Code As Documentation vs External Documentation
Developers should adopt Code As Documentation when working on projects where documentation often becomes outdated or when team collaboration requires immediate clarity in the codebase meets developers should learn and use external documentation to improve software usability, maintainability, and collaboration, especially in team environments or for public-facing projects. Here's our take.
Code As Documentation
Developers should adopt Code As Documentation when working on projects where documentation often becomes outdated or when team collaboration requires immediate clarity in the codebase
Code As Documentation
Nice PickDevelopers should adopt Code As Documentation when working on projects where documentation often becomes outdated or when team collaboration requires immediate clarity in the codebase
Pros
- +It is particularly useful in agile environments, open-source projects, and teams with high turnover, as it ensures that the code remains accessible and maintainable over time
- +Related to: clean-code, code-review
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
External Documentation
Developers should learn and use external documentation to improve software usability, maintainability, and collaboration, especially in team environments or for public-facing projects
Pros
- +It is essential when building APIs, libraries, or complex systems where users need clear instructions beyond code, such as in open-source contributions, enterprise software, or regulatory compliance scenarios
- +Related to: technical-writing, api-documentation
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
The Verdict
Use Code As Documentation if: You want it is particularly useful in agile environments, open-source projects, and teams with high turnover, as it ensures that the code remains accessible and maintainable over time and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.
Use External Documentation if: You prioritize it is essential when building apis, libraries, or complex systems where users need clear instructions beyond code, such as in open-source contributions, enterprise software, or regulatory compliance scenarios over what Code As Documentation offers.
Developers should adopt Code As Documentation when working on projects where documentation often becomes outdated or when team collaboration requires immediate clarity in the codebase
Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev