Repository: zalando/patroni
Pull request #2820 (2023-08-17 07:34:03)

Explicitly enable synchronous mode
Close https://github.com/zalando/patroni/issues/2819


Patch:
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c3af6eb0..a5191907 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ scm-source.json
 docs/build/
 docs/source/_static/
 docs/source/_templates/
+docs/modules/
 
 # Pycharm IDE
 .idea/
diff --git a/.readthedocs.yaml b/.readthedocs.yaml
index 724e2418..9c08ad79 100644
--- a/.readthedocs.yaml
+++ b/.readthedocs.yaml
@@ -19,3 +19,8 @@ formats:
   - epub
   - pdf
   - htmlzip
+
+python:
+  install:
+    - requirements: requirements.docs.txt
+    - requirements: requirements.txt
diff --git a/docs/CONTRIBUTING.rst b/docs/CONTRIBUTING.rst
index 44733a55..b5e0be0e 100644
--- a/docs/CONTRIBUTING.rst
+++ b/docs/CONTRIBUTING.rst
@@ -1,182 +1,12 @@
 .. _contributing:
 
-Contributing guidelines
-=======================
+Contributing
+============
 
-Wanna contribute to Patroni? Yay - here is how!
+Resources and information for developers can be found in the pages below.
 
-Chatting
---------
+.. toctree::
+   :maxdepth: 2
 
-Just want to chat with other Patroni users?  Looking for interactive troubleshooting help? Join us on channel `#patroni <https://postgresteam.slack.com/archives/C9XPYG92A>`__ in the `PostgreSQL Slack <https://pgtreats.info/slack-invite>`__.
-
-Running tests
--------------
-
-Requirements for running behave tests:
-
-1. PostgreSQL packages need to be installed.
-2. PostgreSQL binaries must be available in your `PATH`. You may need to add them to the path with something like `PATH=/usr/lib/postgresql/11/bin:$PATH python -m behave`.
-3. If you'd like to test with external DCSs (e.g., Etcd, Consul, and Zookeeper) you'll need the packages installed and respective services running and accepting unencrypted/unprotected connections on localhost and default port. In the case of Etcd or Consul, the behave test suite could start them up if binaries are available in the `PATH`.
-
-Install dependencies:
-
-.. code-block:: bash
-
-    # You may want to use Virtualenv or specify pip3.
-    pip install -r requirements.txt
-    pip install -r requirements.dev.txt
-
-After you have all dependencies installed, you can run the various test suites:
-
-.. code-block:: bash
-
-    # You may want to use Virtualenv or specify python3.
-
-    # Run flake8 to check syntax and formatting:
-    python setup.py flake8
-
-    # Run the pytest suite in tests/:
-    python setup.py test
-
-    # Run the behave (https://behave.readthedocs.io/en/latest/) test suite in features/;
-    # modify DCS as desired (raft has no dependencies so is the easiest to start with):
-    DCS=raft python -m behave
-
-Testing with tox
-----------------
-
-To run tox tests you only need to install one dependency (other than Python)
-
-.. code-block:: bash
-
-    pip install tox>=4
-
-If you wish to run `behave` tests then you also need docker installed.
-
-Tox configuration in `tox.ini` has "environments" to run the following tasks:
-
-* lint: Python code lint with `flake8`
-* test: unit tests for all available python interpreters with `pytest`,
-  generates XML reports or HTML reports if a TTY is detected
-* dep: detect package dependency conflicts using `pipdeptree`
-* type: static type checking with `pyright`
-* black: code formatting with `black`
-* docker-build: build docker image used for the `behave` env
-* docker-cmd: run arbitrary command with the above image
-* docker-behave-etcd: run tox for behave tests with above image
-* py*behave: run behave with available python interpreters (without docker, although
-  this is what is called inside docker containers)
-* docs: build docs with `sphinx`
-
-Running tox
-^^^^^^^^^^^
-
-To run the default env list; dep, lint, test, and docs, just run:
-
-.. code-block:: bash
-
-    tox
-
-The `test` envs can be run with the label `test`:
-
-.. code-block:: bash
-
-   tox -m test
-
-The `behave` docker tests can be run with the label `behave`:
-
-.. code-block:: bash
-
-   tox -m behave
-
-Similarly, docs has the label `docs`.
-
-All other envs can be run with their respective env names:
-
-.. code-block:: bash
-
-   tox -e lint
-   tox -e py39-test-lin
-
-It is also possible to select partial env lists using `factors`. For example, if you want to run
-all envs for python 3.10:
-
-.. code-block:: bash
-
-    tox -f py310
-
-This is equivalent to running all the envs listed below:
-
-.. code-block:: bash
-
-    $ tox -l -f py310
-    py310-test-lin
-    py310-test-mac
-    py310-test-win
-    py310-type-lin
-    py310-type-mac
-    py310-type-win
-    py310-behave-etcd-lin
-    py310-behave-etcd-win
-    py310-behave-etcd-mac
-
-
-You can list all configured combinations of environments with tox (>=v4) like so
-
-.. code-block:: bash
-
-    tox l
-
-The envs `test` and `docs` will attempt to open the HTML output files
-when the job completes, if tox is run with an active terminal. This
-is intended to be for benefit of the developer running this env locally.
-It will attempt to run `open` on a mac and `xdg-open` on Linux.
-To use a different command set the env var `OPEN_CMD` to the name or path of
-the command. If this step fails it will not fail the run overall.
-If you want to disable this facility set the env var `OPEN_CMD` to the `:` no-op command.
-
-.. code-block:: bash
-
-   OPEN_CMD=: tox -m docs
-
-Behave tests
-^^^^^^^^^^^^
-
-Behave tests with `-m behave` will build docker images based on PG_MAJOR version 11 through 15 and then run all
-behave tests. This can take quite a long time to run so you might want to limit the scope to a select version of
-Postgres or to a specific feature set or steps.
-
-To specify the version of postgres include the full name of the dependent image build env that you want and then the
-behave env name. For instance if you want Postgres 15 use:
-
-.. code-block:: bash
-
-    tox -e pg14-docker-build,pg14-docker-behave-etcd-lin
-
-If on the other hand you want to test a specific feature you can pass positional arguments to behave. This will run
-the watchdog behave feature test scenario with all versions of Postgres.
-
-.. code-block:: bash
-
-    tox -m behave -- features/watchdog.feature
-
-Of course you can combine the two.
-
-Reporting issues
-----------------
-
-If you have a question about patroni or have a problem using it, please read the :ref:`README <readme>` before filing an issue.
-Also double check with the current issues on our `Issues Tracker <https://github.com/zalando/patroni/issues>`__.
-
-Contributing a pull request
----------------------------
-
-1) Submit a comment to the relevant issue or create a new issue describing your proposed change.
-2) Do a fork, develop and test your code changes.
-3) Include documentation
-4) Submit a pull request.
-
-You'll get feedback about your pull request as soon as possible.
-
-Happy Patroni hacking ;-)
+   contributing_guidelines
+   Patroni API docs<modules/modules>
diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index 6f136d00..2228c72e 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -20,10 +20,15 @@
 import os
 
 import sys
+
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath('..'))
 
 from patroni.version import __version__
 
+project_root = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..'))
+module_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(project_root, 'patroni'))
+excludes = ['tests', 'setup.py', 'conf']
+
 # -- General configuration ------------------------------------------------
 
 # If your documentation needs a minimal Sphinx version, state it here.
@@ -33,11 +38,21 @@ from patroni.version import __version__
 # Add any Sphinx extension module names here, as strings. They can be
 # extensions coming with Sphinx (named 'sphinx.ext.*') or your custom
 # ones.
-extensions = ['sphinx.ext.intersphinx',
+extensions = [
+    'sphinx.ext.intersphinx',
     'sphinx.ext.todo',
     'sphinx.ext.mathjax',
     'sphinx.ext.ifconfig',
-    'sphinx.ext.viewcode']
+    # 'sphinx.ext.viewcode',
+    'sphinx_github_style',  # Generate "View on GitHub" for source code
+    'sphinxcontrib.apidoc',  # For generating module docs from code
+    'sphinx.ext.autodoc',  # For generating module docs from docstrings
+    'sphinx.ext.napoleon',  # For Google and Numpy formatted docstrings
+]
+apidoc_module_dir = module_dir
+apidoc_output_dir = 'modules'
+apidoc_excluded_paths = excludes
+apidoc_separate_modules = True
 
 # Add any paths that contain templates here, relative to this directory.
 templates_path = ['_templates']
@@ -107,6 +122,34 @@ if not on_rtd:  # only import and set the theme if we're building docs locally
 # so a file named "default.css" will overwrite the builtin "default.css".
 html_static_path = ['_static']
 
+# Replace "source" links with "edit on GitHub" when using rtd theme
+html_context = {
+    'display_github': True,
+    'github_user': 'zalando',
+    'github_repo': 'patroni',
+    'github_version': 'master',
+    'conf_py_path': '/docs/',
+}
+
+# sphinx-github-style options, https://sphinx-github-style.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html
+
+# The name of the top-level package.
+top_level = "patroni"
+
+# The blob to link to on GitHub - any of "head", "last_tag", or "{blob}"
+# linkcode_blob = 'head'
+
+# The link to your GitHub repository formatted as https://github.com/user/repo
+# If not provided, will attempt to create the link from the html_context dict
+# linkcode_url = f"https://github.com/{html_context['github_user']}/" \
+#                f"{html_context['github_repo']}/{html_context['github_version']}"
+
+# The text to use for the linkcode link
+# linkcode_link_text: str = "View on GitHub"
+
+# A linkcode_resolve() function to use for resolving the link target
+# linkcode_resolve: types.FunctionType
+
 
 # -- Options for HTMLHelp output ------------------------------------------
 
@@ -165,7 +208,6 @@ texinfo_documents = [
 ]
 
 
-
 # -- Options for Epub output ----------------------------------------------
 
 # Bibliographic Dublin Core info.
@@ -187,10 +229,57 @@ epub_copyright = copyright
 epub_exclude_files = ['search.html']
 
 
-
 # Example configuration for intersphinx: refer to the Python standard library.
 intersphinx_mapping = {'python': ('https://docs.python.org/', None)}
 
