README and project communicationΒΆ

README files are the welcome mat for your project. They are the first thing new visitors to your project will see and thus are part of a set of really important documents to make potential contributors feel welcome and invite them to get involved. Your README file should cover:

  • What you are doing, for who, and why.

  • What makes your project special and exciting.

  • How to get started.

  • Where to find key resources.

An Open Canvas can be a good tool to help you clarify what you want to achieve with your project and what you should cover in your README.