structured process for different tasks like creating, updating, or reviewing documentation based on project type. Use it when writing READMEs to ensure they effectively communicate the right information to your target readers.

Quick Install

Claude Code

Recommended
Plugin CommandRecommended
/plugin add https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry
Git CloneAlternative
git clone https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry.git ~/.claude/skills/crafting-effective-readmes

Copy and paste this command in Claude Code to install this skill

Documentation

Crafting Effective READMEs

Overview

READMEs answer questions your audience will have. Different audiences need different information - a contributor to an OSS project needs different context than future-you opening a config folder.

Always ask: Who will read this, and what do they need to know?

Process

Step 1: Identify the Task

Ask: "What README task are you working on?"

TaskWhen
CreatingNew project, no README yet
AddingNeed to document something new
UpdatingCapabilities changed, content is stale
ReviewingChecking if README is still accurate

Step 2: Task-Specific Questions

Creating initial README:

  1. What type of project? (see Project Types below)
  2. What problem does this solve in one sentence?
  3. What's the quickest path to "it works"?
  4. Anything notable to highlight?

Adding a section:

  1. What needs documenting?
  2. Where should it go in the existing structure?
  3. Who needs this info most?

Updating existing content:

  1. What changed?
  2. Read current README, identify stale sections
  3. Propose specific edits

Reviewing/refreshing:

  1. Read current README
  2. Check against actual project state (package.json, main files, etc.)
  3. Flag outdated sections
  4. Update "Last reviewed" date if present

Step 3: Always Ask

After drafting, ask: "Anything else to highlight or include that I might have missed?"

Project Types

TypeAudienceKey SectionsTemplate
Open SourceContributors, users worldwideInstall, Usage, Contributing, Licensetemplates/oss.md
PersonalFuture you, portfolio viewersWhat it does, Tech stack, Learningstemplates/personal.md
InternalTeammates, new hiresSetup, Architecture, Runbookstemplates/internal.md
ConfigFuture you (confused)What's here, Why, How to extend, Gotchastemplates/xdg-config.md

Ask the user if unclear. Don't assume OSS defaults for everything.

Essential Sections (All Types)

Every README needs at minimum:

  1. Name - Self-explanatory title
  2. Description - What + why in 1-2 sentences
  3. Usage - How to use it (examples help)

References

  • section-checklist.md - Which sections to include by project type
  • style-guide.md - Common README mistakes and prose guidance
  • using-references.md - Guide to deeper reference materials

GitHub Repository

majiayu000/claude-skill-registry
Path: skills/crafting-effective-readmes

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