Ad Hoc Documentation vs Automated Documentation

Developers should use ad hoc documentation when rapid prototyping, debugging, or collaborating in agile settings where formal documentation would slow down progress meets developers should use automated documentation to maintain up-to-date and accurate documentation in fast-paced development environments, especially for large or frequently updated codebases. Here's our take.

Ad Hoc Documentation

Nice Pick

Developers should use ad hoc documentation when rapid prototyping, debugging, or collaborating in agile settings where formal documentation would slow down progress

Pros

• It is particularly useful for capturing transient knowledge, such as workarounds, experimental findings, or team discussions, to prevent information loss
• Related to: documentation-writing, agile-methodologies

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Automated Documentation

Developers should use automated documentation to maintain up-to-date and accurate documentation in fast-paced development environments, especially for large or frequently updated codebases

Pros

• It is essential for projects with public APIs, open-source libraries, or teams requiring clear internal documentation, as it saves time, reduces errors, and enhances collaboration by providing easily accessible and searchable docs
• Related to: api-documentation, code-comments

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Ad Hoc Documentation is a methodology while Automated Documentation is a tool. We picked Ad Hoc Documentation based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Ad Hoc Documentation wins

Based on overall popularity. Ad Hoc Documentation is more widely used, but Automated Documentation excels in its own space.