Use when writing README files, API documentation, user guides, or technical documentation following industry standards from Google, Microsoft, and GitLab style guides.
Use when writing README files, API documentation, user guides, or technical documentation following industry standards from Google, Microsoft, and GitLab style guides.
user-invocable
false
Documentation Standards
Overview
Comprehensive documentation standards based on research from Google, Microsoft, GitLab,
Red Hat style guides, and 60+ additional sources. Provides templates, best practices,
and anti-pattern detection for AI agents writing documentation.
BAD (passive): The request is processed by the server.
GOOD (active): The server processes the request.
BAD (future): The program will save your file.
GOOD (present): The program saves your file.
Validation: Check for "is/are/was/were + past participle" patterns
2. Start with 5-Minute Quick Start
Why: 70% of visitors are first-time users, time-to-first-success critical
**Validation**: Can a new user succeed in under 5 minutes with zero context?
---
#### 3. Use Progressive Disclosure (Three-Tier Structure)
**Why**: Accommodates all skill levels, reduces overwhelm
**Implementation**:
---
#### 4. Use Second Person ("You")
**Why**: Increases engagement, reduces word count 15-25%
**Implementation**:
```markdown
BAD: The user should configure the settings.
GOOD: Configure the settings.
BAD: One can install the plugin by...
GOOD: Install the plugin by...
5. Keep Sentences Under 25 Words
Why: Comprehension drops 30% when sentences exceed 30 words
Implementation:
BAD (42 words): The configuration file, which should be located in the
root directory of your project and named .claude, contains all the settings
that are required for the plugin system to function correctly and load
the appropriate agents.
GOOD (18 words): Place the `.claude` configuration file in your project
root. It contains settings for the plugin system and agents.
6. Use Lists and Tables for Comparison
Why: 70% faster comprehension vs paragraphs
Implementation:
## Prerequisites
Before starting, you need:
- [ ] Node.js 18+ installed
- [ ] Git access to GitHub
- [ ] API token configured
## Tool Comparison
| Tool | Best For | Stars | Learning Curve |
|------|----------|-------|----------------|
| Docusaurus | React | 55k+ | Medium |
| VitePress | Vue | 12k+ | Low |
STRONG (67%+ Agreement)
7. Use Language-Specific Documentation Tools
Why: Deep language integration, automatic type inference
### Example: Fetching User Data**Code:**```typescript
const user = await api.getUserById('user-123');
console.log(user.name, user.email);
Expected Output:
John Doe john@example.com
Error Case:
const user = await api.getUserById('invalid-id');
// Throws: NotFoundError: User with ID 'invalid-id' not found
---
#### 10. Provide Troubleshooting Section
**Why**: 50%+ of support questions are error-related
**Template**:
```markdown
## Troubleshooting
### Issue: Command not found
**Symptom**: `/implement` returns "command not found"
**Cause**: Plugin not enabled
**Solution**:
1. Check `.claude/settings.json`
2. Run `/plugin reload`
3. Restart if needed
**Prevention**: Verify with `/plugin list`
11. Organize by Task ("How do I...")
Why: Users think in terms of goals, not architecture
Implementation:
## Guides### How-To Guides (Task-Oriented)- [How to deploy to production](deploy.md)
- [How to add authentication](auth.md)
- [How to handle file uploads](uploads.md)
12. Add Prerequisites Checklist
Why: Eliminates invisible barriers for beginners
Template:
## Prerequisites
Before starting, ensure you have:
- [] Node.js 18+ installed ([Download](https://nodejs.org))
- [ ] Basic JavaScript knowledge
- [ ] Text editor (VS Code recommended)
AI-SPECIFIC
13. Verify Examples Actually Work
Why: Prevents hallucination and outdated examples
Process:
Read function implementation
Extract actual parameters and return type
Test example code
Document actual output
14. Ground Documentation in Source Code
Why: Prevents documenting non-existent features
Process:
Read source code FIRST
Only document features that exist
Use actual type signatures
If uncertain, qualify with "typically", "generally"
15. Add Version Tracking
Why: Users need to know if docs apply to their version
Template:
---
**Version**: v2.0.0
**Last Updated**: 2026-01-09
**Compatible With**: Claude Code 1.5+, TypeScript 5.0+
---> **DEPRECATED**: This approach works but superseded by [New Approach](link)
Anti-Slop Writing Rules
These rules eliminate AI-detectable writing patterns and enforce professional technical writing standards.
dev:docs MUST apply these rules in write and fix modes, and check for violations in analyze mode.
