Agent Skills: Readme Skill

Readme Skill

When to Use

Use this skill when:

• Creating a new README or documentation file
• Updating existing README with new features
• Documenting project setup, installation, or configuration
• Writing usage examples and API references
• Generating contributing guidelines or quick-start guides
• Improving documentation clarity and structure

Core Workflow

Step 1: Gather Project Information

Analyze the project to understand:

1. Project Purpose: What problem does it solve?
2. Target Audience: Who are the users (developers, users, contributors)?
3. Key Features: What makes this project special?
4. Technical Stack: Languages, frameworks, dependencies
5. Project Structure: How is code organized?

Step 2: Create README Structure

Use this standard structure:

# Project Name

Brief description (1-2 sentences)

## Features

- Feature 1
- Feature 2
- Feature 3

## Installation

[Setup instructions]

## Quick Start

[Basic usage example]

## Documentation

[Link to detailed docs]

## API Reference

[Key endpoints/functions]

## Examples

[Working examples]

## Configuration

[Setup options]

## Troubleshooting

[Common issues and solutions]

## Contributing

[How to contribute]

## License

[License information]

Step 3: Write Clear Content

• Be specific: Use concrete examples, not vague descriptions
• Show, don't tell: Include code examples and screenshots
• Progressive disclosure: Start simple, add complexity gradually
• Organize logically: Group related information
• Use formatting: Headers, lists, code blocks for readability

Step 4: Add Examples

Include practical, working examples:

• Installation examples
• Basic usage snippets
• Complex feature demonstrations
• Common use cases
• Copy-paste ready code

Step 5: Verify Quality

Check before completing:

• [ ] Clear project purpose in first paragraph
• [ ] Installation instructions are complete
• [ ] Examples are runnable
• [ ] Table of contents matches sections
• [ ] All links work
• [ ] Formatting is consistent
• [ ] No typos or grammar errors

README Components Reference

Project Title and Description

# Project Name

One-liner explaining what this project does.

Long paragraph (2-3 sentences) describing problem solved and approach.

Features Section

## Features

- ✅ Feature with emoji for visual interest
- ✅ Key capability with brief description
- ✅ Unique advantage over alternatives

Installation

## Installation

### Requirements

- Node.js 18+
- pnpm 8+

### Steps

\`\`\`bash
pnpm install project-name
\`\`\`

Quick Start

Keep this minimal (5-10 lines of code max):

## Quick Start

\`\`\`javascript
import { feature } from 'project-name';

const result = feature({ option: 'value' });
console.log(result);
\`\`\`

Examples

Make examples realistic and copy-paste ready:

## Examples

### Basic Usage

\`\`\`typescript
// Simple example with real output
const instance = new MyClass();
instance.doSomething(); // Output: expected result
\`\`\`

### Advanced Configuration

\`\`\`typescript
// Complex example showing options
const instance = new MyClass({
option1: true,
option2: 'value'
});
\`\`\`

Best Practices

1. Lead with value: First paragraph should answer "why should I use this?"
2. Show working examples: Code examples should be runnable
3. Keep installation simple: Complex setup gets a dedicated guide
4. Document dependencies: List what's required upfront
5. Include screenshots: Visual examples for UI projects
6. Write for skimmers: Use headers so people can scan content
7. Link to detailed docs: README is overview, link to full documentation
8. Keep it current: Update README when adding features
9. Be honest about limitations: What's not covered or not supported
10. Include contributing guidelines: How to report issues or submit PRs

Anti-Patterns

| Pattern | Problem | Fix | | -------------------- | --------------------- | --------------------------------- | | Wall of text | Impossible to scan | Use headers and lists | | Missing setup | Readers can't install | Include step-by-step instructions | | No examples | Unclear how to use | Add working code examples | | Outdated info | Misleads users | Update with releases | | Too detailed | Overwhelming | Link to full docs instead | | No table of contents | Hard to navigate | Add section links at top | | Broken links | Poor user experience | Test all external links | | Marketing fluff | Lacks substance | Focus on what it does, not hype |

Iron Laws

1. ALWAYS lead with the value proposition — the first paragraph must answer "what problem does this solve?" before any installation or setup instructions.
2. NEVER write a Quick Start section longer than 10 lines — if setup requires more, link to a detailed guide rather than overwhelming the first-time reader.
3. ALWAYS include working, copy-paste-ready code examples — non-runnable pseudocode examples are worse than no examples because they waste the reader's time.
4. NEVER let a README become stale after a feature release — outdated installation commands and broken examples destroy user trust immediately.
5. ALWAYS test all external links and code examples before considering the README complete — dead links and broken examples are the most common README failure mode.

Anti-Patterns

| Anti-Pattern | Why It Fails | Correct Approach | | -------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Starting with a long feature list before the description | Readers don't know what the project is, so features are meaningless | Lead with a 1-2 sentence value proposition before listing features | | Using pseudocode or placeholder examples | Forces readers to infer the real API; causes frustration and abandonment | Show actual runnable code with real imports, function names, and expected output | | Putting a 20-step installation guide in Quick Start | Overwhelming setup drives users away; contradicts "quick" start | Quick Start must be 1-3 commands; link detailed setup to a separate guide | | Writing marketing copy instead of technical facts | Vague statements like "blazing fast" give no actionable information | Use specific claims with data: "reduces build time by 40% (measured on 10k LOC)" | | Not updating README when features change | Outdated commands fail silently; users blame the project, not the docs | Treat README as code: update it in the same PR as every feature change |

Integration Points

Related Skills:

• doc-generator - Automated documentation from code
• writing-skills - Writing quality guidelines
• technical-writer - Professional documentation agent

Related Agents:

• technical-writer - Uses this skill for documentation
• developer - Writes README for new projects

Memory Protocol (MANDATORY)

Before starting: Read .claude/context/memory/learnings.md

After completing:

• New pattern → .claude/context/memory/learnings.md
• Issue found → .claude/context/memory/issues.md
• Decision made → .claude/context/memory/decisions.md

ASSUME INTERRUPTION: If it's not in memory, it didn't happen.