Documentation Updater Skill
Purpose
Systematic guidance for updating all types of project documentation when finalizing feature implementations.
When to Use
- After feature implementation and validation are complete
- Need to document implementation details
- Creating or updating user guides
- Updating API documentation
- Adding architecture diagrams
- Documenting configuration changes
Templates
All templates are located in templates/:
| Template | Location | Purpose |
| ------------------------ | ---------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| implementation-docs.md | docs/implementation/ | How the feature was implemented |
| user-guide.md | docs/guides/ | End-user documentation |
| api-docs.md | docs/api/ | REST API and Python docstrings |
| architecture-docs.md | docs/architecture/ | Design decisions and diagrams |
| configuration-docs.md | Various | Config, env vars, TECH-STACK |
Documentation Update Workflow
1. Implementation Documentation
When: Always required for every feature
Actions:
- Create doc using
templates/implementation-docs.md - Document solution approach and architecture
- Include security measures and performance optimizations
- List dependencies and configuration requirements
2. User-Facing Documentation
When: Feature changes user interaction
README Updates - Check if updates needed for:
- Installation steps
- New CLI commands
- Configuration changes
- New user-facing features
User Guides - Create for complex features using templates/user-guide.md
3. API Documentation
When: REST APIs or public Python APIs added/changed
REST APIs - Use templates/api-docs.md for:
- Endpoint documentation with examples
- Request/response formats
- Error codes and rate limiting
Python APIs - Update docstrings with:
- Args, Returns, Raises
- Examples
- See Also references
4. Architecture Documentation
When: Complex features with multiple components or significant design decisions
Use templates/architecture-docs.md for:
- System diagrams
- Component responsibilities
- Design decision records
- Data flow documentation
5. Configuration Documentation
Update these files:
.env.example- Add new environment variablesdocs/guides/configuration.md- Document config optionsTECH-STACK.md- Document new dependencies
Use templates/configuration-docs.md for formats.
Documentation Checklist
Implementation Documentation
- [ ] Implementation doc created in
docs/implementation/ - [ ] Solution approach documented
- [ ] Architecture and components described
- [ ] Security measures documented
- [ ] Testing coverage detailed
- [ ] Dependencies documented
User Documentation
- [ ] README.md updated (if applicable)
- [ ] User guide created (for complex features)
- [ ] Usage examples provided
- [ ] Troubleshooting section added
API Documentation
- [ ] API endpoints documented
- [ ] Request/response formats shown
- [ ] Error codes documented
- [ ] Python API docstrings complete
Architecture Documentation
- [ ] Architecture doc created (if complex feature)
- [ ] System diagrams included
- [ ] Design decisions documented
Configuration Documentation
- [ ] .env.example updated
- [ ] Configuration guide updated
- [ ] TECH-STACK.md updated (if dependencies added)
Quality Checks
- [ ] All links tested and working
- [ ] Code examples tested
- [ ] Markdown properly formatted
- [ ] Version numbers consistent
Best Practices
Writing Style
- Clear, concise language
- Present tense, active voice
- Define technical terms on first use
Code Examples
- Test all code examples
- Include imports and setup
- Show expected output
Organization
- Logical structure with consistent headings
- Cross-reference related docs
- Table of contents for long docs
Common Documentation Patterns
Feature Introduction
## <Feature Name>
<One-line description>
### Overview
<What it does and why>
### Quick Start
<Minimal example>
### Learn More
- [User Guide](link)
- [API Documentation](link)
Troubleshooting Pattern
### Common Issues
#### Issue: <Error message>
**Symptoms**: What the user sees
**Cause**: Why this happens
**Solution**: Steps to fix
**Prevention**: How to avoid
Integration with Deployment Flow
Input: Completed, validated feature implementation Process: Systematic documentation of all aspects Output: Comprehensive documentation across all types Next Step: Changelog generation
Version: 1.0.0