The hottest Documentation Substack posts right now

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Получение гражданства Чехии: церемония вручения, чешские документы, смена имени

First principles trivia • 98 implied HN points • 28 Mar 22
🏝 Travel Documentation
  1. The process of obtaining Czech citizenship involves waiting for document review, submitting additional documents if requested, and attending a citizenship ceremony.
  2. After approval, individuals can attend a citizenship ceremony where they take an oath and receive confirmation of Czech citizenship. Name changes can be made by following specific procedures.
  3. Upon obtaining Czech citizenship, individuals need to update various documents, such as residency cards, health insurance cards, and driver's licenses. They can also apply for a Czech passport for international travel.

How to Create Good Documentation in Software Engineering and Tech[Technique Tuesdays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 19 Oct 22
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Good documentation in software engineering is crucial as it provides clarity to the team about goals and work done, enhancing productivity.
  2. Key pillars of good documentation include having a vision for the company and products, outlining resource/situational constraints, detailing data sources and processing, tracking projects in progress, sharing actual code, and establishing ownership.
  3. Benefits of good documentation in tech include aligning teams, clarifying vision and plans, reducing onboarding time, and promoting asynchronicity in an increasingly remote working environment.

What guarantees are you making?

Sunday Letters • 79 implied HN points • 11 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Always clarify what guarantees you are making in your work or software. This helps everyone understand what to expect.
  2. Dependencies can be tricky, so be careful of relying on assumptions that might change. What works now could break later.
  3. Document processes and rotate responsibilities to avoid putting too much reliance on one person. This keeps the team healthy and resilient.
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The making of Ruby Changes: A boring advent

zverok on lucid code • 86 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. The author has been writing in Ruby for almost 20 years and started the Ruby Changes project to understand language evolution.
  2. The author experimented with an 'advent-style' approach to working on the changelog for Ruby 3.3, documenting the process daily.
  3. The diary of working on the Ruby changelog involved tasks like writing the changelog, addressing bugs, improving documentation, and reflecting on the language changes.

The short outburst of activity during Ruby Changelog preparation—2025 edition

zverok on lucid code • 28 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Ruby releases a new version every year on December 25th. This has been consistent since 2013, which makes it easier for developers to plan their updates.
  2. A changelog is created that details all the noteworthy changes in the Ruby language. This includes explanations and examples to help developers understand the updates better.
  3. The changelog process helps improve Ruby's documentation and sometimes identifies issues that need to be fixed before the new version is released.

Advent of Ruby Changelog: Week 1

zverok on lucid code • 86 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Preparing Ruby 3.3's annotated changelog involves detailed explanations of features, testing on new versions, and fixing documentation.
  2. Efficiently tracking new features and discussions for Ruby updates is crucial for the changelog process.
  3. A day-by-day diary format for working on the changelog helps in organizing thoughts and content for weekly round-up posts.

8 Brilliant Debugging Ways to Quickly Identify the Problem

Weekend Developer • 19 implied HN points • 26 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Reproduce the issue: To effectively debug, you must replicate the problem on your own laptop to utilize your IDE for quick debugging.
  2. Isolate the problem: It's crucial to narrow down the issue's location by understanding when the code stops working correctly.
  3. Use breakpoints: Employ breakpoints to stop code execution at specific points, making debugging more efficient.

Premium JC update

The Jolly Contrarian • 19 implied HN points • 14 Aug 23
🚌 Education Documentation
  1. Premium JC update includes progress on premiumizing ISDA and Equity Derivatives Definitions
  2. Consolidated anatomy of emissions trading documentation is in the works under ISDA, EFET, and IETA
  3. JC Essays explore themes like form versus substance, system redundancy, and pace layering

GM Shaders Guest: Bart

GM Shaders Mini Tuts • 19 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Using 'shader_enable_corner_id()' in vertex shaders for 3D particles allows identification and manipulation of vertices in GameMaker.
  2. Understanding vertex buffers and formats in GameMaker is essential for drawing and manipulating shapes.
  3. By manipulating corner IDs in shaders, it is possible to transform particles and sprites in GameMaker into 3D billboards.

