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Docs-as-code: Principles and benefits

Docs-as-code is a methodology that treats documentation like any other software development project. This approach enables technical writers and software developers to collaborate more efficiently, using the same tools and best practices. Some key benefits of the docs-as-code methodology include version control, continuous integration, and improved collaboration.

Tools and best practices​

To implement docs-as-code, you need the right set of tools, including:

  • A version control system (e.g., Git)
  • A text editor or IDE (e.g., Visual Studio Code)
  • A static site generator (e.g., Jekyll or Hugo)
  • A markup language (e.g., Markdown, AsciiDoc, or reStructuredText)
  • A continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) tool (e.g., Jenkins or Travis CI)

Some best practices for docs-as-code include:

  • Using a consistent style guide
  • Structuring content with modularity
  • Writing in plain language
  • Automating testing and validation

Git and GitHub​

Git is a widely-used version control system that enables collaboration and maintains a history of changes. GitHub is a web-based platform that uses Git for version control and provides additional features for collaboration, issue tracking, and code review. To get started with Git, you need to:

  1. Install Git on your local machine
  2. Configure your name and email address
  3. Initialize a new repository or clone an existing one
  4. Add, commit, and push your changes

Example​

$ git config --global user.name "Your Name"
$ git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"
$ git init
$ git add .
$ git commit -m "Initial commit"
$ git remote add origin https://github.com/username/repository.git
$ git push -u origin master

Continuous integration and deployment​

Continuous integration (CI) is the practice of merging code changes into a central repository frequently, while continuous deployment (CD) involves automatically building, testing, and deploying the application. By using CI/CD tools, you can automate the process of generating, testing, and deploying documentation.

Leveraging static site generators​

Static site generators (SSGs) are tools that convert source files (usually written in a markup language) into static HTML files. SSGs like Jekyll, Hugo, and Sphinx are popular choices for docs-as-code projects. They enable you to create a consistent look and feel, incorporate reusable components, and implement custom features.

Markdown, AsciiDoc, or reStructuredText​

Markup languages are essential for docs-as-code projects. They enable you to write content in a human-readable format that can be converted to HTML or other formats. Markdown, AsciiDoc, and reStructuredText are popular choices for documentation projects.

Collaboration and review processes​

In docs-as-code projects, collaboration and review processes are similar to those in software development. You can use Git branches to work on new features or updates and submit pull requests to propose changes. This allows other team members to review and provide feedback before merging the changes into the main branch.

Automating documentation testing and validation​

Automating testing and validation ensures the quality and consistency of your documentation. You can use tools like Vale (a syntax-aware linter) or write custom scripts to check for broken links, incorrect formatting, or other issues. Integrating these tools with your CI/CD pipeline lets you catch errors early and maintain high-quality documentation.

Managing content reuse​

Reusing content can help you maintain consistency and reduce duplication in your documentation. In docs-as-code projects, you can leverage features like:

  • Variables or attributes: Store commonly-used values in variables and reference them throughout the documentation.
  • Snippets or includes: Create reusable content snippets and include them in multiple files.

Example​

In AsciiDoc, you can define an attribute and include a snippet like this:

:product_name: My Amazing Product

include::snippet.adoc[]

Real-world examples​

Several organizations have successfully adopted the docs-as-code methodology, demonstrating its effectiveness in improving collaboration, consistency, and maintainability of documentation. Some well-known examples include:

  • The Kubernetes project: The Kubernetes documentation is written in Markdown and uses Hugo as a static site generator. The project employs Git and GitHub for version control and collaboration, and Netlify for continuous deployment.
  • The Write the Docs community: This community of technical writers and software developers promotes the docs-as-code methodology and provides resources, guidelines, and best practices.

By examining these case studies and learning from their experiences, you can better understand how to implement docs-as-code in your projects and optimize your documentation process.

Conclusion​

The docs-as-code methodology provides a powerful and efficient approach to managing technical documentation. By leveraging tools and practices from the software development world, technical writers and developers can collaborate more effectively, improve the quality and consistency of documentation, and automate various processes. By understanding the principles, benefits, and best practices of this methodology, you can enhance your documentation process and contribute to the overall success of your projects.