+
+# Remove these pages from index, references, toc trees, etc.
+# If the builder is not 'html' then add the API docs modules index to pages to be removed.
+exclude_from_builder = {
+    'latex': ['modules/modules'],
+    'epub': ['modules/modules'],
+}
+# Internal holding list, anything added here will always be excluded
+_docs_to_remove = []
+
+
+def builder_inited(app):
+    """Run during Sphinx `builder-inited` phase.
+
+    Set a config value to builder name and add module docs to `docs_to_remove`.
+    """
+    print(f'The builder is: {app.builder.name}')
+    app.add_config_value('builder', app.builder.name, 'env')
+
+    # Remove pages when builder matches any referenced in exclude_from_builder
+    if exclude_from_builder.get(app.builder.name):
+        _docs_to_remove.extend(exclude_from_builder[app.builder.name])
+
+
+def env_get_outdated(app, env, added, changed, removed):
+    """Run during Sphinx `env-get-outdated` phase.
+
+    Remove the items listed in `docs_to_remove` from known pages.
+    """
+    added.difference_update(_docs_to_remove)
+    changed.difference_update(_docs_to_remove)
+    removed.update(_docs_to_remove)
+    return []
+
+
+def doctree_read(app, doctree):
+    """Run during Sphinx `doctree-read` phase.
+
+    Remove the items listed in `docs_to_remove` from the table of contents.
+    """
+    from sphinx import addnodes
+    for toc_tree_node in doctree.traverse(addnodes.toctree):
+        for e in toc_tree_node['entries']:
+            ref = str(e[1])
+            if ref in _docs_to_remove:
+                toc_tree_node['entries'].remove(e)
+
+
 # A possibility to have an own stylesheet, to add new rules or override existing ones
 # For the latter case, the CSS specificity of the rules should be higher than the default ones
 def setup(app):
@@ -198,3 +287,8 @@ def setup(app):
         app.add_css_file('custom.css')
     else:
         app.add_stylesheet('custom.css')
+
+    # Run extra steps to remove module docs when running with a non-html builder
+    app.connect('builder-inited', builder_inited)
+    app.connect('env-get-outdated', env_get_outdated)
+    app.connect('doctree-read', doctree_read)
diff --git a/docs/contributing_guidelines.rst b/docs/contributing_guidelines.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..48710868
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/contributing_guidelines.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+.. _contributing_guidelines:
+
+Contributing guidelines
+=======================
+
+Wanna contribute to Patroni? Yay - here is how!
+
+Chatting
+--------
+
+Just want to chat with other Patroni users?  Looking for interactive troubleshooting help? Join us on channel `#patroni <https://postgresteam.slack.com/archives/C9XPYG92A>`__ in the `PostgreSQL Slack <https://pgtreats.info/slack-invite>`__.
+
+Running tests
+-------------
+
+Requirements for running behave tests:
+
+1. PostgreSQL packages need to be installed.
+2. PostgreSQL binaries must be available in your `PATH`. You may need to add them to the path with something like `PATH=/usr/lib/postgresql/11/bin:$PATH python -m behave`.
+3. If you'd like to test with external DCSs (e.g., Etcd, Consul, and Zookeeper) you'll need the packages installed and respective services running and accepting unencrypted/unprotected connections on localhost and default port. In the case of Etcd or Consul, the behave test suite could start them up if binaries are available in the `PATH`.
+
+Install dependencies:
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+    # You may want to use Virtualenv or specify pip3.
+    pip install -r requirements.txt
+    pip install -r requirements.dev.txt
+
+After you have all dependencies installed, you can run the various test suites:
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+    # You may want to use Virtualenv or specify python3.
+
+    # Run flake8 to check syntax and formatting:
+    python setup.py flake8
+
+    # Run the pytest suite in tests/:
+    python setup.py test
+
+    # Run the behave (https://behave.readthedocs.io/en/latest/) test suite in features/;
+    # modify DCS as desired (raft has no dependencies so is the easiest to start with):
+    DCS=raft python -m behave
+
+Testing with tox
+----------------
+
+To run tox tests you only need to install one dependency (other than Python)
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+    pip install tox>=4
+
+If you wish to run `behave` tests then you also need docker installed.
+
+Tox configuration in `tox.ini` has "environments" to run the following tasks:
+
+* lint: Python code lint with `flake8`
+* test: unit tests for all available python interpreters with `pytest`,
+  generates XML reports or HTML reports if a TTY is detected
+* dep: detect package dependency conflicts using `pipdeptree`
+* type: static type checking with `pyright`
+* black: code formatting with `black`
+* docker-build: build docker image used for the `behave` env
+* docker-cmd: run arbitrary command with the above image
+* docker-behave-etcd: run tox for behave tests with above image
+* py*behave: run behave with available python interpreters (without docker, although
+  this is what is called inside docker containers)
+* docs: build docs with `sphinx`
+
+Running tox
+^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+To run the default env list; dep, lint, test, and docs, just run:
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+    tox
+
+The `test` envs can be run with the label `test`:
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+   tox -m test
+
+The `behave` docker tests can be run with the label `behave`:
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+   tox -m behave
+
+Similarly, docs has the label `docs`.
+
+All other envs can be run with their respective env names:
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+   tox -e lint
+   tox -e py39-test-lin
+
+It is also possible to select partial env lists using `factors`. For example, if you want to run
+all envs for python 3.10:
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+    tox -f py310
+
+This is equivalent to running all the envs listed below:
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+    $ tox -l -f py310
+    py310-test-lin
+    py310-test-mac
+    py310-test-win
+    py310-type-lin
+    py310-type-mac
+    py310-type-win
+    py310-behave-etcd-lin
+    py310-behave-etcd-win
+    py310-behave-etcd-mac
+
+
+You can list all configured combinations of environments with tox (>=v4) like so
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+    tox l
+
+The envs `test` and `docs` will attempt to open the HTML output files
+when the job completes, if tox is run with an active terminal. This
+is intended to be for benefit of the developer running this env locally.
+It will attempt to run `open` on a mac and `xdg-open` on Linux.
+To use a different command set the env var `OPEN_CMD` to the name or path of
+the command. If this step fails it will not fail the run overall.
+If you want to disable this facility set the env var `OPEN_CMD` to the `:` no-op command.
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+   OPEN_CMD=: tox -m docs
+
+Behave tests
+^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Behave tests with `-m behave` will build docker images based on PG_MAJOR version 11 through 15 and then run all
+behave tests. This can take quite a long time to run so you might want to limit the scope to a select version of
+Postgres or to a specific feature set or steps.
+
+To specify the version of postgres include the full name of the dependent image build env that you want and then the
+behave env name. For instance if you want Postgres 15 use:
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+    tox -e pg14-docker-build,pg14-docker-behave-etcd-lin
+
+If on the other hand you want to test a specific feature you can pass positional arguments to behave. This will run
+the watchdog behave feature test scenario with all versions of Postgres.
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+    tox -m behave -- features/watchdog.feature
+
+Of course you can combine the two.
+
+Reporting issues
+----------------
+
+If you have a question about patroni or have a problem using it, please read the :ref:`README <readme>` before filing an issue.
+Also double check with the current issues on our `Issues Tracker <https://github.com/zalando/patroni/issues>`__.
+
+Contributing a pull request
+---------------------------
+
+1) Submit a comment to the relevant issue or create a new issue describing your proposed change.
+2) Do a fork, develop and test your code changes.
+3) Include documentation
+4) Submit a pull request.
+
+You'll get feedback about your pull request as soon as possible.
+
+Happy Patroni hacking ;-)
diff --git a/docs/ha_multi_dc.rst b/docs/ha_multi_dc.rst
index 75a43a5f..0a7f610e 100644
--- a/docs/ha_multi_dc.rst
+++ b/docs/ha_multi_dc.rst
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ In both cases, it is important to be clear about the following concepts:
 - You should run the odd number of etcd, ZooKeeper or Consul nodes: 3 or 5!
 
 Synchronous Replication
-----------------------------
+-----------------------
 
 To have a multi DC cluster that can automatically tolerate a zone drop, a minimum of 3 is required.
 
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ Regarding postgres, we must deploy at least 2 nodes, in different DC. Then you h
 This enables sync replication and the primary node will choose one of the nodes as synchronous.
 
 Asynchronous Replication
-----------------------------------
+------------------------
 
 With only two data centers it would be better to have two independent etcd clusters and run Patroni :ref:`standby cluster <standby_cluster>` in the second data center. If the first site is down, you can MANUALLY promote the ``standby_cluster``.
 
diff --git a/docs/index.rst b/docs/index.rst
index e76ec6d5..c7428a95 100644
--- a/docs/index.rst
+++ b/docs/index.rst
@@ -40,6 +40,13 @@ Currently supported PostgreSQL versions: 9.3 to 15.
 Indices and tables
 ==================
 
-* :ref:`genindex`
-* :ref:`modindex`
-* :ref:`search`
+.. ifconfig:: builder == 'html'
+
+  * :ref:`genindex`
+  * :ref:`modindex`
+  * :ref:`search`
+
+.. ifconfig:: builder != 'html'
+
+  * :ref:`genindex`
+  * :ref:`search`
diff --git a/docs/patroni_configuration.rst b/docs/patroni_configuration.rst
index 559236a2..fafbbbdb 100644
--- a/docs/patroni_configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/patroni_configuration.rst
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ Some of the PostgreSQL parameters **must hold the same values on the primary and
 - **max_worker_processes**: 8
 - **max_prepared_transactions**: 0
 - **wal_level**: hot_standby
-- **wal_log_hints**: on
 - **track_commit_timestamp**: off
 
 For the parameters below, PostgreSQL does not require equal values among the primary and all the replicas. However, considering the possibility of a replica to become the primary at any time, it doesn't really make sense to set them differently; therefore, **Patroni restricts setting their values to the** :ref:`dynamic configuration <dynamic_configuration>`.
@@ -62,6 +61,7 @@ There are some other Postgres parameters controlled by Patroni:
 - **port** - is set either from ``postgresql.listen`` or from ``PATRONI_POSTGRESQL_LISTEN`` environment variable
 - **cluster_name** - is set either from ``scope`` or from ``PATRONI_SCOPE`` environment variable
 - **hot_standby: on**
+- **wal_log_hints: on** - for Postgres 9.4 and newer.
 
 To be on the safe side parameters from the above lists are not written into ``postgresql.conf``, but passed as a list of arguments to the ``pg_ctl start`` which gives them the highest precedence, even above `ALTER SYSTEM <https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/static/sql-altersystem.html>`__
 
diff --git a/docs/rest_api.rst b/docs/rest_api.rst
index 9deb3f5e..35ed6fd4 100644
--- a/docs/rest_api.rst
+++ b/docs/rest_api.rst
@@ -275,7 +275,6 @@ Config endpoint
 	    "use_pg_rewind": true,
 	    "parameters": {
 	      "hot_standby": "on",
-	      "wal_log_hints": "on",
 	      "wal_level": "hot_standby",
 	      "max_wal_senders": 5,
 	      "max_replication_slots": 5,
@@ -302,7 +301,6 @@ Config endpoint
 	    "use_pg_rewind": true,
 	    "parameters": {
 	      "hot_standby": "on",
-	      "wal_log_hints": "on",
 	      "wal_level": "hot_standby",
 	      "max_wal_senders": 5,
 	      "max_replication_slots": 5,
@@ -355,7 +353,6 @@ If you want to remove (reset) some setting just patch it with ``null``:
 	      "hot_standby": "on",
 	      "unix_socket_directories": ".",
 	      "wal_level": "hot_standby",
-	      "wal_log_hints": "on",
 	      "max_wal_senders": 5,
 	      "max_replication_slots": 5
 	    }
@@ -369,7 +366,7 @@ The above call removes ``postgresql.parameters.max_connections`` from the dynami
 .. code-block:: bash
 
 	$ curl -s -XPUT -d \
-		'{"maximum_lag_on_failover":1048576,"retry_timeout":10,"postgresql":{"use_slots":true,"use_pg_rewind":true,"parameters":{"hot_standby":"on","wal_log_hints":"on","wal_level":"hot_standby","unix_socket_directories":".","max_wal_senders":5}},"loop_wait":3,"ttl":20}' \
+		'{"maximum_lag_on_failover":1048576,"retry_timeout":10,"postgresql":{"use_slots":true,"use_pg_rewind":true,"parameters":{"hot_standby":"on","wal_level":"hot_standby","unix_socket_directories":".","max_wal_senders":5}},"loop_wait":3,"ttl":20}' \
 		http://localhost:8008/config | jq .
 	{
 	  "ttl": 20,
@@ -381,7 +378,6 @@ The above call removes ``postgresql.parameters.max_connections`` from the dynami
 	      "hot_standby": "on",
 	      "unix_socket_directories": ".",
 	      "wal_level": "hot_standby",
-	      "wal_log_hints": "on",
 	      "max_wal_senders": 5
 	    },
 	    "use_pg_rewind": true
diff --git a/docs/yaml_configuration.rst b/docs/yaml_configuration.rst
index 41776f87..f0cb8ef4 100644
--- a/docs/yaml_configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/yaml_configuration.rst
@@ -49,16 +49,23 @@ Bootstrap configuration
       -  **- data-checksums**: Must be enabled when pg_rewind is needed on 9.3.
       -  **- encoding: UTF8**: default encoding for new databases.
       -  **- locale: UTF8**: default locale for new databases.
-   -  **users**: Some additional users which need to be created after initializing new cluster
+   -  **users**: Some additional users which need to be created after initializing new cluster, see :ref:`Bootstrap users configuration <bootstrap_users_configuration>` below.
+   -  **post\_bootstrap** or **post\_init**: An additional script that will be executed after initializing the cluster. The script receives a connection string URL (with the cluster superuser as a user name). The PGPASSFILE variable is set to the location of pgpass file.
 
-      -  **admin**: the name of user
+.. _bootstrap_users_configuration:
 
-         -  **password**: (optional) password for the user
-         -  **options**: list of options for CREATE USER statement
+Bootstrap users configuration
+=============================
 
-            -  **- createrole**
-            -  **- createdb**
-   -  **post\_bootstrap** or **post\_init**: An additional script that will be executed after initializing the cluster. The script receives a connection string URL (with the cluster superuser as a user name). The PGPASSFILE variable is set to the location of pgpass file.
+Users which need to be created after initializing the cluster:
+
+-  **admin**: the name of user
+
+  -  **password**: (optional) password for the user
+  -  **options**: list of options for CREATE USER statement
+
+    -  **- createrole**
+    -  **- createdb**
 
 .. _citus_settings:
 
diff --git a/patroni/api.py b/patroni/api.py
index 3397d8c3..18170334 100644
--- a/patroni/api.py
+++ b/patroni/api.py
@@ -49,9 +49,23 @@ def check_access(func: Callable[['RestApiHandler'], None]) -> Callable[..., None
 
     :Example:
 
-        @check_access
-        def do_PUT_foo():
-            pass
+        >>> class FooServer:
+        ...   def check_access(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        ...     print(f'In FooServer: {args[0].__class__.__name__}')
+        ...     return True
+        ...
+
+        >>> class Foo:
+        ...   server = FooServer()
+        ...   @check_access
+        ...   def do_PUT_foo(self):
+        ...      print('In do_PUT_foo')
+
+        >>> f = Foo()
+        >>> f.do_PUT_foo()
+        In FooServer: Foo
+        In do_PUT_foo
+
     """
 
     def wrapper(self: 'RestApiHandler', *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
@@ -97,6 +111,7 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         """Write a response that is composed only of the HTTP status.
 
         The response is written with these values separated by space:
+
             * HTTP protocol version;
             * *status_code*;
             * description of *status_code*.
@@ -157,19 +172,19 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         Modifies *response* before sending it to the client. Defines the ``patroni`` key, which is a
         dictionary that contains the mandatory keys:
 
-        * ``version``: Patroni version, e.g. ``3.0.2``;
-        * ``scope``: value of ``scope`` setting from Patroni configuration.
+            * ``version``: Patroni version, e.g. ``3.0.2``;
+            * ``scope``: value of ``scope`` setting from Patroni configuration.
 
