| name | gen-godocs |
| description | Generate missing idiomatic Go doc comments (godoc) for packages, types, funcs, methods, vars/consts, and struct fields, and output a unified diff patch. Use when improving Go documentation coverage. |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| compatibility | Requires Go toolchain (go) and git. |
| metadata | {"source":".prompts/gen-godocs.md","version":"1.0"} |
Prompt: Generate Godoc Comments
Goal
Review existing Go documentation and generate missing godoc comments so every package, type, field, function, and method is documented in an idiomatic, stdlib-style way.
- Top-level package docs must use block comments
/* ... */ in a dedicated doc.go.
- All other docs must use line comments
// ... immediately preceding the declaration.
- Document everything (exported and unexported) — types, interfaces, funcs, methods, consts, vars, and every struct field.
- Exception: embedded struct fields may omit comments if they’re purely structural.
- Follow Effective Go and Go Code Review Comments conventions.
Note: Tests are out of scope — see "Scope & Exclusions" below.
Tasks
- Create or update
doc.go with a proper package comment (block style).
- Add or fix
// doc comments for all missing/incorrect declarations.
- Generate a unified diff (patch) that applies cleanly with
git apply.
Scope & Exclusions
- Exclude test files: do not add or modify comments in any file matching
*_test.go.
- Exclude test-only symbols: do not generate comments for
Test*, Benchmark*, or Fuzz* functions, even if they appear in non-test files.
- Build tags: if a file is guarded by a test-only build tag (e.g.,
//go:build test), treat it as excluded.
- You may read tests to infer behavior for public APIs, but do not document test code itself.
Tooling (you may run)
go list ./...
go list -json ./...
go doc -all <pkg>
git status
git diff
Style Rules (stdlib-like)
-
First sentence: one-line summary, ends with a period, present tense, starts with the identifier’s name for exported symbols (preferably for unexported, too).
// Reader reads bytes from an underlying buffer.
-
Package comment (in doc.go):
-
Types & Interfaces:
- Explain what it represents and any invariants / zero-value behavior.
-
Struct fields:
- Precede each field with a one-line
// comment.
- Clarify units, accepted ranges, zero-value meaning, and concurrency expectations.
-
Functions & Methods:
- Describe behavior, notable side effects, error semantics, and constraints.
- Note thread-safety and performance considerations where relevant.
-
Constants & Vars:
- Grouped blocks can share a short lead-in, but exported names should still be clear in context.
-
Tags & Special Conventions:
- Use
Deprecated: prefix when applicable.
- Avoid Markdown-heavy formatting; inline code with backticks is OK.
- Keep it concise; prefer short paragraphs and bullets.
What to Extract While Learning
- Purpose of each package (what it does; who uses it).
- Zero values and invariants of primary types.
- Error model (sentinel errors, wrapping, context).
- Concurrency (goroutine safety, locking, channels).
- Performance and critical-path notes if visible from code/tests.
- Configuration and environment interactions.
Output: Patch (for "generate godocs")
Comment Templates (fill then refine)
Package (doc.go)
package <pkg>
Type
type <TypeName> struct {
<FieldName> <Type>
<EmbeddedType>
}
Interface
type <InterfaceName> interface {
<MethodName>(...) (..)
}
Func / Method
func <FuncName>(...) (..) { ... }
Const / Var Block
const (
<Name> = <value>
)
Minimal Algorithm
-
Enumerate packages with go list ./....
-
For each package:
- Ensure
doc.go exists with a block comment; if missing, create it.
- Parse files and locate all declarations (types, interfaces, funcs/methods, consts, vars).
- For structs, ensure each field has a
// comment (skip pure embedded fields if intentional).
- Add or fix comments to meet the Style Rules.
-
Generate a patch (git diff) and a coverage report.
-
If running in review mode, output the report + suggested fixes only.
-
If running in generate mode, output the patch (unified diff).
Quality Gates
- 100% documentation coverage for packages and top-level exported API.
- Unexported declarations should also be documented where it adds clarity, especially for complex logic or non-obvious behavior.
- First sentence present tense, ends with a period.
- No trailing whitespace;
gofmt clean.