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Documentation as Code
Documentation as code means treating docs like source code: version controlled, reviewed, tested, and deployed automatically. Good docs-as-code keeps documentation accurate and up-to-date. Poor documentation becomes stale and ignored. This guide covers implementing docs-as-code.
Docs-as-Code Benefits
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Version control | History, branches, diffs |
| Review process | PRs for quality |
| Automation | Build, test, deploy |
| Colocation | Docs near code |
Implementation
Setting Up
DOCS-AS-CODE SETUP
══════════════════
REPOSITORY STRUCTURE:
─────────────────────────────────────
project/
├── src/
│ └── (code)
├── docs/
│ ├── getting-started.md
│ ├── api/
│ │ ├── endpoints.md
│ │ └── authentication.md
│ ├── guides/
│ │ ├── setup.md
│ │ └── deployment.md
│ └── reference/
│ └── configuration.md
├── README.md
└── CONTRIBUTING.md
TOOLING:
─────────────────────────────────────
Writing:
├── Markdown (most common)
├── AsciiDoc (more features)
├── reStructuredText
└── Plain text format
Building:
├── MkDocs (Python)
├── Docusaurus (React)
├── Hugo (Go)
├── Astro (modern)
├── VuePress
└── Static site generator
CI/CD:
├── Build on PR
├── Preview deployments
├── Deploy on merge
├── Automated pipeline
└── Same as code
Workflow
Documentation Process
DOCS-AS-CODE WORKFLOW
═════════════════════
WRITING:
─────────────────────────────────────
1. Create branch
git checkout -b docs/add-api-guide
2. Write docs
Edit docs/api/new-feature.md
3. Local preview
mkdocs serve
4. Commit
git add docs/
git commit -m "docs: add API guide"
5. Push and PR
git push origin docs/add-api-guide
REVIEW:
─────────────────────────────────────
PR includes:
├── Content accuracy check
├── Technical review
├── Link validation
├── Style consistency
├── Preview deployment
└── Same as code review
DEPLOY:
─────────────────────────────────────
On merge:
├── CI builds docs
├── Static site generated
├── Deployed to hosting
├── Live in minutes
├── Automated
└── No manual steps
Keeping Docs Current
Documentation Maintenance
KEEPING DOCS CURRENT
════════════════════
DOCS IN SAME PR:
─────────────────────────────────────
When changing code:
├── Update relevant docs
├── Same PR, same review
├── Can't forget
├── Atomic change
└── Best practice
DEFINITION OF DONE:
─────────────────────────────────────
DoD includes:
├── ☐ Code complete
├── ☐ Tests pass
├── ☐ Docs updated ← Required
├── ☐ Reviewed
└── Docs not optional
AUTOMATED CHECKS:
─────────────────────────────────────
CI checks:
├── Broken link detection
├── Markdown linting
├── Spell checking
├── Build success
├── Fail if docs broken
└── Quality gates
OWNERSHIP:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Each doc has owner
├── Regular review cycle
├── Stale docs flagged
├── Responsibility clear
└── Maintained docs
REVIEW CYCLE:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Monthly: Quick scan
├── Quarterly: Deep review
├── Remove outdated content
├── Update screenshots
├── Refresh examples
└── Regular maintenance
Documentation Types
What to Document
DOCUMENTATION TYPES
═══════════════════
README:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Project overview
├── Quick start
├── Installation
├── Basic usage
├── Links to more docs
└── First impression
API REFERENCE:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Endpoint documentation
├── Parameters
├── Request/response examples
├── Error codes
├── Generated from code when possible
└── Technical accuracy
GUIDES/TUTORIALS:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Step-by-step instructions
├── Common use cases
├── Getting started
├── How to achieve goal
└── Task-oriented
ARCHITECTURE:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── System overview
├── Component diagrams
├── Design decisions (ADRs)
├── High-level structure
└── Understanding system
RUNBOOKS:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Operational procedures
├── Incident response
├── Deployment steps
├── Troubleshooting
└── Operations docs
GitScrum Integration
Docs in GitScrum
GITSCRUM FOR DOCUMENTATION
══════════════════════════
DOC TASKS:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Create tasks for doc work
├── Label: documentation
├── Include in sprints
├── Track like other work
└── First-class work
NOTEVAULT:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Internal team docs
├── Decision records
├── Meeting notes
├── Project context
└── Team knowledge
DEFINITION OF DONE:
─────────────────────────────────────
Template includes:
├── ☐ Docs updated
├── ☐ README current
├── ☐ API docs if applicable
└── Built-in requirement
REVIEW TASKS:
─────────────────────────────────────
├── Quarterly doc review tasks
├── Assign to team members
├── Rotate responsibility
├── Track completion
└── Regular maintenance
Best Practices
For Docs-as-Code
- Same repo — Docs live with code
- Same workflow — PRs for docs too
- Automated build — CI/CD for docs
- Update together — Code + docs = one PR
- Review regularly — Prevent staleness
Anti-Patterns
DOCUMENTATION MISTAKES:
✗ Docs in separate system
✗ No version control
✗ Manual deployment
✗ No review process
✗ Update docs later (never)
✗ No ownership
✗ Stale documentation
✗ Wiki nobody maintains