---
name: readme_generator
title: README Generator
description: Generate comprehensive README files for projects with all essential sections
category: documentation
tags: [documentation, readme, markdown, open-source, project]
difficulty: beginner
author: jezweb
version: 1.0.0
arguments:
- name: project_name
description: Name of the project
required: true
- name: project_type
description: Type of project (library, application, cli, api)
required: true
- name: language
description: Primary programming language
required: true
- name: license
description: License type (MIT, Apache-2.0, GPL-3.0, ISC)
required: false
default: MIT
- name: features
description: Key features (comma-separated)
required: false
---
# {{project_name}}
[](https://opensource.org/licenses/{{license}})
[](https://github.com/{{project_name}})
[](https://github.com/username/{{project_name}}/actions)
[](https://codecov.io/gh/username/{{project_name}})
## Overview
Brief description of what {{project_name}} does and why it exists. This {{project_type}} provides [main value proposition].
{{#if features}}
## Features
{{#each (split features ",")}}
- โจ {{trim this}}
{{/each}}
{{else}}
## Features
- ๐ Fast and efficient
- ๐ง Easy to configure
- ๐ Well documented
- ๐งช Thoroughly tested
- ๐ Active development
{{/if}}
## Table of Contents
- [Installation](#installation)
- [Quick Start](#quick-start)
- [Usage](#usage)
- [API Reference](#api-reference)
- [Configuration](#configuration)
- [Examples](#examples)
- [Development](#development)
- [Contributing](#contributing)
- [License](#license)
## Installation
{{#if (eq project_type "library")}}
### Package Manager
{{#if (or (eq language "JavaScript") (eq language "TypeScript"))}}
```bash
# npm
npm install {{project_name}}
# yarn
yarn add {{project_name}}
# pnpm
pnpm add {{project_name}}
```
{{else if (eq language "Python")}}
```bash
# pip
pip install {{project_name}}
# poetry
poetry add {{project_name}}
# pipenv
pipenv install {{project_name}}
```
{{else if (eq language "Ruby")}}
```bash
# gem
gem install {{project_name}}
# Bundler
bundle add {{project_name}}
```
{{else if (eq language "Java")}}
```xml
<!-- Maven -->
<dependency>
<groupId>com.example</groupId>
<artifactId>{{project_name}}</artifactId>
<version>1.0.0</version>
</dependency>
```
```gradle
// Gradle
implementation 'com.example:{{project_name}}:1.0.0'
```
{{else if (eq language "Go")}}
```bash
go get github.com/username/{{project_name}}
```
{{else if (eq language "Rust")}}
```toml
# Cargo.toml
[dependencies]
{{project_name}} = "1.0.0"
```
{{/if}}
{{else}}
### From Source
```bash
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/username/{{project_name}}.git
cd {{project_name}}
{{#if (or (eq language "JavaScript") (eq language "TypeScript"))}}
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Build the project
npm run build
{{else if (eq language "Python")}}
# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt
# Install in development mode
pip install -e .
{{else if (eq language "Go")}}
# Build the binary
go build -o {{project_name}}
{{else if (eq language "Rust")}}
# Build the project
cargo build --release
{{/if}}
```
{{/if}}
## Quick Start
{{#if (eq project_type "library")}}
```{{lowercase language}}
{{#if (or (eq language "JavaScript") (eq language "TypeScript"))}}
import { main } from '{{project_name}}';
// Basic usage
const result = main('Hello, World!');
console.log(result);
{{else if (eq language "Python")}}
from {{project_name}} import main
# Basic usage
result = main("Hello, World!")
print(result)
{{else if (eq language "Go")}}
import "github.com/username/{{project_name}}"
func main() {
result := {{project_name}}.Main("Hello, World!")
fmt.Println(result)
}
{{else if (eq language "Java")}}
import com.example.{{project_name}}.Main;
public class Example {
public static void main(String[] args) {
String result = Main.process("Hello, World!");
System.out.println(result);
}
}
{{/if}}
```
{{else if (eq project_type "cli")}}
```bash
# Basic command
{{project_name}} --help
# Example usage
{{project_name}} process input.txt -o output.txt
# With options
{{project_name}} --verbose --format json process data.csv
```
{{else if (eq project_type "api")}}
```bash
# Start the server
{{project_name}} serve --port 8080
# Make a request
curl http://localhost:8080/api/v1/health
# With authentication
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer TOKEN" http://localhost:8080/api/v1/resource
```
{{/if}}
## Usage
### Basic Example
Detailed example showing common use case:
{{#if (eq project_type "library")}}
```{{lowercase language}}
// More comprehensive example
// [Add code example here]
```
{{else}}
```bash
# Command line example
{{project_name}} [command] [options]
```
{{/if}}
### Advanced Usage
For more advanced scenarios:
1. **Feature 1**: Description of how to use
2. **Feature 2**: Description of how to use
3. **Feature 3**: Description of how to use
## API Reference
{{#if (eq project_type "library")}}
### Main Functions
#### `functionName(param1, param2)`
Description of what the function does.
