Blank Repository Template

A repository containing common files and directory structure that can be used as a template for projects on GitHub and other Version Control Systems.

Branches

• Directory Structure (todo)
• Contained Files (todo)
• About Files
  • readme.md

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Directory Structure

About Files:

About ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.md

About README.md

README.md Resources

Guides

Visual Elements

• SimpleIcons
• Dev Badges Page
• Sheilds.io
• Awesome Badges Repo by @badges (Shield.io)
• Socialify

Visual Element Notes

• Storing images in branches
• Github Project Types
• Github Markdown for dark & light themes

license.md and licensing

You can find a list of licenses here, available in code blobs and .txt files.

External Resources

• Creative Commons Chooser
• Choose A License
• TL;DR Legal
• Explain Licenses Like I'm Five
• The Legal Side of Opensource

About CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md

About .gitignore

About robots.txt

About CHANGELOG.md and Versioning

Repository Settings

Miscellaneous

Advanced Gitbub Usage

• Connecting to Github with SSH
• View repository releases and tags

---

ToDo

Comprehensive List of Common and Useful Files for a GitHub Repository

Core Project Files

1. README.md

• Project overview
• Key features and benefits
• Quick start guide
• Installation instructions
• Usage examples
• Contribution guidelines
• License information
• Contact information

2. LICENSE

• Project license (MIT, Apache 2.0, GPL, etc.)
• Copyright notice
• Terms of use

3. CONTRIBUTING.md

• How to contribute
• Code style guidelines
• Pull request process
• Issue reporting guidelines
• Code review expectations
• Documentation standards

4. CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md

• Community guidelines
• Expected behavior
• Reporting procedures
• Enforcement policies

---

5. SECURITY.md

• Security policy
• Vulnerability reporting process
• Contact information for security issues
• Response time expectations
• Disclosure guidelines

---

6. CHANGELOG.md

• Version history
• Release notes
• Bug fixes
• New features
• Breaking changes

7. README.md (Extended)

• Project goals and vision
• Technical architecture
• System requirements
• Environment setup
• Configuration options
• Troubleshooting guide
• Known limitations

Development and Configuration Files

8. .gitignore

• Git ignore patterns
• Excluded files and directories
• Environment-specific files
• Build artifacts
• Temporary files

9. .github/

• WORKFLOWs/: GitHub Actions CI/CD pipelines
• ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md: Issue template
• PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md: Pull request template
• SECURITY.md: Security policy

10. .github/WORKFLOWs/ (for CI/CD)

• ci.yml: Continuous integration workflow
• cd.yml: Continuous deployment workflow
• release.yml: Release automation workflow
• security.yml: Security scanning workflow

11. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

12. .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

• Pull request template
• Checklist for contributors
• Review guidelines
• Documentation requirements

13. pyproject.toml (or package.json, Cargo.toml, etc.)

• Project metadata
• Dependencies
• Build configuration
• Development tools
• Test configuration

14. requirements.txt (or requirements-dev.txt)

• Python dependencies
• Version constraints
• Development dependencies

15. Dockerfile (and docker-compose.yml)

• Containerization setup
• Build instructions
• Environment configuration
• Service orchestration

16. .env.example

• Environment variable template
• Configuration defaults
• Sensitive data placeholders

17. config/ (directory)

• config.yaml (or config.json, config.ini)
• Environment-specific configurations
• Feature flags
• API keys (with placeholders)
• Database settings

18. scripts/

• setup.sh (or setup.bat)
• deploy.sh (or deploy.bat)
• test.sh (or test.bat)
• lint.sh (or lint.bat)
• build.sh (or build.bat)

19. docs/

• ARCHITECTURE.md: System design
• API.md: API documentation
• INSTALLATION.md: Setup guide
• TROUBLESHOOTING.md: Common issues
• FAQ.md: Frequently asked questions
• ROADMAP.md: Project development timeline
• CONTRIBUTORS.md: List of contributors

20. tests/

• unit/
  • test_*.py (or test_*.js, test_*.rs, etc.)
  • Unit test files
  • Mock data
  • Test fixtures
• integration/
  • test_*.py (or test_*.js, test_*.rs, etc.)
  • Integration test files
  • End-to-end test scenarios
• e2e/
  • test_*.py (or test_*.js, test_*.rs, etc.)
  • End-to-end test files
  • Browser automation scripts
  • Performance tests

21. docs/DOCS.md

• Documentation structure
• How to contribute to documentation
• Documentation style guide
• Versioning policy for documentation

22. docs/DESIGN.md

• Design principles
• Architectural decisions
• Design patterns
• Technology choices
• Trade-offs

23. docs/DEPLOYMENT.md

• Deployment process
• Environment setup
• Monitoring configuration
• Backup procedures
• Rollback strategy

