readme-gen
README Gen
Your project has no README. Or worse, it has one that says "TODO: write readme". This tool generates complete README files from your codebase. Badges, installation steps, API documentation, examples. A README that makes people actually want to use your project.
One command. Zero config. Just works.
Quick Start
npx ai-readme
What It Does
- Generates a complete README from your project structure
- Adds appropriate badges (npm, license, build status)
- Creates installation instructions for your package manager
- Documents your API based on exports
- Includes usage examples from your code or tests
Usage Examples
# Generate README for current project
npx ai-readme
# Specify output file
npx ai-readme --output README.md
# Include specific sections
npx ai-readme --sections intro,install,api,examples
# Generate for a CLI tool
npx ai-readme --type cli
Best Practices
- Run at project start - Easier to maintain a README than to write one from scratch later
- Customize the intro - AI writes decent intros but your voice is better
- Add real examples - Generated examples are generic. Show your actual use cases.
- Keep badges minimal - Nobody needs 15 badges. Pick the 3-5 that matter.
When to Use This
- Starting a new open source project
- Publishing a package to npm
- Your README is embarrassingly empty
- Restructuring a project and need fresh docs
Part of the LXGIC Dev Toolkit
This is one of 110+ free developer tools built by LXGIC Studios. No paywalls, no sign-ups, no API keys on free tiers. Just tools that work.
Find more:
- GitHub: https://github.com/LXGIC-Studios
- Twitter: https://x.com/lxgicstudios
- Substack: https://lxgicstudios.substack.com
- Website: https://lxgic.dev
Requirements
No install needed. Just run with npx. Node.js 18+ recommended.
npx ai-readme --help
How It Works
The tool reads your package.json, analyzes your source files for exports and CLI commands, checks for existing docs or examples, then generates a structured README with all the sections a good project needs.
License
MIT. Free forever. Use it however you want.