Documentation as Code is a modern approach to creating, managing, and maintaining documentation. It involves writing documentation in plain text format, storing it in a version control system, and then processing it into a final format for consumption. This method allows for seamless integration with the software development lifecycle, ensuring that the documentation is always in sync and up-to-date.
The process of documentation – artistic impression.
The concept of Documentation as Code is not entirely new, but it has gained significant traction in recent years. The traditional approach to documentation often involves technical writers working in isolation, using proprietary tools to produce static documents that are published and updated independently of the software they describe. This approach has several drawbacks, including the potential for outdated or inaccurate information, inconsistencies across different documents, and a lack of collaboration between the writers and the development team.
Documentation as Code seeks to address these issues by integrating the documentation process into the software development workflow. The documentation is written in the same environment as the code, using the same tools and processes. This allows for a more collaborative approach, where developers and technical writers can work together to produce accurate, consistent, and up-to-date documentation.
Evolution of Documentation Practices
Over the years, the practice of documentation has undergone several changes, each aimed at improving the quality, accuracy, and usability of the information being documented. In the early days of software development, documentation mainly involved writing lengthy, detailed manuals that explained every aspect of the software. These documents were often written in proprietary formats and updated infrequently, making them difficult to maintain and keep up-to-date.
The next evolution in documentation practices came with the advent of online documentation. This allowed for more frequent updates, easier access to information, and the ability to incorporate multimedia elements such as videos and interactive diagrams. However, the process of creating and updating these documents was still largely separate from the software development process, leading to potential inconsistencies and inaccuracies.
The latest evolution in documentation practices is the concept of Documentation as Code. This approach integrates the documentation process into the software development workflow, leveraging the same tools and techniques used for code development. This ensures that the documentation is always in sync with the software, is consistent in style and format, and can be updated quickly and easily as the software evolves.
Why Is Documentation as Code the Future of Documentation?
1. Alignment with Modern Development Practices
As software development methodologies have evolved, there has been a growing emphasis on collaboration, agility, and continuous delivery. Documentation as Code fits into this new paradigm, allowing for collaborative creation and maintenance of documentation, quick updates in response to changes in the software, and continuous delivery of accurate, up-to-date information.
2. Improved Collaboration and Consistency
Another key benefit of Documentation as Code is the improved collaboration it fosters between developers and technical writers. By using the same environment, tools, and processes for both code and documentation, everyone involved in the software development process can contribute to the documentation. This not only improves the accuracy and completeness of the documentation, but it also ensures consistency across different documents and sections.
3. Automated Testing and Validation
Just like code, documentation can also be subjected to automated testing and validation. This can help identify errors or inconsistencies in the documentation, ensuring that the information presented is accurate and reliable. Automated testing can also help keep the documentation up-to-date, by flagging sections that need to be updated whenever changes are made to the software. By integrating code generation tools with CI systems, it is also possible automatically update certain types of documentation, such as API documentation.
4. Faster Updates and Iterations
With Documentation as Code, updates and iterations to the documentation can be made as quickly and easily as changes to the code. This ensures that the documentation is always in sync with the latest version of the software, providing users with the most accurate and up-to-date information. It also allows for quick corrections or additions to the documentation, ensuring that any issues are addressed promptly.
5. Democratization of Knowledge
Finally, Documentation as Code promotes the democratization of knowledge. By making the documentation accessible and editable by all members of the team, it ensures that the knowledge is not confined to a select few. This not only improves the quality of the documentation, but it also fosters a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration within the team.
Best Practices for Implementing Documentation as Code
Adopting a Structure Appropriate for Documentation as Code
To effectively implement Documentation as Code, it’s crucial to adopt a structure that complements the nature of the software being documented. This involves choosing a format that is both human-readable and machine-processable. Markdown, reStructuredText, and AsciiDoc are popular choices, as they are text-based and can be easily managed within version control systems like Git.
The structure of the documentation should mirror the architecture of the software. For instance, if the software is modular, the documentation should be similarly divided into smaller, interlinked sections. This modular approach allows for easier updates and maintenance. Additionally, using a consistent style guide and template across all documentation ensures uniformity and improves readability. This might include predefined headers, code block styles, and document metadata.
By structurally aligning the documentation with the software’s architecture and maintaining a consistent style, teams can more efficiently update and manage documentation, ensuring it remains clear, concise, and relevant to the software’s evolving features and functions.
Embedding Documentation into the Software Development Process
Embedding documentation into the software development lifecycle means treating documentation as an integral part of the development process, rather than something that is tacked on at the end.
One way to do this is to include documentation tasks in your development sprints. This means assigning documentation tasks to developers and treating these tasks with the same level of importance as coding tasks. This ensures that documentation gets the attention it deserves and is always up to date.
Another way to embed documentation into the development process is to use version control systems like Git. By storing your documentation in the same repository as your code, you can ensure that changes to the code and documentation are synchronized. This makes it easier to keep your documentation up to date and accurate.
Automating the Building, Testing, and Deployment of Documentation
Finally, automating the building, testing, and deployment of your documentation can greatly enhance its quality and usability. By treating your documentation like code, you can apply the same principles of continuous integration and continuous deployment to your documentation.
Automating the building of your documentation means using tools like Jekyll, Sphinx, or AsciiDoc to automatically generate your documentation from source files. This means you can write your documentation in a simple, easy-to-use markup language and then generate a fully-formatted, professional-looking document at the click of a button.
Automating the testing of your documentation means using tools like Vale or TextLint to automatically check your documentation for spelling errors, grammatical errors, and style inconsistencies. This means you can catch and fix errors before they make it into the final document.
Automating the deployment of your documentation means using tools like Jenkins, Travis CI, or GitHub Pages to automatically publish your documentation whenever changes are made. This means your users always have access to the latest and greatest version of your documentation.
In conclusion, adopting the practice of Documentation as Code can greatly enhance the quality and usability of your documentation. By structuring your documentation effectively, adopting a clear, concise, and consistent tone, embedding documentation into the software development process, and automating the building, testing, and deployment of your documentation, you can ensure that your documentation is always up to date, accurate, and useful
Author Bio: Gilad David Maayan
Gilad David Maayan is a technology writer who has worked with over 150 technology companies including SAP, Imperva, Samsung NEXT, NetApp and Check Point, producing technical and thought leadership content that elucidates technical solutions for developers and IT leadership. Today he heads Agile SEO, the leading marketing agency in the technology industry.