Documentation Standards
Guidelines for code documentation, README updates, and changelog maintenance
Documentation Standards
Standards and guidelines for maintaining high-quality documentation throughout the project.
Code Documentation
Function Documentation
Use JSDoc format for all exported functions:
/**
* Creates a new product with the provided data
*
* @param productData - The product information to create
* @returns Promise resolving to the created product
* @throws {ValidationError} When product data is invalid
* @throws {DatabaseError} When database operation fails
*
* @example
* ```typescript
* const product = await createProduct({
* name: 'New Product',
* sku: 'NP-001',
* price: 29.99
* })
* ```
*/
export async function createProduct(
productData: CreateProductRequest
): Promise<Product> {
// Implementation
}
Type Documentation
Document complex types and interfaces:
/**
* Product filtering options for search and listing
*/
interface ProductFilters {
/** Filter by product category */
category?: string
/** Search term for product name or SKU */
search?: string
/** Page number for pagination (1-based) */
page: number
/** Number of items per page (max 100) */
limit: number
/** Include inactive products in results */
includeInactive?: boolean
}
/**
* Order status enumeration
*
* @enum {string}
*/
enum OrderStatus {
/** Order is in draft state, not yet sent */
DRAFT = 'draft',
/** Order has been sent to supplier */
SENT = 'sent',
/** Order confirmed by supplier */
CONFIRMED = 'confirmed',
/** Order has been received */
RECEIVED = 'received',
/** Order is closed and complete */
CLOSED = 'closed'
}
Component Documentation
Document React components with their props:
/**
* Product card component for displaying product information
*
* @component
* @example
* ```tsx
* <ProductCard
* product={product}
* onEdit={handleEdit}
* onDelete={handleDelete}
* />
* ```
*/
interface ProductCardProps {
/** Product data to display */
product: Product
/** Callback when edit button is clicked */
onEdit?: (product: Product) => void
/** Callback when delete button is clicked */
onDelete?: (productId: string) => void
/** Additional CSS classes */
className?: string
}
export const ProductCard = ({ product, onEdit, onDelete, className }: ProductCardProps) => {
// Implementation
}
README Updates
When adding new features, update relevant README sections:
Features List
Keep the features list current with new additions:
## Features
- ✅ Product Management
- ✅ Inventory Tracking
- ✅ Order Management
- ✅ Barcode Scanning (New!)
- ✅ Bulk Operations (New!)
- 🔄 Analytics Dashboard (In Progress)
Usage Examples
Add examples for new functionality:
## Usage Examples
### Barcode Scanning
```typescript
import { scanBarcode } from '@/lib/barcode'
const product = await scanBarcode(barcodeData)
if (product) {
console.log('Product found:', product.name)
}
Bulk Inventory Updates
import { bulkUpdateInventory } from '@/lib/inventory'
await bulkUpdateInventory([
{ productId: '123', quantity: 100 },
{ productId: '456', quantity: 50 }
])
### Configuration Options
Document new configuration options:
```markdown
## Configuration
### Environment Variables
| Variable | Description | Default | Required |
|----------|-------------|---------|----------|
| `DATABASE_URL` | PostgreSQL connection string | - | Yes |
| `NEXTAUTH_SECRET` | NextAuth.js secret key | - | Yes |
| `BARCODE_API_KEY` | Barcode scanning API key | - | No |
Changelog Maintenance
Update CHANGELOG.md with your changes following Keep a Changelog format:
# Changelog
All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
## [Unreleased]
### Added
- Barcode scanning functionality for product lookup
- Bulk inventory adjustment feature
- Export functionality for inventory reports
### Changed
- Improved dashboard loading performance by 40%
- Updated user interface for better accessibility
- Enhanced search functionality with fuzzy matching
### Fixed
- Fixed authentication redirect loop issue
- Resolved inventory calculation errors for allocated stock
- Fixed responsive layout issues on mobile devices
### Security
- Updated dependencies with security patches
- Implemented rate limiting for API endpoints
- Enhanced input validation and sanitization
### Deprecated
- Legacy inventory import format (will be removed in v2.0)
### Removed
- Unused product category migration scripts
## [1.2.0] - 2024-01-15
### Added
- Advanced filtering options for product search
- Email notifications for low stock alerts
Changelog Categories
- Added: New features
- Changed: Changes in existing functionality
- Deprecated: Soon-to-be removed features
- Removed: Now removed features
- Fixed: Bug fixes
- Security: Security improvements
API Documentation
Endpoint Documentation
Document new API endpoints:
## Products API
### Create Product
```http
POST /api/products
Request Body:
{
"name": "Product Name",
"sku": "PROD-001",
"price": 29.99,
"cost_price": 15.00,
"category_id": "cat-123"
}
Response:
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"id": "prod-456",
"name": "Product Name",
"sku": "PROD-001",
"price": 29.99,
"created_at": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z"
}
}
Error Response:
{
"success": false,
"error": {
"code": "VALIDATION_ERROR",
"message": "Invalid product data",
"details": {
"name": "Name is required",
"price": "Price must be positive"
}
}
}
## Documentation Tools
### Generated Documentation
Use TypeDoc for generating API documentation:
```bash
# Generate API documentation
pnpm docs:generate
# Serve documentation locally
pnpm docs:serve
Documentation Testing
Test code examples in documentation:
# Test all code examples
pnpm docs:test
# Test specific documentation file
pnpm docs:test api.md
Best Practices
Writing Guidelines
- Clarity: Write clear, concise explanations
- Examples: Include practical examples
- Completeness: Cover all parameters and return values
- Accuracy: Ensure documentation matches implementation
- Consistency: Follow established patterns and terminology
Maintenance
- Update with Code: Keep documentation in sync with code changes
- Review Process: Include documentation review in PR process
- User Feedback: Incorporate feedback from documentation users
- Regular Audits: Periodically review and update documentation
Documentation Types
- API Documentation: Detailed endpoint specifications
- Code Comments: Inline explanations for complex logic
- README Files: Project overview and quick start guides
- User Guides: Step-by-step instructions for end users
- Developer Guides: In-depth technical documentation
- Troubleshooting: Common issues and solutions
Links and References
- Maintain up-to-date links to external resources
- Use relative links for internal documentation
- Include version-specific documentation where applicable
- Provide clear navigation between related topics