The latest articles on DEV Community by Tiffany Chen (@tiffany-mintlify). https://dev.to/tiffany-mintlify https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F2194937%2F1e453a31-609c-4157-bb3c-676f0c5ae32c.jpg https://dev.to/tiffany-mintlify en Tiffany Chen Tue, 15 Apr 2025 21:29:04 +0000 https://dev.to/tiffany-mintlify/mintlify-vs-readme-comparing-in-2025-5343 https://dev.to/tiffany-mintlify/mintlify-vs-readme-comparing-in-2025-5343 <p>If you're choosing a developer documentation tool in 2025, Readme and <a href="https://mintlify.com/home" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mintlify</a> are the two most popular options.</p> <p>While they both share the goal of making docs easier to maintain, they take different approaches when it comes to developer workflows and AI readiness.</p> <h2> Criteria for evaluating an API documentation tool </h2> <p>There are a few key factors to weigh when making your decision:</p> <p><strong>Performance and usability for end users</strong><br> Documentation is part of product. How fast it loads, how intuitive it feels, and how easy it is to search—all of these details impact the user experience and their impression of your brand.</p> <p><strong>Developer experience with docs-as-code support</strong> <br> If your developers are writing and maintaining docs, Git-based workflows need to be the default. They should not have to spend time learning a new web UI and leaving their preferred workflows.</p> <p><strong>Flexible editing for non-technical teammates</strong><br> A documentation tool should support both docs-as-code and WYSIWYG no-code editing, so that cross-functional teammates like product, marketing, or support can contribute to docs.</p> <p><strong>AI innovation</strong><br> Your tool needs to keep pace with how AI is reshaping both creation and consumption of documentation, from generating content to enabling users (and LLMs) to find answers quickly. AI-forward documentation won’t just support your product: it becomes a strategic advantage.</p> <p>With those in mind, here’s how Mintlify and Readme compare.</p> <h2> AI innovation: Mintlify wins </h2> <p>Integrating documentation and AI is quickly becoming tablestakes. For both automating workflows and feeding documentation into LLMs, Mintlify is leading the industry for innovation.</p> <p><strong>Mintlify</strong></p> <ul> <li>Automatically generates and hosts llms.txt and llms-full.txt to optimize for LLM ingestion</li> <li>Automatically generates MCP servers so LLMs can interact with your content and APIs</li> <li>Ultra fast AI chat that understands context across your entire documentation</li> <li>AI content assistance such as translations, writing updates, &amp; link checking</li> </ul> <p><strong>Readme</strong></p> <ul> <li>Offers an AI chat in beta</li> </ul> <p>If you're planning for a world where LLMs are reading your docs as often as humans, Mintlify’s AI-native infrastructure gives you a meaningful advantage.</p> <h2> Developer experience: Mintlify wins </h2> <p>Mintlify is built from the ground up with a docs-as-code workflow so developers can stay in their preferred tools, whereas Readme optimizes for non-technical teammates.</p> <p><strong>Mintlify</strong></p> <ul> <li>Bi-directional git sync to edit docs, through your local environment or a WYSIWYG web editor</li> <li>Local hosting to preview changes ahead of committing</li> <li>Preview deployments for staging changes in GitHub</li> </ul> <p><strong>Readme</strong></p> <ul> <li>Recently introduced bi-directional git sync in beta</li> </ul> <p>If your team already lives in Git, Mintlify saves developer time by making documentation maintenance feel like part of their everyday workflows.</p> <h2> Collaboration with non-developers: Readme wins </h2> <p>For teams with heavy involvement from cross-functional teammates like product, support, or marketing, Readme offers more functionality for no-code contributors.</p> <p><strong>Mintlify</strong></p> <ul> <li>Offers a WYSIWYG editor with bi-directional git sync</li> </ul> <p><strong>Readme</strong></p> <ul> <li>Robust WYSIWYG experience with control over layout, colors, and fonts without any code</li> <li>Can build simple landing pages through the UI</li> <li>Offers collaboration features like Staging Environments or Suggested Edits to leave comments directly in Readme, without going into GitHub</li> </ul> <p>If your docs are primarily edited by non-technical teammates, Readme’s visual interface and collaboration tools may be the preferred option.