feature-documentation

Structure and Hierarchy

• Purpose-First Organization: Start with what the feature does and why it matters
• Progressive Disclosure: Layer information from overview to implementation details
• Multiple Entry Points: Support different user types (end-users, developers, stakeholders)
• Cross-Reference Integration: Link related features, dependencies, and prerequisites

Content Framework

```markdown

# Feature Name

• Purpose: What problem does this solve?
• Target Users: Who benefits from this feature?
• Key Benefits: Primary value propositions

• Core Functionality: Technical behavior description
• User Flow: Step-by-step interaction patterns
• System Integration: How it connects with existing features

• Technical Requirements: Dependencies, versions, constraints
• Configuration: Setup and customization options
• Code Examples: Practical usage demonstrations

• Parameters: Complete specification details
• Error Handling: Common issues and solutions
• Performance: Limitations, optimization tips

```

Scenario-Based Examples

```markdown

Scenario 1: E-commerce Product Search

Context: Customer searching for specific product attributes

Steps:

1. User enters search query
2. Feature parses attributes
3. Returns filtered results with relevance scoring

Expected Outcome: Highly relevant products displayed

```

Task-Oriented Structure

• Quick Start: Get users to first success in under 5 minutes
• Common Tasks: Address 80% of typical use cases
• Advanced Usage: Power user scenarios and customization
• Troubleshooting: Anticipated problems with specific solutions

API Documentation Standards

```yaml

paths:

/api/v1/search:

post:

summary: Advanced product search with filtering

description: |

Performs intelligent search across product catalog

Rate Limits: 100 requests/minute per API key

Response Time: Typically < 200ms

```

Stakeholder Summary Template

```markdown

Business Impact: Key metrics improvements

Development Effort: Timeline estimate

Dependencies: Required resources

Success Metrics: How we measure success

Risks & Mitigations: Potential issues and solutions

```

Release Notes Format

```markdown

What's New: List of new capabilities

For Developers: Code examples

Breaking Changes: Migration requirements

```

Documentation Review Checklist

• [ ] All code examples tested and functional
• [ ] Covers happy path, edge cases, and error scenarios
• [ ] Technical and non-technical users can understand
• [ ] Version-specific information clearly marked
• [ ] Proper heading structure, alt text for images