name	readme-generator
description	This skill creates or updates a README.md file in the GitHub home directory of the current project. The README.md file it generates will conform to GitHub best practices, including badges, project overview, site metrics, getting started instructions, and comprehensive documentation.
license	MIT

README Generator

Generate or update a comprehensive README.md file for GitHub repositories following best practices.

Purpose

This skill automates the creation of professional, well-structured README.md files for GitHub repositories. It generates all essential sections including badges for technologies used, project overview, site metrics, getting started instructions, project structure, and contact information. The skill is particularly optimized for MkDocs-based intelligent textbook projects but can be adapted for any repository type.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

Starting a new GitHub repository that needs a README.md
Updating an existing README.md to follow best practices
After significant project changes that should be documented
Before publishing or sharing a repository
When migrating from another documentation system
After adding new technologies or dependencies

Workflow

Step 1: Analyze Repository Context

Before generating the README, gather information about the repository:

Check if README.md already exists in the root directory
Identify the repository name from .git/config or the working directory
Read mkdocs.yml if it exists to extract:
- Site name
- Site description
- Site URL (for GitHub Pages link)
- Repository URL
Check for documentation in /docs directory
Identify technologies used (look for package.json, requirements.txt, mkdocs.yml, etc.)

User Dialog Triggers:

If README.md exists: Ask "README.md already exists. Would you like to update it or create a backup first?"
If repository URL not found: Ask "What is the GitHub repository URL? (e.g., https://github.com/username/repo-name)"
If site URL not configured: Ask "Is this site deployed to GitHub Pages? If yes, what's the URL?"

Step 2: Generate Badges

Create badges for all relevant technologies and platforms. Use shields.io format for consistency.

Badge Order:

MkDocs (if mkdocs.yml exists)
MkDocs Material (if theme is Material)
GitHub Pages live badge (if site is deployed)
Claude Code badge
Claude Skills badge (if .claude/skills or skills/ directory exists)
License badge
Additional technology badges (Python, JavaScript, p5.js, etc.)

Badge Templates:

[![MkDocs](https://img.shields.io/badge/Made%20with-MkDocs-526CFE?logo=materialformkdocs)](https://www.mkdocs.org/)
[![Material for MkDocs](https://img.shields.io/badge/Material%20for%20MkDocs-526CFE?logo=materialformkdocs)](https://squidfunk.github.io/mkdocs-material/)
[![GitHub Pages](https://img.shields.io/badge/View%20on-GitHub%20Pages-blue?logo=github)](SITE_URL)
[![GitHub](https://img.shields.io/badge/GitHub-OWNER%2FREPO-blue?logo=github)](REPO_URL)
[![Claude Code](https://img.shields.io/badge/Built%20with-Claude%20Code-DA7857?logo=anthropic)](https://claude.ai/code)
[![Claude Skills](https://img.shields.io/badge/Uses-Claude%20Skills-DA7857?logo=anthropic)](https://github.com/dmccreary/claude-skills)

Check for these additional badges:

p5.js: [![p5.js](https://img.shields.io/badge/p5.js-ED225D?logo=p5.js&logoColor=white)](https://p5js.org/)
Python: [![Python](https://img.shields.io/badge/Python-3776AB?logo=python&logoColor=white)](https://www.python.org/)
JavaScript: [![JavaScript](https://img.shields.io/badge/JavaScript-F7DF1E?logo=javascript&logoColor=black)](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript)

Step 3: Add License Badge

Look for license information in:

LICENSE file in root
docs/license.md
mkdocs.yml (copyright field)

Default to Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 if not specified:

[![License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-CC%20BY--NC--SA%204.0-lightgrey.svg)](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)

Other common licenses:

MIT: [![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
Apache 2.0: [![License: Apache 2.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-Apache%202.0-blue.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/Apache-2.0)
GPL-3.0: [![License: GPL v3](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-GPLv3-blue.svg)](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0)

Step 4: Create Website Link Section

After badges, add a prominent link to the live website (if deployed):

## View the Live Site

Visit the interactive textbook at: [https://username.github.io/repo-name](https://username.github.io/repo-name)

Step 5: Write Overview/Short Description

Create a compelling 1-3 paragraph overview that answers:

What is this project?
Who is it for?
Why is it valuable?
What makes it unique or special?

Guidelines:

Keep it concise but engaging
Use active voice
Highlight key features or benefits
Mention the educational framework if applicable
For textbooks: mention target audience (grade level, prerequisites)

Example for Intelligent Textbook:

## Overview

This is an interactive, AI-generated intelligent textbook on [TOPIC] designed for [AUDIENCE]. Built using MkDocs with the Material theme, it incorporates learning graphs, concept dependencies, interactive MicroSims (p5.js simulations), and AI-assisted content generation.