</p> <h2> Design and performance: Mintlify wins </h2> <p>Both platforms are capable of creating structured docs out-of-the-box. But if you care about speed, polish, and responsiveness, Mintlify pulls ahead.</p> <p><strong>Mintlify</strong></p> <ul> <li>Pages load instantly, even for large sites. Good for both user experience and SEO.</li> <li>Offers beautiful themes and interactive components out-of-the-box</li> <li>Auto-generated API playground is fast, interactive, and mirrors the design that developers expect, even with complex data structures like nested objects</li> </ul> <p><strong>Readme</strong></p> <ul> <li>Solid visual structure with support for custom branding</li> <li>Recipes allow for step-by-step code block tutorials</li> </ul> <p>If your priority is giving users a modern, interactive experience, Mintlify is often the preferred tool.</p> <h2> Which should you choose: Mintlify vs. Readme? </h2> <p>Both tools help you ship better documentation, but they cater to different types of teams.</p> <p>If your docs are mainly written and maintained by engineers, or if you care about performance and AI-readiness, Mintlify is built to support you. It fits naturally into existing developer workflows, prioritizes usability and performance, and gives you tools that help both humans and LLMs get answers faster.</p> <p>If your team is primarily non-technical and wants maximum control over layout or landing pages without touching code, Readme may be the more approachable option.</p> <p>If you want to see why customers like Anthropic, Cursor, and Zapier partnered with Mintlify, you can try it out for free today.</p> webdev developers documentation ai Tiffany Chen Mon, 07 Apr 2025 16:57:45 +0000 https://dev.to/tiffany-mintlify/mintlify-vs-gitbook-a-2025-comparison-2be7 https://dev.to/tiffany-mintlify/mintlify-vs-gitbook-a-2025-comparison-2be7 <p>If you’re evaluating tools in 2025 to power your developer documentation, whether for API references or product guides, you’ve likely noticed <a href="//mintlify.com?utm_source=devto&amp;utm_medium=referral">Mintlify</a> and Gitbook are very popular options.</p> <p>They both help you publish and maintain docs without needing to manage infrastructure or design your own site from scratch.</p> <h2> What makes a great API documentation tool? </h2> <p>Whether you're comparing Mintlify, Gitbook, or something else entirely, there are a few non-negotiables any good documentation tool should support:</p> <ol> <li>A modern, fast experience to read docs Docs are product. Everything about your docs design, from layout, search, to latency, affects your user experience.</li> <li>A docs-as-code workflow for developers to contribute If developers are writing or updating docs, the tool should integrate into their existing git-based workflows with minimal friction.</li> <li>Support for non-developer collaborators Product, support, and marketing teams often contribute to documentation, so the editing experience should also work for folks who aren’t living in VS Code.</li> <li>Automations to help maintain documentation Your tool should help you catch broken links, flag outdated content, and make routine updates easier.</li> </ol> <p>With that in mind, here’s how Mintlify and Gitbook compare.</p> <p>Design &amp; performance of docs: Mintlify wins</p> <p>Both Mintlify and Gitbook generate clean, readable documentation pages. But if you care about speed, design flexibility, and overall polish, the differences are noticeable.</p> <p><strong>Mintlify</strong></p> <ul> <li>Fast load times across all pages — noticeably quicker than most doc platforms, which matters for SEO and user experience.</li> <li>A range of design themes, all optimized for readability and visual consistency.</li> <li>Interactive API playgrounds that load quickly and feel native to the page.</li> <li>AI chat built into the docs experience with short, accurate answers and minimal lag.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Gitbook</strong></p> <ul> <li>Supports interactive components like code blocks and API explorers.</li> <li>Clean visual structure but fewer customization options.</li> <li>Load times can be slower, especially on large or complex doc sites.</li> </ul> <p>If you care deeply about the end user experience being snappy, polished, and beautiful, Mintlify is the better fit here.