How to Structure Your README File – README Template Example

As a developer who aspires to be a founder, building your first startup can be filled with excitement and ideas. The worst thing that could happen to you is jumping straight into the coding part. I was in this situation and the last thing on my mind was writing a README file.

I thought, “I’ll add it later.” But “later” never came.

Weeks turned into months, and my once-simple idea turned into chaos. A developer who joined my project had no idea how to set it up. Even I, the founder, started forgetting why I structured certain parts of the app the way I did.

What was supposed to be a few months of development stretched to nearly a year. All because I ignored one small file: the README.

In this article, you’ll learn how to structure your README file to show all the important information about your project. You can see what it’ll look like here: MybrandName repo.

Table of Contents

• The README File is Not Just a Formality

  • README Structure

• MyBrandName — AI Branding Assistant

  • Features

  • Tech Stack

• Quick Start

  • Prerequisites

  • Installations

• Repository Structure

  • Architecture Overview

  • Example API Endpoints

  • Authentication (Supabase)

  • Environment Variables

  • Testing

  • Continuous Integration (CI)

  • Versioning & Changelog

• Contributing

  • Code of Conduct

• Deployment

  • License

  • The GitHub Repository

  • Developer Checklist

• Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them (Beginner-Friendly)

  • Problem: Hardcoding API Keys

  • Problem: No Quick Start Section

  • Problem: Missing Example Requests or Screenshots

  • Problem: Confusing Folder Structure

  • Problem: Forgetting to Version Your Project

  • Problem: No Testing Before Deployment

• 💡 What You Can Learn from This

• Final Words

The README File is Not Just a Formality

Many beginners see the README as optional—something you add just before submitting your GitHub repo. But that’s isn’t the right mindset.

Your README is your project’s map. It tells any developer (including your future self) where to start, how to set up the environment, and how everything connects. It saves time, reduces frustration, and turns a pile of code into a usable, understandable project.

If someone can clone your repository and get it running in under 10 minutes, your README did its job!

README Structure

Your README acts like the user manual for any developer who clones your repository. It should guide a developer to:

• Clone the repo.

• Install dependencies.

• Configure environment variables.

• Run both backend and frontend successfully.

• Understand how the system works.

Let me walk you through a sample README from a project called MyBrandName.

Here’s what the README looks like: https://github.com/nuelcas/mybrandname

MyBrandName — AI Branding Assistant

MyBrandName is an AI-powered platform that helps startups create a complete brand identity—logos, stories, and marketing assets—in minutes.

Features

• AI-Powered Branding – Instantly generate logos, brand stories, and marketing assets using OpenAI.

• Authentication – Secure user login and registration powered by Supabase.

• Database – Supabase for storing users, brands, assets, and subscription data.

• Frontend – Responsive UI built with TypeScript, Vite, and TailwindCSS.

• Backend API – Node.js + Express handles AI generation, authentication, and data management.

• Subscription Management – Stripe integration for plan upgrades and payments.

• Continuous Integration (CI) – Automated testing and build workflows via GitHub Actions.

• Versioning & Changelog – Semantic versioning with a clear project evolution record.

• Deployment Ready – Easily deploy frontend (Vercel) and backend (Render) with Supabase integration.

Tech Stack

• Runtime: Node.js + Express.js.

• Language: TypeScript.

• Frontend: Vite + Tailwind CSS.

• Database & Auth: Supabase (Database, Storage, Authentication).
  AI Service: OpenAI API (Logo, Story, and Content Generation).

• HTTP Client: Axios/Fetch API.

• CI/CD: GitHub Actions (Automated Testing & Deployment).

• Hosting: Vercel (Frontend) + Render (Backend).

