Writing Great Programming Documentation: A Teaching Guide
This post uses engaging metaphors and storytelling to illustrate the philosophy of writing high-quality technical documentation. The author argues that the core of documentation is 'teaching', not simply providing information. The post critiques the inadequacy of relying solely on source code, tests, or literate programming tools, emphasizing that documentation should be viewed as a gradual learning process, guiding users from initial contact and quick start to in-depth learning and finally to advanced reference. Each stage should be carefully designed to help users become experts. The author also shares personal teaching experiences and suggests treating documentation writing as a teaching process, focusing on user experience and the gradual acquisition of knowledge.
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