Developer Experience: How to Define Good Documentation?

When evaluating documentation for a new tool or project, consider the developer experience, as it can greatly impact the efficiency and effectiveness of the team. A good getting started guide should have a self-serve option available, allowing users to create an account and test themselves without needing to go through a sales process. The time it takes to follow a getting started guide from beginning to satisfactory conclusion is also a key factor. Dependencies and prerequisites should be clearly stated, and the documentation should suggest common pages or paths for further information. Code examples should be complete, well-structured, and accompanied by explanations of expected output. Reference documentation, such as API endpoint and function documentation, can fill in gaps and provide useful information to readers. Finally, good language, consistent voice, and style guides are essential, and a team's attention to detail and care for their users can be seen in the quality of their documentation.