</p> <h2> Developer experience for editing: Mintlify wins </h2> <p>Developer experience matters not just for the people reading your docs, but for the ones maintaining them. The editing workflow is where the difference between Mintlify and Gitbook really shows.</p> <p><strong>Mintlify</strong></p> <ul> <li>Built for docs-as-code, so developers can write in markdown, get version control from bi-directional git sync, and never leave their workflow.</li> <li>Uses a simple docs.json config to define structure, styling, and integrations</li> <li>Preview deployments let you see a live version of your changes before merging</li> </ul> <p><strong>Gitbook</strong></p> <ul> <li>Editing experience is centered around the Gitbook web UI, not local files</li> <li>Better suited for teams that don’t use git as their main source of truth</li> </ul> <p>If saving engineering time is important, Mintlify fits better as it allows developers to update documentation with minimal context switching or learning new tools.</p> <h2> Collaboration with non-developers: Gitbook wins </h2> <p>You also want to consider how non-developers such as product, support, or marketing can contribute to your documentation.</p> <p><strong>Mintlify</strong></p> <ul> <li>Offers a WYSIWYG web editor for updating content</li> <li>Web editor also supports bi-directional git sync</li> </ul> <p><strong>Gitbook</strong></p> <ul> <li>Robust WYSIWYG editing experience, allowing you to tweak fonts, colors, and visual settings without code</li> <li>Allows multiple users to edit the same page at once</li> <li>Built-in commenting system for giving feedback directly within the docs</li> </ul> <p>If collaboration with non-developers is a top priority and you want a UI-based experience, Gitbook has the edge here.</p> <h2> Content automations: Mintlify wins </h2> <p>Keeping docs up to date is just as important as writing them in the first place. Both tools offer automation to help catch issues and reduce manual work, though the approach and depth vary.</p> <p><strong>Mintlify</strong></p> <ul> <li>Built-in AI assistant to generate or rewrite content</li> <li>CI checks for broken links and style guide linting using Vale</li> <li>AI-powered translations with automatic deployment of localized versions</li> </ul> <p><strong>Gitbook</strong></p> <ul> <li>Recently launched Gitbook AI to help with content generation and editing</li> </ul> <p>If you're looking for a more proactive way to maintain documentation over time, Mintlify currently offers more tooling out of the box.</p> <h2> General differences in building philosophy </h2> <p>Where these tools differ most is in what they prioritize — and the teams they’re built for.</p> <p>Mintlify is designed for developer-first teams. It assumes your docs live in version control, gives you full control over structure and styling, and optimizes for performance, both for people and for LLMs.</p> <p>Mintlify also leads the industry in AI-native capabilities. Docs are automatically hosted in plain markdown files like /llms.txt and /llms-full.txt to make them easier to ingest by language models. Mintlify also auto-generates Model Context Protocol (MCP) Servers to help AI applications interact with your APIs.</p> <p>On the other hand, Gitbook is a more robust WYSIWYG experience for non-developers. It’s built for teams that prefer a collaborative, editor-based workflow without relying on git.</p> <p>The interface is intuitive, live collaboration is smooth, and there are thoughtful features like the ability to insert ads or customize themes without code. Gitbook also maintains an open-source rendering engine for transparency and extensibility.</p> <p>Both tools are actively evolving — the right choice depends less on specific features and more on how your team prefers to work.</p> <h2> Mintlify vs. Gitbook: Which to choose? </h2> <p>If most of your documentation is maintained by non-technical contributors, Gitbook’s editor and collaboration tools will likely feel more accessible.</p> <p>If you want documentation that delivers a top developer experience for both your team and your users, Mintlify is better aligned.</p> <p>There’s no perfect provider, but take into consideration how your team and users prefer to work. If you’re interested in seeing for yourself, you can <a href="https://dashboard.mintlify.com/signup" rel="noopener noreferrer">try out Mintlify for free</a> today.