The textbook follows Bloom's Taxonomy (2001 revision) for learning outcomes and uses concept dependency graphs to ensure proper prerequisite sequencing. All content is generated and curated using Claude AI skills, making it a Level 2+ intelligent textbook with interactive elements.

Whether you're a student learning [TOPIC] for the first time or an educator looking for structured course materials, this textbook provides comprehensive coverage with hands-on interactive elements that make complex concepts accessible and engaging.

Step 6: Add Site Status and Metrics

Gather and display project metrics to show completeness and scope.

Run Python script to collect metrics:

Call scripts/collect-site-metrics.py (or create it if needed) to gather:

Learning Graph Metrics (from docs/learning-graph/):
- Number of concepts in concept graph
- Quality score
- Taxonomy distribution
Content Metrics:
- Number of chapters (count directories in docs/chapters/)
- Number of markdown files (.md files in docs/)
- Total word count (sum of all markdown files)
- Number of code blocks
- Number of lists and tables
Interactive Elements:
- Number of MicroSims (directories in docs/sims/)
- Number of quizzes (files named quiz.md)
- Total quiz questions (count in quiz files)
Educational Resources:
- Number of glossary terms (in docs/glossary.md)
- Number of FAQ questions (in docs/faq.md)
- Number of references (in docs/references.md)
Media Assets:
- Number of images (.png, .jpg, .svg files)
- Number of diagrams (Mermaid, vis-network)

Format as a table:

## Site Status and Metrics

| Metric | Count |
|--------|-------|
| Concepts in Learning Graph | 200 |
| Chapters | 13 |
| Markdown Files | 87 |
| Total Words | 45,230 |
| MicroSims | 12 |
| Glossary Terms | 187 |
| FAQ Questions | 42 |
| Quiz Questions | 156 |
| Images | 34 |
| References | 28 |

**Completion Status:** Approximately 85% complete (content generation phase)

Book-Specific Metrics:

For specialized textbooks, add domain-specific metrics:

Circuits textbook: Number of circuit diagrams, simulations
History textbook: Number of timelines, maps, primary source documents
Programming textbook: Number of code examples, exercises, projects
Math textbook: Number of equations, proofs, worked examples

Step 7: Add Getting Started Section

Provide clear instructions for using and customizing the project.

Standard sections:

Prerequisites (if any)
Clone the Repository
Installation (if dependencies needed)
Building the Site
Local Development
Deployment

Example:

## Getting Started

### Clone the Repository

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

Install Dependencies

This project uses MkDocs with the Material theme:

pip install mkdocs
pip install mkdocs-material

Build and Serve Locally

Build the site:

mkdocs build

Serve locally for development (with live reload):

mkdocs serve

Open your browser to http://localhost:8000

Deploy to GitHub Pages

mkdocs gh-deploy

This will build the site and push it to the gh-pages branch.

Using the Book

Navigation:

Use the left sidebar to browse chapters
Click on the search icon to search all content
Each chapter includes quizzes and practice exercises

Interactive MicroSims:

Found in the "MicroSims" section
Each simulation runs standalone in your browser
Adjust parameters with sliders and controls

Customization:

Edit markdown files in docs/ to modify content
Modify mkdocs.yml to change site structure
Add your own MicroSims in docs/sims/
Customize theme in docs/css/extra.css


### Step 8: Document Repository Structure

Create an ASCII tree diagram showing the repository structure with explanatory comments.

**Use this approach:**

- Don't list every single file
- Show representative examples
- Add comments explaining each major directory
- Keep it concise (10-20 lines)

