How can you keep project documentation accurate?

Recognize the evolving nature of projects and allow your documentation standards to adapt dynamically. Build flexibility into your guidelines to accommodate changes in technology, industry practices, and project dynamics.

Establishing a format which is widely accepted in industry is crucial in the beginning. Take OpenAPI for instance, the specification is a good format for API documentation and widely accepted. Then using tools that can generate the documentation directly from your code helps in keeping the documentation up to date. FastAPI does this job in a fantastic way.

Use a document management system with training and guidelines. Document in real-time with Standardize templates. Implement version control & Document changes promptly. Establish a review process & Cross-check data through authority matrix. Assign clear ownership with weekly audits. Automate updates where possible with a retention policy. Learn from past projects. Ensure legal and compliance adherence with GRC.

Documentation standard can be defined globally and are often enforced by the documentation tool itself. Documentation should also live inside the repository and be part of a review process making it easier to enforce these standards.

Think of documentation standards as the international dress code for your data - enforced by the tool, of course. Just like a fashionista's wardrobe, your docs should mingle with the repository crowd and walk their stuff in regular reviews, ensuring they stay up to par with the global documentation - HIGH FASHION!!! . ??????

Think of it this way: keeping your documentation in sync with your version control is a must-do. Just like your software gets updated, your docs need to stay in tune with those changes. Plus, it's like having a library where users can pick the right book for their version, even if it's a old one.

Integrate version control systems seamlessly into your documentation workflow. Ensure that these systems not only track changes but also facilitate collaboration, allowing team members to work concurrently while maintaining a clear record of modifications.

Having your documentation inside your version control is really the way to go, because your docs have a version, too. As things change in your codebase for each version you docs need to reflect these changes, too. Besides that, it allows users of older library version to still access the docs that belong to their version.

Explore interactive documentation frameworks, such as Swagger, Postman, or Docusaurus, to create engaging and user-friendly documentation directly from your API specifications. These frameworks provide a dynamic and interactive interface for users to explore functionalities, enhancing user understanding.

This is the natural next step from having you docs inside version control. It's now time to setup your CI/CD to generate the actual docs and deploy them. This isn't too complicated and there are many services offering to host your docs, e.g. github pages, readthedocs, ...

When you upgrade the code, don't forget to give your documentation a makeover too. Think of it like a style check during a code review – your docs should mirror reality, like a good reflection in a funhouse mirror! ??????

When things are changed inside the code, the documentation should be updated accordingly. This should be checked during code review to make sure the documentation resembles the reality as closely as possible.

Gathering feedback is important. Page analytics for your docs are great, too. It's important to understand which pages are the most interesting and which aren't visited that often. This way you can concentrate your efforts on the pages that are most relevant.

Often the projects have large scope which needs to be delivered in multiple phases. - Create document folders specific to each phase so that the relevant information is easily traceable. - Kick off each phase with the stakeholders and partners to provide visibility into the scope that is being considered. - Communicate the status consistently with the stakeholders. - Ensure that documentation is available in easily accessible folders like Sharepoint or Google drive or Confluence pages. -Revisit the documentation for accuracy and adjust as needed. Always ensure to maintain documentation standards and consistency to keep the project information relevant and easily accessible.

I think we can borrow good practices from the Configuration Management discipline. Different releases, cycles, versions, etc required their own documentation. This documentation should be aligned with the product's specifications. The same applies with the project management piece related to this product part. Every documentation piece should be able to be traced back to the requirements that originated it in the first place. Thanks