         May also add the following optional keys, depending on the status of this Patroni/PostgreSQL node:
 
-        * ``tags``: tags that were set through Patroni configuration merged with dynamically applied tags;
-        * ``database_system_identifier``: ``Database system identifier`` from ``pg_controldata`` output;
-        * ``pending_restart``: ``True`` if PostgreSQL is pending to be restarted;
-        * ``scheduled_restart``: a dictionary with a single key ``schedule``, which is the timestamp for the scheduled
-            restart;
-        * ``watchdog_failed``: ``True`` if watchdog device is unhealthy;
-        * ``logger_queue_size``: log queue length if it is longer than expected;
-        * ``logger_records_lost``: number of log records that have been lost while the log queue was full.
+            * ``tags``: tags that were set through Patroni configuration merged with dynamically applied tags;
+            * ``database_system_identifier``: ``Database system identifier`` from ``pg_controldata`` output;
+            * ``pending_restart``: ``True`` if PostgreSQL is pending to be restarted;
+            * ``scheduled_restart``: a dictionary with a single key ``schedule``, which is the timestamp for the
+                scheduled restart;
+            * ``watchdog_failed``: ``True`` if watchdog device is unhealthy;
+            * ``logger_queue_size``: log queue length if it is longer than expected;
+            * ``logger_records_lost``: number of log records that have been lost while the log queue was full.
 
         :param status_code: response HTTP status code.
         :param response: represents the status of the PostgreSQL node, and is used as a basis for the HTTP response.
@@ -204,32 +219,54 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         Is used for handling all health-checks requests. E.g. "GET /(primary|replica|sync|async|etc...)".
 
         The (optional) query parameters and the HTTP response status depend on the requested path:
+
             * ``/``, ``primary``, or ``read-write``:
+
                 * HTTP status ``200``: if a primary with the leader lock.
+
             * ``/standby-leader``:
+
                 * HTTP status ``200``: if holds the leader lock in a standby cluster.
+
             * ``/leader``:
+
                 * HTTP status ``200``: if holds the leader lock.
+
             * ``/replica``:
+
                 * Query parameters:
+
                     * ``lag``: only accept replication lag up to ``lag``. Accepts either an :class:`int`, which
                         represents lag in bytes, or a :class:`str` representing lag in human-readable format (e.g.
                         ``10MB``).
                     * Any custom parameter: will attempt to match them against node tags.
+
                 * HTTP status ``200``: if up and running as a standby and without ``noloadbalance`` tag.
+
             * ``/read-only``:
+
                 * HTTP status ``200``: if up and running and without ``noloadbalance`` tag.
+
             * ``/synchronous`` or ``/sync``:
+
                 * HTTP status ``200``: if up and running as a synchronous standby.
+
             * ``/read-only-sync``:
+
                 * HTTP status ``200``: if up and running as a synchronous standby or primary.
+
             * ``/asynchronous``:
+
                 * Query parameters:
+
                     * ``lag``: only accept replication lag up to ``lag``. Accepts either an :class:`int`, which
                         represents lag in bytes, or a :class:`str` representing lag in human-readable format (e.g.
                         ``10MB``).
+
                 * HTTP status ``200``: if up and running as an asynchronous standby.
+
             * ``/health``:
+
                 * HTTP status ``200``: if up and running.
 
         .. note::
@@ -333,16 +370,16 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
     def do_OPTIONS(self) -> None:
         """Handle an ``OPTIONS`` request.
 
-        Write a simple HTTP response that represents the current PostgreSQL status. Send only `200 OK` or
-        `503 Service Unavailable` as a response and nothing more, particularly no headers.
+        Write a simple HTTP response that represents the current PostgreSQL status. Send only ``200 OK`` or
+        ``503 Service Unavailable`` as a response and nothing more, particularly no headers.
         """
         self.do_GET(write_status_code_only=True)
 
     def do_HEAD(self) -> None:
         """Handle a ``HEAD`` request.
 
-        Write a simple HTTP response that represents the current PostgreSQL status. Send only `200 OK` or
-        `503 Service Unavailable` as a response and nothing more, particularly no headers.
+        Write a simple HTTP response that represents the current PostgreSQL status. Send only ``200 OK`` or
+        ``503 Service Unavailable`` as a response and nothing more, particularly no headers.
         """
         self.do_GET(write_status_code_only=True)
 
@@ -350,11 +387,17 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         """Handle a ``GET`` request to ``/liveness`` path.
 
         Write a simple HTTP response with HTTP status:
+
             * ``200``:
+
                 * If the cluster is in maintenance mode; or
                 * If Patroni heartbeat loop is properly running;
-            * ``503`` if Patroni heartbeat loop last run was more than ``ttl`` setting ago on the primary (or twice the
-                value of ``ttl`` on a replica).
+
+            * ``503``:
+
+                * if Patroni heartbeat loop last run was more than ``ttl`` setting ago on the primary (or twice the
+                    value of ``ttl`` on a replica).
+
         """
         patroni: Patroni = self.server.patroni
         is_primary = patroni.postgresql.role in ('master', 'primary') and patroni.postgresql.is_running()
@@ -371,10 +414,14 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         """Handle a ``GET`` request to ``/readiness`` path.
 
         Write a simple HTTP response which HTTP status can be:
+
             * ``200``:
+
                 * If this Patroni node holds the DCS leader lock; or
                 * If this PostgreSQL instance is up and running;
+
             * ``503``: if none of the previous conditions apply.
+
         """
         patroni = self.server.patroni
         if patroni.ha.is_leader():
@@ -397,8 +444,8 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
     def do_GET_cluster(self) -> None:
         """Handle a ``GET`` request to ``/cluster`` path.
 
-        Write an HTTP response with JSON content based on the output of :func:`cluster_as_json`, with HTTP status
-        ``200`` and the JSON representation of the cluster topology.
+        Write an HTTP response with JSON content based on the output of :func:`~patroni.utils.cluster_as_json`, with
+        HTTP status ``200`` and the JSON representation of the cluster topology.
         """
         cluster = self.server.patroni.dcs.get_cluster(True)
         global_config = self.server.patroni.config.get_global_config(cluster)
@@ -412,11 +459,13 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
 
         The response contains a :class:`list` of failover/switchover events. Each item is a :class:`list` with the
         following items:
+
             * Timeline when the event occurred (class:`int`);
             * LSN at which the event occurred (class:`int`);
             * The reason for the event (class:`str`);
             * Timestamp when the new timeline was created (class:`str`);
             * Name of the involved Patroni node (class:`str`).
+
         """
         cluster = self.server.patroni.dcs.cluster or self.server.patroni.dcs.get_cluster()
         self._write_json_response(200, cluster.history and cluster.history.lines or [])
@@ -443,32 +492,33 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
 
         The response contains the following items:
 
-        * ``patroni_version``: Patroni version without periods, e.g. ``030002`` for Patroni ``3.0.2``;
-        * ``patroni_postgres_running``: ``1`` if PostgreSQL is running, else ``0``;
-        * ``patroni_postmaster_start_time``: epoch timestamp since Postmaster was started;
-        * ``patroni_master``: ``1`` if this node holds the leader lock, else ``0``;
-        * ``patroni_primary``: same as ``patroni_master``;
-        * ``patroni_xlog_location``: ``pg_wal_lsn_diff(pg_current_wal_flush_lsn(), '0/0')`` if leader, else ``0``;
-        * ``patroni_standby_leader``: ``1`` if standby leader node, else ``0``;
-        * ``patroni_replica``: ``1`` if a replica, else ``0``;
-        * ``patroni_sync_standby``: ``1`` if a sync replica, else ``0``;
-        * ``patroni_xlog_received_location``: ``pg_wal_lsn_diff(pg_last_wal_receive_lsn(), '0/0')``;
-        * ``patroni_xlog_replayed_location``: ``pg_wal_lsn_diff(pg_last_wal_replay_lsn(), '0/0)``;
-        * ``patroni_xlog_replayed_timestamp``: ``pg_last_xact_replay_timestamp``;
-        * ``patroni_xlog_paused``: ``pg_is_wal_replay_paused()``;
-        * ``patroni_postgres_server_version``: Postgres version without periods, e.g. ``150002`` for Postgres ``15.2``;
-        * ``patroni_cluster_unlocked``: ``1`` if no one holds the leader lock, else ``0``;
-        * ``patroni_failsafe_mode_is_active``: ``1`` if ``failsafe_mode`` is currently active, else ``0``;
-        * ``patroni_postgres_timeline``: PostgreSQL timeline based on current WAL file name;
-        * ``patroni_dcs_last_seen``: epoch timestamp when DCS was last contacted successfully;
-        * ``patroni_pending_restart``: ``1`` if this PostgreSQL node is pending a restart, else ``0``;
-        * ``patroni_is_paused``: ``1`` if Patroni is in maintenance node, else ``0``.
+            * ``patroni_version``: Patroni version without periods, e.g. ``030002`` for Patroni ``3.0.2``;
+            * ``patroni_postgres_running``: ``1`` if PostgreSQL is running, else ``0``;
+            * ``patroni_postmaster_start_time``: epoch timestamp since Postmaster was started;
+            * ``patroni_master``: ``1`` if this node holds the leader lock, else ``0``;
+            * ``patroni_primary``: same as ``patroni_master``;
+            * ``patroni_xlog_location``: ``pg_wal_lsn_diff(pg_current_wal_flush_lsn(), '0/0')`` if leader, else ``0``;
+            * ``patroni_standby_leader``: ``1`` if standby leader node, else ``0``;
+            * ``patroni_replica``: ``1`` if a replica, else ``0``;
+            * ``patroni_sync_standby``: ``1`` if a sync replica, else ``0``;
+            * ``patroni_xlog_received_location``: ``pg_wal_lsn_diff(pg_last_wal_receive_lsn(), '0/0')``;
+            * ``patroni_xlog_replayed_location``: ``pg_wal_lsn_diff(pg_last_wal_replay_lsn(), '0/0)``;
+            * ``patroni_xlog_replayed_timestamp``: ``pg_last_xact_replay_timestamp``;
+            * ``patroni_xlog_paused``: ``pg_is_wal_replay_paused()``;
+            * ``patroni_postgres_server_version``: Postgres version without periods, e.g. ``150002`` for Postgres
+              ``15.2``;
+            * ``patroni_cluster_unlocked``: ``1`` if no one holds the leader lock, else ``0``;
+            * ``patroni_failsafe_mode_is_active``: ``1`` if ``failsafe_mode`` is currently active, else ``0``;
+            * ``patroni_postgres_timeline``: PostgreSQL timeline based on current WAL file name;
+            * ``patroni_dcs_last_seen``: epoch timestamp when DCS was last contacted successfully;
+            * ``patroni_pending_restart``: ``1`` if this PostgreSQL node is pending a restart, else ``0``;
+            * ``patroni_is_paused``: ``1`` if Patroni is in maintenance node, else ``0``.
 
         For PostgreSQL v9.6+ the response will also have the following:
 
-        * ``patroni_postgres_streaming``: 1 if Postgres is streaming from another node, else ``0``;
-        * ``patroni_postgres_in_archive_recovery``: ``1`` if Postgres isn't streaming and
-                                                    there is ``restore_command`` available, else ``0``.
+            * ``patroni_postgres_streaming``: 1 if Postgres is streaming from another node, else ``0``;
+            * ``patroni_postgres_in_archive_recovery``: ``1`` if Postgres isn't streaming and
+              there is ``restore_command`` available, else ``0``.
         """
         postgres = self.get_postgresql_status(True)
         patroni = self.server.patroni
@@ -667,7 +717,7 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
     def do_POST_reload(self) -> None:
         """Handle a ``POST`` request to ``/reload`` path.
 
-        Schedules a reload to Patroni and writes a response with HTTP status `202`.
+        Schedules a reload to Patroni and writes a response with HTTP status ``202``.
         """
         self.server.patroni.sighup_handler()
         self.write_response(202, 'reload scheduled')
@@ -728,13 +778,17 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         :param schedule: a string representing a timestamp, e.g. ``2023-04-14T20:27:00+00:00``.
         :param action: the action to be scheduled (``restart``, ``switchover``, or ``failover``).
 
-        :returns: a tuple composed of 3 items
+        :returns: a tuple composed of 3 items:
+
             * Suggested HTTP status code for a response:
+
                 * ``None``: if no issue was faced while parsing, leaving it up to the caller to decide the status; or
                 * ``400``: if no timezone information could be found in *schedule*; or
                 * ``422``: if *schedule* is invalid -- in the past or not parsable.
+
             * An error message, if any error is faced, otherwise ``None``;
             * Parsed *schedule*, if able to parse, otherwise ``None``.
+
         """
         error = None
         scheduled_at = None
@@ -761,25 +815,31 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         Used to restart postgres (or schedule a restart), mainly by ``patronictl restart``.
 