Rule S1: Banned Words and Phrases
NEVER use these words or phrases. Each tier has escalating severity.
"As an AI", "As a language model", "I'd be happy to", "Certainly!", "Absolutely!", "Great question!", "I hope this helps", "Feel free to ask", "Let me explain", "Allow me to clarify"
"In today's [anything] world", "In an increasingly [adj]", "In the realm of", "At the heart of", "The weight of [X]"
HIGH — marketing superlatives and difficulty dismissers:
simply, easy, just, obviously, of course, clearly, trivially, straightforward, quick
MEDIUM — corporate jargon and filler:
leverage, utilize, streamline, facilitate, empower, unlock, accelerate, transform, drive (metaphorical), deliver value, synergy/synergize, actioning, comprehensive (unless you enumerate what it covers)
"it is worth noting that", "it is important to note", "please note that", "as mentioned above", "as stated earlier", "due to the fact that" (use "because"), "in the event that" (use "if"), "in order to" (use "to"), "might potentially", "could potentially", "may or may not"
STRUCTURAL OVERHEAD — throat-clearing and meta-commentary:
"In this section, we will discuss...", "This document covers...", "Now that we have...", "As you can see...", "This section explains...", "Let's explore...", "Let's take a look at...", "Let's dive into..."
Never begin a section with a sentence that describes the section. Start with the first piece of actual content.
HEDGING CASCADES — qualify-then-qualify patterns:
"It's important to note that... depending on your specific use case"
"While this may vary... it generally tends to..."
"...depending on your particular requirements/needs/situation"
Maximum 2 hedge phrases per 1000 words. Technical docs should be authoritative.
Rule S2: Sentence Length and Rhythm
Vary sentence lengths for natural rhythm. Monotonous sentence length signals AI generation.
Targets:
Average sentence length: 15-20 words
Short sentences (≤10 words) for key points and transitions
Medium sentences (11-25 words) for explanations
Long sentences (26-40 words) allowed for complex technical explanations, maximum 1 per paragraph
NEVER exceed 40 words in a single sentence
Anti-monotony rule: No more than 3 consecutive sentences within ±5 words of each other.
Transitions: Words like "however", "therefore", "for example" help readers connect ideas. Use them — but don't open more than 40% of paragraphs with an explicit transition word.
Rule S3: Structural Variety (Anti-AI-Pattern)
AI-generated text has detectable patterns. Avoid these:
Paragraph variety: Don't lock every paragraph into topic-sentence → supports → conclusion. Start some paragraphs with:
A code example that you then explain
A question that you then answer
A concrete scenario or use case
A contrast ("Unlike X, this approach...")
List variety: Don't make every list exactly 3 or 5 items. Use 2, 4, 6, or 7 items when the content calls for it. Never pad a list with filler items to reach a round number.
Section length variety: Vary section lengths. Some sections need 50 words, others need 300. Don't make every section approximately the same length.
Rule S4: Code-to-Prose Ratio
Target 40%+ code coverage (code blocks as a percentage of total content). Developer documentation should show, not tell. Every concept explanation should have an accompanying code example within 2 paragraphs.
Rule S5: Enhanced Heading Rules
Following Stripe/Twilio/Vercel patterns:
Maximum 3 heading levels per page (H1 → H2 → H3). Never use H4.
One H2 per 200-400 words of body text.
Use sentence case for headings, not Title Case.
Compress structural signals into headings, not opening sentences:
BAD: ## Prerequisites followed by "Before starting, ensure you have the following installed:"
GOOD: ## Prerequisites: Node.js 18+, plugin SDK
Rule S6: Enhanced Progressive Disclosure
Lead with essentials. Layer details in 5 tiers:
One-paragraph overview (what + why)
Quick-start example (5-minute version)
Detailed walkthrough
Reference tables
Edge cases and advanced usage
Use collapsible sections (<details>) for advanced content that most readers skip.
