A README file is usually comprised of text.
Other than that - usually if it has a webpage, it has some screenshots.
this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2023
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README markdown files allow for inline image links to be "expanded"
I prefer install instructions. Not everything is in AUR.
Dear open source app user: feel free to improve the README file of the projects you come across by adding a few screenshots you believe are relevant.
Although I understand the OP's perspective open-source is a community effort and people should have a more proactive attitude and contribute when they feel things aren't okay. Most open-source developers aren't focused / don't have time for how things look (or at least not on the beginning). If you're a regular user and you can spend an hour taking a bunch of screenshots and improving a readme you'll be making more for the future the project that you might think.
When the last big Twitter migration to Mastodon occurred there were a lot new users complaining about things like documentation, bugs, etc. Old users and FLOSS supporters kept pushing the "its open source, write a doc or fill out a bug ticket" and evem included documentation on how to do those tasks.
Most people just continued to complain. /facepalm
We just don't live in a world where making the changes you want are encouraged. We have been thought to just accept whatever changes happen or at most file a suggestion that almost noone will listen to. Obviously open source is different but it's still such a tiny minority compared to how the rest of the world functions
Where should I store the screenshots? In a screenshots folder in the repo? Should I update them at some time? Should I screenshot both light and dark theme?
That’s one option, or use imgur.
Update them if your UI has significantly changed or does not adequately represent the final product.
If having a light/dark theme is an important feature or highly requested feature for your project, it would be nice to show it off.
Screenshots can, most of the time, get away with showing just the default configuration. Share what a user would see when opening your project for the first time, and assume they used the default configuration. Optionally, if you offer a lot of customization, show what it could look like if someone spent a good amount of time personalizing things!
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Anyone know of good Gitlab CI or GitHub actions for auto generating GUI screenshots and links them in the README? I only barely know testing tool and frameworks like OpenQA and Robot for GUI. Even better if we can get AVIF/GIF linked in there to see an app in motion.
Honestly though, documenting is a pain enough, I really don't want to be doing screenshot walk throughs on anything I'm not paid to do.
I totally agree that screenshots and a proper description of the app in the README are a must-have for all foss apps, but as a developer I know that most of the times you prefer use your time to add new features to your app rather then documenting existing ones...
Personally I'll try to add them to all my future projects but what I would suggest to everyone who use and love a foss app is to check out its README and, if needed, submit a pull request with an updated version of it with screenshot etc (You don't need to be a developer to do that and it can be really appreciated)
Hey, all you folks ought to get together and publish a guide to writing good FOSS documentation,
No. ReadMe files should be concise, explicit, and text only. UI/UX screenshots can be part of the repo, wiki, or associated website but they shouldn't be in the ReadMe.
If you don't understand the software you're installing from some rando stranger's git repo then you shouldn't install it. Period. Take the opportunity to learn more or use another tool.
Git repos are not app stores. The devs don't owe you anything.
The vast majority of software in publicly accessible git repos are personal projects, hobbies, and one-off experiments.
Your relationship with the software and the devs that create and maintain it is your responsibility. Try talking to the devs, ask them questions, attempt to understand why they constructed their project in whatever specific way they have. You might make some new friends, or learn something really interesting. And if you encounter rudeness, hostility, or incompetence you're free to move on, such is the nature of our ever-evolving open-source community.
We bring a lot of preconceived notions into the open-source / foss / software development space as we embark on our own journey of personal development. I try to always remember it's the journey of discovery and the relationships we curate along the way that is the real prize.
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Dear Open source devs: Do something I'm too lazy to contribute.
I mean, it's just a suggestion. The utility depends on the goal of the project. Am I being lazy? Don't care. Do I want maximum user engagement/feedback; well, the suggestion is sound.
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