Agent skill

Readme Generator

by ArabelaTso in ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE

Generate comprehensive, user-friendly README.md files for code repositories.

Apache-2.0Auto-check: notesDevelopment

Install Readme Generator

skills CLI
$ npx skills add ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE --skill readme-generator -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE readme-generator --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/readme-generator .claude/skills/readme-generator && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
readme-generator
GitHub stars
253
Token cost
~2.6k tokens
SKILL.md length
448 words
Files
1
Skills in repo
150
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
Apache-2.0

At a glance

Generate comprehensive, user-friendly README.md files for code repositories.

  • Works in 7 steps: Analyze Repository Structure → Generate Project Introduction → Document Prerequisites → …
  • Creating documentation for new projects
  • SKILL.md covers Overview, Workflow, README Quality Guidelines and Tips
  • Reaches img.shields.io and github.com; needs API_KEY

What it does

Readme Generator is an agent skill from ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE. Generate comprehensive, user-friendly README.md files for code repositories. Use when creating documentation for new projects, updating existing READMEs, or improving project onboarding. Produces READMEs with project introduction, prerequisites, environment setup, executable usage instructions, and repository structure overview. Supports application projects, libraries, and research codebases.

Its SKILL.md is about 2.6k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.

It sits in Development, covering Technical documentation. The repository describes itself as: A curated list of 180+ useful Claude Skills for Software Engineering and resources for customizing AI for SE workflows. The licence is Apache-2.0.

When your agent uses it

  • Creating documentation for new projects
  • Updating existing READMEs
  • Improving project onboarding

Example prompts

  • “/readme-generator”

Requirements

  • Python 3
  • Node.js
  • A credential in API_KEY

Workflow steps

7 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.

  1. Analyze Repository Structure
  2. Generate Project Introduction
  3. Document Prerequisites
  4. Write Installation/Setup Instructions
  5. Create Usage Instructions
  6. Generate Repository Structure
  7. Add Additional Sections

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 4f38503. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md (its code samples are markdown).

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    Hosts in commands or code, which the agent is likely to contact:

    • img.shields.io
    • github.com

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names these keys or tokens, usually read from environment variables:

    • API_KEY

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Readme Generator loads about 2.6k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 103 tokens; SKILL.md has 448 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~103
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~2.6k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check: notes

The automated check noted patterns worth knowing about, such as sudo or a known installer.

  • NoteRuns commands with sudoSKILL.md:84
    - Install on Ubuntu: `sudo apt-get install [packages]`
  • NoteMentions a .env fileSKILL.md:129
    cp .env.example .env
  • NoteMentions a .env fileSKILL.md:131
    # Edit .env with your configuration
  • NoteMentions a .env fileSKILL.md:371
    **Solution**: Verify DATABASE_URL in .env and ensure PostgreSQL is running:

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE at commit 4f38503, republished under its Apache-2.0 licence (© ArabelaTso). 448 words, ~2,564 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/readme-generator/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).
name
readme-generator
description
Generate comprehensive, user-friendly README.md files for code repositories. Use when creating documentation for new projects, updating existing READMEs, or improving project onboarding. Produces READMEs with project introduction, prerequisites, environment setup, executable usage instructions, and repository structure overview. Supports application projects, libraries, and research codebases.

README Generator

Overview

Analyze a code repository and generate a comprehensive, reproducible README.md that enables users to quickly understand, set up, and use the project with clear instructions and executable examples.

Workflow

1. Analyze Repository Structure

Explore the repository to understand its organization and purpose:

Key files to examine:

  • package.json, pyproject.toml, Cargo.toml, go.mod - Project metadata
  • requirements.txt, Pipfile, pom.xml, build.gradle - Dependencies
  • Main entry points (main.py, index.js, app.py, cmd/main.go)
  • Configuration files (.env.example, config.yaml, settings.py)
  • Build/task files (Makefile, package.json scripts, tasks.py)
  • Documentation (docs/, existing README.md, CONTRIBUTING.md)

Information to extract:

  • Project name and version
  • Programming language(s) and frameworks
  • Project type (application, library, CLI tool, research)
  • Main features and capabilities
  • Dependencies and system requirements
  • Entry points and execution methods
2. Generate Project Introduction

Create a clear, compelling introduction section:

Title and badges:

markdown
# Project Name

![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-blue.svg)
![Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/version-1.0.0-green.svg)
![Language](https://img.shields.io/badge/python-3.9+-blue.svg)

Description (2-4 sentences):

  • What the project does
  • Why it exists (problem it solves)
  • Key features or capabilities
  • Target audience or use cases

Example:

markdown
## About

[Project Name] is a lightweight web framework for building RESTful APIs with minimal boilerplate. It provides automatic request validation, built-in authentication, and OpenAPI documentation generation. Designed for rapid prototyping and production-ready microservices, it reduces API development time by 50% compared to traditional frameworks.
3. Document Prerequisites

