Readme First — Shane Rosenthal

Readme First

Tired of scrolling past endless file lists just to read a project's README? This extension fixes GitHub's default layout by moving the README section above the code listing, putting the most important information right where you need it.

When you visit a GitHub repository, the first thing you usually want to know is what the project does, how to install it, and how to use it. That information lives in the README. But GitHub shows you the file tree first, forcing you to scroll down—sometimes way down on larger repositories—before you can read any documentation.

Readme First automatically detects when you're viewing a GitHub repository and repositions the README content to appear at the top of the page, directly below the repository header. The file listing remains fully accessible below the README, so you still have easy access to browse the code when you need it.

Features:

• Instantly moves README above the file listing on any GitHub repository
• Works seamlessly with GitHub's client-side navigation—no page refresh needed
• Zero configuration required—install and forget
• Lightweight with no external dependencies
• Respects GitHub's existing styling and layout
• No data collection or tracking

Why use this extension?

Documentation should come first. Whether you're evaluating a new library, onboarding onto a project, or just browsing open source code, the README gives you the context you need to understand what you're looking at. This simple change to GitHub's layout saves you time and keeps documentation front and center where it belongs.

The extension works on all GitHub repository pages and automatically handles navigation between repositories without requiring a page reload. It's a small quality-of-life improvement that makes a big difference in your daily workflow.

Open source and privacy-focused—this extension runs entirely in your browser and never sends any data anywhere.