Why Developers Don't Read READMEs

Short summary

Developers triage GitHub projects in 20 seconds: What does it do? Can I run it? Should I trust it? Most READMEs fail because they explain how the code works rather than the problem it solves. Fix this with a proven structure—one-liner, context, visual demo, installation guide, examples, options, why-not-X section, and badges—to convert browsers into users.

• •Developers assess projects in 20 seconds using three triage questions: what it does, if they can run it, whether to trust it
• •Most READMEs fail because they're written from the author's perspective explaining how it works, not addressing the reader's needs
• •Use a proven structure: one-liner, context, visual, installation, examples, options, alternatives, badges—this drives stars, forks, and adoption

Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.