No matter how well-written the code is, projects without documentation are like ships without a compass that drift in unknown waters. Clear and comprehensive documentation is the guiding light that helps both developers and clients navigate a software’s functionality, usage, and maintenance.
In this blog post, we’re talking about the critical role of documentation with Stepan Slyshov, a seasoned DevOps Engineer. He sheds some light on the challenges of documenting DevOps processes and code and the immense benefits it brings to both teams and clients and shares some practical tips for creating well-structured documentation.
What are the common formats used for documenting DevOps processes and code?
When it comes to creating documentation, there are a bunch of different formats to choose from. The key is to pick a format or platform that is accessible and understandable for everyone on the team, regardless of their background. That’s why plain text formats are often the go-to options. They are simple, easy to work with, and can be easily converted to PDFs or HTML pages if needed. Popular choices include markdown, YAML, JSON, and various Wiki pages like DokuWiki. They don’t require proprietary editors and work with all kinds of OS and software. Basically, anyone can easily contribute, which is crucial for keeping the documentation up-to-date.
What are the key benefits of having well-documented code for the team?
Having well-documented processes and code provides a ton of benefits. First of all, it really improves collaboration. When everything is well-documented, everyone can easily understand the “whats” and “whys” behind the code and processes. This ensures consistency and accuracy, which means less confusion, and fewer errors and misunderstandings.
Documentation is also a huge help when it comes to onboarding new people. New hires can quickly get acquainted with the project without having to constantly ask for help, which in general speeds up the development process.
And perhaps most importantly, if you document everything from day one, it doesn’t matter if the team changes over time. With solid documentation, new team members easily pick up where others left off because they have all the information they need. This way, the project keeps running smoothly, no matter how many times the team changes.
How does quality documentation benefit clients or end-users?
From the client’s perspective, well-written documentation offers the following advantages:
-
Simplified communication. Documentation provides clients with a basic understanding of the system or product, which saves time as they don’t need constant explanations.
-
Reduced load on customer support teams. Quality documentation can answer common questions and solve frequent issues, resulting in fewer end-users needing to reach out for help.
-
Time savings and elimination of duplicate tasks. When everything is documented, there’s no need to repeat explanations or redo work. Clients and users can refer to the documentation to find answers and understand processes, leading to a more efficient and satisfying experience overall.
What are some common challenges developers face when documenting code?
Although creating documentation may seem a simple task at first glance, there are three main challenges most teams face:
-
Identifying the audience. Are we writing for our small DevOps crew, a wider engineering team, or maybe even the whole department? The audience determines the depth of explanations and the kind of terminology that will be used.
-
Choosing the scope. Selecting what information should be covered and what to leave out can also be tricky. Is it necessary to document every single code line or can we focus only on the key functionalities? The right scope ensures that you don’t overwhelm people with too much information and at the same time don’t leave out important details.
-
Finding examples and visuals. Good documentation often includes examples and visuals, but finding them can be challenging. Ideally, you need examples from your own codebase, apps, or existing configurations, not just random ones from the Internet. But sometimes those internal examples are not the clearest or simply don’t exist yet.
Are there any specific tools or integrations you recommend for automating documentation tasks?
Today, the market offers lots of great platforms for automating documentation tasks. Here are a few tools I’d recommend:
-
Terraform Docs. It is a decent solution for automatically generating markdown docs straight from your Terraform modules, which saves you a ton of time and effort.
-
Doxygen. If you need to convert existing plain text to other formats, Doxygen is really handy. It also works perfectly for generating documentation from annotated source code.
-
Atlassian products. Paid tools like Atlassian products are also worth considering due to the wide integration support with other apps and multiple widgets. Solutions like Confluence offer great documentation features if the budget allows them.
What best practices or tips do you recommend for documenting DevOps processes and code effectively?
Here are four main tips following that can help you create well-structured and easy-to-understand documentation:
Create templates. It’s not the worst idea to create templates for the most common types of docs, like guides, flowcharts, and overviews. These skeletons will save you a lot of time, make it easier for everyone to contribute, and ensure a consistent format and style.
Use version control tools. Use a tool that lets you audit and track all the updates and changes to your documentation and revert to the previous versions easily. It keeps everything organized and allows you to see who modified what and when. And if something goes wrong, you will be able to go back to previous versions and prevent any accidental documentation disasters.
Aim for a single source of truth. Avoid situations when multiple versions related to the same topic are scattered in different places. Centralize your documentation to prevent inconsistencies and ensure that everyone has access to the most up-to-date, relevant, and accurate version of docs.
Keep it brief and well-structured. Personally, I prefer brevity. It is better to keep things concise and use clear language, extensive lists, bullet points, and step-by-step guides for better understanding and logical structure. Think of it as writing instructions for a really smart, but maybe slightly impatient, developer.
Final thoughts
Documenting processes and code might not be the most interesting part of the developer’s job, but it is undeniably crucial for the project’s success. Clear and straightforward documentation helps with onboarding new team members, reduces misunderstandings, and keeps your DevOps workflows running smoothly. So, the next time you’re tempted to skip the documentation step, remember the future you (and your teammates) will thank you for even a couple of bad random lines written today!