Quick Start

Prerequisites

• Node.js 16+

• Supabase project (for Authentication, Database, and Storage)

• OpenAI API key (for AI-powered logo and content generation)

• Stripe account (for subscription and payment handling)

Installations

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/nuelcas/mybrandname.git

2. Install Dependencies

cd backend && npm install
cd ../frontend && npm install

3. Environment setup

cp backend/.env.example backend/.env

Update .env with your configuration:

• Supabase URL and API key

• OpenAI API key

• Stripe API key

4. Development

# Run backend
cd backend && npm run dev

# Run frontend
cd frontend && npm run dev

5. Production Build

npm run build
npm start

Visit: http://localhost:5173

Repository Structure

/mybrandname
├── /frontend
│   ├── /src
│   │   ├── /components        # UI Components (AuthForm, Navbar, etc.)
│   │   ├── /pages             # App pages (Home, Dashboard, Pricing)
│   │   ├── /hooks             # Custom React hooks (useAuth, useLogoGenerator)
│   │   ├── /lib               # Config files (Supabase, API client, constants)
│   │   ├── /styles            # Global and component styles
│   │   ├── App.tsx            # Main routing setup
│   │   └── main.tsx           # React entry point
│   ├── public/                # Public assets (icons, logos)
│   ├── tailwind.config.ts     # Configures Tailwind CSS settings
│   ├── vite.config.ts         # Contains build and development settings for the Vite bundler
│   └── package.json           # Lists frontend project dependencies, scripts, and metadata
│
├── /backend
│   ├── /src
│   │   ├── /routes            # Express routes (auth, brand, assets, subscription)
│   │   ├── server.ts          # Main Express server entry
│   │   └── config/            # Environment and DB configs
│   └── package.json           # Lists backend project dependencies, scripts, and metadata for Node.js
│
└── README.md

Architecture Overview

Frontend

• Built with TypeScript + Vite + Tailwind CSS

• Connects to Supabase for authentication, backend API for AI generation, and Stripe for payments

Backend

• Built with Node.js + Express

• Handles authentication, AI content generation, and database writes via Supabase

Supabase Tables

Example API Endpoints

Auth Routes

Branding Routes

Example Request:

POST /api/brand/logo
{
  "brandName": "NovaTech",
  "industry": "Tech",
  "style": "Modern Minimal"
}

Example Response:

{
  "logoUrl": "https://supabase.storage/novatech-logo.png",
  "palette": ["#121212", "#FF005C"]
}

Authentication (Supabase)

import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js';

const supabase = createClient(
  import.meta.env.VITE_SUPABASE_URL,
  import.meta.env.VITE_SUPABASE_KEY
);

Environment Variables

Testing

Use Vitest/Jest for unit testing and Supertest for API routes.

npm run test

Continuous Integration (CI)

CI automatically runs tests when you push new code. This ensures your main branch always stays stable.

Example GitHub Action Workflow:

name: MyBrandName CI
on: [push, pull_request]
jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - run: |
          cd backend && npm ci && npm run test
          cd ../frontend && npm ci && npm run build

Tip: CI helps avoid “it works on my machine” problems.

Versioning & Changelog

Keep a CHANGELOG.md file documenting updates.
Use Semantic Versioning (MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH), for example,
1.1.0 → Added new features.

Contributing

We welcome contributions from developers who want to improve MyBrandName!
Follow these steps to contribute effectively:

• Fork the Repository

  • Click the Fork button on GitHub to create your own copy of the project.

• Clone Your Fork

  • Run:

    git clone https://github.com/nuelcas/mybrandname.git

• Create a Feature Branch

  • Keep your changes organized:

    git checkout -b feat/your-feature-name

• Set Up the Environment

  • Follow the setup instructions in the README to install dependencies and configure your .env files.

• Follow Code Style and Formatting Rules

  • Ensure consistent formatting before committing:

    npm run lint

• Use Clear Commit Messages

  • Follow the conventional commit style:

    • feat: – new feature

    • fix: – bug fix

    • docs: – documentation update

    • refactor: – code restructuring

• Write or Update Tests

  • Use Vitest or Jest for unit testing and Supertest for API routes.

  • Run:

    npm run test

• Document Your Changes

  • Update README.md, CHANGELOG.md, or CONTRIBUTING.md if needed.