List all system requirements and dependencies:

Format:

markdown
## Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:

- **[Language/Runtime]**: [Version] or higher
  - Download: [URL]
  - Verify: `[command] --version`

- **[Package Manager]**: [Version] or higher
  - Download: [URL]
  - Verify: `[command] --version`

- **[Database/Service]** (optional): [Version]
  - Required for: [specific features]
  - Download: [URL]

- **[System Dependencies]**: [List]
  - Install on macOS: `brew install [packages]`
  - Install on Ubuntu: `sudo apt-get install [packages]`
  - Install on Windows: [instructions]

Include:

  • Minimum versions for all dependencies
  • Installation links or commands
  • Verification commands to check installation
  • Optional vs. required dependencies
  • Platform-specific requirements
4. Write Installation/Setup Instructions

Provide step-by-step setup instructions that are reproducible:

Format:

markdown
## Installation

### 1. Clone the repository

\`\`\`bash
git clone https://github.com/username/project-name.git
cd project-name
\`\`\`

### 2. Install dependencies

\`\`\`bash
# For Python projects
python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
pip install -r requirements.txt

# For Node.js projects
npm install

# For Go projects
go mod download
\`\`\`

### 3. Configure environment

\`\`\`bash
# Copy example environment file
cp .env.example .env

# Edit .env with your configuration
# Required variables:
#   DATABASE_URL=postgresql://localhost/dbname
#   API_KEY=your_api_key_here
\`\`\`

### 4. Initialize database (if applicable)

\`\`\`bash
# Run migrations
npm run migrate
# Or: python manage.py migrate
# Or: make migrate
\`\`\`

### 5. Verify installation

\`\`\`bash
# Run tests to verify setup
npm test
# Or: pytest
# Or: go test ./...
\`\`\`

Best practices:

  • Number each step clearly
  • Provide exact commands that can be copy-pasted
  • Include platform-specific variations
  • Add comments explaining what each command does
  • Include verification steps
5. Create Usage Instructions

Document how to run and use the project with executable examples:

For applications:

markdown
## Usage

### Running the application

\`\`\`bash
# Development mode with hot reload
npm run dev

# Production mode
npm start

# With custom port
PORT=8080 npm start
\`\`\`

The application will be available at `http://localhost:3000`

### Basic operations

**Create a new resource**:
\`\`\`bash
curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/api/resources \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name": "example", "value": 42}'
\`\`\`

**List all resources**:
\`\`\`bash
curl http://localhost:3000/api/resources
\`\`\`

For libraries:

markdown
## Usage

### Basic example

\`\`\`python
from project_name import Client

# Initialize client
client = Client(api_key="your_key")

# Perform operation
result = client.fetch_data(query="example")
print(result)
\`\`\`

### Advanced usage

\`\`\`python
# With custom configuration
client = Client(
    api_key="your_key",
    timeout=30,
    retry_count=3
)

# Batch operations
results = client.batch_fetch([
    {"query": "item1"},
    {"query": "item2"}
])
\`\`\`

For CLI tools:

markdown
## Usage

### Basic commands

\`\`\`bash
# Show help
project-cli --help

# Run with default options
project-cli process input.txt

# Run with custom options
project-cli process input.txt --output result.txt --verbose
\`\`\`

### Common workflows

**Workflow 1: Data processing**
\`\`\`bash
# Step 1: Validate input
project-cli validate data.csv

# Step 2: Process data
project-cli process data.csv --format json

# Step 3: Export results
project-cli export results.json --format pdf
\`\`\`
6. Generate Repository Structure

Create a visual directory tree showing the codebase organization:

Format:

markdown
## Repository Structure

\`\`\`
project-name/
├── src/                    # Source code
│   ├── api/               # API endpoints
│   ├── models/            # Data models
│   ├── services/          # Business logic
│   └── utils/             # Utility functions
├── tests/                 # Test files
│   ├── unit/             # Unit tests
│   └── integration/      # Integration tests
├── docs/                  # Documentation
├── scripts/               # Build and deployment scripts
├── config/                # Configuration files
├── .env.example          # Environment variables template
├── package.json          # Project dependencies
├── README.md             # This file
└── LICENSE               # License information
\`\`\`

### Key directories

- **src/api**: REST API endpoints and route handlers
- **src/models**: Database models and schemas
- **src/services**: Core business logic and external integrations
- **tests**: Comprehensive test suite with >80% coverage
- **docs**: Additional documentation and API specifications

Best practices:

  • Show 2-3 levels of directory depth
  • Add comments explaining each major directory
  • Highlight important files
  • Include a "Key directories" section with descriptions
  • Keep it concise (don't list every file)
Show full SKILL.md (162 more words)Show less
7. Add Additional Sections

