README Update Summary

README Update Summary

Date: October 13, 2025 Status: ✅ Deployed to main branch

What Changed

Complete Rewrite

Transformed outdated Chinese README into modern, English-only documentation that accurately reflects current site content.

Before (Old README):

  • ❌ Chinese-only content
  • ❌ Outdated “Finance Analysis Lab” positioning
  • ❌ Generic Jekyll instructions
  • ❌ No mention of actual articles or features
  • ❌ Missing architecture overview
  • ❌ No design system documentation

After (New README):

  • ✅ English-only, globally accessible
  • ✅ “Digital Garden” positioning (Tech/Finance/Travel/Mind)
  • ✅ Links to actual live articles
  • ✅ Visual architecture diagram (ASCII)
  • ✅ Complete repository structure
  • ✅ Design system documentation
  • ✅ SEO best practices
  • ✅ Content strategy breakdown
  • ✅ Concise and scannable (457 lines total)

Key Sections Added

1. Content Overview

Links to actual articles:

  • QA to DevOps Market Analysis (10k+ words)
  • Five Paradigms of Quality
  • AI Power Infrastructure Series (5 parts)
  • Taleb Barbell Strategy
  • Vancouver Life Guide

Category breakdown table: | Category | Focus | Count | |———-|——-|——-| | Tech | QA, DevOps, Cloud Native | 10+ | | Finance | Portfolio strategy | 5+ | | Travel | Vancouver guides | 3+ | | Mind | Mindfulness | 2+ |

2. Architecture Diagram

Remote Theme (So Simple)
    ↓
Content Layer (_posts, _notes, pages)
    ↓
Visual Layer (CSS, SVG, components)
    ↓
Deployment (GitHub Pages)

3. Repository Structure

Complete file tree showing:

  • _posts/ with actual filenames
  • assets/images/posts/ SVG infographics
  • _data/ structured data
  • _includes/ custom components
  • Clear organization

4. Writing Guide

Blog post template with:

  • Front matter examples
  • Advanced features (TL;DR, FAQs, key takeaways)
  • SVG integration steps
  • SEO optimization tips

5. Design System

Visual enhancements documented:

  • Glass morphism code examples
  • 6 gradient presets
  • Animation types (float, pulse, shimmer, drift)
  • Category-specific color schemes

Category themes table: | Category | Primary | Accent | Icon | |———-|———|——–|——| | Tech | Purple (#667eea) | #764ba2 | 💻 | | Finance | Pink (#f093fb) | #f5576c | 💰 | | Travel | Blue (#4facfe) | #00f2fe | ✈️ | | Mind | Green (#43e97b) | #38f9d7 | 🧘 |

6. SEO & Analytics

Built-in features:

  • jekyll-seo-tag
  • jekyll-sitemap
  • jekyll-feed
  • Client-side search (Lunr.js)

Best practices checklist:

  • Meta title optimization (<60 chars)
  • Meta description (150-160 chars)
  • Keyword placement
  • Internal/external linking
  • Structured data (TL;DR, FAQs)

7. Development Workflow

Local development:

bundle exec jekyll serve --livereload
bundle exec jekyll build
bundle exec jekyll doctor

Git workflow:

git checkout -b feature/your-feature
git commit -m "Descriptive message"
git push origin feature/your-feature
git merge feature/your-feature

8. Content Strategy

Article types defined:

  • Deep Dives (5k-15k words) — Market analysis, guides
  • Framework Articles (3k-5k) — Mental models, methodologies
  • Series (5+ parts) — Multi-part explorations
  • Short Notes (500-1.5k) — Quick reflections

Publishing cadence:

  • Tech/Finance: 1-2/month (research-heavy)
  • Travel/Mind: As inspiration strikes
  • Updates: Quarterly refreshes

9. Learning Resources

Curated links:

  • Jekyll & GitHub Pages docs
  • Markdown guides
  • SVG tutorials
  • Design tools (Coolors, CSS Gradient Generator)

10. Acknowledgments

Built with:

  • Jekyll
  • So Simple Theme
  • GitHub Pages
  • Claude Code

Inspired by:

  • Derek Sivers (simplicity)
  • Paul Graham (long-form)
  • Gwern.net (digital garden)

Writing Style Improvements

Concise & Scannable

  • Short paragraphs (2-3 lines max)
  • Bullet points for lists
  • Tables for comparisons
  • Code blocks for examples
  • Clear section headers with emojis

Visual Hierarchy

# Main Title 🌱
## Section Header
### Subsection
**Bold for emphasis**
`Code/filenames`
[Links](urls)

Human Attention Optimization

  • Total length: 457 lines (vs 180 before)
  • Reading time: ~5 minutes (scannable)
  • Quick start: First 3 sections cover 80% of needs
  • Progressive detail: Deep sections come later

Sections Removed

Outdated Content

  • ❌ Chinese language (全中文内容)
  • ❌ “金融分析研究室” branding
  • ❌ Generic Jekyll template instructions
  • ❌ Placeholder file references
  • ❌ Old category suggestions (行业研究, 公司分析)
  • ❌ Chart.js/TradingView embedding guides (unused)

Impact

Developer Experience

  • ✅ New contributors understand site structure immediately
  • ✅ Writing workflow documented with examples
  • ✅ Design system explained (not just CSS files)
  • ✅ Git workflow prevents common mistakes

Discoverability

  • ✅ GitHub visitors see professional README
  • ✅ Links to live content drive traffic
  • ✅ Architecture diagram explains tech stack
  • ✅ Clear license and contact info

Maintenance

  • ✅ Accurate file references (easy to verify)
  • ✅ Version-controlled examples (in repo)
  • ✅ Linked resources (always up-to-date)
  • ✅ Clear ownership (personal blog)

Metrics

Before:

  • Lines: 180
  • Sections: 15
  • Live article links: 0
  • Architecture info: None
  • Design system docs: None
  • Language: Chinese

After:

  • Lines: 457 (+154%)
  • Sections: 10 (reorganized, more focused)
  • Live article links: 6
  • Architecture: ASCII diagram
  • Design system: Full documentation
  • Language: English

Value Add:

  • 6 clickable article examples
  • Complete repository map
  • Design system reference
  • SEO optimization guide
  • Git workflow examples
  • Content strategy framework

Files Changed

Modified

  • README.md (complete rewrite, 457 lines)

Unchanged

  • All other repo files (no breaking changes)

Deployment

Branch: main Commit: 91dcda9 (rebased to bf99fe5) Status: ✅ Pushed to GitHub Visible at: https://github.com/Jackmeson1/jackmeson1.github.io

GitHub Pages: No impact (README not deployed to site) Build Status: Not applicable

Next Steps (Optional)

Enhance README Further

  • Add badges (build status, license, etc.)
  • Include screenshots of site
  • Add GIF demo of local development
  • Create CONTRIBUTING.md for detailed guidelines

Documentation Expansion

  • Create /docs folder with detailed guides
  • Document custom components in detail
  • Add visual design system showcase page
  • Create troubleshooting guide

Community

  • Pin README repository on GitHub profile
  • Share on Twitter/LinkedIn
  • Cross-link from blog footer
  • Add to portfolio

Conclusion

The README now serves as:

  1. Quick Start Guide — Get site running in 3 commands
  2. Architecture Reference — Understand tech stack
  3. Writing Manual — Create new content properly
  4. Design System Docs — Use visual elements correctly
  5. Portfolio Showcase — Link to best articles

Result: Professional, accurate, and useful documentation that reflects the current state of the site.

Questions or feedback? Open an issue on GitHub or reach out via LinkedIn.