← Back to Blog Jul 01, 2026 PR #TBD

PR #TBD — v0.10.0: README Overhaul & Documentation Alignment

PR #TBD — v0.10.0: README Overhaul & Documentation Alignment

The Broader Goal at the End of the Previous PR

At the end of PR #91 (packaging), synlynk was successfully packaged to be installable via pipx, and its version tracking was single-sourced. However, the root README.md was still describing the older v0.9.4 release. With the v0.10.0 named release approaching rapidly, having outdated documentation that pointed to obsolete install methods and omitted critical commands created a major gap in public visibility and user onboarding.

Strategic Shifts in This PR

The strategic shift in this PR was to close the gap between implementation and documentation before cutting the v0.10.0 named release. Rather than leaving the documentation as an afterthought, we overhauled the README to elevate the new First-Time User Experience (FTUE) wizard, document the state.db SQLite-centralized storage architecture, and align all CLI command references with what actually shipped.

What This PR Shipped

1. Unified Badge Strip & Platform Requirements

  • Added a centered badge strip at the top of the README linking to the GitHub repository, showing:
    • Tests: 623 passing
    • Version: 0.9.8 (pre-release)
    • License: MIT
    • Python: 3.9+ (matching pyproject.toml requirements, updated from Python 3.8+).

2. Modernized Installation Flow

  • Reorganized the Install section to feature pipx as the primary, recommended global installation method:
    pipx install git+https://github.com/nikhilsoman/synlynk
  • Retained the curl | bash script fallback and direct execution option.

3. Interactive Quick Start (60-Second Flow)

  • Rewrote the Quick Start instructions as a step-by-step 60-second walkthrough highlighting the new FTUE wizard, repository scanning, and migration subcommands:
    • synlynk init --wizard: Scans agents and bootstraps project state.
    • synlynk scan: Runs codebase analysis.
    • synlynk migrate: Performs one-shot migration for older workspaces.
    • synlynk dispatch: Dispatches jobs to background agents.

4. Database-Centric "How It Works" & Layout

  • Documented the state.db architecture detailing SQLite as the permanent source of truth.
  • Explained the write-through backup mechanism to project-docs/ flat files on every database write.
  • Described how generate_context() dynamically reads from state.db (for migrated workspaces) or falls back to flat files.
  • Updated the Project Layout section to reflect the post-migrate structure under the .synlynk/ folder, adding clarifying notes about pre-migration locations.

5. Exhaustive Command Reference Table

  • Restructured the commands catalog to document all recently added and updated subcommands, including:
    • synlynk init --wizard: Runs the 8-screen TUI wizard.
    • synlynk scan: Supports --refresh, --add, --remove, and --dry-run.
    • synlynk migrate: Imports flat files to state.db with --dry-run, --recover, and --setup-dr support.
    • synlynk memory add: Writes new memory entries to state.db + write-through.
    • synlynk devlog append: Appends developer journal entries.

6. Corrected Roadmap & Spend Tracking

  • Updated the Roadmap table, marking all v0.9.x items as Shipped.
  • Updated the v0.10.0 target theme to focus on FTUE Scan + Wizard + state.db Migration + Packaging + README, marking its status as In progress (to be completed when this PR merges).
  • Removed the obsolete "Multi-Repo Workspace" roadmap entry.
  • Updated Budget Tracking details to explain that spend is recorded in the cost_entries table in state.db and written through to costs.md.

Brainstorm Visuals Used

No visual brainstorm files were created for this PR, as the changes focused on updating and aligning the project's markdown documentation.

What This Achieved on the Path to Autonomy

  1. Clear Onboarding Gateways: Outlining a 60-second wizard-driven flow makes it trivial for developers (and synthetic agents) to boot up synlynk correctly on any new codebase.
  2. Architecture Transparency: Explicitly documenting the state.db source of truth and backup boundaries ensures that both human developers and autonomous agents understand where state is stored and how context is built.

Strategic Note: The Goal at the End of This PR

With the README overhauled, all implementation features for the v0.10.0 cycle are fully aligned with the public-facing documentation.

The next strategic goalpost is to cut the v0.10.0 named release. This will involve:

  1. Creating a CHANGELOG.md entry.
  2. Bumping the VERSION number.
  3. Running gh release create to tag and publish the release.
← Back to all posts