Escape hatches: At each tier, provide a link forward for users who already know the basics ("Already familiar? Skip to the API reference →").
Rule S7: Conciseness
Every sentence must add new information. Delete:
Introductory throat-clearing ("In this section, we will discuss...")
Repetition of the same point in different words
Filler paragraphs that summarize what's coming next
Conclusions that repeat what was already said
Rule S8: Diagram Requirements
Include at least one Mermaid diagram for architecture or flow documentation.
Diagrams must:
Use correct Mermaid syntax
Match the text they accompany
Add information that prose alone cannot convey (flow, timing, relationships)
Have descriptive labels (not "Step 1", "Step 2")
Rule S9: Enhanced Code Examples
Every code example must:
Be complete enough to copy-paste and use
Show expected output or behavior in a comment
Use realistic values (not "foo", "bar", "example")
Rule S10: Active Voice Exceptions
Target: <10% passive voice sentences. Use imperative mood for instructions.
Exception: Use passive voice when the actor is irrelevant or unknown:
OK: "The configuration file is parsed at startup" (who parses it doesn't matter)
OK: "Skills are cached after first load" (the caching mechanism is an implementation detail)
7 Ready-to-Use Templates
Template 1: README Quick Start
Purpose: Project landing page with 5-minute setup
Max Length: 80 lines
Use When: Creating project README
---
### Template 2: TSDoc Function Documentation
**Purpose**: Document TypeScript functions
**Format**: TSDoc standard
**Use When**: Documenting public APIs
```typescript
/**
* Retrieves a user by their unique identifier.
*
* @remarks
* This function includes user permissions and preferences in the response.
* Results are cached for 5 minutes to reduce database load.
*
* @param id - User unique identifier (UUID format)
* @param options - Optional fetch configuration
* @param options.includePermissions - Include user permissions (default: true)
*
* @returns Promise resolving to User object with permissions
*
* @throws {NotFoundError} If user with given ID doesn't exist
* @throws {UnauthorizedError} If caller lacks 'read:users' permission
*
* @example
* Basic usage:
* ```typescript
* const user = await getUserById('user-123');
* console.log(user.name, user.email);
* // Output: John Doe john@example.com
* ```
*
* @example
* Error handling:
* ```typescript
* try {
* const user = await getUserById('user-123');
* } catch (error) {
* if (error instanceof NotFoundError) {
* console.error('User not found');
* }
* }
* ```
*
* @see {@link createUser} for creating new users
* @since 2.0.0
* @public
*/
Template 3: Error Documentation
Purpose: Document common errors and solutions
Organization: By symptom
Use When: Creating troubleshooting guides
Prevention: Always install dependencies before importing
---
### Template 4: Tutorial Structure
**Purpose**: Teach by doing
**Length**: 15-30 minutes
**Use When**: Creating beginner tutorials
```markdown
# Tutorial: Building Your First REST API
**What you'll learn**:
- How to create a basic REST API
- How to define routes and handlers
- How to connect to a database
- How to handle errors
**Prerequisites**:
- [ ] Node.js 18+ installed ([Download](https://nodejs.org))
- [ ] Basic JavaScript knowledge
- [ ] Text editor (VS Code recommended)
**Estimated time**: 30 minutes
---
## Step 1: Set Up Project
Create a new directory and initialize npm:
```bash
mkdir my-api
cd my-api
npm init -y
What this does: Creates package.json with default settings
---
### Template 5: Changelog
**Purpose**: Track version changes
**Format**: Keep a Changelog standard
**Use When**: Every release
```markdown
# Changelog
All notable changes documented here.
Format based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/),
adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/).
## [Unreleased]
### Added
- New feature X for user authentication (#123)
### Changed
- Improved performance of database queries (#145)
---
## [2.0.0] - 2026-01-09
### Breaking Changes
#### Agent Configuration Format Changed
**Old format:**
```json
{
"agents": ["architect", "developer"]
}