</p> webdev documentation programming productivity Tiffany Chen Thu, 03 Apr 2025 01:45:03 +0000 https://dev.to/tiffany-mintlify/what-is-llmstxt-how-it-works-and-examples-p0p https://dev.to/tiffany-mintlify/what-is-llmstxt-how-it-works-and-examples-p0p <p>You might be seeing llms.txt pop up more lately. It’s a new standard that’s quickly gaining traction that makes web content easier for large language models (LLMs) to understand.</p> <p>The idea was first proposed in September 2024 by Jeremy Howard, co-founder of Answer.AI, as a way to structure content in plain text for AI tools. Adoption remained niche until November, when Mintlify rolled out support for /llms.txt across all docs sites it hosts. Practically overnight, thousands of docs sites—including Anthropic and Cursor—began supporting llms.txt.</p> <p>Now, with more LLMs reading the web and users expecting better AI-generated answers, llms.txt is becoming a simple but essential way to control how your content shows up in these AI tools.</p> <p>Let’s break down what it is, why it matters, and how to implement it.</p> <h2> What is llms.txt? </h2> <p>llms.txt is a plain Markdown file served at /llms.txt on your website. It provides a lightweight summary of your most important content, structured in a way that’s easy for LLMs to read—without the clutter of HTML, Javascript, or advertisements.</p> <p>Unlike robots.txt (which tells crawlers what to avoid) or sitemap.xml (which lists URLs without context), llms.txt is meant to expose content with structure and meaning.</p> <p>Here’s what an llms.txt file can include:</p> <ul> <li>An H1 title (this is the only required section for the file)</li> <li>A short summary of the site, usually in a blockquote</li> <li>Details about how the site is structured or how to interpret provided files</li> <li>H2 sections, each with Markdown-formatted lists of important links</li> <li>An“Optional” section to flag lower-priority resources that can be skipped if needed</li> </ul> <p>An example llms.txt file:<br> </p> <div class="highlight js-code-highlight"> <pre class="highlight plaintext"><code># Example Product Docs &gt; Learn how to get started, use the API, and explore tutorials. ## Guides - [Getting Started](&lt;https://example.com/docs/start&gt;): Intro guide - [Install](&lt;https://example.com/docs/install&gt;): Setup steps ## Reference - [API](&lt;https://example.com/docs/api&gt;): Endpoint list and usage </code></pre> </div> <p>Aside from /llms.txt serving as the outline of your site, the standard also proposes providing more web content in markdown in general.</p> <ul> <li>llms-full.txt: Compile all of your site’s text into a single markdown file, to make it easier to paste a single URL to load context into an AI tool. This file structure was developed by Mintlify in collaboration with customer Anthropic, and subsequently included as part of the official llms.txt proposal.</li> <li>.md: Provide a markdown version of a page by appending .md to the original URL.</li> </ul> <h2> Why should you incorporate llms.txt? </h2> <p>As AI-generated answers become a more common way for people to discover, evaluate, and interact with products, making your content LLM-friendly is no longer optional.</p> <p>Parsing unstructured HTML is slow and error-prone for models. If your content isn’t easy to understand, the results in tools like AI chat interfaces, coding assistants, or embedded help widgets will be lower quality.</p> <p>llms.txt helps:</p> <ul> <li>Surface key content quickly: Guides, references, tutorials—whatever matters most.</li> <li>Reduce model error: Structured links are easier to parse and reason about.</li> <li>Improve user experience: When someone asks an AI “How do I get started with X?”—you want the answer to come from you.</li> </ul> <p>LLM traffic is still early, but it’s projected to jump from 0.25% of search in 2024 to 10% by the end of 2025.</p> <p>Adding llms.txt now ensures you're in control of how your content shows up as AI continues to reshape how people explore the web.</p> <h2> llms.txt example use cases </h2> <p>Teams are already putting llms.txt into practice to make their content easier for AI tools to understand and use.</p> <p>You can browse hundreds of live examples at llmstxt.site and directory.llmstxt.cloud.</p> <p>Here are top examples for llms.txt:</p> <ul> <li>Documentation: Companies like Pinecone and Windsurf use llms.txt (via <a href="//mintlify.com">Mintlify</a>) for their developer documentation, making their API references, SDKs, and tutorials discoverable and ingestible by AI. This helps AI applications generate more accurate, contextual answers about how to use your product, grounded in your up-to-date documentation.