Documentation

Documentation is a vital component of any project. Clear and structured documentation is crucial for straightforward project maintenance. This section outlines best practices for documentation, including conciseness, reliability, timely updates, and relevance to the end-user.

Write Documentation for Each Created Block of Functionality

It is imperative to keep documentation up to date with the progress of the project. As changes are made to the project, corresponding updates in the documentation must reflect these modifications. This practice prevents discrepancies between the system's actual functionality and the descriptions in the documentation.

Regularly revising the documentation ensures that it remains an accurate guide for developers and users alike. Consider implementing a version control system for the documentation that aligns with the versioning of the project artifacts. This way, each version of the project has matching documentation for reference.

Mention Only Key Information in the Documentation

Documentation should clearly state the context and purpose of code components such as functions, bindings, and more. It is unnecessary to provide detailed descriptions for each line of code. The goal is to convey key information such as the nature of the context, its significance, and its components.

Use a Reliable Documentation Platform

Utilizing a reliable documentation platform can greatly benefit your project. With all project documents located centrally, multiple individuals can collaborate on documentation simultaneously, allowing for efficient updates and seamless communication. Additionally, new members of the project can easily access all necessary information and begin working immediately.

Use a Template for Consistency in Formatting and Organization

To maintain consistency across the project documentation, use a standardized template. This template should outline the structure for the documentation, ensuring that all necessary sections are included and presented in a uniform manner. The template should have predefined sections for titles, headings, subheadings, and paragraphs, as well as for code snippets, tables, and figures.

By adhering to a consistent format, readers can navigate the documentation with ease, and contributors can add new information without disrupting the flow. This uniformity also enhances the professional appearance of the documentation and aids in maintaining clarity and readability.

Write Documentation for Every Context at Every Checkpoint

In projects involving multiple objects within a context, it is crucial to maintain thorough documentation throughout the development process. Delaying documentation until project completion may lead to omission of essential details. Continuous documentation also enables team members to understand and utilize existing functionalities. Follow these steps to ensure effective documentation:

  • Upon establishing a new context, initiate a documentation page using a predefined template, which should describe, at the minimum, the purpose of the context and its essential information, such as name, context path, and type

  • After finalizing a new function, be sure to provide a comprehensive description of the function's capabilities

  • In the case of developing a rule set update the documentation with new entries for each rule in the set, as well as describing each the purpose of the entire rule set

Emphasize Important Information for the End Users

When documenting a product, it is important to focus on the information that is most relevant to the end users. This typically includes descriptions of the user interface and how the product responds to user actions.

It's especially important to provide detailed information for actions that may not be immediately obvious to the user. Users will then be able to effectively navigate the product and use it value to the maximum.

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