Design Documents
Design documents are structured written artifacts that outline the architecture, components, and implementation details of a software system before development begins. They serve as a blueprint for engineers, stakeholders, and future maintainers, ensuring clarity, alignment, and efficient collaboration. Common types include technical specifications, system design docs, and API design documents.
Developers should create design documents for complex features, new systems, or major refactors to reduce ambiguity, catch design flaws early, and facilitate team reviews. They are essential in distributed teams, large-scale projects, or when onboarding new members, as they document decisions and provide a reference for implementation and maintenance.