# error: Cannot find file 'README.md' referenced by long_description_content_type in setup.cfg

- **ID:** `python/setuptools-sdist-missing-readme`
- **Domain:** python
- **Category:** config_error
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 80%

## Root Cause

Metadata refers to a README or long description file that is absent or named differently (case-sensitive on Linux), so the build fails when reading it.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| 3.8 | active | — | — |
| 3.9 | active | — | — |
| 3.10 | active | — | — |
| 3.11 | active | — | — |
| 3.12 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **** (92% success)
   ```
   Ensure the referenced file exists with exact case and is included in the sdist (e.g. add `include README.md` to MANIFEST.in).
   ```
2. **** (88% success)
   ```
   Use dynamic metadata in pyproject.toml: `[project] readme = "README.md"` and verify the path relative to the project root.
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — Case changes may not match the reference and break on case-sensitive filesystems. (60% fail)
- **** — Loses PyPI description; the underlying missing-file issue remains for other references. (50% fail)