A README file is a crucial part of any project. It serves as the first point of contact for users, contributors, and collaborators, providing essential information about the project. Below is a guide on what to include in a well-structured README file.
Give your project a clear and concise title reflecting the purpose or functionality of the project. This is an example repository associated with the PHYS 4840 Math and Computational Methods II class at the University of Wyoming
Provide a brief overview of your project. Explain what it does, why it exists, and what problem it solves. Keep it concise but informative.
Include step-by-step instructions on how to install and set up the project locally. Specify any dependencies, tools, or environment variables required.
Example: git clone https://github.com/username/my-awesome-project.git install dependences (ex: does this require numpy?) make/build/install...whatever is needed set environment variables? how to launch the program
Explain how to use the project. Provide examples, screenshots, or code snippets to demonstrate its functionality.
Encourage others to contribute to your project. Provide guidelines for submitting issues, pull requests, or suggestions. We are developing open-source tools! One of the main benefits of GitHub is that it allows contributions from and use by anyone who can see the repository (without allowing random people to delete your code).
Example:
Contributions are welcome! Please follow these steps:
(1) Fork the repository.
(2) Create a new branch for your feature or bugfix.
(3) Submit a pull request with a detailed description of your changes.
Specify the license under which your project is distributed. This helps others understand how they can use your code. We will use the MIT license unless otherwise specified
Give credit to any resources, libraries, or individuals that helped you build the project.
Example:
M Joyce thanks Eliza Frankel and Josh Wanninger for reminding her how to store credentials