In many teams, documentation is an afterthought—until problems arise. The reality is, investing time in clear documentation pays off with improved productivity, smoother onboarding, and easier code maintenance. Here’s how you can upgrade your documentation practices starting today.
Lack of proper documentation doesn’t just slow projects down—it introduces confusion, extends onboarding times, and makes code maintenance feel like working with a forgotten language.
Luckily, these problems are fixable 👇
Why: Ensures consistency and completeness across the team.
How: Before starting a new feature, set a checklist with points like API details, logic explanations, and example inputs/outputs. Use it in code reviews to confirm that documentation matches the code.
Why: Keeps documentation current and thorough.
How: Include documentation as a required part of pull request approvals. No documentation? No merge.
Why: Makes documentation more accessible to a broader range of engineers.
How: Write as if explaining to a junior engineer. Avoid jargon where simpler terms suffice. When you explain complex logic, test if a peer can follow it without asking questions.
Why: Encourages team ownership of documentation quality.
How: Assign a different team member each sprint to review and update critical documentation. This promotes shared responsibility and fresh perspectives on clarity.
Why: Helps engineers understand how code behaves in practice.
How: Include example cases that show typical use scenarios and edge cases. Real examples bridge the gap between theory and application.
Implementing these changes brings tangible improvements:
Great documentation doesn’t happen accidentally, it’s built into your processes. Start small, apply these tips, and build from there. Consistent, clear documentation transforms a team from reactive to proactive, turning potential issues into strengths.
Start now: pick one tip and put it into practice today. Whether it’s integrating documentation checks into reviews or adding example cases to your most-used documents, these actions will set your team on a path to lasting improvement.
Cheers,
Gábor
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