         The request body should be a JSON dictionary, and it can contain the following keys:
+
             * ``schedule``: timestamp at which the restart should occur;
             * ``role``: restart only nodes which role is ``role``. Can be either:
+
                 * ``primary`` (or ``master``); or
                 * ``replica``.
+
             * ``postgres_version``: restart only nodes which PostgreSQL version is less than ``postgres_version``, e.g.
                 ``15.2``;
             * ``timeout``: if restart takes longer than ``timeout`` return an error and fail over to a replica;
             * ``restart_pending``: if we should restart only when have ``pending restart`` flag;
 
         Response HTTP status codes:
+
             * ``200``: if successfully performed an immediate restart; or
             * ``202``: if successfully scheduled a restart for later; or
             * ``500``: if the cluster is in maintenance mode; or
             * ``400``: if
+
                 * ``role`` value is invalid; or
                 * ``postgres_version`` value is invalid; or
                 * ``timeout`` is not a number, or lesser than ``0``; or
                 * request contains an unknown key; or
                 * exception is faced while performing an immediate restart.
+
             * ``409``: if another restart was already previously scheduled; or
             * ``503``: if any issue was found while performing an immediate restart; or
             * HTTP status returned by :func:`parse_schedule`, if any error was observed while parsing the schedule.
@@ -857,6 +917,7 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         Used to remove a scheduled restart of PostgreSQL.
 
         Response HTTP status codes:
+
             * ``200``: if a scheduled restart was removed; or
             * ``404``: if no scheduled restart could be found.
         """
@@ -875,6 +936,7 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         Used to remove a scheduled switchover in the cluster.
 
         It writes a response, and the HTTP status code can be:
+
             * ``200``: if a scheduled switchover was removed; or
             * ``404``: if no scheduled switchover could be found; or
             * ``409``: if not able to update the switchover info in the DCS.
@@ -896,11 +958,13 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         """Handle a ``POST`` request to ``/reinitialize`` path.
 
         The request body may contain a JSON dictionary with the following key:
+
             * ``force``: ``True`` if we want to cancel an already running task in order to reinit a replica.
 
         Response HTTP status codes:
+
             * ``200``: if the reinit operation has started; or
-            * ``503``: if any error is returned by :func:`Ha.reinitialize`.
+            * ``503``: if any error is returned by :func:`~patroni.ha.Ha.reinitialize`.
         """
         request = self._read_json_content(body_is_optional=True)
 
@@ -924,11 +988,15 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         :param candidate: name of the Patroni node to be promoted.
         :param action: the action that is ongoing (``switchover`` or ``failover``).
 
-        :returns: a tuple composed of 2 items
+        :returns: a tuple composed of 2 items:
+
             * Response HTTP status codes:
+
                 * ``200``: if the operation succeeded; or
                 * ``503``: if the operation failed or timed out.
+
             * A status message about the operation.
+
         """
         timeout = max(10, self.server.patroni.dcs.loop_wait)
         for _ in range(0, timeout * 2):
@@ -987,12 +1055,14 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         Handles manual failovers/switchovers, mainly from ``patronictl``.
 
         The request body should be a JSON dictionary, and it can contain the following keys:
+
             * ``leader``: name of the current leader in the cluster;
             * ``candidate``: name of the Patroni node to be promoted;
             * ``scheduled_at``: a string representing the timestamp when to execute the switchover/failover, e.g.
                 ``2023-04-14T20:27:00+00:00``.
 
         Response HTTP status codes:
+
             * ``202``: if operation has been scheduled;
             * ``412``: if operation is not possible;
             * ``503``: if unable to register the operation to the DCS;
@@ -1069,8 +1139,8 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
     def do_POST_citus(self) -> None:
         """Handle a ``POST`` request to ``/citus`` path.
 
-        Call :func:`CitusHandler.handle_event` to handle the request, then write a response with HTTP status code
-        ``200``.
+        Call :func:`~patroni.postgresql.CitusHandler.handle_event` to handle the request, then write a response with
+        HTTP status code ``200``.
 
         .. note::
             If unable to parse the request body, then the request is silently discarded.
@@ -1086,18 +1156,21 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         self.write_response(200, 'OK')
 
     def parse_request(self) -> bool:
-        """Override :func:`parse_request` method to enrich basic functionality of :class:`BaseHTTPRequestHandler`.
+        """Override :func:`parse_request` to enrich basic functionality of :class:`~http.server.BaseHTTPRequestHandler`.
 
         Original class can only invoke :func:`do_GET`, :func:`do_POST`, :func:`do_PUT`, etc method implementations if
         they are defined.
+
         But we would like to have at least some simple routing mechanism, i.e.:
+
             * ``GET /uri1/part2`` request should invoke :func:`do_GET_uri1()`
             * ``POST /other`` should invoke :func:`do_POST_other()`
 
         If the :func:`do_<REQUEST_METHOD>_<first_part_url>` method does not exist we'll fall back to original behavior.
 
         :returns: ``True`` for success, ``False`` for failure; on failure, any relevant error response has already been
-        sent back.
+                  sent back.
+
         """
         ret = BaseHTTPRequestHandler.parse_request(self)
         if ret:
@@ -1131,36 +1204,46 @@ class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         Some of the values are collected by executing a query and other are taken from the state stored in memory.
 
         :param retry: whether the query should be retried if failed or give up immediately
+
         :returns: a dict with the status of Postgres/Patroni. The keys are:
+
             * ``state``: Postgres state among ``stopping``, ``stopped``, ``stop failed``, ``crashed``, ``running``,
-                ``starting``, ``start failed``, ``restarting``, ``restart failed``, ``initializing new cluster``,
-                ``initdb failed``, ``running custom bootstrap script``, ``custom bootstrap failed``,
-                ``creating replica``, or ``unknown``;
+              ``starting``, ``start failed``, ``restarting``, ``restart failed``, ``initializing new cluster``,
+              ``initdb failed``, ``running custom bootstrap script``, ``custom bootstrap failed``,
+              ``creating replica``, or ``unknown``;
             * ``postmaster_start_time``: ``pg_postmaster_start_time()``;
             * ``role``: ``replica`` or ``master`` based on ``pg_is_in_recovery()`` output;
             * ``server_version``: Postgres version without periods, e.g. ``150002`` for Postgres ``15.2``;
             * ``xlog``: dictionary. Its structure depends on ``role``:
+
                 * If ``master``:
+
                     * ``location``: ``pg_current_wal_flush_lsn()``
+
                 * If ``replica``:
+
                     * ``received_location``: ``pg_wal_lsn_diff(pg_last_wal_receive_lsn(), '0/0')``;
                     * ``replayed_location``: ``pg_wal_lsn_diff(pg_last_wal_replay_lsn(), '0/0)``;
                     * ``replayed_timestamp``: ``pg_last_xact_replay_timestamp``;
                     * ``paused``: ``pg_is_wal_replay_paused()``;
+
             * ``sync_standby``: ``True`` if replication mode is synchronous and this is a sync standby;
             * ``timeline``: PostgreSQL primary node timeline;
             * ``replication``: :class:`list` of :class:`dict` entries, one for each replication connection. Each entry
                 contains the following keys:
+
                 * ``application_name``: ``pg_stat_activity.application_name``;
                 * ``client_addr``: ``pg_stat_activity.client_addr``;
                 * ``state``: ``pg_stat_replication.state``;
                 * ``sync_priority``: ``pg_stat_replication.sync_priority``;
                 * ``sync_state``: ``pg_stat_replication.sync_state``;
                 * ``usename``: ``pg_stat_activity.usename``.
+
             * ``pause``: ``True`` if cluster is in maintenance mode;
             * ``cluster_unlocked``: ``True`` if cluster has no node holding the leader lock;
             * ``failsafe_mode_is_active``: ``True`` if DCS failsafe mode is currently active;
             * ``dcs_last_seen``: epoch timestamp DCS was last reached by Patroni.
+
         """
         postgresql = self.server.patroni.postgresql
         cluster = self.server.patroni.dcs.cluster
@@ -1291,8 +1374,10 @@ class RestApiServer(ThreadingMixIn, HTTPServer, Thread):
         :param params: positional arguments to be used as parameters for *sql*.
 
         :returns: a list of rows that were fetched from the database.
-        :raises psycopg.Error: if had issues while executing *sql*.
-        :raises PostgresConnectionException: if had issues while connecting to the database.
+
+        :raises:
+            :class:`psycopg.Error`: if had issues while executing *sql*.
+            :class:`~patroni.exceptions.PostgresConnectionException`: if had issues while connecting to the database.
         """
         cursor = None
         try:
@@ -1352,7 +1437,7 @@ class RestApiServer(ThreadingMixIn, HTTPServer, Thread):
         :param host: hostname to be checked.
         :param port: port to be checked.
 
-        :rtype: Iterator[Union[IPv4Network, IPv6Network]] of *host* + *port* resolved to IP networks.
+        :yields: *host* + *port* resolved to IP networks.
         """
         try:
             for _, _, _, _, sa in socket.getaddrinfo(host, port, 0, socket.SOCK_STREAM, socket.IPPROTO_TCP):
@@ -1366,8 +1451,7 @@ class RestApiServer(ThreadingMixIn, HTTPServer, Thread):
         .. note::
             Only yields object if ``restapi.allowlist_include_members`` setting is enabled.
 
-        :rtype: Iterator[Union[IPv4Network, IPv6Network]] of each node ``restapi.connect_address`` resolved to an IP
-            network.
+        :yields: each node ``restapi.connect_address`` resolved to an IP network.
         """
         cluster = self.patroni.dcs.cluster
         if self.__allowlist_include_members and cluster:
@@ -1387,8 +1471,10 @@ class RestApiServer(ThreadingMixIn, HTTPServer, Thread):
         """Ensure client has enough privileges to perform a given request.
 
         Write a response back to the client if any issue is observed, and the HTTP status may be:
+
             * ``401``: if ``Authorization`` header is missing or contain an invalid password;
             * ``403``: if:
+
                 * ``restapi.allowlist`` was configured, but client IP is not in the allowed list; or
                 * ``restapi.allowlist_include_members`` is enabled, but client IP is not in the members list; or
                 * a client certificate is expected by the server, but is missing in the request.
@@ -1468,17 +1554,20 @@ class RestApiServer(ThreadingMixIn, HTTPServer, Thread):
             ``host`` can be a hostname or IP address. It is the value of ``restapi.listen`` setting.
         :param ssl_options: dictionary that may contain the following keys, depending on what has been configured in
             ``restapi` section:
+
             * ``certfile``: path to PEM certificate. If given, will start in HTTPS mode;
             * ``keyfile``: path to key of ``certfile``;
             * ``keyfile_password``: password for decrypting ``keyfile``;
             * ``cafile``: path to CA file to validate client certificates;
             * ``ciphers``: permitted cipher suites;
             * ``verify_client``: value can be one among:
+
                 * ``none``: do not check client certificates;
                 * ``optional``: check client certificate only for unsafe REST API endpoints;
                 * ``required``: check client certificate for all REST API endpoints.
 
-        :raises ValueError: if any issue is faced while parsing *listen*.
+        :raises:
+            :class:`ValueError`: if any issue is faced while parsing *listen*.
         """
         try:
             host, port = split_host_port(listen, None)
@@ -1526,7 +1615,8 @@ class RestApiServer(ThreadingMixIn, HTTPServer, Thread):
                                client_address: Tuple[str, int]) -> None:
         """Process a request to the REST API.
 
-        Wrapper for :func:`ThreadingMixIn.process_request_thread` that additionally:
+        Wrapper for :func:`~socketserver.ThreadingMixIn.process_request_thread` that additionally:
+
             * Enable TCP keepalive
             * Perform SSL handshake (if an SSL socket).
 
@@ -1544,7 +1634,8 @@ class RestApiServer(ThreadingMixIn, HTTPServer, Thread):
     def shutdown_request(self, request: Union[socket.socket, Tuple[bytes, socket.socket]]) -> None:
         """Shut down a request to the REST API.
 
-        Wrapper for :func:`HTTPServer.shutdown_request` that additionally:
+        Wrapper for :func:`http.server.HTTPServer.shutdown_request` that additionally:
+
             * Perform SSL shutdown handshake (if a SSL socket).
 
         :param request: socket to handle the client request.
@@ -1592,7 +1683,7 @@ class RestApiServer(ThreadingMixIn, HTTPServer, Thread):
         :param value: list of IPs and/or networks contained in ``restapi.allowlist`` setting. Each item can be a host,
             an IP, or a network in CIDR format.
 
-        :rtype: Iterator[Union[IPv4Network, IPv6Network]] of *host* + *port* resolved to IP networks.
+        :yields: *host* + *port* resolved to IP networks.
         """
         if isinstance(value, list):
             for v in value:
@@ -1609,7 +1700,9 @@ class RestApiServer(ThreadingMixIn, HTTPServer, Thread):
         """Reload REST API configuration.
 
