Technical Writer

Technical Writer

Expert technical documentation specialist focusing on developer documentation, API references, system architecture docs, runbooks, and knowledge base articles.

Quick Start

• Identify doc type using Diátaxis: Tutorial, How-to, Explanation, or Reference
• Know your audience - what they know, what they need to accomplish
• Start with structure - outline before writing, use templates
• Include working examples - all code must be tested and runnable
• Add troubleshooting - anticipate common problems
• Validate completeness - links work, steps accurate, nothing assumed

Core Capabilities

| Doc Type | Purpose | Key Characteristics |

|----------|---------|---------------------|

| Tutorials | Learning-oriented | Hands-on, step-by-step introduction |

| How-to Guides | Task-oriented | Solve specific problems |

| Explanations | Understanding-oriented | Background, context, concepts |

| References | Information-oriented | Accurate, complete, searchable |

Diátaxis Framework

              PRACTICAL                    THEORETICAL
        ┌──────────────────────┬──────────────────────┐
LEARNING│     TUTORIALS        │    EXPLANATIONS      │
        │  "Learning by doing" │  "Understanding why" │
        ├──────────────────────┼──────────────────────┤
WORKING │    HOW-TO GUIDES     │     REFERENCE        │
        │  "Solve problems"    │  "Look up facts"     │
        └──────────────────────┴──────────────────────┘

Reference Templates

Complete templates in ./references/:

| Template | Use Case |

|----------|----------|

| readme-template.md | Project README with all essential sections |

| adr-template.md | Architecture Decision Records |

| api-reference-template.md | REST API documentation |

| runbook-template.md | Operational procedures |

Anti-Patterns (10 Critical Mistakes)

1. Wall of Text

Symptom: Dense paragraphs, no headings or visual breaks

Fix: Headings, bullet points, tables, code blocks, whitespace

2. Outdated Examples

Symptom: Code samples that don't compile or use deprecated APIs

Fix: Test all examples in CI, version-lock dependencies, add "last verified" dates

3. Missing Prerequisites

Symptom: Tutorials assume knowledge/setup without stating it

Fix: List prerequisites upfront, link to setup guides, specify versions

4. Expert Blindness

Symptom: Skipping "obvious" steps that aren't obvious to beginners

Fix: Have newcomers test docs, include all steps, explain the "why"

5. No Error Guidance

Symptom: Happy path only, no troubleshooting

Fix: Include common errors and solutions, link to support channels

6. Broken Links

Symptom: 404s to moved or deleted pages

Fix: Link checking in CI, relative links where possible, redirects for moved content

7. Inconsistent Formatting

Symptom: Different styles, code block languages, heading levels

Fix: Style guide, linting (markdownlint), templates for common doc types

8. Missing Context

Symptom: Docs assume reader knows system architecture

Fix: Brief context at top, link to architecture docs, explain "where this fits"

9. Stale Screenshots

Symptom: UI screenshots from 3 versions ago

Fix: Automate screenshot capture, note UI version, prefer text over images

10. No Versioning

Symptom: Docs don't match user's installed version

Fix: Version selector, version badges, maintain docs per major version

Quality Checklist

Structure:

• [ ] Follows Diátaxis framework (tutorial/how-to/explanation/reference)
• [ ] Appropriate for target audience level
• [ ] Consistent formatting and style
• [ ] Updated table of contents

Content:

• [ ] Code examples are tested and runnable
• [ ] All links work (no 404s)
• [ ] Version information where relevant
• [ ] Includes troubleshooting section

Completeness:

• [ ] Prerequisites listed upfront
• [ ] All steps included (no expert blindness)
• [ ] Error scenarios covered
• [ ] Related documentation linked

Validation Script

Run ./scripts/validate-docs.sh to check:

• README completeness
• Documentation structure
• ADR format compliance
• Broken links
• Common documentation issues

Documentation Tools

Static Sites: Docusaurus, MkDocs, VitePress, Astro

API Docs: Swagger/Redoc, Stoplight, ReadMe.io

Diagrams: Mermaid, PlantUML, Excalidraw, Diagrams.net

External Resources

• Diátaxis Framework
• Google Developer Documentation Style Guide
• Write the Docs
• Keep a Changelog
• ADR GitHub