Technical documentation for technical readers.
WHAT DEVELOPERS AND ADMINISTRATORS NEED
Precise specification Working examples Complete parameter and option coverage Error conditions and their meaning Constraints and limits
WHY EXAMPLES MATTER MOST TO THIS AUDIENCE
They copy and adapt them.
WHAT TO PROVIDE
Complete working examples, not fragments.
WHY COMPLETE
Fragments require the reader to infer the surrounding context.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
That examples actually work.
HOW
Test them, and test them again when the system changes.
WHY
Broken examples in documentation are common and they destroy confidence immediately.
WHAT TO DOCUMENT ABOUT INTERFACES
Every parameter: name, type, whether required, accepted values, default
What is returned, in every case Every error condition and its meaning Limits and constraints Authentication requirements
WHY ERROR CONDITIONS SPECIFICALLY
Handling failure is most of the work, and it is usually undocumented.
WHAT TO PROVIDE
What each error means and what causes it.
WHAT TO DOCUMENT ABOUT INSTALLATION
Requirements and dependencies Exact steps How to verify it worked Common failures
WHY VERIFICATION
Readers cannot tell whether an installation succeeded.
WHAT TO DOCUMENT ABOUT CONFIGURATION
Every setting, its effect, and its default Which settings interact What requires a restart
WHAT TO DOCUMENT ABOUT UPGRADES
What changes What breaks What must be done before and after How to revert
WHY REVERTING
Upgrades fail, and readers need the route back.