         :param config: dictionary representing values under the ``restapi`` configuration section.
-        :raises ValueError: if ``listen`` key is not present in *config*.
+
+        :raises:
+            :class:`ValueError`: if ``listen`` key is not present in *config*.
         """
         if 'listen' not in config:  # changing config in runtime
             raise ValueError('Can not find "restapi.listen" config')
diff --git a/patroni/config.py b/patroni/config.py
index 4e6da10f..55c8f4bf 100644
--- a/patroni/config.py
+++ b/patroni/config.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+"""Facilities related to Patroni configuration."""
 import json
 import logging
 import os
@@ -35,121 +36,162 @@ _AUTH_ALLOWED_PARAMETERS = (
 
 
 def default_validator(conf: Dict[str, Any]) -> List[str]:
+    """Ensure *conf* is not empty.
+
+    Designed to be used as default validator for :class:`Config` objects, if no specific validator is provided.
+
+    :param conf: configuration to be validated.
+
+    :returns: an empty list -- :class:`Config` expects the validator to return a list of 0 or more issues found while
+        validating the configuration.
+
+    :raises:
+        :class:`ConfigParseError`: if *conf* is empty.
+    """
     if not conf:
         raise ConfigParseError("Config is empty.")
     return []
 
 
 class GlobalConfig(object):
+    """A class that wraps global configuration and provides convenient methods to access/check values.
 
-    """A class that wrapps global configuration and provides convinient methods to access/check values.
-
-    It is instantiated by calling :func:`Config.global_config` method which picks either a
-    configuration from provided :class:`Cluster` object (the most up-to-date) or from the
-    local cache if :class::`ClusterConfig` is not initialized or doesn't have a valid config.
+    It is instantiated either by calling :func:`get_global_config` or :meth:`Config.get_global_config`, which picks
+    either a configuration from provided :class:`Cluster` object (the most up-to-date) or from the
+    local cache if :class:`ClusterConfig` is not initialized or doesn't have a valid config.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, config: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
-        """Initialize :class:`GlobalConfig` object.
+        """Initialize :class:`GlobalConfig` object with given *config*.
 
         :param config: current configuration either from
-                       :class:`ClusterConfig` or from :class:`Config.dynamic_configuration`
+                       :class:`ClusterConfig` or from :func:`Config.dynamic_configuration`.
         """
         self.__config = config
 
     def get(self, name: str) -> Any:
-        """Gets global configuration value by name.
+        """Gets global configuration value by *name*.
+
+        :param name: parameter name.
 
-        :param name: parameter name
-        :returns: configuration value or `None` if it is missing
+        :returns: configuration value or ``None`` if it is missing.
         """
         return self.__config.get(name)
 
     def check_mode(self, mode: str) -> bool:
         """Checks whether the certain parameter is enabled.
 
-        :param mode: parameter name could be: synchronous_mode, failsafe_mode, pause, check_timeline, and so on
-        :returns: `True` if *mode* is enabled in the global configuration.
+        :param mode: parameter name, e.g. ``synchronous_mode``, ``failsafe_mode``, ``pause``, ``check_timeline``, and
+            so on.
+
+        :returns: ``True`` if parameter *mode* is enabled in the global configuration.
         """
         return bool(parse_bool(self.__config.get(mode)))
 
     @property
     def is_paused(self) -> bool:
-        """:returns: `True` if cluster is in maintenance mode."""
+        """``True`` if cluster is in maintenance mode."""
         return self.check_mode('pause')
 
     @property
     def is_synchronous_mode(self) -> bool:
-        """:returns: `True` if synchronous replication is requested."""
+        """``True`` if synchronous replication is requested."""
         return self.check_mode('synchronous_mode')
 
     @property
     def is_synchronous_mode_strict(self) -> bool:
-        """:returns: `True` if at least one synchronous node is required."""
+        """``True`` if at least one synchronous node is required."""
         return self.check_mode('synchronous_mode_strict')
 
     def get_standby_cluster_config(self) -> Union[Dict[str, Any], Any]:
-        """:returns: "standby_cluster" configuration."""
+        """Get ``standby_cluster`` configuration.
+
+        :returns: a copy of ``standby_cluster`` configuration.
+        """
         return deepcopy(self.get('standby_cluster'))
 
     @property
     def is_standby_cluster(self) -> bool:
-        """:returns: `True` if global configuration has a valid "standby_cluster" section."""
+        """``True`` if global configuration has a valid ``standby_cluster`` section."""
         config = self.get_standby_cluster_config()
         return isinstance(config, dict) and\
             bool(config.get('host') or config.get('port') or config.get('restore_command'))
 
     def get_int(self, name: str, default: int = 0) -> int:
-        """Gets current value from the global configuration and trying to return it as int.
+        """Gets current value of *name* from the global configuration and try to return it as :class:`int`.
 
-        :param name: name of the parameter
-        :param default: default value if *name* is not in the configuration or invalid
-        :returns: currently configured value from the global configuration or *default* if it is not set or invalid.
+        :param name: name of the parameter.
+        :param default: default value if *name* is not in the configuration or invalid.
+
+        :returns: currently configured value of *name* from the global configuration or *default* if it is not set or
+            invalid.
         """
         ret = parse_int(self.get(name))
         return default if ret is None else ret
 
     @property
     def min_synchronous_nodes(self) -> int:
-        """:returns: the minimal number of synchronous nodes based on whether strict mode is requested or not."""
+        """The minimal number of synchronous nodes based on whether ``synchronous_mode_strict`` is enabled or not."""
         return 1 if self.is_synchronous_mode_strict else 0
 
     @property
     def synchronous_node_count(self) -> int:
-        """:returns: currently configured value from the global configuration or 1 if it is not set or invalid."""
+        """Currently configured value of ``synchronous_node_count`` from the global configuration.
+
+        Assume ``1`` if it is not set or invalid.
+        """
         return max(self.get_int('synchronous_node_count', 1), self.min_synchronous_nodes)
 
     @property
     def maximum_lag_on_failover(self) -> int:
-        """:returns: currently configured value from the global configuration or 1048576 if it is not set or invalid."""
+        """Currently configured value of ``maximum_lag_on_failover`` from the global configuration.
+
+        Assume ``1048576`` if it is not set or invalid.
+        """
         return self.get_int('maximum_lag_on_failover', 1048576)
 
     @property
     def maximum_lag_on_syncnode(self) -> int:
-        """:returns: currently configured value from the global configuration or -1 if it is not set or invalid."""
+        """Currently configured value of ``maximum_lag_on_syncnode`` from the global configuration.
+
+        Assume ``-1`` if it is not set or invalid.
+        """
         return self.get_int('maximum_lag_on_syncnode', -1)
 
     @property
     def primary_start_timeout(self) -> int:
-        """:returns: currently configured value from the global configuration or 300 if it is not set or invalid."""
+        """Currently configured value of ``primary_start_timeout`` from the global configuration.
+
+        Assume ``300`` if it is not set or invalid.
+
+        .. note::
+            ``master_start_timeout`` is still supported to keep backward compatibility.
+        """
         default = 300
         return self.get_int('primary_start_timeout', default)\
             if 'primary_start_timeout' in self.__config else self.get_int('master_start_timeout', default)
 
     @property
     def primary_stop_timeout(self) -> int:
-        """:returns: currently configured value from the global configuration or 300 if it is not set or invalid."""
+        """Currently configured value of ``primary_stop_timeout`` from the global configuration.
+
+        Assume ``0`` if it is not set or invalid.
+
+        .. note::
+            ``master_stop_timeout`` is still supported to keep backward compatibility.
+        """
         default = 0
         return self.get_int('primary_stop_timeout', default)\
             if 'primary_stop_timeout' in self.__config else self.get_int('master_stop_timeout', default)
 
 
-def get_global_config(cluster: Union[Cluster, None], default: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None) -> GlobalConfig:
+def get_global_config(cluster: Optional[Cluster], default: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None) -> GlobalConfig:
     """Instantiates :class:`GlobalConfig` based on the input.
 
-    :param cluster: the currently known cluster state from DCS
-    :param default: default configuration, which will be used if there is no valid *cluster.config*
-    :returns: :class:`GlobalConfig` object
+    :param cluster: the currently known cluster state from DCS.
+    :param default: default configuration, which will be used if there is no valid *cluster.config*.
+
+    :returns: :class:`GlobalConfig` object.
     """
     # Try to protect from the case when DCS was wiped out
     if cluster and cluster.config and cluster.config.modify_version:
@@ -160,23 +202,29 @@ def get_global_config(cluster: Union[Cluster, None], default: Optional[Dict[str,
 
 
 class Config(object):
-    """
+    """Handle Patroni configuration.
+
     This class is responsible for:
 
-      1) Building and giving access to `effective_configuration` from:
-         * `Config.__DEFAULT_CONFIG` -- some sane default values
-         * `dynamic_configuration` -- configuration stored in DCS
-         * `local_configuration` -- configuration from `config.yml` or environment
+      1) Building and giving access to ``effective_configuration`` from:
 
-      2) Saving and loading `dynamic_configuration` into 'patroni.dynamic.json' file
+         * ``Config.__DEFAULT_CONFIG`` -- some sane default values;
+         * ``dynamic_configuration`` -- configuration stored in DCS;
+         * ``local_configuration`` -- configuration from `config.yml` or environment.
+
+      2) Saving and loading ``dynamic_configuration`` into 'patroni.dynamic.json' file
          located in local_configuration['postgresql']['data_dir'] directory.
-         This is necessary to be able to restore `dynamic_configuration`
-         if DCS was accidentally wiped
+         This is necessary to be able to restore ``dynamic_configuration``
+         if DCS was accidentally wiped.
+
+      3) Loading of configuration file in the old format and converting it into new format.
 
-      3) Loading of configuration file in the old format and converting it into new format
+      4) Mimicking some ``dict`` interfaces to make it possible
+         to work with it as with the old ``config`` object.
 
-      4) Mimicking some of the `dict` interfaces to make it possible
-         to work with it as with the old `config` object.
+    :cvar PATRONI_CONFIG_VARIABLE: name of the environment variable that can be used to load Patroni configuration from.
+    :cvar __CACHE_FILENAME: name of the file used to cache dynamic configuration under Postgres data directory.
+    :cvar __DEFAULT_CONFIG: default configuration values for some Patroni settings.
     """
 
     PATRONI_CONFIG_VARIABLE = PATRONI_ENV_PREFIX + 'CONFIGURATION'
@@ -202,12 +250,30 @@ class Config(object):
 
     def __init__(self, configfile: str,
                  validator: Optional[Callable[[Dict[str, Any]], List[str]]] = default_validator) -> None:
+        """Create a new instance of :class:`Config` and validate the loaded configuration using *validator*.
+
+        .. note::
+            Patroni will read configuration from these locations in this order:
+
+              * file or directory path passed as command-line argument (*configfile*), if it exists and the file or
+                files found in the directory can be parsed (see :meth:`~Config._load_config_path`), otherwise
+              * YAML file passed via the environment variable (see :cvar:`PATRONI_CONFIG_VARIABLE`), if the referenced
+                file exists and can be parsed, otherwise
+              * from configuration values defined as environment variables, see
+                :meth:`~Config._build_environment_configuration`.
+
+        :param configfile: path to Patroni configuration file.
+        :param validator: function used to validate Patroni configuration. It should receive a dictionary which
+            represents Patroni configuration, and return a list of zero or more error messages based on validation.
+
+        :raises:
+            :class:`ConfigParseError`: if any issue is reported by *validator*.
+        """
         self._modify_version = -1
         self._dynamic_configuration = {}
 
         self.__environment_configuration = self._build_environment_configuration()
 
-        # Patroni reads the configuration from the command-line argument if it exists, otherwise from the environment
         self._config_file = configfile if configfile and os.path.exists(configfile) else None
         if self._config_file:
             self._local_configuration = self._load_config_file()
@@ -228,11 +294,13 @@ class Config(object):
         self._cache_needs_saving = False
 
     @property
-    def config_file(self) -> Union[str, None]:
+    def config_file(self) -> Optional[str]:
+        """Path to Patroni configuration file, if any, else ``None``."""
         return self._config_file
 
     @property
     def dynamic_configuration(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Deep copy of cached Patroni dynamic configuration."""
         return deepcopy(self._dynamic_configuration)
 
