Six complete, copy-paste-ready README templates — from a minimal starter to full open-source library, CLI, API, and GitHub profile READMEs.
Best for: Small utilities, scripts, and internal repos
A short, no-frills README that answers the three questions every visitor has: what is it, how do I install it, and how do I use it.
# project-name
One-sentence description of what this project does and who it is for.
## Installation
```bash
npm install project-name
```
## Usage
```js
import { thing } from 'project-name';
thing('hello');
```
## License
[MIT](LICENSE)
Best for: Web apps, mobile apps, and team projects
A balanced README for a typical application repo: features, screenshots placeholder, setup, configuration, and contributing notes.
# Project Name > A clear one-line tagline that explains the value of the project. Brief paragraph (2–3 sentences) describing what the project does, the problem it solves, and who should use it.  ## Features - Feature one with a short benefit-focused description - Feature two - Feature three ## Getting Started ### Prerequisites - Node.js 20+ - npm 10+ ### Installation ```bash git clone https://github.com/username/project-name.git cd project-name npm install ``` ### Running Locally ```bash npm run dev ``` Open http://localhost:3000 to view the app. ## Configuration | Variable | Description | Default | | --- | --- | --- | | `PORT` | Port the server listens on | `3000` | | `DATABASE_URL` | Connection string for the database | — | ## Contributing Pull requests are welcome. For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change. ## License Distributed under the MIT License. See `LICENSE` for more information.
Best for: Published packages and open-source maintainers
A README built for npm/PyPI-style packages: badges, quick start, API reference table, versioning policy, and contribution workflow.
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# library-name
[](https://www.npmjs.com/package/library-name)
[](https://github.com/username/library-name/actions)
[](LICENSE)
A one-sentence description of what the library does and why it exists.
## Why?
Two or three sentences on the problem this library solves and what makes it
different from the alternatives (smaller, faster, zero dependencies, etc.).
## Install
```bash
npm install library-name
# or
pnpm add library-name
```
## Quick Start
```js
import { createThing } from 'library-name';
const thing = createThing({ option: true });
const result = thing.run('input');
```
## API
### `createThing(options)`
| Option | Type | Default | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `option` | `boolean` | `false` | What this option controls |
| `timeout` | `number` | `5000` | Timeout in milliseconds |
Returns a `Thing` instance.
### `thing.run(input)`
Runs the thing. Returns a `Promise<Result>`.
## Versioning
This project follows [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/). Breaking
changes only land in major releases and are documented in the
[CHANGELOG](CHANGELOG.md).
## Contributing
1. Fork the repository and create a branch from `main`
2. Run `npm test` to make sure everything passes
3. Open a pull request with a clear description of the change
## License
[MIT](LICENSE) © Your Name
Best for: Developer tools and terminal utilities
A README for command-line tools: install via package manager, usage synopsis, commands and flags tables, and example sessions.
# mycli A fast command-line tool that does one thing well. ## Install ```bash npm install -g mycli # or run without installing npx mycli --help ``` ## Usage ``` mycli <command> [options] ``` ### Commands | Command | Description | | --- | --- | | `mycli init` | Create a config file in the current directory | | `mycli run <file>` | Process the given file | | `mycli list` | List all known items | ### Options | Flag | Description | Default | | --- | --- | --- | | `-o, --output <dir>` | Output directory | `./dist` | | `-w, --watch` | Re-run on file changes | `false` | | `-q, --quiet` | Suppress non-error output | `false` | ## Examples Process a single file and write the result to a custom directory: ```bash mycli run input.md --output build/ ``` Watch a directory and re-run on changes: ```bash mycli run src/ --watch ``` ## Exit Codes | Code | Meaning | | --- | --- | | `0` | Success | | `1` | Invalid arguments | | `2` | Processing error | ## License MIT
Best for: REST APIs, microservices, and backends
A README for backend services: environment variables, run with Docker, endpoint reference table, and deployment notes.
# service-name A REST API that provides X for Y. Built with Node.js and PostgreSQL. ## Requirements - Node.js 20+ - PostgreSQL 16+ - (Optional) Docker and Docker Compose ## Environment Variables Copy `.env.example` to `.env` and fill in the values: | Variable | Required | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | `DATABASE_URL` | Yes | PostgreSQL connection string | | `PORT` | No | HTTP port (default `8080`) | | `JWT_SECRET` | Yes | Secret used to sign access tokens | | `LOG_LEVEL` | No | `debug`, `info`, `warn`, or `error` | ## Running ### With Docker ```bash docker compose up --build ``` ### Without Docker ```bash npm install npm run migrate npm run dev ``` ## API Reference | Method | Endpoint | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | `GET` | `/health` | Liveness probe | | `POST` | `/v1/auth/login` | Exchange credentials for a token | | `GET` | `/v1/items` | List items (paginated) | | `POST` | `/v1/items` | Create an item | | `GET` | `/v1/items/:id` | Fetch a single item | Example request: ```bash curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" https://api.example.com/v1/items ``` ## Testing ```bash npm test # unit tests npm run test:e2e # end-to-end tests against a local database ``` ## Deployment The service is deployed via the CI pipeline on every push to `main`. Database migrations run automatically before the new version receives traffic. ## License MIT
Best for: Your github.com/username profile repository
A personal profile README with an intro, current focus, tech stack, GitHub stats cards, and contact links.
# Hi, I'm Your Name 👋 I'm a software developer focused on **web platforms** and **developer tools**. Currently building things with TypeScript, and learning Rust on the side. - 🔭 Currently working on: [project-name](https://github.com/username/project-name) - 🌱 Currently learning: Rust and systems programming - 💬 Ask me about: React, Node.js, and API design - 📫 How to reach me: [you@example.com](mailto:you@example.com) ## Tech Stack     ## GitHub Stats  ## Featured Projects | Project | Description | | --- | --- | | [project-one](https://github.com/username/project-one) | Short description of the project | | [project-two](https://github.com/username/project-two) | Short description of the project | ## Connect [](https://linkedin.com/in/username) [](https://x.com/username)
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README.md in the root of your repositoryA README is the front door of your repository, and the right structure depends on who walks through it. The Minimal template suits scripts and internal tools where one install command and one usage example tell the whole story. The Standard Project template adds features, prerequisites, configuration, and contributing sections — the shape most application repos settle into.
If you publish a package, the Open-Source Librarytemplate leads with badges and a "Why?" section, because library users compare alternatives before they read anything else, then documents the API in tables. The CLI Tool template is organized around commands, flags, examples, and exit codes — the things people actually search a CLI README for. The API / Server template centers on environment variables, Docker, and an endpoint reference. And the GitHub Profile template is for the special repository that matches your username and renders on your profile page.
Prefer building a README section by section instead? The README Generator walks you through it interactively, and the Badge Generator creates the Shields.io badges used in these templates.
Yes. Copy, modify, and ship them in any project, commercial or otherwise — no attribution required.
Answer three questions fast: what the project does, how to install it, and how to use it. Everything else — badges, screenshots, API tables, contributing guides — supports those answers. Keep examples copy-pasteable and keep the first screen short.
Put README.md in the root of your repository. GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket render it automatically on the repository home page. The GitHub Profile template goes in a repository named exactly after your username.