Developer documenting done right: why, who, what, where, when & how
Blog post from Swimm
Developers often debate the necessity and approach to code documentation, considering factors such as its purpose, audience, content, maintenance, timing, and methodology. Effective documentation is portrayed as a valuable investment, enhancing developer productivity, fostering strong team cultures, and facilitating the onboarding of new developers, with research showing significant productivity gains when documentation is easily accessible. The text argues against common myths, such as the belief that good code documents itself, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining documentation alongside the code using the same version control systems. Best practices include writing documentation during or immediately after coding, involving collaborative input, and ensuring it remains up to date to prevent frustration and errors. The text suggests that quality documentation contributes to faster, more stable product releases, thus integrating it as part of the overall product, even if it is not customer-facing. Swimm is highlighted as a tool that simplifies maintaining updated documentation with features like code-coupled editing and IDE integrations.
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