     @property
@@ -252,9 +320,17 @@ class Config(object):
         return deepcopy(cls.__DEFAULT_CONFIG)
 
     def _load_config_path(self, path: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        """
-        If path is a file, loads the yml file pointed to by path.
-        If path is a directory, loads all yml files in that directory in alphabetical order
+        """Load Patroni configuration file(s) from *path*.
+
+        If *path* is a file, load the yml file pointed to by *path*.
+        If *path* is a directory, load all yml files in that directory in alphabetical order.
+
+        :param path: path to either an YAML configuration file, or to a folder containing YAML configuration files.
+
+        :returns: configuration after reading the configuration file(s) from *path*.
+
+        :raises:
+            :class:`ConfigParseError`: if *path* is invalid.
         """
         if os.path.isfile(path):
             files = [path]
@@ -273,14 +349,18 @@ class Config(object):
         return overall_config
 
     def _load_config_file(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        """Loads config.yaml from filesystem and applies some values which were set via ENV"""
+        """Load configuration file(s) from filesystem and apply values which were set via environment variables.
+
+        :returns: final configuration after merging configuration file(s) and environment variables.
+        """
         if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
-            assert self._config_file is not None
-        config = self._load_config_path(self._config_file)
+            assert self.config_file is not None
+        config = self._load_config_path(self.config_file)
         patch_config(config, self.__environment_configuration)
         return config
 
     def _load_cache(self) -> None:
+        """Load dynamic configuration from ``patroni.dynamic.json``."""
         if os.path.isfile(self._cache_file):
             try:
                 with open(self._cache_file) as f:
@@ -289,6 +369,12 @@ class Config(object):
                 logger.exception('Exception when loading file: %s', self._cache_file)
 
     def save_cache(self) -> None:
+        """Save dynamic configuration to ``patroni.dynamic.json`` under Postgres data directory.
+
+        .. note::
+            ``patroni.dynamic.jsonXXXXXX`` is created as a temporary file and than renamed to ``patroni.dynamic.json``,
+            where ``XXXXXX`` is a random suffix.
+        """
         if self._cache_needs_saving:
             tmpfile = fd = None
             try:
@@ -315,9 +401,16 @@ class Config(object):
 
     # configuration could be either ClusterConfig or dict
     def set_dynamic_configuration(self, configuration: Union[ClusterConfig, Dict[str, Any]]) -> bool:
+        """Set dynamic configuration values with given *configuration*.
+
+        :param configuration: new dynamic configuration values. Supports :class:`dict` for backward compatibility.
+
+        :returns: ``True`` if changes have been detected between current dynamic configuration and the new dynamic
+            *configuration*, ``False`` otherwise.
+        """
         if isinstance(configuration, ClusterConfig):
             if self._modify_version == configuration.modify_version:
-                return False  # If the version didn't changed there is nothing to do
+                return False  # If the version didn't change there is nothing to do
             self._modify_version = configuration.modify_version
             configuration = configuration.data
 
@@ -333,6 +426,14 @@ class Config(object):
         return False
 
     def reload_local_configuration(self) -> Optional[bool]:
+        """Reload configuration values from the configuration file(s).
+
+        .. note::
+            Designed to be used when user applies changes to configuration file(s), so Patroni can use the new values
+            with a reload instead of a restart.
+
+        :returns: ``True`` if changes have been detected between current local configuration
+        """
         if self.config_file:
             try:
                 configuration = self._load_config_file()
@@ -348,6 +449,38 @@ class Config(object):
 
     @staticmethod
     def _process_postgresql_parameters(parameters: Dict[str, Any], is_local: bool = False) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Process Postgres *parameters*.
+
+        .. note::
+            If *is_local* configuration discard any setting from *parameters* that is listed under
+            :attr:`~patroni.postgresql.config.ConfigHandler.CMDLINE_OPTIONS` as those are supposed to be set only
+            through dynamic configuration.
+
+            When setting parameters from :attr:`~patroni.postgresql.config.ConfigHandler.CMDLINE_OPTIONS` through
+            dynamic configuration their value will be validated as per the validator defined in that very same
+            attribute entry. If the given value cannot be validated, a warning will be logged and the default value of
+            the GUC will be used instead.
+
+            Some parameters from :attr:`~patroni.postgresql.config.ConfigHandler.CMDLINE_OPTIONS` cannot be set even if
+            not *is_local* configuration:
+
+                * ``listen_addresses``: inferred from ``postgresql.listen`` local configuration or from
+                    ``PATRONI_POSTGRESQL_LISTEN`` environment variable;
+                * ``port``: inferred from ``postgresql.listen`` local configuration or from
+                    ``PATRONI_POSTGRESQL_LISTEN`` environment variable;
+                * ``cluster_name``: set through ``scope`` local configuration or through ``PATRONI_SCOPE`` environment
+                    variable;
+                * ``hot_standby``: always enabled;
+                * ``wal_log_hints``: always enabled.
+
+        :param parameters: Postgres parameters to be processed. Should be the parsed YAML value of
+            ``postgresql.parameters`` configuration, either from local or from dynamic configuration.
+
+        :param is_local: should be ``True`` if *parameters* refers to local configuration, or ``False`` if *parameters*
+            refers to dynamic configuration.
+
+        :returns: new value for ``postgresql.parameters`` after processing and validating *parameters*.
+        """
         pg_params: Dict[str, Any] = {}
 
         for name, value in (parameters or {}).items():
@@ -363,6 +496,32 @@ class Config(object):
         return pg_params
 
     def _safe_copy_dynamic_configuration(self, dynamic_configuration: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Create a copy of *dynamic_configuration*.
+
+        Merge *dynamic_configuration* with :attr:`__DEFAULT_CONFIG` (*dynamic_configuration* takes precedence), and
+        process ``postgresql.parameters`` from *dynamic_configuration* through :func:`_process_postgresql_parameters`,
+        if present.
+
+        .. note::
+            The following settings are not allowed in ``postgresql`` section as they are intended to be local
+            configuration, and are removed if present:
+
+                * ``connect_address``;
+                * ``proxy_address``;
+                * ``listen``;
+                * ``config_dir``;
+                * ``data_dir``;
+                * ``pgpass``;
+                * ``authentication``;
+
+            Besides that any setting present in *dynamic_configuration* but absent from :attr:`__DEFAULT_CONFIG` is
+            discarded.
+
+        :param dynamic_configuration: Patroni dynamic configuration.
+
+        :returns: copy of *dynamic_configuration*, merged with default dynamic configuration and with some sanity checks
+            performed over it.
+        """
         config = self.get_default_config()
 
         for name, value in dynamic_configuration.items():
@@ -383,9 +542,25 @@ class Config(object):
 
     @staticmethod
     def _build_environment_configuration() -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Get local configuration settings that were specified through environment variables.
+
+        :returns: dictionary containing the found environment variables and their values, respecting the expected
+            structure of Patroni configuration.
+        """
         ret: Dict[str, Any] = defaultdict(dict)
 
-        def _popenv(name: str) -> Union[str, None]:
+        def _popenv(name: str) -> Optional[str]:
+            """Get value of environment variable *name*.
+
+            .. note::
+                *name* is prefixed with :data:`~patroni.PATRONI_ENV_PREFIX` when searching in the environment.
+
+                Also, the corresponding environment variable is removed from the environment upon reading its value.
+
+            :param name: name of the environment variable.
+
+            :returns: value of *name*, if present in the environment, otherwise ``None``.
+            """
             return os.environ.pop(PATRONI_ENV_PREFIX + name.upper(), None)
 
         for param in ('name', 'namespace', 'scope'):
@@ -394,6 +569,23 @@ class Config(object):
                 ret[param] = value
 
         def _fix_log_env(name: str, oldname: str) -> None:
+            """Normalize a log related environment variable.
+
+            .. note::
+                Patroni used to support different names for log related environment variables in the past. As the
+                environment variables were renamed, this function takes care of mapping and normalizing the environment.
+
+                *name* is prefixed with :data:`~patroni.PATRONI_ENV_PREFIX` and ``LOG`` when searching in the
+                environment.
+
+                *oldname* is prefixed with :data:`~patroni.PATRONI_ENV_PREFIX` when searching in the environment.
+
+                If both *name* and *oldname* are set in the environment, *name* takes precedence.
+
+            :param name: new name of a log related environment variable.
+            :param oldname: original name of a log related environment variable.
+            :type oldname: str
+            """
             value = _popenv(oldname)
             name = PATRONI_ENV_PREFIX + 'LOG_' + name.upper()
             if value and name not in os.environ:
@@ -403,6 +595,15 @@ class Config(object):
             _fix_log_env(name, oldname)
 
         def _set_section_values(section: str, params: List[str]) -> None:
+            """Get value of *params* environment variables that are related with *section*.
+
+            .. note::
+                The values are retrieved from the environment and updated directly into the returning dictionary of
+                :func:`_build_environment_configuration`.
+
+            :param section: configuration section the *params* belong to.
+            :param params: name of the Patroni settings.
+            """
             for param in params:
                 value = _popenv(section + '_' + param)
                 if value:
@@ -424,6 +625,7 @@ class Config(object):
             if value:
                 ret['postgresql'].setdefault('bin_name', {})[binary] = value
 
+        # parse all values retrieved from the environment as Python objects, according to the expected type
         for first, second in (('restapi', 'allowlist_include_members'), ('ctl', 'insecure')):
             value = ret.get(first, {}).pop(second, None)
             if value:
@@ -440,7 +642,13 @@ class Config(object):
                     if value is not None:
                         ret[first][second] = value
 
-        def _parse_list(value: str) -> Union[List[str], None]:
+        def _parse_list(value: str) -> Optional[List[str]]:
+            """Parse an YAML list *value* as a :class:`list`.
+
+            :param value: YAML list as a string.
+
+            :returns: *value* as :class:`list`.
+            """
             if not (value.strip().startswith('-') or '[' in value):
                 value = '[{0}]'.format(value)
             try:
@@ -456,7 +664,13 @@ class Config(object):
                 if value:
                     ret[first][second] = value
 
-        def _parse_dict(value: str) -> Union[Dict[str, Any], None]:
+        def _parse_dict(value: str) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+            """Parse an YAML dictionary *value* as a :class:`dict`.
+
+            :param value: YAML dictionary as a string.
+
+            :returns: *value* as :class:`dict`.
+            """
             if not value.strip().startswith('{'):
                 value = '{{{0}}}'.format(value)
             try:
@@ -473,9 +687,16 @@ class Config(object):
                     if value:
                         ret[first][second] = value
 
-        def _get_auth(name: str, params: Optional[Collection[str]] = None) -> Dict[str, str]:
+        def _get_auth(name: str, params: Collection[str] = _AUTH_ALLOWED_PARAMETERS[:2]) -> Dict[str, str]:
+            """Get authorization related environment variables *params* from section *name*.
+
+            :param name: name of a configuration section that may contain authorization *params*.
+            :param params: the authorization settings that may be set under section *name*.
+
+            :returns: dictionary containing environment values for authorization *params* of section *name*.
+            """
             ret: Dict[str, str] = {}
-            for param in params or _AUTH_ALLOWED_PARAMETERS[:2]:
+            for param in params:
                 value = _popenv(name + '_' + param)
                 if value:
                     ret[param] = value
@@ -498,7 +719,7 @@ class Config(object):
         for param in list(os.environ.keys()):
             if param.startswith(PATRONI_ENV_PREFIX):
                 # PATRONI_(ETCD|CONSUL|ZOOKEEPER|EXHIBITOR|...)_(HOSTS?|PORT|..)
-                name, suffix = (param[8:].split('_', 1) + [''])[:2]
+                name, suffix = (param[len(PATRONI_ENV_PREFIX):].split('_', 1) + [''])[:2]
                 if suffix in ('HOST', 'HOSTS', 'PORT', 'USE_PROXIES', 'PROTOCOL', 'SRV', 'SRV_SUFFIX', 'URL', 'PROXY',
                               'CACERT', 'CERT', 'KEY', 'VERIFY', 'TOKEN', 'CHECKS', 'DC', 'CONSISTENCY',
                               'REGISTER_SERVICE', 'SERVICE_CHECK_INTERVAL', 'SERVICE_CHECK_TLS_SERVER_NAME',
@@ -529,14 +750,14 @@ class Config(object):
         users = {}
         for param in list(os.environ.keys()):
             if param.startswith(PATRONI_ENV_PREFIX):
-                name, suffix = (param[8:].rsplit('_', 1) + [''])[:2]
+                name, suffix = (param[len(PATRONI_ENV_PREFIX):].rsplit('_', 1) + [''])[:2]
                 # PATRONI_<username>_PASSWORD=<password>, PATRONI_<username>_OPTIONS=<option1,option2,...>
                 # CREATE USER "<username>" WITH <OPTIONS> PASSWORD '<password>'
                 if name and suffix == 'PASSWORD':
                     password = os.environ.pop(param)
                     if password:
                         users[name] = {'password': password}
-                        options = os.environ.pop(param[:-9] + '_OPTIONS', None)
+                        options = os.environ.pop(param[:-9] + '_OPTIONS', None)  # replace "_PASSWORD" with "_OPTIONS"
                         options = options and _parse_list(options)
                         if options:
                             users[name]['options'] = options
@@ -547,6 +768,16 @@ class Config(object):
 
     def _build_effective_configuration(self, dynamic_configuration: Dict[str, Any],
                                        local_configuration: Dict[str, Union[Dict[str, Any], Any]]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Build effective configuration by merging *dynamic_configuration* and *local_configuration*.
+
+        .. note::
+            *local_configuration* takes precedence over *dynamic_configuration* if a setting is defined in both.
+
+        :param dynamic_configuration: Patroni dynamic configuration.
+        :param local_configuration: Patroni local configuration.
+
+        :returns: _description_
+        """
         config = self._safe_copy_dynamic_configuration(dynamic_configuration)
         for name, value in local_configuration.items():
             if name == 'citus':  # remove invalid citus configuration
@@ -610,23 +841,57 @@ class Config(object):
         return config
 
     def get(self, key: str, default: Optional[Any] = None) -> Any:
+        """Get effective value of ``key`` setting from Patroni configuration root.
+
+        Designed to work the same way as :func:`dict.get`.
+
+        :param key: name of the setting.
+        :param default: default value if *key* is not present in the effective configuration.
+
+        :returns: value of *key*, if present in the effective configuration, otherwise *default*.
+        """
         return self.__effective_configuration.get(key, default)
 
     def __contains__(self, key: str) -> bool:
+        """Check if setting *key* is present in the effective configuration.
+
+        Designed to work the same way as :func:`dict.__contains__`.
+
+        :param key: name of the setting to be checked.
+
+        :returns: ``True`` if setting *key* exists in effective configuration, else ``False``.
+        """
         return key in self.__effective_configuration
 
     def __getitem__(self, key: str) -> Any:
+        """Get value of setting *key* from effective configuration.
+
+        Designed to work the same way as :func:`dict.__getitem__`.
+
+        :param key: name of the setting.
+
+        :returns: value of setting *key*.
+
+        :raises:
+            :class:`KeyError`: if *key* is not present in effective configuration.
+        """
         return self.__effective_configuration[key]
 
     def copy(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Get a deep copy of effective Patroni configuration.
+
+        :returns: a deep copy of the Patroni configuration.
+        """
         return deepcopy(self.__effective_configuration)
 
-    def get_global_config(self, cluster: Union[Cluster, None]) -> GlobalConfig:
+    def get_global_config(self, cluster: Optional[Cluster]) -> GlobalConfig:
         """Instantiate :class:`GlobalConfig` based on input.
 
