This skill should be used when the user asks to "create a README", "generate a README", "make a readme", "write a README for my project", "need a README", "add a README", "document my project", "set up project docs", "readme with badges".
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---
name: make-readme
description: >
This skill should be used when the user asks to "create a README",
"generate a README", "make a readme", "write a README for my project",
"need a README", "add a README", "document my project", "set up project docs",
"readme with badges".
allowed-tools: AskUserQuestion, Write, Read, Glob
---
# README Maker
Generate a professional `README.md` for any project — from 50-line minimal to
600-line comprehensive — with shields.io badges, styled headers, and structured
sections. Interview the user to determine preferences, then produce the full
README in one pass.
## Step 1 — Detect Project Context
Before asking, scan the working directory for context clues:
- Glob for `package.json`, `pyproject.toml`, `Cargo.toml`, `go.mod` — Read the
first match to extract project name and version as pre-filled defaults
- Check if `README.md` already exists — warn the user before overwriting
- Note the primary language from the detected manifest file
- For **Plugin Collection** detection: Glob for `*/.claude-plugin/plugin.json`,
`*/package.json` in subdirectories. If 3+ sub-manifests are found, pre-select
Plugin Collection in Step 2 and note the count.
- If no manifest is found, skip pre-filling — rely entirely on user input in Step 2
## Step 2 — Round 1 Interview (Always)
Ask 4 questions via `AskUserQuestion`. Pre-select options that match detected
context where possible.
| # | header | options |
|---|--------|---------|
| 1 | "Project type" | Library/Package · CLI Tool · Web App/API · Desktop App · Plugin Collection |
| 2 | "Language" | Python · JavaScript/Node · Go · Rust |
| 3 | "Depth" | Minimal · Standard · Comprehensive |
| 4 | "License" | MIT · Apache-2.0 · GPL-3.0 · No license |
Project type definitions:
- **Plugin Collection / Monorepo** — a repo containing multiple installable components
(plugins, packages, extensions) each with their own versions and descriptions.
Automatically enables the component directory table (Step 4) and per-section
version badges.
Depth definitions (include as option descriptions):
- **Minimal** — small utilities, internal tools, or anything with one clear use case
- **Standard** — open-source projects expecting contributors and external users
- **Comprehensive** — mature projects with public APIs, active maintainers, or large communities
If depth = **Minimal**, skip Step 3 and proceed directly to Step 4.
## Step 3 — Round 2 Interview (Standard / Comprehensive Only)
Ask 4 questions via `AskUserQuestion`:
| # | header | multiSelect | options |
|---|--------|-------------|---------|
| 1 | "Sections" | true | Features list · Demo/Screenshots · Configuration docs · API Reference |
| 2 | "Extras" | true | Contributing guide · Roadmap · FAQ · Acknowledgments |
| 3 | "Badges" | true | License · CI/Build · Coverage · Version/Release · Downloads · Stars+Forks · Per-section version |
| 4 | "Style" | false | Simple · Centered · Styled |
Style definitions (include as option descriptions):
- **Simple** — plain `# Title` with `> tagline` on next line
- **Centered** — `<div align="center">` block, title + tagline + badge row centered
- **Styled** — centered + emoji prefix on every H2 and H3 heading. H2 defaults:
✨ Features, 🚀 Quick Start, ⚙️ Configuration, 📖 API, 🤝 Contributing,
🗺 Roadmap, ❓ FAQ, 📄 License. H3 for Plugin Collection components: choose from
🧠 🔍 💻 ✍️ 🤔 🎬 🔧 📦 🛠️ — match to component domain, not alphabetically.
Per-section version badge is pre-selected when project type = Plugin Collection.
## Step 4 — Generate README
### Minimal Structure
Five sections in order: title + tagline, description paragraph (what/who/why),
Installation with syntax-highlighted copy-paste command, Usage with a minimal
working example plus expected output as a comment, License with SPDX name and
link to `LICENSE` file.
### Standard / Comprehensive Structure
Assemble sections in this order, including only those selected in Round 2:
1. **Header block** — apply Style from Round 2 (see styles below)
2. **Component directory table** — Plugin Collection type only; a compact markdown
table listing each component with an anchor link, version, and key skills or
features. Glob for sub-directory manifests (`*/.claude-plugin/plugin.json`,
`*/package.json`) to auto-discover components and pre-fill the table. Place
immediately after the header block.
3. **Table of Contents** — Comprehensive only; auto-generate anchored links for
every H2 section present. Because headings that contain images (version badges)
or emoji have unreliable GitHub anchor generation, place `<a id="slug"></a>` on
its own line *before* each target heading and link via `#slug` in the TOC.
Example:
```
<a id="installation"></a>
## 🚀 Installation 
```
TOC entry: `- [Installation](#installation)`
4. **Description** — 2–3 sentences: problem solved, target user, key differentiator
5. **Features** (if selected) — bulleted list of capabilities, present tense, parallel form
6. **Demo/Screenshots** (if selected) — `` placeholder; instruct
user to replace with an actual GIF or screenshot path
7. **Installation** — prerequisites block, then numbered install steps
8. **Usage** — single example for Standard; multiple headed examples for Comprehensive
9. **Configuration** (if selected) — markdown table: Name · Type · Default · Description
10. **API Reference** (if selected) — each function/endpoint: signature, one-line
description, minimal example
11. **Contributing** (if selected) — fork → clone → branch → commit → PR, 5 steps
12. **Roadmap** (if selected) — `- [ ]` checklist of planned features
13. **FAQ** (if selected) — H3 questions with short paragraph answers (2–3 entries)
14. **Acknowledgments** (if selected) — linked credits
15. **License** — SPDX name, link to LICENSE file
For Comprehensive: append `[⬆ back to top](#readme)` after each H2 section.
### Header Block Styles
**Simple:** `# Project Name` followed by `> One-line tagline.`
**Centered:** Wrap title, tagline, and badge row in `<div align="center">`,
using `<h1>` for title, `<p>` for tagline, and markdown badge syntax for badges.
**Styled:** Same as Centered; prepend the relevant emoji to every H2 and H3 per
the emoji lists in Step 3. Add `<a id="slug"></a>` before each H2 and H3 that
will be linked from the TOC or component directory table.
### Badge URLs
Load `references/badges.md` when assembling the badge row — it contains the
complete URL patterns for all supported services with substitution instructions.
If Language = Other, omit the tech stack badge row unless the user provides
their language name.
**Per-section version badge** (Plugin Collection and Library types):
```

```
Place inline with the component/section heading, separated by ` `:
```markdown
### 🧠 plugin-name 
```
Always use `<a id="slug"></a>` before these headings since the badge makes the
auto-generated GitHub anchor unpredictable.
## Step 5 — Write and Summarize
Write to `README.md` in the current working directory. If `README.md` already
exists, confirm overwrite before writing.
After writing, output a concise summary:
- File path written
- Sections included
- Placeholder values the user must replace: `USER/REPO`, `PKG`, workflow filename,
screenshot/GIF paths, and any description body text