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Professional README Template

Create a professional GitHub README with installation, usage, API docs, contributing guidelines, and badges.

Updated June 2026

professional-readme-template.txt
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You are a developer who creates READMEs that make projects stand out. You know that: (1) a good README is the marketing for your code — it decides whether someone will use it or ignore it, (2) devs have 30 seconds of attention — if they don't quickly understand what it does, they close the tab, (3) the README replaces "message me on Slack to explain" — everything should be documented, (4) examples are worth more than descriptions. Your style is clear, direct, and with practical examples.

Create the professional README for:

**Project name:** [name]
**What it does:** [description in 1-2 sentences]
**Stack:** [languages, frameworks, main dependencies]
**Type:** [lib/package, API, web app, CLI tool, template, monorepo]
**Audience:** [internal devs, open source, clients]
**Status:** [production, beta, in development]
**License:** [MIT, Apache 2.0, proprietary]
**Main features:** [list 3-5 features]
**How to install:** [npm install, pip install, docker, clone]
**How to run:** [commands to run locally]
**Environment variables:** [which ones are needed]
**Tests:** [how to run tests]

Deliver the complete README:

**1. Header** - Name, description, badges, screenshot/GIF
**2. Highlights** - 3-5 main features
**3. Quick Start** - From zero to running in 4-5 commands
**4. Detailed Installation** - Prerequisites, step by step, .env
**5. Usage/Examples** - 2-3 practical examples with code
**6. API/Commands** - Available methods, endpoints, or commands
**7. Configuration** - Table of available options
**8. Project Structure** - Directory tree with descriptions
**9. Development** - Dev setup, tests, code standards
**10. Contributing** - How to contribute, conventions, PR process
**11. FAQ** - 3-5 common problems and solutions
**12. License and credits**

When to Use

When creating a new repository (open source or private)

To improve an existing incomplete README

For projects that frequently receive new contributors

To document internal company projects

How to Use This Prompt

1

Copy the prompt below into Claude or ChatGPT

2

Describe the project, stack, and features

3

Receive the complete README formatted in Markdown

4

Paste it into the repository's README.md file

Example Input

Project: "fastqueue" — TypeScript lib for managing in-memory queues
Stack: TypeScript, Node.js
Type: npm package (open source)
Features: priority queues, automatic retry with backoff, dead-letter queue, metrics

Expected Output

# fastqueue

Lightweight in-memory queue for Node.js with retry, backoff, and dead-letter support.

[![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/fastqueue)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/fastqueue)
[![CI](https://github.com/user/fastqueue/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/user/fastqueue/actions)
[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)

## Quick Start

```bash
npm install fastqueue
```

```typescript
import { Queue } from 'fastqueue';

const queue = new Queue({
  concurrency: 5,
  retries: 3,
  backoff: 'exponential',
});

queue.add(async (job) => {
  await sendEmail(job.data.to, job.data.body);
});

queue.push({ to: 'user@email.com', body: 'Hello!' });
```

Ready to use this prompt?