         Use the configuration from provided *cluster* (the most up-to-date) or from the
         local cache if *cluster.config* is not initialized or doesn't have a valid config.
-        :param cluster: the currently known cluster state from DCS
-        :returns: :class:`GlobalConfig` object
+
+        :param cluster: the currently known cluster state from DCS.
+
+        :returns: :class:`GlobalConfig` object.
         """
         return get_global_config(cluster, self._dynamic_configuration)
diff --git a/patroni/ha.py b/patroni/ha.py
index e4b68fcf..28bd92a3 100644
--- a/patroni/ha.py
+++ b/patroni/ha.py
@@ -462,16 +462,23 @@ class Ha(object):
         """Handle the case when postgres isn't running.
 
         Depending on the state of Patroni, DCS cluster view, and pg_controldata the following could happen:
-        - if ``primary_start_timeout`` is 0 and this node owns the leader lock, the lock
-          will be voluntarily released if there are healthy replicas to take it over.
-        - if postgres was running as a ``primary`` and this node owns the leader lock, postgres is started as primary.
-        - crash recover in a single-user mode is executed in the following cases:
-          - postgres was running as ``primary`` wasn't ``shut down`` cleanly and there is no leader in DCS
-          - postgres was running as ``replica`` wasn't ``shut down in recovery`` (cleanly)
-            and we need to run ``pg_rewind`` to join back to the cluster.
-        - ``pg_rewind`` is executed if it is necessary, or optinally, the data directory could
-           be removed if it is allowed by configuration.
-        - after ``crash recovery`` and/or ``pg_rewind`` are executed, postgres is started in recovery.
+
+          - if ``primary_start_timeout`` is 0 and this node owns the leader lock, the lock
+            will be voluntarily released if there are healthy replicas to take it over.
+
+          - if postgres was running as a ``primary`` and this node owns the leader lock, postgres is started as primary.
+
+          - crash recover in a single-user mode is executed in the following cases:
+
+            - postgres was running as ``primary`` wasn't ``shut down`` cleanly and there is no leader in DCS
+
+            - postgres was running as ``replica`` wasn't ``shut down in recovery`` (cleanly)
+              and we need to run ``pg_rewind`` to join back to the cluster.
+
+          - ``pg_rewind`` is executed if it is necessary, or optinally, the data directory could
+             be removed if it is allowed by configuration.
+
+          - after ``crash recovery`` and/or ``pg_rewind`` are executed, postgres is started in recovery.
 
         :returns: action message, describing what was performed.
         """
@@ -649,11 +656,20 @@ class Ha(object):
         promoting standbys that were guaranteed to be replicating synchronously.
         """
         if self.is_synchronous_mode():
-            current = CaseInsensitiveSet(self.cluster.sync.members)
+            sync = self.cluster.sync
+            if sync.is_empty:
+                # corner case: we need to explicitly enable synchronous mode by updating the
+                # ``/sync`` key with the current leader name and empty members. In opposite case
+                # it will never be automatically enabled if there are not eligible candidates.
+                sync = self.dcs.write_sync_state(self.state_handler.name, None, version=sync.version)
+                if not sync:
+                    return logger.warning("Updating sync state failed")
+                logger.info("Enabled synchronous replication")
+
+            current = CaseInsensitiveSet(sync.members)
             picked, allow_promote = self.state_handler.sync_handler.current_state(self.cluster)
 
             if picked != current:
-                sync = self.cluster.sync
                 # update synchronous standby list in dcs temporarily to point to common nodes in current and picked
                 sync_common = current & allow_promote
                 if sync_common != current:
@@ -879,6 +895,7 @@ class Ha(object):
         """Returns if instance with an wal should consider itself unhealthy to be promoted due to replication lag.
 
         :param wal_position: Current wal position.
+
         :returns True when node is lagging
         """
         lag = (self.cluster.last_lsn or 0) - wal_position
@@ -956,7 +973,7 @@ class Ha(object):
 
         :returns: - `True` if the current node is the best candidate to become the new leader
                   - `None` if the current node is running as a primary and requested candidate doesn't exist
-                  """
+        """
         failover = self.cluster.failover
         if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
             assert failover is not None
@@ -1013,6 +1030,7 @@ class Ha(object):
         """Performs a series of checks to determine that the current node is the best candidate.
 
         In case if manual failover/switchover is requested it calls :func:`manual_failover_process_no_leader` method.
+
         :returns: `True` if the current node is among the best candidates to become the new leader.
         """
         if time.time() - self._released_leader_key_timestamp < self.dcs.ttl:
@@ -1097,13 +1115,15 @@ class Ha(object):
     def demote(self, mode: str) -> Optional[bool]:
         """Demote PostgreSQL running as primary.
 
-        :param mode: One of offline, graceful or immediate.
-            offline is used when connection to DCS is not available.
-            graceful is used when failing over to another node due to user request. May only be called running async.
-            immediate is used when we determine that we are not suitable for primary and want to failover quickly
-                without regard for data durability. May only be called synchronously.
-            immediate-nolock is used when find out that we have lost the lock to be primary. Need to bring down
-                PostgreSQL as quickly as possible without regard for data durability. May only be called synchronously.
+        :param mode: One of offline, graceful, immediate or immediate-nolock.
+                     ``offline`` is used when connection to DCS is not available.
+                     ``graceful`` is used when failing over to another node due to user request. May only be called
+                     running async.
+                     ``immediate`` is used when we determine that we are not suitable for primary and want to failover
+                     quickly without regard for data durability. May only be called synchronously.
+                     ``immediate-nolock`` is used when find out that we have lost the lock to be primary. Need to bring
+                     down PostgreSQL as quickly as possible without regard for data durability. May only be called
+                     synchronously.
         """
         mode_control = {
             'offline':          dict(stop='fast',      checkpoint=False, release=False, offline=True,  async_req=False),  # noqa: E241,E501
@@ -1485,9 +1505,7 @@ class Ha(object):
         self._async_executor.run_async(self._do_reinitialize, args=(cluster, ))
 
     def handle_long_action_in_progress(self) -> str:
-        """
-        Figure out what to do with the task AsyncExecutor is performing.
-        """
+        """Figure out what to do with the task AsyncExecutor is performing."""
         if self.has_lock() and self.update_lock():
             if self._async_executor.scheduled_action == 'doing crash recovery in a single user mode':
                 time_left = self.global_config.primary_start_timeout - (time.time() - self._crash_recovery_started)
@@ -1582,8 +1600,7 @@ class Ha(object):
         return 'initialized a new cluster'
 
     def handle_starting_instance(self) -> Optional[str]:
-        """Starting up PostgreSQL may take a long time. In case we are the leader we may want to
-        fail over to."""
+        """Starting up PostgreSQL may take a long time. In case we are the leader we may want to fail over to."""
 
         # Check if we are in startup, when paused defer to main loop for manual failovers.
         if not self.state_handler.check_for_startup() or self.is_paused():
@@ -1623,7 +1640,8 @@ class Ha(object):
     def set_start_timeout(self, value: Optional[int]) -> None:
         """Sets timeout for starting as primary before eligible for failover.
 
-        Must be called when async_executor is busy or in the main thread."""
+        Must be called when async_executor is busy or in the main thread.
+        """
         self._start_timeout = value
 
     def _run_cycle(self) -> str:
@@ -1828,7 +1846,9 @@ class Ha(object):
         """Handles replication slots.
 
         :param dcs_failed: bool, indicates that communication with DCS failed (get_cluster() or update_leader())
-        :returns: list[str], replication slots names that should be copied from the primary"""
+
+        :returns: list[str], replication slots names that should be copied from the primary
+        """
 
         slots: List[str] = []
 
@@ -1918,15 +1938,16 @@ class Ha(object):
         return self.dcs.watch(leader_version, timeout)
 
     def wakeup(self) -> None:
-        """Call of this method will trigger the next run of HA loop if there is
-        no "active" leader watch request in progress.
+        """Trigger the next run of HA loop if there is no "active" leader watch request in progress.
+
         This usually happens on the leader or if the node is running async action"""
         self.dcs.event.set()
 
     def get_remote_member(self, member: Union[Leader, Member, None] = None) -> RemoteMember:
-        """ In case of standby cluster this will tel us from which remote
-            member to stream. Config can be both patroni config or
-            cluster.config.data
+        """Get remote member node to stream from.
+
+        In case of standby cluster this will tell us from which remote member to stream. Config can be both patroni
+        config or cluster.config.data.
         """
         data: Dict[str, Any] = {}
         cluster_params = self.global_config.get_standby_cluster_config()
diff --git a/patroni/log.py b/patroni/log.py
index 55b63386..09d73883 100644
--- a/patroni/log.py
+++ b/patroni/log.py
@@ -21,17 +21,17 @@ _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 def debug_exception(self: logging.Logger, msg: object, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
     """Add full stack trace info to debug log messages and partial to others.
 
-    Handle :func:`exception` calls for *self*.
+    Handle :func:`~self.exception` calls for *self*.
 
     .. note::
         * If *self* log level is set to ``DEBUG``, then issue a ``DEBUG`` message with the complete stack trace;
         * If *self* log level is ``INFO`` or higher, then issue an ``ERROR`` message with only the last line of
             the stack trace.
 
-    :param self: logger for which :func:`exception` will be processed.
+    :param self: logger for which :func:`~self.exception` will be processed.
     :param msg: the message related to the exception to be logged.
-    :param args: positional arguments to be passed to :func:`self.debug` or :func:`loger_obj.error`.
-    :param kwargs: keyword arguments to be passed to :func:`self.debug` or :func:`loger_obj.error`.
+    :param args: positional arguments to be passed to :func:`~self.debug` or :func:`~self.error`.
+    :param kwargs: keyword arguments to be passed to :func:`~self.debug` or :func:`~self.error`.
     """
     kwargs.pop("exc_info", False)
     if self.isEnabledFor(logging.DEBUG):
@@ -44,16 +44,16 @@ def debug_exception(self: logging.Logger, msg: object, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any
 def error_exception(self: logging.Logger, msg: object, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
     """Add full stack trace info to error messages.
 
-    Handle :func:`exception` calls for *self*.
+    Handle :func:`~self.exception` calls for *self*.
 
     .. note::
         * By default issue an ``ERROR`` message with the complete stack trace. If you do not want to show the complete
-        stack trace, call with ``exc_info=False``.
+          stack trace, call with ``exc_info=False``.
 
-    :param self: logger for which :func:`exception` will be processed.
+    :param self: logger for which :func:`~self.exception` will be processed.
     :param msg: the message related to the exception to be logged.
-    :param args: positional arguments to be passed to :func:`loger_obj.error`.
-    :param kwargs: keyword arguments to be passed to :func:`loger_obj.error`.
+    :param args: positional arguments to be passed to :func:`~self.error`.
+    :param kwargs: keyword arguments to be passed to :func:`~self.error`.
     """
     exc_info = kwargs.pop("exc_info", True)
     self.error(msg, *args, exc_info=exc_info, **kwargs)
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ class ProxyHandler(logging.Handler):
     def emit(self, record: logging.LogRecord) -> None:
         """Emit each log record that is handled.
 
-        Will push the log record down to :func:`handle` method of the currently configured log handler.
+        Will push the log record down to :func:`~logging.Handler.handle` method of the currently configured log handler.
 
         :param record: the record that was emitted.
         """
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ class PatroniLogger(Thread):
         self._root_logger.addHandler(self._proxy_handler)
 
     def update_loggers(self) -> None:
-        """Configure loggers' log level as defined in ``log.loggers` section of Patroni configuration.
+        """Configure loggers' log level as defined in ``log.loggers`` section of Patroni configuration.
 