24. docs/OPERATIONS.md

• Daily operations
• Monitoring tools
• Alerting configuration
• Incident response procedures
• Backup and recovery

25. docs/SECURITY.md

• Security policies
• Vulnerability reporting
• Access control
• Encryption standards
• Compliance requirements

26. docs/PERFORMANCE.md

• Performance benchmarks
• Optimization strategies
• Load testing results
• Scalability considerations

27. docs/MAINTENANCE.md

• Maintenance schedule
• Update procedures
• Dependency management
• Backward compatibility
• Deprecation policy

28. docs/COMMUNITY.md

• Community guidelines
• Communication channels
• Contribution process
• Support expectations
• Recognition policies

29. docs/FAQ.md

• Frequently asked questions
• Common troubleshooting steps
• Known issues and workarounds
• Project limitations

30. docs/ROADMAP.md

• Project vision
• Milestone planning
• Feature prioritization
• Long-term goals
• Resource allocation

31. docs/CONTRIBUTIONS.md

• How to contribute
• Code review process
• Documentation standards
• Testing requirements
• Release process

32. docs/RELEASE.md

• Release process
• Versioning strategy
• Release checklist
• Changelog generation
• Documentation updates

33. docs/REFACTORING.md

• Refactoring guidelines
• Code quality standards
• Technical debt management
• Legacy code handling
• Performance optimization

34. docs/TECHNICAL_DEBT.md

• Technical debt inventory
• Debt reduction plan
• Prioritization criteria
• Monitoring metrics
• Risk assessment

35. docs/DEPENDENCY.md

• Dependency management
• Version control policy
• Security scanning
• Vulnerability response
• Update frequency

36. docs/DOCUMENTATION.md

• Documentation structure
• Writing style guide
• Documentation tools
• Contribution process
• Review process

37. docs/TESTING.md

• Testing philosophy
• Test coverage goals
• Test types (unit, integration, e2e)
• Test environment setup
• Test reporting

38. docs/CI_CD.md

• CI/CD pipeline
• Build process
• Testing strategy
• Deployment process
• Monitoring configuration

39. docs/REFACTORING.md

• Refactoring guidelines
• Code quality standards
• Technical debt management
• Legacy code handling
• Performance optimization

40. docs/SECURITY.md

• Security policies
• Vulnerability reporting
• Access control
• Encryption standards
• Compliance requirements

41. docs/PERFORMANCE.md

• Performance benchmarks
• Optimization strategies
• Load testing results
• Scalability considerations

42. docs/OPERATIONS.md

• Daily operations
• Monitoring tools
• Alerting configuration
• Incident response procedures
• Backup and recovery

43. docs/MAINTENANCE.md

• Maintenance schedule
• Update procedures
• Dependency management
• Backward compatibility
• Deprecation policy

44. docs/COMMUNITY.md

• Community guidelines
• Communication channels
• Contribution process
• Support expectations
• Recognition policies

45. docs/FAQ.md

• Frequently asked questions
• Common troubleshooting steps
• Known issues and workarounds
• Project limitations

46. docs/ROADMAP.md

• Project vision
• Milestone planning
• Feature prioritization
• Long-term goals
• Resource allocation

47. docs/CONTRIBUTIONS.md

• How to contribute
• Code review process
• Documentation standards
• Testing requirements
• Release process

48. docs/RELEASE.md

• Release process
• Versioning strategy
• Release checklist
• Changelog generation
• Documentation updates

49. docs/REFACTORING.md

• Refactoring guidelines
• Code quality standards
• Technical debt management
• Legacy code handling
• Performance optimization

50. docs/SECURITY.md

• Security policies
• Vulnerability reporting
• Access control
• Encryption standards
• Compliance requirements

Hardware-Specific Files (if applicable)

51. hardware/

• schematics/
  • schematic.pdf (or schematic.png)
  • schematic.dxf (or schematic.kicad_sch)
• gerber/
  • board.gbr (or board.kicad_pcb)
  • board.gtl (top layer)
  • board.gbl (bottom layer)
  • board.gts (top silkscreen)
  • board.gbs (bottom silkscreen)
  • board.gto (top overlay)
  • board.gbo (bottom overlay)
  • board.gt2 (top solder mask)
  • board.gb2 (bottom solder mask)
• bom/
  • bom.csv (Bill of Materials)
  • bom.json (structured BOM)
• assembly/
  • assembly.pdf (assembly instructions)
  • assembly.dxf (assembly layout)
• components/
  • component_library.kicad_mod (component library)
  • component_library.json (component metadata)

52. hardware/README.md

• Hardware overview
• Component list
• Assembly instructions
• Safety considerations
• Testing procedures

53. hardware/CONTRIBUTING.md

• How to contribute to hardware design
• Design review process
• Testing requirements
• Documentation standards