</li> <li>Website structure: Companies like Svelte.dev or Rainbowkit use llms.txt as a file structure for important links in their site.</li> <li>Website messaging: Companies like Wordlift or Tiptap add llms.txt to their marketing site with both link structure and additional context about their messaging, to guide AI applications in how to interpret and position their product.</li> </ul> <h2> How to get started </h2> <p>If you’re using a documentation platform like <a href="//mintlify.com">Mintlify</a>, /llms.txt, /llms-full.txt, and .md versions of your docs are generated automatically.</p> <p>If you're setting it up manually:</p> <ol> <li>Create the file in Markdown</li> <li>Start with a # heading (site title)</li> <li>Add a short blockquote with a summary</li> <li>Include sections (##) for key content areas</li> <li>Under each, list important links using standard Markdown bullets and links</li> <li>Optionally include an “Optional” section for lower-priority pages</li> <li>Host it at /llms.txt</li> <li>Place it in the root directory of your site, just like robots.txt</li> <li>Or in a relevant subpath like /docs/llms.txt if needed</li> <li>Make sure the raw text is accessible at that URL</li> </ol> <p>You also don’t need to start from scratch. Tools like llmstxt.new let you generate a draft just by prepending a URL.</p> <p>For more details or to follow updates to the spec, visit llmstxt.org.</p> <h2> What’s next </h2> <p>llms.txt is part of a broader push to make web content more accessible by AI tools.</p> <p>Looking ahead, efforts like Model Context Protocol (MCP) are exploring how LLMs can move from reading content to directly interacting with products. Platforms like Mintlify now <a href="https://mintlify.com/blog/generate-mcp-servers-for-your-docs" rel="noopener noreferrer">generate both llms.txt and MCP servers automatically</a>—turning documentation into an interface layer between your product and AI tools.</p> <p>If you’re interested in learning how to make sure your documentation is prepared for tomorrow, <a href="https://mintlify.com/contact/sales" rel="noopener noreferrer">get in touch</a>.</p> ai llm documentation developers Tiffany Chen Fri, 21 Mar 2025 22:48:19 +0000 https://dev.to/tiffany-mintlify/top-7-api-documentation-tools-of-2025-402j https://dev.to/tiffany-mintlify/top-7-api-documentation-tools-of-2025-402j <p>The API documentation software landscape is evolving fast in 2025. With AI advancements and rising developer expectations, companies must elevate their developer documentation to stay competitive.</p> <h1> What is API Documentation Software? </h1> <p>API documentation software helps you create, host, and maintain technical documentation for your API. Unlike traditional user guides, API docs must be interactive, allowing developers to test API endpoints in real-time.</p> <p>Clear explanations of endpoints, authentication, request/response examples, and error codes are essential. Interactivity lets developers verify functionality and troubleshoot without leaving the documentation. These tools make it easier to meet developer expectations and keep docs up to date.</p> <p>Key features of API documentation tools include:</p> <p>Intuitive design for end users to test your APIs<br> Search that returns relevant, contextual results for users<br> Collaboration &amp; version control for developers to make updates to content<br> Analytics on doc performance and engagement<br> Automated content updates such as auto-generated APIs or CI Checks</p> <h1> 7 best API docs tools </h1> <h2> 1. Mintlify </h2> <p>Mintlify is an AI-native, cloud-based API documentation tool that helps companies create Stripe-level documentation. It’s the top choice among developers, offering the best developer experience both for maintaining docs and for end users consuming them.</p> <p>Right out-of-the-box, Mintlify provides beautiful, modern documentation that includes code samples, API playground, and changelogs. Mintlify’s best-in-class git sync also lets developers contribute without leaving their IDE, with preview deployments and CI checks built in.