**Parameters:**
- `param1` (Type): Description
- `param2` (Type): Description
**Returns:**
- `Type`: Description of return value
**Example:**
```{{lowercase language}}
const result = functionName(value1, value2);
```
{{else if (eq project_type "api")}}
### Endpoints
#### `GET /api/v1/resource`
Retrieve resources.
**Parameters:**
- `limit` (integer): Maximum number of results
- `offset` (integer): Pagination offset
**Response:**
```json
{
"data": [],
"total": 0,
"limit": 10,
"offset": 0
}
```
{{/if}}
## Configuration
{{#if (eq project_type "application")}}
### Environment Variables
| Variable | Description | Default |
|----------|-------------|---------|
| `PORT` | Server port | `3000` |
| `LOG_LEVEL` | Logging level | `info` |
| `DATABASE_URL` | Database connection | - |
### Configuration File
Create a `config.yaml` file:
```yaml
server:
port: 3000
host: localhost
database:
url: postgresql://localhost/mydb
logging:
level: info
format: json
```
{{else}}
Configuration options can be set via:
1. Configuration file
2. Environment variables
3. Command line arguments
See [Configuration Guide](docs/configuration.md) for details.
{{/if}}
## Examples
Find more examples in the [`examples/`](examples/) directory:
- [Basic Usage](examples/basic/)
- [Advanced Features](examples/advanced/)
- [Integration Examples](examples/integration/)
## Development
### Prerequisites
{{#if (or (eq language "JavaScript") (eq language "TypeScript"))}}
- Node.js >= 14.0.0
- npm or yarn
{{else if (eq language "Python")}}
- Python >= 3.8
- pip or poetry
{{else if (eq language "Go")}}
- Go >= 1.19
{{else if (eq language "Java")}}
- Java >= 11
- Maven or Gradle
{{else if (eq language "Rust")}}
- Rust >= 1.70.0
- Cargo
{{/if}}
### Setup
```bash
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/username/{{project_name}}.git
cd {{project_name}}
# Install dependencies
{{#if (or (eq language "JavaScript") (eq language "TypeScript"))}}
npm install
{{else if (eq language "Python")}}
pip install -r requirements-dev.txt
{{else if (eq language "Go")}}
go mod download
{{else if (eq language "Rust")}}
cargo build
{{/if}}
# Run tests
{{#if (or (eq language "JavaScript") (eq language "TypeScript"))}}
npm test
{{else if (eq language "Python")}}
pytest
{{else if (eq language "Go")}}
go test ./...
{{else if (eq language "Rust")}}
cargo test
{{/if}}
```
### Project Structure
```
{{project_name}}/
{{#if (or (eq language "JavaScript") (eq language "TypeScript"))}}
โโโ src/ # Source code
โโโ tests/ # Test files
โโโ docs/ # Documentation
โโโ examples/ # Example code
โโโ package.json # Package configuration
โโโ README.md # This file
{{else if (eq language "Python")}}
โโโ {{project_name}}/ # Source code
โโโ tests/ # Test files
โโโ docs/ # Documentation
โโโ examples/ # Example code
โโโ setup.py # Package configuration
โโโ README.md # This file
{{else if (eq language "Go")}}
โโโ cmd/ # Command line apps
โโโ pkg/ # Public packages
โโโ internal/ # Private packages
โโโ docs/ # Documentation
โโโ go.mod # Module definition
โโโ README.md # This file
{{/if}}
```
## Contributing
We welcome contributions! Please see our [Contributing Guide](CONTRIBUTING.md) for details.
### How to Contribute
1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (`git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature`)
3. Commit your changes (`git commit -m 'Add some amazing feature'`)
4. Push to the branch (`git push origin feature/amazing-feature`)
5. Open a Pull Request
### Code Style
{{#if (or (eq language "JavaScript") (eq language "TypeScript"))}}
We use ESLint and Prettier for code formatting. Run `npm run lint` before submitting.
{{else if (eq language "Python")}}
We follow PEP 8 style guide. Run `flake8` and `black` before submitting.
{{else if (eq language "Go")}}
Run `go fmt` and `golint` before submitting.
{{/if}}
## Roadmap
- [ ] Feature 1 - Description
- [ ] Feature 2 - Description
- [ ] Feature 3 - Description
- [ ] Performance improvements
- [ ] Additional documentation
See the [open issues](https://github.com/username/{{project_name}}/issues) for a full list of proposed features.
## Support
- ๐ง Email: support@example.com
- ๐ฌ Discord: [Join our server](https://discord.gg/example)
- ๐ Documentation: [docs.example.com](https://docs.example.com)
- ๐ Issues: [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/username/{{project_name}}/issues)
## License
This project is licensed under the {{license}} License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.
## Acknowledgments
- Thanks to all contributors
- Inspired by [similar-project]
- Built with [key-technology]
---
Made with โค๏ธ by [Your Name](https://github.com/username)