README

A README is a text file that accompanies a software project to introduce the project, explain its purpose, and provide practical guidance for users and potential contributors. It serves as the first point of contact for someone evaluating the project and can help them decide whether to use, install, or contribute.

Typical content of a README includes an overview of the project, installation instructions, prerequisites, a quickstart or example, basic usage, configuration notes, and where to find more detailed documentation. It may also mention testing procedures, troubleshooting tips, licensing information, authorship, and instructions for contributing. The goal is to be concise yet informative, offering enough context to understand the project and how to begin working with it.

Readme files are commonly located at the root of a repository and can be plain text or formatted using Markdown, reStructuredText, or other markup languages. When a project uses Markdown, the file is often named README.md to enable rich formatting, including headings, links, and code blocks. In addition to the main README, separate documents or folders may house more extensive documentation, contributor guidelines, or installation instructions.

Best practices for README creation include keeping the document up to date, avoiding unnecessary duplication, prioritizing essential information, providing reproducible installation steps, and using clear, plain language. A well-maintained README improves accessibility, reduces support queries, and helps users quickly determine the project’s relevance and how to get started.