</p> <p>Key features include:</p> <ul> <li>Beautiful components and themes that make your docs look good out-of-the-box</li> <li>Interactive API playground with auto-generated APIs based on OpenAPI spec</li> <li>LLM-compatibility, such as auto-hosting docs at /llms.txt for easier ingestion into LLMs, or generating MCP Servers for your API docs</li> <li>AI Assistant to make content changes with just a prompt</li> <li>Git sync that makes it easy for developers to update docs without leaving their IDE, and a WYSIWYG editor for non-technical teammates</li> <li>AI Chat to give users fast, contextual answers</li> <li>Native analytics dashboard to understand engagement</li> </ul> <p>Pricing:</p> <ul> <li>Offers a generous free plan, a free trial of paid plans with advanced features, and enterprise pricing for custom needs</li> </ul> <p>Strengths:</p> <ul> <li>The most AI-native solution. Integrates AI into editing content, offers AI chat for end users, and automatically makes your documentation easier for AI tools to interact with features like /llms.txt or MCP Server generator</li> <li>Modern, sleek design. Has both out-of-the-box themes and full customizability options</li> <li>Best developer experience to contribute to documentation</li> </ul> <ol> <li>Readme</li> </ol> <p>Readme is a cloud-based documentation tool that supports both API references and guides or tutorials. The platform lets technical and non-technical team members contribute to documentation without writing code.</p> <p>Key features include:</p> <ul> <li>API reference documentation with OpenAPI integration</li> <li>WYSIWYG editor for content</li> <li>Customizable landing pages and themes for non-technical contributors</li> <li>Markdown support for easy content authoring</li> </ul> <p>Pricing:</p> <ul> <li>Offers various tiers from free to custom enterprise pricing</li> </ul> <p>Strengths:</p> <ul> <li>Easy for teams to contribute without any coding knowledge</li> </ul> <h2> 3. GitBook </h2> <p>GitBook is a documentation tool that also has a strong indie developer following. It features a familiar editing interface that both technical and non-technical users can work with.</p> <p>The platform organizes documentation in a hierarchical structure and supports branching for content updates.</p> <p>Key features include:</p> <ul> <li>Intuitive editor with both Markdown and WYSIWYG options</li> <li>Collaborative editing and reviewing capabilities</li> <li>Customizable templates and themes</li> </ul> <p>Pricing:</p> <ul> <li>Free tier for small teams and open-source projects. Paid plans are priced by users or by sites</li> </ul> <p>Strengths:</p> <ul> <li>User-friendly WYSIWYG editor for non-technical team members</li> </ul> <h2> 4. SwaggerHub </h2> <p>SwaggerHub (now API Hub) is a platform focused specifically on API documentation based on OpenAPI/Swagger definitions. It generates interactive documentation directly from API specifications.</p> <p>The platform is developed by SmartBear and provides standardized documentation formats for API endpoints, parameters, and responses.</p> <p>Key features include:</p> <ul> <li>API reference auto-generated directly from OpenAPI definitions</li> <li>In-browser testing capability for API endpoints</li> <li>Version management for API documentation</li> </ul> <p>Pricing:</p> <ul> <li>No free plan, but individual plans start at $19/month. Custom pricing for enterprise plans.</li> </ul> <p>Strengths:</p> <ul> <li>Deep integration with the OpenAPI ecosystem</li> </ul> <h2> 5. Docusaurus </h2> <p>Docusaurus is an open-source documentation framework developed by Meta. It's built on React and supports API documentation through its plugin system.</p> <p>The framework generates static HTML sites that are optimized for performance and SEO. It's completely free but requires self-hosting and technical setup.</p> <p>Key features include:</p> <ul> <li>Markdown based content authoring</li> <li>OpenAPI plugin for generating API reference documentation</li> <li>Built-in versioning for different API releases</li> </ul> <p>Pricing:</p> <ul> <li>Free and open-source (MIT License)</li> <li>Self-hosted, requiring your own infrastructure</li> </ul> <p>Strengths:</p> <ul> <li>Open-source nature makes it highly customizable</li> </ul> <h2> 6. Redocly </h2> <p>Redocly is an API documentation tool for managing OpenAPI definitions. It uses a docs-as-code approach with command-line tools rather than a traditional GUI. It offers both open-source and commercial options.