Wiki Based Documentation vs Documentation Platforms

Developers should use wiki based documentation when working in collaborative environments, such as agile teams or open-source projects, to centralize knowledge, reduce duplication, and streamline onboarding processes meets developers should learn and use documentation platforms to improve project transparency, reduce onboarding time for new team members, and ensure consistent communication with users or stakeholders. Here's our take.

Wiki Based Documentation

Nice Pick

Developers should use wiki based documentation when working in collaborative environments, such as agile teams or open-source projects, to centralize knowledge, reduce duplication, and streamline onboarding processes

Pros

• It is particularly valuable for documenting codebases, APIs, development processes, and troubleshooting guides, as it supports iterative improvements and fosters a culture of shared responsibility for documentation quality
• Related to: markdown, version-control

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Documentation Platforms

Developers should learn and use documentation platforms to improve project transparency, reduce onboarding time for new team members, and ensure consistent communication with users or stakeholders

Pros

• They are essential in agile development environments, open-source projects, and API-driven services where clear documentation enhances usability and adoption
• Related to: markdown, git

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

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

The Bottom Line

Wiki Based Documentation wins

Based on overall popularity. Wiki Based Documentation is more widely used, but Documentation Platforms excels in its own space.