How do you write clear and concise documentation for functional programs?

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Functional programming is a paradigm that emphasizes the use of pure functions, immutable data, and higher-order abstractions. It can lead to elegant, concise, and modular code, but it also requires clear and concise documentation to help other developers understand and maintain it. In this article, you will learn some tips and best practices for writing documentation for functional programs, such as:

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1 Use descriptive names

One of the simplest ways to improve the readability of your code and documentation is to use descriptive and consistent names for your functions, variables, and types. Avoid using obscure abbreviations, single letters, or generic terms that do not convey the meaning or purpose of your code. Instead, use names that reflect the functionality, behavior, or role of your code elements, and follow the naming conventions of your language and framework.

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Ali Samir

Frontend Engineer @Taager | Software Engineer | Full Stack Developer | React Native Developer
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To write clear and concise documentation for functional programs, focus on clarity, brevity, and relevance. Start with an overview explaining the program's purpose and scope. Describe each function's input parameters, return values, and any side effects. Use descriptive names and consistent terminology. Include examples to illustrate usage and edge cases. Avoid jargon and redundant information. Use comments within the code to explain complex logic or non-obvious decisions. Regularly review and update documentation to keep it accurate and reflective of any changes in the code.

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2 Explain the inputs and outputs

Another important aspect of documenting functional programs is to explain the inputs and outputs of your functions, especially if they are complex, abstract, or non-standard. You can use comments, docstrings, type annotations, or other tools to document the types, names, and meanings of your function parameters and return values. You can also include examples, preconditions, postconditions, or invariants to illustrate how your functions work and what they expect and guarantee.

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Matthew N.

Business Software Development Innovator | Web Development Expert
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When documenting higher-order functions (HOF), it is critical to denote what, if any, arguments are passed to the HOF. This includes type information and argument order. Also be explicit about how the HOF is to be applied to any of the top level arguments if this isn't obvious from earlier description.

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3 Describe the side effects

Functional programming aims to avoid or minimize side effects, which are any changes or interactions that a function has with the outside world, such as modifying global variables, reading or writing files, or throwing exceptions. However, sometimes side effects are necessary or unavoidable, and they should be documented clearly and explicitly. You can use comments, annotations, or naming conventions to indicate which functions have side effects, what kind of side effects they have, and how they affect the program state or behavior.

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4 Use functional concepts and terms

Functional programming has its own concepts and terms, such as referential transparency, lambda calculus, currying, monads, functors, or combinators. These concepts and terms can help you express the logic, structure, and properties of your functional programs more precisely and concisely. However, they can also be unfamiliar or confusing to some developers, especially those who are new to functional programming or work with multiple paradigms. Therefore, you should use functional concepts and terms appropriately and consistently, and explain them when necessary or relevant.

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5 Follow the documentation standards and guidelines

Finally, you should follow the documentation standards and guidelines of your language, framework, or project, as they can help you write consistent, comprehensive, and coherent documentation for your functional programs. For example, some languages or frameworks have specific formats, conventions, or tools for generating documentation from comments or annotations, such as Javadoc, Doxygen, Haddock, or Sphinx. Some projects or teams may also have their own documentation policies, templates, or best practices that you should adhere to.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Rudolf ? M.

Senior Software Engineer at Luna
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Some languages provide with tools to write "doctests". Use them to assure that examples in the documentation are reflecting the actual behavior and don't get outdated.

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Matthew N.

Business Software Development Innovator | Web Development Expert
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Use documentation formats and tooling (e.g. Javadoc, marginalia, etc.) that allow for easy cross-navigation. Document data formats using example code, example files, or data dictionaries.

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How do you write clear and concise documentation for functional programs?

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1 Use descriptive names

2 Explain the inputs and outputs

3 Describe the side effects

4 Use functional concepts and terms

5 Follow the documentation standards and guidelines

6 Here’s what else to consider

Functional Programming

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