</p> <p>Key features include:</p> <ul> <li>Support for code samples</li> <li>Command-line tools for managing large API definitions</li> <li>Support for OpenAPI 3.1, 3.0, and Swagger 2.0</li> </ul> <p>Pricing:</p> <ul> <li>Open-source community edition available</li> <li>Commercial and enterprise plans with advanced feature set</li> </ul> <p>Strengths:</p> <ul> <li>Flexible deployment options including self-hosting</li> </ul> <h2> 7. Document360 </h2> <p>Document360 is a knowledge management system with API documentation capabilities. It helps you create privately or publicly accessible knowledge base, for both customers or employees.</p> <p>The platform supports multiple documentation versions and various authentication methods.</p> <p>Key features include:</p> <ul> <li>Knowledge base editor with both Markdown and WYSIWYG support</li> <li>Chat widget that integrates with customer support tickets</li> <li>API reference support</li> </ul> <p>Pricing:</p> <ul> <li>Tiered subscription plans based on number of readers. No free plan.</li> </ul> <p>Strengths:</p> <ul> <li>Knowledge base management for customer support or internal usage</li> </ul> developers documentation devdocs Tiffany Chen Fri, 24 Jan 2025 19:16:27 +0000 https://dev.to/mintlify/breaking-down-common-documentation-mistakes-f87 https://dev.to/mintlify/breaking-down-common-documentation-mistakes-f87 <p>Good documentation just feels right, while bad docs leave you frustrated—but pinpointing what went wrong can be tough. </p> <p>We spoke with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brodyklapko/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brody Klapko</a>, Technical Writer at <a href="http://dev.stash.gg/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Stash</a>, to discuss some common pitfalls that distinguish great technical docs from the rest, and how to avoid them. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, Brody's background includes roles as an early technical writing hire at Uber and Stripe, and more recently at Stash.</p> <p>Here are common pitfalls that impact your docs:</p> <ol> <li>Mixing content types</li> <li>Unclear audience</li> <li>Fundamental quality issues like spelling errors</li> <li>Using docs as a band-aid for product</li> </ol> <p>Let’s dig into each one.</p> <h2> Clarify purpose with the Diataxis framework </h2> <p>Mixing content types is a hidden killer. It’s when you find a lengthy paragraph in an API reference guide, or stumble upon a complex diagram when you're just trying to set up an SDK.</p> <p>Documentation needs to be organized around the specific goal you're trying to help the user achieve. If they're looking to complete a task, long paragraphs of context just slow them down.</p> <p>To focus your content, leverage the <a href="https://diataxis.fr" rel="noopener noreferrer">Diátaxis framework</a>. </p> <h3> What is the Diataxis framework? </h3> <p>The Diátaxis framework categorizes documentation into four distinct types, helping you align content with user needs and goals. </p> <p><a href="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fzkh7i0bu4ep7tp0151eb.png" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fzkh7i0bu4ep7tp0151eb.png" alt=" " width="800" height="552"></a></p> <h3> Why and how to apply the framework </h3> <p>Defining content types helps you plan documentation with a clear purpose and makes it easier for users to find what they need. </p> <p>Start by assigning each page a specific type—tutorial, how-to guide, explanation, or reference—before writing. This clarity ensures that your content matches your audience's goals. For multi-product companies, consider organizing by product at the top level and by content type within each product. </p> <p>A key principle of the framework is learning through practice. You don’t need to fully understand it to start using it—try applying an idea that fits your current work, see how it works, and adjust as needed. </p> <h2> Always know who you’re writing for </h2> <p>Similar to defining content types, you should always know the intended audience of your documentation. Trying to write a single set of docs for multiple audiences—like technical and non-technical users—often leads to compromises that don’t fully satisfy either group.</p> <p>Identify your top-priority audience and use that to guide your writing. For example, if your primary audience is developers, you might prioritize detailed API references and code samples over step-by-step guides. Conversely, if your audience includes less technical users, you might focus on high-level overviews and visual aids to convey concepts clearly. </p> <p>Communicating these priorities internally is equally important. When everyone understands which audience is prioritized, it reduces friction in decision-making. Audiences can also shift as the product evolves, especially at startups, so it’s important to regularly revisit and align on who your primary users are.