54. hardware/SECURITY.md

• Hardware security considerations
• Tamper detection
• Physical security
• Environmental considerations

55. hardware/ROADMAP.md

• Hardware development timeline
• Prototype iterations
• Production planning
• Scaling considerations

56. hardware/MAINTENANCE.md

• Hardware maintenance schedule
• Repair procedures
• Replacement part list
• Warranty information

57. hardware/OPERATIONS.md

• Hardware deployment
• Monitoring configuration
• Incident response
• Backup procedures

58. hardware/PERFORMANCE.md

• Hardware performance benchmarks
• Power consumption
• Thermal management
• Signal integrity

59. hardware/TECHNICAL_DEBT.md

• Hardware technical debt inventory
• Debt reduction plan
• Prioritization criteria
• Risk assessment

60. hardware/DEPENDENCY.md

• Component sourcing
• Supplier information
• Alternative components
• Obsolescence management

Additional Useful Files

61. .editorconfig

• Editor configuration
• Code style standards
• Indentation settings
• Line endings

62. .prettierrc (or .eslintrc, .stylelintrc, etc.)

• Code formatting rules
• Linting configuration
• Code quality standards

63. .travis.yml (or .circleci/config.yml, .gitlab-ci.yml, etc.)

• CI/CD configuration
• Build steps
• Test execution
• Deployment process

64. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

65. .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

• Pull request template
• Checklist for contributors
• Review guidelines
• Documentation requirements

66. .github/SECURITY.md

• Security policy
• Vulnerability reporting process
• Contact information for security issues
• Response time expectations
• Disclosure guidelines

67. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

68. .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

• Pull request template
• Checklist for contributors
• Review guidelines
• Documentation requirements

69. .github/SECURITY.md

• Security policy
• Vulnerability reporting process
• Contact information for security issues
• Response time expectations
• Disclosure guidelines

70. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

71. .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

• Pull request template
• Checklist for contributors
• Review guidelines
• Documentation requirements

72. .github/SECURITY.md

• Security policy
• Vulnerability reporting process
• Contact information for security issues
• Response time expectations
• Disclosure guidelines

73. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

74. .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

• Pull request template
• Checklist for contributors
• Review guidelines
• Documentation requirements

75. .github/SECURITY.md

• Security policy
• Vulnerability reporting process
• Contact information for security issues
• Response time expectations
• Disclosure guidelines

76. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

77. .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

• Pull request template
• Checklist for contributors
• Review guidelines
• Documentation requirements

78. .github/SECURITY.md

• Security policy
• Vulnerability reporting process
• Contact information for security issues
• Response time expectations
• Disclosure guidelines

79. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

80. .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

• Pull request template
• Checklist for contributors
• Review guidelines
• Documentation requirements

81. .github/SECURITY.md

• Security policy
• Vulnerability reporting process
• Contact information for security issues
• Response time expectations
• Disclosure guidelines

82. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

83. .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

• Pull request template
• Checklist for contributors
• Review guidelines
• Documentation requirements

84. .github/SECURITY.md

• Security policy
• Vulnerability reporting process
• Contact information for security issues
• Response time expectations
• Disclosure guidelines

85. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

86. .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

• Pull request template
• Checklist for contributors
• Review guidelines
• Documentation requirements

87. .github/SECURITY.md

• Security policy
• Vulnerability reporting process
• Contact information for security issues
• Response time expectations
• Disclosure guidelines

88. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

89. .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

• Pull request template
• Checklist for contributors
• Review guidelines
• Documentation requirements

90. .github/SECURITY.md

• Security policy
• Vulnerability reporting process
• Contact information for security issues
• Response time expectations
• Disclosure guidelines

91. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

92. .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

• Pull request template
• Checklist for contributors
• Review guidelines
• Documentation requirements

93. .github/SECURITY.md

• Security policy
• Vulnerability reporting process
• Contact information for security issues
• Response time expectations
• Disclosure guidelines

94. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

95. .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

• Pull request template
• Checklist for contributors
• Review guidelines
• Documentation requirements

96. .github/SECURITY.md

• Security policy
• Vulnerability reporting process
• Contact information for security issues
• Response time expectations
• Disclosure guidelines

97. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

98. .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md

• Pull request template
• Checklist for contributors
• Review guidelines
• Documentation requirements

99. .github/SECURITY.md

• Security policy
• Vulnerability reporting process
• Contact information for security issues
• Response time expectations
• Disclosure guidelines

100. .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md

• Issue template
• Bug report format
• Feature request format
• Support request format

This comprehensive list provides a foundation for a well-organized, maintainable, and extensible GitHub repository. The structure supports both software and hardware development, with clear separation of concerns and comprehensive documentation. The files are organized to support collaboration, security, and long-term project sustainability.