Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

[othneildrew]

Thank you to @actuarysailor for putting together this comprehensive FAQ!

Getting Started 🚀

What is the purpose of this template, and how can I use it for my own project?

This README template provides a professional, comprehensive structure for
documenting your projects. It includes:

• Clear project description with logos and badges
• Installation and usage instructions
• Contributing guidelines to encourage community participation
• Professional formatting that works across different platforms

To use it for your project:

1. Use the BLANK_README.md file as your starting point
2. Search and replace placeholders with your actual information
3. Customize sections to fit your project's needs
4. Remove sections you don't need

How do I customize the template to fit my project's specific needs?

The template is designed to be modular. Here's how to customize it:

Required customizations:

• github_username → your GitHub username
• repo_name → your repository name
• project_title → your project name
• project_description → brief description of your project
• project_license → your chosen license (e.g., MIT, Apache-2.0, etc.)
• twitter_handle → your Twitter/X handle
• linkedin_username → your LinkedIn username
• email_client → your email provider (e.g., gmail, outlook)
• email → your email address

Optional customizations:

• Remove sections you don't need (Built With, Roadmap, etc.)
• Add project-specific sections
• Customize the color scheme of badges
• Replace the logo with your own branding

How do I add more badges to my README?

Badges are generated by shields.io. To add more badges:

1. Visit shields.io and browse available badges
2. Generate the badge URL for your specific repository
3. Add to the badges section following this pattern:

[![Badge Name][badge-shield]][badge-url]

<!-- At the bottom of the file, add: -->
[badge-shield]: https://img.shields.io/badge/YOUR_BADGE_URL
[badge-url]: https://your-link-here

Popular additional badges:

• Build status: [![Build Status][build-shield]][build-url]
• Code coverage: [![Coverage][coverage-shield]][coverage-url]
• Dependencies: [![Dependencies][deps-shield]][deps-url]
• Downloads: [![Downloads][downloads-shield]][downloads-url]
• Version: [![Version][version-shield]][version-url]

Can I add my translation to the repository?

Yes! Translations are welcome and help make the template accessible to more
developers. Here are the ways to contribute translations:

For this template repository:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create translated versions of key files:
   • README.es.md (Spanish)
   • README.fr.md (French)
   • README.zh.md (Chinese)
3. Translate section headers and standard text
4. Keep technical examples in English or provide localized examples
5. Submit a pull request with your translation

For your own projects using this template:

1. Create multiple README files for different languages
2. Link between translations in each file
3. Use consistent formatting across all versions

Translation guidelines:

• Translate section headers and descriptive text
• Keep code examples and technical terms consistent
• Provide cultural context where appropriate
• Maintain the same structure and formatting

What's the difference between README.md and BLANK_README.md?

• README.md - Example template showing what the final result looks like
• BLANK_README.md - Clean template with placeholders for you to customize

Do I need to keep both files?

No! Use BLANK_README.md as your starting point, customize it, then rename it
to README.md for your project. You can delete the original files.

Customization 📝

How do I add my own logo?

1. Add your logo image to the images/ folder

2. Update the logo reference in your README:

   <img src="images/your-logo.png" alt="Logo" width="80" height="80">

3. Update the [product-screenshot] reference at the bottom if needed

How do I customize the shields/badges?

The shields are generated by shields.io. Update the URLs
at the bottom of the template:

[contributors-shield]: https://img.shields.io/github/contributors/YOUR_USERNAME/YOUR_REPO.svg?style=for-the-badge

Replace YOUR_USERNAME and YOUR_REPO with your actual GitHub username and
repository name.

Can I remove sections I don't need?

Absolutely! The template is designed to be modular. Common sections to remove:

• Built With - if not using frameworks
• Roadmap - for completed projects
• LinkedIn badge - if you prefer not to include social links
• Table of Contents - for simpler projects

Just remember to also remove the corresponding links in the Table of Contents.

How do I add more sections?

Follow the existing pattern:

1. Add your section with proper markdown heading
2. Add a "back to top" link:
   <p align="right">(<a href="#readme-top">back to top</a>)</p>
3. Update the Table of Contents with a link to your new section

Markdown & Formatting

Why are there HTML tags in a markdown file?

Some features require HTML for proper formatting:

• Image sizing - Markdown can't specify width/height
• Center alignment - Pure markdown doesn't support centering
• Collapsible sections - <details> and <summary> tags

These are standard and supported by GitHub's markdown renderer.

Do I need the .markdownlint.json file?

The .markdownlint.json file ensures your README follows markdown best
practices. It's optional but recommended for:

• Consistent formatting
• Better readability
• Professional appearance
• Compatibility with markdown tools

How do I handle long URLs in markdown linting?

The template uses "reference-style" links to keep the content readable:

[Link text][reference-name]

<!-- At bottom of file -->
[reference-name]: https://very-long-url-here

This keeps the main content clean while satisfying line length requirements.

Technical Questions

Can I use this for commercial projects?

Yes! This template is released under the Unlicense, meaning it's in the public
domain. You can use it for any purpose without attribution (though attribution
is appreciated).

Does this work with GitHub Pages?

Yes! The template is fully compatible with GitHub Pages and will render
correctly.

How do I auto-generate README.md from BLANK_README.md?

You can create scripts to:

1. Read BLANK_README.md
2. Replace placeholders with actual values
3. Generate the final README.md

This is useful for organizations with multiple repositories following the same
pattern.

Troubleshooting

My images aren't showing up

Check these common issues:

1. File path - Ensure images/logo.png exists in your repository
2. Case sensitivity - GitHub is case-sensitive (Logo.png ≠ logo.png)
3. File format - Use common formats: PNG, JPG, GIF, SVG

The shields/badges show errors

Common causes:

1. Repository not public - Some shields require public repositories
2. Incorrect username/repo - Double-check your GitHub username and
   repository name
3. Repository too new - Some metrics need time to populate

Markdown isn't rendering correctly

1. Check syntax - Use a markdown linter or preview
2. HTML compatibility - Ensure HTML tags are properly closed
3. Reference links - Verify all [reference] links have corresponding
   definitions

Contributing & Community

How can I improve this template?

1. Fork the repository
2. Make your improvements
3. Submit a pull request with:
   • Clear description of changes
   • Examples of improvements
   • Any relevant screenshots

I found a bug, what should I do?

Please open an issue with:

• Description of the problem
• Steps to reproduce
• Expected vs actual behavior
• Screenshots if applicable

How does this FAQ help reduce duplicate issues?

This FAQ addresses the most common questions and concerns, which should:

• Reduce duplicate issues by providing immediate answers
• Save maintainer time by directing users to existing solutions
• Prevent conflicting pull requests by clarifying design decisions
• Improve user experience by providing self-service support

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Still have questions? Open an issue and we'll help you out!