Include other helpful sections as appropriate:

Configuration:

markdown
## Configuration

The application can be configured via environment variables:

| Variable | Description | Default | Required |
|----------|-------------|---------|----------|
| `DATABASE_URL` | PostgreSQL connection string | - | Yes |
| `API_KEY` | External API key | - | Yes |
| `PORT` | Server port | 3000 | No |
| `LOG_LEVEL` | Logging level (debug/info/error) | info | No |

Development:

markdown
## Development

### Running tests

\`\`\`bash
# Run all tests
npm test

# Run with coverage
npm run test:coverage

# Run specific test file
npm test -- tests/api.test.js
\`\`\`

### Code formatting

\`\`\`bash
# Check formatting
npm run lint

# Auto-fix issues
npm run lint:fix
\`\`\`

Troubleshooting:

markdown
## Troubleshooting

### Common issues

**Issue**: `ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'xyz'`
**Solution**: Ensure virtual environment is activated and dependencies are installed:
\`\`\`bash
source venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt
\`\`\`

**Issue**: Database connection fails
**Solution**: Verify DATABASE_URL in .env and ensure PostgreSQL is running:
\`\`\`bash
pg_isready
\`\`\`

License and Contributing:

markdown
## License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.

## Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please read [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for details on our code of conduct and the process for submitting pull requests.

README Quality Guidelines

Clarity:

  • Use simple, direct language
  • Avoid jargon unless necessary
  • Define technical terms on first use
  • Use active voice

Completeness:

  • Include all steps needed to go from clone to running
  • Don't assume prior knowledge
  • Provide examples for common use cases
  • Link to additional documentation

Reproducibility:

  • All commands should be copy-pastable
  • Include exact versions
  • Specify environment variables
  • Document platform differences

Maintainability:

  • Keep instructions up to date with code
  • Use relative links for internal docs
  • Version badge should match actual version
  • Test instructions on clean environment

Tips

  • Test all commands in a fresh environment before finalizing
  • Use code blocks with language syntax highlighting
  • Include screenshots for UI-heavy projects
  • Add a table of contents for long READMEs
  • Link to detailed docs for complex topics
  • Keep the README focused on getting started
  • Update version badges when releasing
  • Include a "Quick Start" section at the top for experienced users

© ArabelaTso, Apache-2.0. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

Just SKILL.md in skills/readme-generator of ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE.

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 4f38503

Compare with similar skills

Readme Generator next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

Readme Generator compared with similar skills
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Readme Generator this skillArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE253—~2.6kAutomated safety check: NotesApache-2.0
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Simple Englishmoeru-ai/airi50k2 repos~4.6kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Get API Docs with chubandrewyng/context-hub14k2 repos~775Automated safety check: PassMIT
Doc SyncJetBrains/ideavim10k2 repos~2.6kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Mailspring App ScreenshotsFoundry376/Mailspring18k—~1.5kAutomated safety check: PassGPL-3.0

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Categories

Questions about Readme Generator

What does Readme Generator do?

Generate comprehensive, user-friendly README.md files for code repositories. Readme Generator is an agent skill from ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE.md files for code repositories.

When should I use Readme Generator?

Readme Generator fits situations like: creating documentation for new projects; updating existing READMEs; improving project onboarding.

How do I install Readme Generator in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE --skill readme-generator -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/readme-generator in ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE) into .claude/skills/readme-generator in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Readme Generator in Codex?

Run `npx skills add ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE --skill readme-generator -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/readme-generator in ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE) into .agents/skills/readme-generator in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Readme Generator in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE --skill readme-generator -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/readme-generator, .gemini/skills/readme-generator, .github/skills/readme-generator and .opencode/skills/readme-generator in your project.

What does Readme Generator need to run?

Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Readme Generator needs credentials named API_KEY. Our summary lists: Python 3; Node.js; A credential in API_KEY.

Does Readme Generator access the network?

SKILL.md names 2 domains. In commands or code: img.shields.io and github.com; the agent is likely to contact these when it follows the instructions. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Readme Generator safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found notes only (runs commands with sudo; mentions a .env file), nothing it rates as a warning. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Readme Generator use?

Readme Generator is published under the Apache-2.0 licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Readme Generator use?

About 2.6k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 10k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to Readme Generator?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Readme Generator: Diagram Design (cathrynlavery/diagram-design, 45k stars), Simple English (moeru-ai/airi, 50k stars), Get API Docs with chub (andrewyng/context-hub, 14k stars) and Doc Sync (JetBrains/ideavim, 10k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Readme Generator?

ArabelaTso (a GitHub user) maintains it in ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE, which has 253 GitHub stars. The repository holds 150 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on August 21, 2026.

Source: ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.