<convention> An introduction traditionally included in the
top-level directory of a Unix source distribution,
containing a pointer to more detailed documentation, credits,
miscellaneous revision history, notes, etc. The file may be
named README, or READ.ME, or rarely ReadMe or readme.txt or
some other variant.
In the Macintosh and IBM PC worlds, software is not
usually distributed in source form, and the README is more
likely to contain user-oriented material like last-minute
documentation changes, error workarounds, and restrictions.
The README convention probably follows the famous scene in
Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland" in which
Alice confronts magic munchies labelled "Eat Me" and "Drink
Me".
[Jargon File]
(1995-02-28)
Nearby terms:
RE « re « read-eval-print loop « README file » Read-Only Memory » read-only user » real
