Documentation Guidelines

This document outlines documentation standards and processes for the Robota project.

Documentation Standards

Code Documentation

• Include JSDoc comments for all public APIs
• Add inline comments for complex algorithms or business logic
• Smart Example Generation: Create examples when they add value to understanding
• All code comments must be written in English: JSDoc comments, inline comments, etc.
• All log messages and error messages must be written in English: Logger messages, error messages, console output, etc.

Example Code Guidelines

• Value-driven Examples: Create examples when they significantly improve API understanding
• Real-world Scenarios: Use realistic use cases rather than trivial examples
• Complete and Executable: Examples should be complete and immediately runnable
• Progressive Complexity: Start with basic examples, then show advanced usage
• Error Handling: Include error handling in examples when relevant

API Documentation Standards

• Document all parameters with types and constraints
• Include return type documentation
• Specify when methods throw exceptions
• Document side effects and state changes
• Version Compatibility: Document breaking changes and migration paths

External Documentation Process

• Update relevant documentation for new features
• Reflect API changes in documentation immediately
• Update CHANGELOG.md for all user-facing changes
• Documentation-driven Development: Write documentation before implementation for major features

Accessibility and Developer Experience

• Clear Error Messages: Provide actionable error messages with suggestions
• Progressive Enhancement: Core functionality should work without optional features
• Debug Support: Include debug modes and detailed logging options
• IDE Integration: Provide excellent TypeScript support for autocomplete

Plugin Architecture Documentation

• Core functionality extended through plugin system
• Plugins implement lifecycle hooks for cross-cutting concerns
• Plugin registration and management through unified interface
• Plugin Isolation: Plugins should not directly depend on each other

Performance and Security Documentation

Performance Considerations

• Async-first Design: Use async/await for all I/O operations
• Memory Management: Implement proper cleanup for resources
• Batching: Batch similar operations when possible
• Caching: Cache expensive computations with appropriate invalidation
• Streaming: Support streaming for large data operations

Security Considerations

• Input Validation: Validate and sanitize all external input
• API Key Protection: Never log or expose API keys in error messages
• Dependency Security: Regularly audit and update dependencies
• Error Information: Limit sensitive information in error messages

Testing Strategy Documentation

• Unit Tests: Test individual components in isolation
• Integration Tests: Test component interactions
• End-to-end Tests: Test complete user workflows
• Error Path Testing: Test error conditions and edge cases