</p> <h2> Attention to quality pays off </h2> <p><strong>Spelcheck please</strong></p> <p>Grammatical and spelling errors may seem small, but they’re the biggest indicator of quality. Mistakes can undermine trust, leaving readers with doubts about both your documentation and the product. </p> <p>Also, avoid exclamation points. While not grammatically wrong, they can undermine professionalism and introduce unintended emotion.</p> <p><strong>Use screenshots sparingly</strong></p> <p>While screenshots can be helpful, use them sparingly—they quickly become outdated and erode user trust. Limit screenshots to showing users the starting point of a flow, letting your product UI guide the rest. </p> <p>In some cases, demos with tools like <a href="https://www.arcade.software/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Arcade</a> are more effective. They provide clearer guidance by showing the GUI in action and offering context that static screenshots can't. </p> <p><strong>Design really matters</strong></p> <p>While readability is key, the overall look and feel can significantly impact user experience. </p> <p>A clean sidebar, readable color schemes, and a consistent layout make a world of difference in user experience. If the design feels cluttered or hard to read, even the best content will lose its impact. </p> <p>Beautiful documentation not only improves usability but also instills confidence in your docs and brand. </p> <p><a href="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fb2blzrxnthpqm8qanq4w.gif" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fb2blzrxnthpqm8qanq4w.gif" alt=" " width="720" height="540"></a></p> <h2> Docs are an accelerant, not a crutch </h2> <p>While great docs can help users navigate complexity, they aren’t a substitute for thoughtful design. If a workflow in your GUI takes 13 steps to complete, your docs can’t reduce that to three—they can only explain the process as it exists. In fact, documentation often highlights product complexity, exposing shortcomings in a very public way.</p> <p>Over-reliance on documentation to “fix” a product can lead to frustration for both users and the teams tasked with maintaining the docs. That’s also why it’s crucial to align expectations internally with product &amp; engineering—being on the same page about what documentation can and cannot solve helps set realistic goals and ultimately provide a better customer experience. </p> <p>Treat documentation as a complement to a well-designed product, not a patch for its challenges.</p> <h2> Measure success with qualitative and quantitative feedback </h2> <p>Once you've worked to avoid common documentation mistakes, you'll want to measure your success. However, success depends on the context of your product and docs.</p> <p>People typically track metrics like support tickets, page views, or time on page, but it might not paint the full picture. More page views may indicate users are running into errors and seeking help. Similarly, longer time on page might suggest users are struggling to find answers. </p> <p>To assess your documentation's effectiveness, here are some questions to consider:</p> <ul> <li>Where are users getting stuck? Is it an issue with the docs or the product?</li> <li>How long does it take users to go from registering to making their first API call in test or prod?</li> <li>What are users searching for in your docs? Do relevant pages exist for these searches?</li> <li>What do users want more of in your docs?</li> </ul> <p>To track documentation success, balance quantitative data with qualitative feedback. Collect input from users via feedback tools or customer-facing teams to guide future improvements.</p> <h2> Never forget, docs sell your product </h2> <p>Docs play a vital role in sales, adding credibility to your product and influencing decisions. </p> <p>Even though technical docs aren’t written like sales materials, they’re often a key touchpoint for prospective users. Strong documentation builds trust and supports sales and marketing by allowing users to explore what’s possible. Go-to-market and documentation teams should collaborate and review how documentation can better support your company’s growth.</p> documentation writing devrel