I used to copy-paste README templates from popular repos. You probably do too.
The problem: those READMEs are written for their users, not yours. They have sections you don't need (architecture diagrams for a CLI tool?), miss sections you do need (configuration examples), and contain placeholder text you forget to replace.
So I built a template pack that's different: it's designed to be deleted.
What's in the Pack
Every file is a GitHub-native template (YAML issue forms, Markdown PR template) — not a generic Markdown file you copy-paste.
| File | Purpose | Format |
|---|---|---|
README_TEMPLATE.md |
Project README with real sections, not filler | Markdown |
CONTRIBUTING.md |
Contribution guidelines with delete-if-unused checklist | Markdown |
.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml |
GitHub Issue Form — renders as native UI | YAML |
.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_request.yml |
GitHub Issue Form | YAML |
.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/question.yml |
GitHub Issue Form | YAML |
.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/discussion.yml |
Pre-RFC discussion template | YAML |
.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/config.yml |
Links to your security/discussion pages | YAML |
.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md |
PR checklist reviewers actually use | Markdown |
SECURITY.md |
Vulnerability reporting policy (required for GitHub Security Advisories) | Markdown |
CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md |
Contributor Covenant v2.1 (industry standard) | Markdown |
LICENSE |
MIT License template | Text |
Free bonus: CUSTOMIZATION_GUIDE_PREVIEW.md — a 5-minute audit worksheet + section-by-section customization table + GitHub Actions snippet to catch placeholder text in CI.
Why This Exists
I maintain a few open-source projects. Every new repo, I'd:
- Copy a README from a popular project
- Spend 30 minutes deleting their architecture section
- Forget to update the install command
- Get a PR: "your install command doesn't work" 🤦
These templates have delete-this-section checklists built in. The CONTRIBUTING.md literally tells you which sections to delete for a CLI tool vs a library vs a service.
The Honest Pitch
$5 gets you the full template pack (MIT licensed — use it commercially, fork it, sell it, whatever).
There's also a $15 PDF guide (20 pages) with worked examples, a printable quarterly docs health checklist, and copy-paste GitHub Actions for doc automation. That's at the same Gumroad link if you want it.
But the $5 pack? It's complete. You don't need the PDF. The templates work out of the box.
Get It
👉 https://contentwave2.gumroad.com/l/fryiv
Dogfooding
This repo uses these templates. The issue templates are the ones in .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/. The PR template is the one you see when you open a PR. The CONTRIBUTING.md is the one linked in the footer.
If you find a bug in the templates, file an issue using the bug report template. It works.
Solana USDC (for tips): 49NHJ5aUPpVwjMrHzgJt7pcYPCi7cxHUXVoEhgBPrAgE
No other payment links. No newsletter upsell. Just templates that save you 30 minutes per project.
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