Radiation Release Package, 2nd Try

Gordian Knot News • 65 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🔬 Science Documentation
  1. Radiation release package documentation has been revised into two pamphlets: instructions for release and radiation damage explanation.
  2. The revised package now includes a cover letter and no longer includes potassium-iodide pills.
  3. Focus is shifting towards creating an installation manual for underwriter certification.

Defining Mock Data Using OpenAPI Overlays

The API Changelog • 6 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Mock data is important for making good API documentation and for testing. You can use random data or tools like Faker to make it look realistic.
  2. Adding too much mock data can make your API documents very large. Using overlays lets you keep the original API document clean while still providing examples.
  3. Overlays can add, change, or remove information in your API definition without affecting the main document. This way, you can customize it for different needs without causing issues for users.

Five ways to improve developer experience in web3

web3 devx • 2 HN points • 05 May 24
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Developer Experience (DevX) is crucial in web3 as it drives transaction volume, TVL, and revenue.
  2. Great DevX involves creating a North Star Metric, focusing on Developer Moments of Truth (DMOT), and structuring documentation around key use cases.
  3. To improve DevX, companies should over-engineer solutions for the unhappy path, leverage the community through grants, airdrops, and bug bounty programs.

💎Crystal the language for humans💎

Deus In Machina • 36 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Crystal programming language aims to be a 'batteries included language' with a rich standard library that mimics Ruby behavior.
  2. Crystal has good cross-platform support, with macOS and Linux well-supported and Windows improving.
  3. Crystal makes documentation and testing easy, using markdown for comments and providing a built-in testing framework.

6 Dynamic Ways ChatGPT Revolutionizes Product Management 🚀 and 50+ Product management prompts

The Product Channel By Sid Saladi • 37 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. ChatGPT helps product managers streamline tasks, focus on strategy, and deliver innovative solutions.
  2. ChatGPT provides product managers with AI-generated insights to enhance decision-making.
  3. Integration of ChatGPT in product development process leads to creating innovative solutions and enhanced user experiences.

STOP USING vsts-npm-auth

Simple Truth Systems • 2 HN points • 06 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Vsts-npm-auth is not safe or reliable, with no shared source code and unknown contributors.
  2. There are suspicions about the authenticity of vsts-npm-auth contributors, possibly Microsoft engineers, but lacking transparency.
  3. The recommendation to use vsts-npm-auth, even in Microsoft documentation, raises questions about its credibility and safety.

Documentation-driven API Design

The API Changelog • 6 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. You can create an API by simply writing down what you want it to do, and AI can help turn that into a working API document. It's as easy as writing a description and letting the technology handle the rest.
  2. Using AI tools like ChatGPT, you can get detailed how-to guides for your API based on a simple description, making it easier to understand how to use it.
  3. By generating an OpenAPI document from your description, you can quickly set up a mock API server, allowing you to test and get feedback on your API design in no time.

API Documentation for Machines

The API Changelog • 6 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. API documentation should be structured and easy for machines to read. Using known formats like OpenAPI helps AI agents understand the API better, making it easier for them to use.
  2. Clearly define all operations and parameters in the documentation. AI agents need specifics about input types and constraints to avoid confusion.
  3. It's important to document errors and provide examples. Even machines need clear guidance on what each error means to function properly.

Three Elements of a Good API README

The API Changelog • 4 implied HN points • 22 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. A good API README should give a clear overview of what the API does. This helps users quickly understand its purpose and features.
  2. The 'Getting Started' section is important for guiding users on how to authenticate and make their first request. This ensures they can use the API without confusion.
  3. Lastly, include practical information about key operations in the API. Users should see examples and know where to find more detailed documentation for further help.