**Example:**

```markdown
## Repository Structure

repo-name/ ├── docs/ # MkDocs documentation source │ ├── chapters/ # Chapter content │ │ ├── 01-intro/ │ │ │ ├── index.md # Chapter markdown │ │ │ └── quiz.md # Chapter quiz │ │ └── 02-concepts/ │ ├── sims/ # Interactive p5.js MicroSims │ │ ├── graph-viewer/ │ │ │ ├── main.html # Standalone simulation │ │ │ └── index.md # Documentation │ ├── learning-graph/ # Learning graph data and analysis │ │ ├── learning-graph.csv # Concept dependencies │ │ ├── learning-graph.json # vis-network format │ │ └── quality-metrics.md # Quality analysis │ ├── glossary.md # ISO 11179-compliant definitions │ ├── faq.md # Frequently asked questions │ └── references.md # Curated references ├── skills/ # Claude AI skills (if present) │ └── [skill-name]/ │ ├── SKILL.md # Skill definition │ └── *.py # Supporting scripts ├── mkdocs.yml # MkDocs configuration └── README.md # This file

Step 9: Add Issue Reporting Section

Direct users to the GitHub Issues page:

## Reporting Issues

Found a bug, typo, or have a suggestion for improvement? Please report it:

[GitHub Issues](https://github.com/username/repo-name/issues)

When reporting issues, please include:

- Description of the problem or suggestion
- Steps to reproduce (for bugs)
- Expected vs actual behavior
- Screenshots (if applicable)
- Browser/environment details (for MicroSims)

Step 10: Add License Information

Reinforce licensing terms and attribution requirements:

## License

This work is licensed under the [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).

**You are free to:**

- Share — copy and redistribute the material
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material

**Under the following terms:**

- **Attribution** — Give appropriate credit with a link to the original
- **NonCommercial** — No commercial use without permission
- **ShareAlike** — Distribute contributions under the same license

See [LICENSE.md](docs/license.md) for full details.

Step 11: Add Acknowledgements

Express gratitude to the open source community and key projects:

## Acknowledgements

This project is built on the shoulders of giants in the open source community:

- **[MkDocs](https://www.mkdocs.org/)** - Static site generator optimized for project documentation
- **[Material for MkDocs](https://squidfunk.github.io/mkdocs-material/)** - Beautiful, responsive theme
- **[p5.js](https://p5js.org/)** - Creative coding library from NYU ITP
- **[vis-network](https://visjs.org/)** - Network visualization library for learning graphs
- **[Python](https://www.python.org/)** community - Data processing and analysis tools
- **[Claude AI](https://claude.ai)** by Anthropic - AI-assisted content generation
- **[GitHub Pages](https://pages.github.com/)** - Free hosting for open source projects

Special thanks to the educators and developers who contribute to making educational resources accessible and interactive.

Customize based on actual dependencies:

Add Chart.js if using bubble charts
Add Mermaid if using diagrams
Add specific Python libraries if used (pandas, numpy, etc.)
Add any other key dependencies

Step 12: Add Contact Section

Provide a way for users to reach out:

## Contact

**Dan McCreary**

- LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/in/danmccreary](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danmccreary/)
- GitHub: [@dmccreary](https://github.com/dmccreary)

Questions, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities? Feel free to connect on LinkedIn or open an issue on GitHub.

Customize with actual maintainer information:

Replace with repository owner's name
Update LinkedIn URL
Update GitHub username
Add email if desired (optional)
Add website/blog if relevant

Step 13: Add Optional Sections

Include these sections if relevant to the project:

Contributing Guidelines:

## Contributing

Contributions are welcome! To contribute:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (`git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature`)
3. Commit your changes (`git commit -m 'Add amazing feature'`)
4. Push to the branch (`git push origin feature/amazing-feature`)
5. Open a Pull Request

Please read [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for detailed guidelines.

Citation Information:

## How to Cite

If you use this textbook in your research or teaching, please cite it as:

[Author Name]. (2024). [Textbook Title]. GitHub. https://github.com/username/repo-name


BibTeX:

```bibtex
@misc{repo-name-2024,
  author = {[Author Name]},
  title = {[Textbook Title]},
  year = {2024},
  publisher = {GitHub},
  url = {https://github.com/username/repo-name}
}


**Changelog:**

```markdown
## Changelog

See [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md) for a detailed history of changes.

**Recent Updates:**

- v1.0.0 (2024-11-11): Initial release with 13 chapters
- v0.9.0 (2024-11-01): Added 12 MicroSims and interactive elements
- v0.5.0 (2024-10-15): Completed learning graph and chapter structure

Step 14: Validate and Format

Before finalizing the README:

Check all links - Verify GitHub URLs, site URLs, badge URLs
Validate markdown - Ensure proper formatting
Test locally - Render README on GitHub to check appearance
Spell check - Review for typos and grammar
Consistency - Ensure terminology matches project docs

Quality checklist:

All badges render correctly
Repository URL is correct
Live site URL works (if applicable)
Metrics are accurate and current
Code blocks have proper syntax highlighting
Links are not broken
Table of contents matches sections (if auto-generated)
License information is clear
Contact information is current

Step 15: Write README.md

Generate the final README.md file in the repository root with all sections in order:

Title (H1) with repository name
Badges
Live site link (if applicable)
Overview
Site Status and Metrics
Getting Started
Repository Structure
Reporting Issues
License
Acknowledgements
Contact
Optional sections (Contributing, Citation, Changelog)

Formatting best practices:

Use ATX-style headers (# not underlines)
Include blank lines before lists
Use code fences with language specifiers
Keep lines under 120 characters where practical
Use relative links for internal documentation
Add table of contents for longer READMEs (>500 lines)

Supporting Scripts

The skill includes Python scripts for automated metrics collection:

scripts/collect-site-metrics.py

Scans the repository and generates a metrics report including:

Markdown file count and word counts
Chapter and section counts
MicroSim count
Glossary, FAQ, quiz statistics
Image and diagram counts
Learning graph statistics

Usage:

cd skills/readme-generator/scripts
python collect-site-metrics.py /path/to/repo

Output: JSON object with all metrics

scripts/validate-readme.py

Validates README.md for:

Required sections present
Working links
Valid badge URLs
Proper markdown formatting