Technical Writing: Documentation Best Practices

- Increased support burden
- Slower onboarding
- Knowledge silos

Good documentation:
- Self-service answers
- Faster onboarding
- Shared knowledge

# Getting Started with Our API

Learn to build your first app in 10 minutes.

## Prerequisites

- Node.js 18+
- Our API key

## Step 1: Install

## Step 2: Initialize

## Step 3: Make Your First Request

# How to Add Authentication

Learn to add user authentication to your app.

## Overview

We'll use OAuth 2.0 for secure authentication.

## Steps

1. Register your app
2. Configure redirect URLs
3. Implement auth flow

## Code Example

[Code showing auth implementation]

## Common Issues

- Invalid redirect URL
- Expired tokens

# API Reference

## `POST /users`

Create a new user.

### Request Body

### Response

### Errors

| Code | Description |
|------|-------------|
| 400 | Invalid input |
| 409 | Email already exists |

# Understanding Our Architecture

Learn how our system works under the hood.

## Overview

We use a microservices architecture with:

- API Gateway
- Auth Service
- User Service
- Data Service

## Data Flow

1. Request → API Gateway
2. Auth validation
3. Route to service
4. Response

## Design Decisions

Why microservices?
- Independent scaling
- Fault isolation
- Technology diversity

Beginners:
- Avoid jargon
- Explain everything
- Provide examples

Intermediate:
- Assume basic knowledge
- Focus on specifics
- Advanced tips

Experts:
- Get to the point
- Provide reference
- Edge cases

# Title

## Overview
Brief description of what this covers.

## Prerequisites
What readers need before starting.

## Steps/Sections
Logical grouping of information.

## Code Examples
Working, tested code.

## Common Issues
Troubleshooting section.

## Related Resources
Links to related docs.

Good:
- Clear headings
- Short paragraphs (3-4 sentences)
- Bulleted lists
- Code blocks with syntax highlighting
- Screenshots/diagrams

Bad:
- Walls of text
- Vague instructions
- Missing context
- Untested code
- No visuals

# API docs from code
npm install -D typedoc

# Generate docs
npx typedoc --out docs src

# Storybook for component docs
npx storybook init

# Docusaurus (React)
npx create-docusaurus@latest my-docs

# VitePress (Vue)
npm init vitepress

# MkDocs (Python)
pip install mkdocs

# Mermaid (markdown diagrams)

# Excalidraw (hand-drawn style)
# Draw.io (diagrams)

// ✅ Good: Complete, tested
async function createUser(name, email) {
  try {
    const response = await fetch('/api/users', {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
      body: JSON.stringify({ name, email })
    });
    return await response.json();
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Failed to create user:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

// ❌ Bad: Incomplete, no error handling
const createUser = (name, email) => {
  fetch('/api/users', {
    method: 'POST',
    body: JSON.stringify({ name, email })
  });
};

# Documentation Review Checklist

- [ ] All code examples tested
- [ ] Screenshots up-to-date
- [ ] Links work
- [ ] No outdated information
- [ ] Clear and concise
- [ ] Proper categorization

# Review Schedule
- Monthly: Check for accuracy
- Quarterly: Major updates
- Annually: Complete overhaul

# Versioned Documentation

- [v3.0 (Latest)](./v3/)
- [v2.0](./v2/)
- [v1.0](./v1/)