• Submit a Pull Request (PR)

  • Push your branch and open a PR with:

    • A short, clear description of your changes.

    • Any related issue numbers (for example, “Closes #12”).

    • Screenshots or example outputs (if applicable).

• Participate in Code Review

  • Respond to feedback, make improvements, and help maintain project quality.

Code of Conduct

To maintain a positive and inclusive community, all contributors are expected to:

• Be respectful, kind, and patient when interacting with others.

• Welcome feedback and engage in constructive discussions.

• Avoid discriminatory or offensive language.

• Focus on collaboration and problem-solving rather than criticism.

• Credit other contributors where due.

• Report any violations or concerns to the maintainers privately.

Let’s work together to make MyBrandName a project where everyone feels valued and supported. 💙

Deployment

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License—see the LICENSE file for details.

The GitHub Repository

You can clone the GitHub repo, edit and build your app from it: MybrandName repo.

Developer Checklist

Think of this checklist as your final review before sharing your app publicly:

1. Supabase Authentication is Working

• Test your login and registration flow.

• Try creating a new account and logging in.

• Make sure the user’s data appears correctly in the Supabase “users” table.

2. AI Endpoints Return Proper Results

• Test your backend endpoints for AI-powered features (for example, logo generation).

• Use tools like Postman to send sample requests.

• Confirm that Supabase stores the generated data or files correctly.

3. Frontend is Responsive

• Open your app on a mobile device and desktop browser.

• Ensure the design adjusts properly to different screen sizes.

• Check for broken buttons, misaligned text, or hidden sections.

4. Continuous Integration (CI) Tests Pass

• If you use GitHub Actions, make sure your tests run automatically when you push code.

• Fix any failed tests before merging branches.

• This helps you catch bugs early.

5. Documentation Files Are Complete

• Ensure your README, CONTRIBUTING, and CHANGELOG files are up to date.

• Add setup steps, contribution guidelines, and update notes.

• This makes your repo beginner-friendly and professional.

Run through your README’s Quick Start section as if you’re a new user.
If you can set up the project in less than 10 minutes, your documentation is clear enough.

Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them (Beginner-Friendly)

Here are some common mistakes new developers make and how you can prevent them:

Problem: Hardcoding API Keys

Never store API keys directly in your code. If you push your project to GitHub, anyone can see them.

Solution: Store them in a .env file and add .env to .gitignore.

Problem: No Quick Start Section

If your README doesn’t explain how to install and run the app, other developers will be lost.

Solution: Always include a Quick Start section showing installation and setup steps.

Problem: Missing Example Requests or Screenshots

Readers want to see what your API or app does before trying it.

Solution: Add example API requests and responses (like the /api/brand/logo example). You can also include screenshots of the UI.

Problem: Confusing Folder Structure

A messy project makes it hard for contributors to navigate your code.

Solution: Explain your folder structure under “Repository Structure.” Include short descriptions of what each folder does.

Problem: Forgetting to Version Your Project

If you don’t track changes, it’s hard to know what was updated or fixed.

Solution: Use Semantic Versioning (1.0.0, 1.1.0, and so on) and keep a simple CHANGELOG.md file.

Problem: No Testing Before Deployment

Beginners often deploy without testing—and later find bugs in production.

Solution: Run your tests locally first. Automate them using GitHub Actions so that every code change is verified.

By addressing these simple issues early, you’ll build reliable, professional-looking projects that others can understand and contribute to easily.

💡 What You Can Learn from This

A good README file saves you from:

• Wasting hours debugging setup issues

• Confusing collaborators or testers

• Forgetting your own logic months later

It also makes your project look professional to employers and recruiters.

Final Words

When I finally embraced writing detailed README files, everything changed. New collaborators understood my projects faster. Deployment became smoother. And most importantly—I never had to “learn the hard way” again.

So if you’re just starting out, take my advice: Before you write your next line of code, write your README file.