Documenting Your API Around Its Capabilities

The API Changelog • 1 implied HN point • 08 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. APIs should focus on what they can do for users rather than just technical details. Users care more about benefits that help them solve problems than about how the API works on a technical level.
  2. Non-technical decision-makers often choose APIs, so documentation needs to be clear for them. This means writing in a way that explains the API’s value rather than just listing technical operations.
  3. To document API capabilities effectively, start with understanding what users want to achieve. By translating user needs into clear benefits and then into specific API capabilities, you make it easier for users to understand and use your API.

Using OpenAPI Overlays to Differentiate Consumer Personas

The API Changelog • 4 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. API documentation can be tailored for different users to protect sensitive operations. This is important because revealing too much information can become a security risk.
  2. Using multiple OpenAPI documents can be challenging to maintain, as changes need to be updated in each separate document.
  3. OpenAPI Overlays help manage different user needs without complicating maintenance. They allow adding or changing API operations based on user types easily.

Producer-Oriented API Documentation

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Good API documentation is very important for user experience. It helps consumers understand how to use the API effectively.
  2. Producers should use the documentation to see metrics about their API's performance. This helps them make better decisions about improvements.
  3. Sharing some API usage data with consumers could enhance transparency and build trust. It allows users to see popular features and error rates.

Survey 2023 Results

Dan’s MEGA65 Digest • 11 implied HN points • 16 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. The MEGA65 Community Survey 2023 received 509 submissions and the owners are excited about upcoming features.
  2. Owners are interested in testing Ethernet file transfer and reviewing the 2nd edition of the User's Guide.
  3. There is a strong interest in programming on the MEGA65, with 75% expressing interest in assembly language and BASIC 65.

Issue #50

Infra Weekly Newsletter • 13 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Release Management for Snaps Made Simpler with progressive release feature
  2. Technical deep-dive into a real-time kernel from Ubuntu explained by Edoardo Barbieri
  3. Deploy a Kubernetes Development Environment with Kind guide for setting up local Kubernetes clusters

Is API Documentation Marketing?

The API Changelog • 4 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. API documentation can borrow elements from marketing when done right, focusing on presenting the API to potential users.
  2. API documentation parallels some aspects of the traditional marketing framework, such as product presentation, pricing visibility, architectural choices, and technology support.
  3. Good API documentation aims to quickly and easily engage a technical audience, aligning consumer needs with business objectives to serve as a marketing tool.

Why API Tutorials Matter

The API Changelog • 4 HN points • 19 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Tutorials help readers learn about the topic being presented.
  2. Good API tutorials should provide a safe learning environment, list prerequisites, offer technology choices, and have clear goals.
  3. Investing in offering quality API tutorials can help consumers get the most out of what your API offers.

Two Ways to Influence Business Growth with API Documentation

The API Changelog • 3 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Good API documentation can significantly reduce the cost of API support by enabling consumers to troubleshoot their integration issues independently.
  2. Enhancing customer retention is crucial for business growth, and providing a positive developer experience through good documentation can lead to increased retention rates.
  3. API documentation plays a vital role in influencing both the cost of support and customer retention, ultimately driving the success of a business.

Writing Libraries for AIs to Use

General Robots • 2 HN points • 12 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. Programs, libraries, and programming languages that are compatible with efficient AI assistance are likely to be favored over abstractions LLMs struggle with.
  2. Using AI assistance like ChatGPT and Github Copilot can significantly boost productivity in coding tasks, especially for less experienced programmers or when working in unfamiliar domains.
  3. LLMs excel at pattern matching, but struggle with newer or less common patterns; providing examples and good documentation can greatly improve LLM performance.

The Impact of a Large Number of API Features

The API Changelog • 1 HN point • 08 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Documentation
  1. API features play a crucial role in how customers interact with a product when building integrations, and having a large number of features can be a significant business decision.
  2. The number of API features impacts the structure of teams within a company, as each feature may require a dedicated team, potentially increasing operational complexity.
  3. A low number of API features can lead to easier support, clearer documentation, and a simpler Developer Experience, ultimately contributing to better business outcomes.