What Is Documentation as Code?
Documentation as Code is a modern approach to creating and managing documentation within the same systems used to manage and store source code. By treating documentation like any other code, it allows for version control, collaboration, testing, and automated deployment. This results in a more streamlined, efficient, and effective documentation process.
The idea behind Documentation as Code is simple: write documentation using the same tools and workflows that you use for writing software. This way, the process of creating, reviewing, and maintaining documentation becomes an integral part of the software development cycle, rather than a separate, often neglected, task.
Documentation as Code is not just about automated tools—it is an entire philosophy. It involves a paradigm shift from viewing documentation as an afterthought to treating it as a critical part of software development. It’s about embedding documentation within the development process, making it as dynamic, collaborative, and maintainable as the code itself.
5 Reasons Dev Teams Should Use Docs as Code
1. Improved Accuracy and Consistency
One of the primary advantages of Documentation as Code is that it helps improve the accuracy and consistency of documentation. By storing documentation in the same repository as the code, it can be updated as part of the same commit when code changes are made. This ensures that the documentation always stays up-to-date with the latest code changes.
Moreover, since Documentation as Code is typically written in a plain text format like Markdown, it allows for uniform formatting and style across all documentation. This consistency not only makes the documentation look more professional, but also makes it easier to read and understand.
2. Streamlined Review and Collaboration Process
Another significant benefit of Documentation as Code is that it facilitates a streamlined review and collaboration process. Since the documentation is stored in a version control system, multiple team members can work on it concurrently without the risk of overwriting each other’s changes.
Moreover, the use of pull requests for reviewing changes to documentation ensures that every change is reviewed and approved before being merged. This encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing, and helps maintain the quality and accuracy of the documentation.
3. Easier Tracking and Versioning
Documentation as Code also makes it easier to track changes and maintain different versions of the documentation. With traditional documentation methods, tracking changes and maintaining version history can be a tedious task. But with Documentation as Code, every change is tracked automatically by the version control system.
This means that you can easily see who made a change, when they made it, and why they made it. You can also maintain different versions of the documentation for different versions of the software, making it easier to manage and maintain your documentation over time.
4. Facilitated Automated Testing and Deployment
Documentation as Code also facilitates automated testing and deployment of documentation. Just like code, documentation can be tested for issues like broken links, spelling errors, and formatting inconsistencies. This helps catch and fix issues before the documentation is deployed.
Moreover, the use of continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for deploying documentation ensures that the latest and most accurate version of the documentation is always available to the users. This not only helps improve the quality of the documentation, but also reduces the time and effort required to deploy it.
5. Enhanced Developer Productivity
Finally, Documentation as Code can help enhance developer productivity. By integrating documentation into the software development process, it reduces the context switching that developers have to do between writing code and writing documentation.
Moreover, since developers are already familiar with the tools and workflows used for Documentation as Code, they can write and update documentation more efficiently. This can free up more time for them to focus on what they do best: writing code.
Strategies for Development Teams to Implement Documentation as Code in their Workflow [SQ]
Start with the Right Tools
The first step towards implementing Documentation as Code is to start with the right tools. This typically includes a text editor for writing documentation, a version control system for managing and storing documentation, and a static site generator for deploying documentation.
Some popular choices include Markdown for writing, Git for version control, and tools like Jekyll or Hugo for generating static websites. It’s important to choose tools that your team is comfortable with and that integrate well with your existing development workflow.
Develop a Standardized Structure
The next step is to develop a standardized structure for your documentation. This includes deciding on the layout, format, and style of the documentation. A well-structured documentation is easier to navigate, understand, and maintain.
It’s also important to establish guidelines for writing documentation. This includes things like the tone of voice to use, how to format code snippets, how to link to other parts of the documentation, and so on. Having clear and consistent guidelines can help maintain the quality and consistency of the documentation.
Encourage Collaboration
Documentation should not be the responsibility of a single person or team. Instead, it should be a collaborative effort involving everyone in the team. Encourage everyone to contribute to the documentation, whether it’s writing new sections, updating existing ones, or reviewing and providing feedback on others’ contributions.
Using a tool like Git can greatly facilitate this collaborative approach. It allows multiple people to work on the documentation at the same time, and ensures that every change is reviewed and approved before being merged.
Automate Where Possible
Automation is a key aspect of Documentation as Code. This includes automating the testing and deployment of the documentation, as well as automating the process of keeping the documentation up-to-date with code changes.
For instance, you can set up a CI/CD pipeline to automatically build and deploy your documentation every time a change is made. You can also use tools like Git hooks to automatically update the documentation when code changes are made.
Incorporate Feedback
Finally, it’s important to regularly incorporate feedback from users into your documentation. This can help you identify gaps in your documentation, clarify confusing sections, and continuously improve the quality of your documentation.
Make it easy for users to provide feedback, whether it’s through comments on the documentation, a dedicated feedback form, or direct communication with your team. Regularly review and act on this feedback to ensure that your documentation meets the needs of your users.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Documentation as Code is a powerful approach that can greatly improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of your documentation. By integrating documentation into the software development process, it becomes a collaborative, dynamic, and maintainable part of your project. The future of software development is here, and it’s time to unlock its potential with Documentation as Code.
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.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giladdavidmaayan/
