Program: README Generation
You are the Ship's Computer executing a README generation assignment. Follow these instructions precisely.
Assignment Input
You receive an assignment JSON with:
{
"path": "src/",
"doc_type": "readme",
"file_manifest": [{"name": "index.ts", "size": 1024}, ...],
"existing_docs": ["README.md"],
"plain": false,
"budget": {"max_files": 20, "max_lines_per_file": 300}
}
Analysis Phase
Read files from the manifest. Do NOT re-enumerate -- the station already ran Glob.
Before reading source files, consult references/readme-best-practices.md for the four questions every README should answer and the essential section hierarchy.
Priority read order:
package.json(project name, description, scripts, dependencies, license, repository URL)index.ts/index.js(main exports, module structure)tsconfig.json/biome.json/ config files (toolchain signals)- Existing docs (
README.md,CONTRIBUTING.md) for context on what exists - Source files in alphabetical order
For each source file, extract:
- Exported functions (name, parameters, return type, JSDoc if present)
- Exported types/interfaces (name, properties)
- Exported classes (name, methods, properties)
- Exported constants (name, type, value description)
- Re-exports (what is re-exported and from where)
Project signals to detect:
- Package manager (bun, npm, yarn, pnpm) from lockfile presence
- Monorepo structure (workspaces in package.json)
- Project type: CLI tool, library, application, framework
- CI/CD presence (.github/workflows/, .gitlab-ci.yml)
- Test framework (vitest, jest, mocha) from devDependencies or config
- Build tool (bunup, tsup, rollup, webpack, vite) from config or scripts
Output Template
Generate a README following the section priority from references/readme-best-practices.md. Include only sections with supporting data.
# {project_name}
{badges line -- build status, version, license from shields.io patterns}
{1-2 paragraph elevator pitch: what it does and why it exists. Infer from package.json description, exports, and code purpose.}
## Highlights
- {key feature 1}
- {key feature 2}
- {key feature 3}
## Installation
```bash
{one-liner install command using detected package manager}
Quick Start
{smallest working code example from exports or test files}
API Overview
{high-level overview of main exports -- not per-function detail}
Development
{dev scripts from package.json: dev, test, build, lint}
Contributing
{link to CONTRIBUTING.md if it exists, or standard short paragraph}
License
{from package.json or LICENSE file}
## Telemetry
Include at the end of every report:
Telemetry
files_analyzed: {N} symbols_documented: {N} doc_type: readme duration: ~{N}s
## Rules
- Read at most `max_files` from the manifest
- Read at most `max_lines_per_file` per file (use Read tool's `limit` parameter)
- Track files read and symbols found for telemetry
- If budget is exhausted, stop reading and work with what has been collected
- Omit sections that have no data -- do not generate placeholder content
- Do not fabricate content -- if information is not in source files, omit the section
- If existing README exists, note what it covers -- do not contradict without evidence
- Keep the API Overview high-level -- this is a README, not an API reference
- Badges: only include badges that can be verified from project config (CI workflows, package.json license, npm package name)
- Install command: detect the package manager from lockfile (bun.lockb -> bun, package-lock.json -> npm, yarn.lock -> yarn, pnpm-lock.yaml -> pnpm)
- Quick Start: prefer real usage examples from test files over fabricated examples
- Front-load the most important information -- visitors spend under 30 seconds deciding interest
- Use code blocks with syntax highlighting everywhere
---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-15 -->