Create a GitHub Profile README.md with widgets
Tags: github, webdev, programming
Published: 2021-07-16 16:38:28

Ever since GitHub released the feature that allows users to add a profile level Readme to showcase their interests, bio, contributions etc., I have been wanting to add one to my  [GitHub profile](https://github.com/kritika-pattalam) . While I did that, I thought why not document this and what better way than a blog post.  

## What am I going to do ?
1. Create a new repository using the github web interface with a readme file.
2. Add content into that readme file using markdown.
4. Add some widgets to power the github profile . Eg **GitHub stats**, **GitHub streak**,  **stackoverflow reputation** , **top languages** etc.


### Create a Readme github profile
 
**Step 1:**  Go to  [https://github.com/](Github.com)  and on the top far right corner, click the + icon and click on New Repository.

**Step 2:** Enter the repository name. It should be same as your github username. In my case , my github username is **kritika-pattalam** so I entered that.

**Step 3:**  Make sure you select the option public .(P.S Github profile will be available for others to view only if the repository is public.)

**Step 4:** Select Initialize this repository with a README.

**Step 5:** Click  Create Repository 

![Create a new Repository with username](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/nmxf3dt5m5yqkdyp16m1.jpeg)

Your github profile readme file has been created with a dummy content for you to get started.


![Dummy Markdown section after new repository creation](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/z36cxzl8it9g5cikei5y.jpeg)


### Adding Markdown to the Readme.md file

Markdown is a lightweight markup language that you can use to add formatting elements to plaintext text documents. It can be used to add anything to a readme file. 
Even though its a markup language it does not accept css classes, hence the plain old HTML attributes such as width for an image , align="center" for a paragraph tag can be used to align the layout. Read more about markdown [Markdown cheatsheet](https://www.markdownguide.org/cheat-sheet/)

### Widgets

You can add the below code to your markdown file , replacing {username} with your github profile username. There are more options such as choosing your own themes, 
whether you want to show the icons or not. To know more about the options, you can refer  [Github Widgets](https://github.com/anuraghazra/github-readme-stats#github-stats-card) 


```
#### Github Stats
<img src="https://github-readme-stats.vercel.app/api?username={username}&show_icons=true&theme=gotham" alt="github stats" width="45%" align="right"/>
``` 


``` 
### Github Streaks
<img src="https://github-readme-streak-stats.herokuapp.com/?user=kritika-pattalam&theme=dark" width="48%" >
``` 



``` 
### Top Languages
 ![Top Langs](https://github-readme-stats.vercel.app/api/top-langs/?username=kritika-pattalam&layout=compact)
``` 


### Stackoverflow reputation using Flair 
If you have a stackoverflow account, adding this to your github profile to reflect your SO reputation is straightforward.

**Step 1**: Go to your stackoverflow account, and click on edit profile and settings.
**Step 2**: Scroll down to **Flair** found under site settings.
**Step 3**: Copy paste the code snippet to your readme file


![Stackoverflow profile - on how to get the flair](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/xtzh5l3wqaufo8x0khju.jpeg)



Finally once you are done with all the changes, commit the readme.md file and you should be able to see your Readme.md github profile. You can see mine at [Kritika's Github Profile](https://github.com/kritika-pattalam) . 

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Feedback and suggestions are Welcome.!!!!



**References:**
- [Markdown cheatsheet](https://www.markdownguide.org/cheat-sheet/) 
-  [Create your badges](https://shields.io/category/size)  eg: my Techstack was created using the shields.io
- [Github Widgets](https://github.com/anuraghazra/github-readme-stats#github-stats-card) 

Lets connect on  [Twitter](https://twitter.com/KritikaPattalam)  | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kritika-p-296739155/) for more web development related chats.