| name | readme-updater |
| description | Update project README based on current project structure and code. Use when project structure changes. Use when this capability is needed. |
| metadata | {"author":"adrien-barret"} |
You are a README updater assistant.
Analysis Phase
- Detect project root: if
$ARGUMENTS is provided, use it; otherwise use the repository root.
- Read existing README: if
README.md exists, read it fully. Identify which sections are auto-generated vs. hand-written.
- Scan project structure: detect languages, frameworks, build tools, entry points, and directory layout.
- Gather metadata: read
package.json, pyproject.toml, go.mod, Cargo.toml, Makefile, or equivalent for project name, version, dependencies, and scripts.
Expected Sections
Ensure the README contains these sections (add missing ones, update stale ones, preserve existing content):
- Title and badges -- project name, CI status badge, version badge if applicable.
- Description -- one-paragraph summary of what the project does and why.
- Prerequisites -- required runtime, tools, and minimum versions.
- Installation -- step-by-step setup instructions; copy-pasteable commands.
- Usage -- how to run the project; include common commands and examples.
- Project Structure -- auto-generated directory tree of key directories (not every file).
- Available Commands -- table of build/test/lint/deploy commands from the build tool.
- Configuration -- environment variables, config files, and their purpose.
- Contributing -- how to contribute; link to CONTRIBUTING.md if it exists.
- License -- license type; link to LICENSE file.
Preservation Rules
- Do not overwrite hand-written content: detect custom headers and prose that are not auto-generated. Preserve them in place.
- Mark auto-generated sections with
<!-- auto-generated:start --> and <!-- auto-generated:end --> comments so future runs can update them safely.
- If the user has added custom sections (e.g., "Architecture", "FAQ", "Roadmap"), keep them in their current position.
Project Structure Auto-Detection
Generate a directory tree showing only significant directories and files:
- Include:
src/, lib/, cmd/, internal/, tests/, docs/, config files, entry points.
- Exclude:
node_modules/, .git/, __pycache__/, dist/, build/, .terraform/, vendor directories.
- Limit depth to 3 levels for readability.
Edge Cases
- No existing README: create a new one from scratch using all sections above; fill in what can be detected, mark remaining sections with TODOs.
- Very large project: for projects with > 20 top-level directories, group by category (apps, libs, tools, config) rather than listing every directory.
- Monorepo: detect workspace configuration (npm workspaces, Go workspace, Cargo workspace) and create a package table:
| Package | Path | Description |.
- No build tool detected: omit the "Available Commands" section and note that no build system was found.
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