         .. note::
             It creates logger objects that are not defined yet in the log manager.
@@ -281,7 +281,8 @@ class PatroniLogger(Thread):
 
         .. note::
             It is used to remove different handlers that were configured previous to a reload in the configuration,
-            e.g. if we are switching from :class:`RotatingFileHandler` to class:`StreamHandler` and vice-versa.
+            e.g. if we are switching from :class:`~logging.handlers.RotatingFileHandler` to
+            class:`~logging.StreamHandler` and vice-versa.
         """
         while True:
             with self.log_handler_lock:
diff --git a/patroni/postgresql/__init__.py b/patroni/postgresql/__init__.py
index 943a5832..af87c3e2 100644
--- a/patroni/postgresql/__init__.py
+++ b/patroni/postgresql/__init__.py
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ class Postgresql(object):
         """Returns the monitoring query with a fixed number of fields.
 
         The query text is constructed based on current state in DCS and PostgreSQL version:
+
         1. function names depend on version. wal/lsn for v10+ and xlog/location for pre v10.
         2. for primary we query timeline_id (extracted from pg_walfile_name()) and pg_current_wal_lsn()
         3. for replicas we query pg_last_wal_receive_lsn(), pg_last_wal_replay_lsn(), and  pg_is_wal_replay_paused()
@@ -187,7 +188,8 @@ class Postgresql(object):
         7. if sync replication is enabled we query pg_stat_replication and aggregate the result.
            In addition to that we get current values of synchronous_commit and synchronous_standby_names GUCs.
 
-        If some conditions are not satisfied we simply put static values instead. E.g., NULL, 0, '', and so on."""
+        If some conditions are not satisfied we simply put static values instead. E.g., NULL, 0, '', and so on.
+        """
 
         extra = ", " + (("pg_catalog.current_setting('synchronous_commit'), "
                          "pg_catalog.current_setting('synchronous_standby_names'), "
diff --git a/patroni/postgresql/citus.py b/patroni/postgresql/citus.py
index b5c90cf5..a3a8fe45 100644
--- a/patroni/postgresql/citus.py
+++ b/patroni/postgresql/citus.py
@@ -174,11 +174,13 @@ class CitusHandler(Thread):
         """Returns the tuple(i, task), where `i` - is the task index in the self._tasks list
 
         Tasks are picked by following priorities:
+
         1. If there is already a transaction in progress, pick a task
            that that will change already affected worker primary.
         2. If the coordinator address should be changed - pick a task
            with group=0 (coordinators are always in group 0).
-        3. Pick a task that is the oldest (first from the self._tasks)"""
+        3. Pick a task that is the oldest (first from the self._tasks)
+        """
 
         with self._condition:
             if self._in_flight:
diff --git a/patroni/postgresql/slots.py b/patroni/postgresql/slots.py
index 4df27eaf..681aed00 100644
--- a/patroni/postgresql/slots.py
+++ b/patroni/postgresql/slots.py
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ class SlotsHandler:
 
         1) Retrieve the current ``catalog_xmin`` value for the physical slot from the cluster leader, and
         2) using previously stored list of "unready" logical slots, those which have yet to be checked hence have no
-        stored slot attributes,
+           stored slot attributes,
         3) store logical slot ``catalog_xmin`` when the physical slot ``catalog_xmin`` becomes valid.
 
         :param cluster: object containing stateful information for the cluster.
diff --git a/patroni/postgresql/sync.py b/patroni/postgresql/sync.py
index 97a6fd46..c8a6ccdc 100644
--- a/patroni/postgresql/sync.py
+++ b/patroni/postgresql/sync.py
@@ -283,12 +283,13 @@ END;$$""")
                 self._ready_replicas[replica.application_name] = replica.pid
 
     def current_state(self, cluster: Cluster) -> Tuple[CaseInsensitiveSet, CaseInsensitiveSet]:
-        """Finds best candidates to be the synchronous standbys.
+        """Find the best candidates to be the synchronous standbys.
 
         Current synchronous standby is always preferred, unless it has disconnected or does not want to be a
         synchronous standby any longer.
 
         Standbys are selected based on values from the global configuration:
+
         - `maximum_lag_on_syncnode`: would help swapping unhealthy sync replica in case if it stops
           responding (or hung). Please set the value high enough so it won't unncessarily swap sync
           standbys during high loads. Any value less or equal of 0 keeps the behavior backward compatible.
diff --git a/patroni/postgresql/validator.py b/patroni/postgresql/validator.py
index 7da0003a..d568fa74 100644
--- a/patroni/postgresql/validator.py
+++ b/patroni/postgresql/validator.py
@@ -178,10 +178,11 @@ class ValidatorFactory:
 
         :returns: the Patroni validator object that corresponds to the specification found in *validator*.
 
-        :raises :class:`ValidatorFactoryNoType`: if *validator* contains no ``type`` key.
-        :raises :class:`ValidatorFactoryInvalidType`: if ``type`` key from *validator* contains an invalid value.
-        :raises :class:`ValidatorFactoryInvalidSpec`: if *validator* contains an invalid set of attributes for the
-            given ``type``.
+        :raises:
+            :class:`ValidatorFactoryNoType`: if *validator* contains no ``type`` key.
+            :class:`ValidatorFactoryInvalidType`: if ``type`` key from *validator* contains an invalid value.
+            :class:`ValidatorFactoryInvalidSpec`: if *validator* contains an invalid set of attributes for the given
+                ``type``.
 
         :Example:
 
@@ -265,7 +266,8 @@ def _read_postgres_gucs_validators_file(file: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     :returns: the YAML content parsed into a Python object. If any issue is faced while reading/parsing the file, then
         return ``None``.
 
-    :raises :class:`InvalidGucValidatorsFile`: if faces an issue while reading or parsing *file*.
+    :raises:
+        :class:`InvalidGucValidatorsFile`: if faces an issue while reading or parsing *file*.
     """
     try:
         with open(file, encoding='UTF-8') as stream:
@@ -462,11 +464,13 @@ def transform_postgresql_parameter_value(version: int, name: str, value: Any,
     :param value: value of the Postgres GUC.
     :param available_gucs: a set of all GUCs available in Postgres *version*. Each item is the name of a Postgres
         GUC. Used for a couple purposes:
-        * Disallow writing GUCs to ``postgresql.conf`` that does not exist in Postgres *version*;
-        * Avoid ignoring GUC *name* if it does not have a validator in ``parameters``, but is a valid GUC in Postgres
-            *version*.
 
-    :returns: The return value may be one among
+            * Disallow writing GUCs to ``postgresql.conf`` that does not exist in Postgres *version*;
+            * Avoid ignoring GUC *name* if it does not have a validator in ``parameters``, but is a valid GUC in
+                Postgres *version*.
+
+    :returns: The return value may be one among:
+
         * The original *value* if *name* seems to be an extension GUC (contains a period '.'); or
         * ``None`` if **name** is a recovery GUC; or
         * *value* transformed to the expected format for GUC *name* in Postgres *version* using validators defined in
@@ -490,10 +494,11 @@ def transform_recovery_parameter_value(version: int, name: str, value: Any,
     :param value: value of the Postgres recovery GUC.
     :param available_gucs: a set of all GUCs available in Postgres *version*. Each item is the name of a Postgres
         GUC. Used for a couple purposes:
-        * Disallow writing GUCs to ``recovery.conf`` (or ``postgresql.conf`` depending on *version*), that does not
-        exist in Postgres *version*;
-        * Avoid ignoring recovery GUC *name* if it does not have a validator in ``recovery_parameters``, but is a valid
-            GUC in Postgres *version*.
+
+            * Disallow writing GUCs to ``recovery.conf`` (or ``postgresql.conf`` depending on *version*), that does not
+                exist in Postgres *version*;
+            * Avoid ignoring recovery GUC *name* if it does not have a validator in ``recovery_parameters``, but is a
+                valid GUC in Postgres *version*.
 
     :returns: *value* transformed to the expected format for recovery GUC *name* in Postgres *version* using validators
         defined in ``recovery_parameters``. It can also return ``None``. See :func:`_transform_parameter_value`.
diff --git a/patroni/psycopg.py b/patroni/psycopg.py
index d337dd3e..4a92047c 100644
--- a/patroni/psycopg.py
+++ b/patroni/psycopg.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-"""Abstraction layer for ``psycopg`` module.
+"""Abstraction layer for :mod:`psycopg` module.
 
-This module is able to handle both ``pyscopg2`` and ``psycopg3``, and it exposes a common interface for both.
-``psycopg2`` takes precedence. ``psycopg3`` will only be used if ``psycopg2`` is either absent or older than ``2.5.4``.
+This module is able to handle both :mod:`pyscopg2` and :mod:`psycopg`, and it exposes a common interface for both.
+:mod:`psycopg2` takes precedence. :mod:`psycopg` will only be used if :mod:`psycopg2` is either absent or older than
+``2.5.4``.
 """
 from typing import Any, Optional, TYPE_CHECKING, Union
 if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ try:
         """Quote *value* as a SQL literal.
 
         .. note::
-            *value* is quoted through ``psycopg`` adapters.
+            *value* is quoted through :mod:`psycopg2` adapters.
 
         :param value: value to be quoted.
         :param conn: if a connection is given then :func:`quote_literal` checks if any special handling based on server
@@ -44,14 +45,14 @@ except ImportError:
     from psycopg import connect as __connect, sql, Error, DatabaseError, OperationalError, ProgrammingError
 
     def _connect(dsn: Optional[str] = None, **kwargs: Any) -> 'Connection[Any]':
-        """Call ``psycopg.connect`` with ``dsn`` and ``**kwargs``.
+        """Call :func:`psycopg.connect` with *dsn* and ``**kwargs``.
 
         .. note::
             Will create ``server_version`` attribute in the returning connection, so it keeps compatibility with the
-            object that would be returned by ``psycopg2.connect``.
+            object that would be returned by :func:`psycopg2.connect`.
 
-        :param dsn: DSN to call ``psycopg.connect`` with.
-        :param kwargs: keyword arguments to call ``psycopg.connect`` with.
+        :param dsn: DSN to call :func:`psycopg.connect` with.
+        :param kwargs: keyword arguments to call :func:`psycopg.connect` with.
 
         :returns: a connection to the database.
         """
@@ -89,11 +90,11 @@ def connect(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Union['connection', 'Connection[Any]']
         It also enforces ``search_path=pg_catalog`` for non-replication connections to mitigate security issues as
         Patroni relies on superuser connections.
 
-    :param args: positional arguments to call ``connect`` function from ``psycopg`` module.
-    :param kwargs: keyword arguments to call ``connect`` function from ``psycopg`` module.
+    :param args: positional arguments to call :func:`~psycopg.connect` function from :mod:`psycopg` module.
+    :param kwargs: keyword arguments to call :func:`~psycopg.connect` function from :mod:`psycopg` module.
 
-    :returns: a connection to the database. Can be either a :class:`psycopg.Connection` if using ``psycopg3``, or a
-        :class:`psycopg2.extensions.connection` if using ``psycopg2``.
+    :returns: a connection to the database. Can be either a :class:`psycopg.Connection` if using :mod:`psycopg`, or a
+        :class:`psycopg2.extensions.connection` if using :mod:`psycopg2`.
     """
     if kwargs and 'replication' not in kwargs and kwargs.get('fallback_application_name') != 'Patroni ctl':
         options = [kwargs['options']] if 'options' in kwargs else []
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ def quote_ident(value: Any, conn: Optional[Union['cursor', 'connection', 'Connec
 
     :param value: value to be quoted.
     :param conn: connection to evaluate the returning string into. Can be either a :class:`psycopg.Connection` if
-        using ``psycopg3``, or a :class:`psycopg2.extensions.connection` if using ``psycopg2``.
+        using :mod:`psycopg`, or a :class:`psycopg2.extensions.connection` if using :mod:`psycopg2`.
 
     :returns: *value* quoted as a SQL identifier.
     """
diff --git a/patroni/request.py b/patroni/request.py
index 0421bf86..16659c96 100644
--- a/patroni/request.py
+++ b/patroni/request.py
@@ -34,10 +34,11 @@ class PatroniRequest(object):
         """Create a new :class:`PatroniRequest` instance with given *config*.
 
         :param config: Patroni YAML configuration.
-        :param insecure: how to deal with SSL certs verification
+        :param insecure: how to deal with SSL certs verification:
+
             * If ``True`` it will perform REST API requests without verifying SSL certs; or
             * If ``False`` it will perform REST API requests and verify SSL certs; or
-            * If ``None`` it will behave according to the value of ``ctl -> insecure`` configuration; or
+            * If ``None`` it will behave according to the value of ``ctl.insecure`` configuration; or
             * If none of the above applies, then it falls back to ``False``.
         """
         self._insecure = insecure
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ class PatroniRequest(object):
         :param config: Patroni YAML configuration.
         :param name: name of the setting value to be retrieved.
 
-        :returns: value of ``ctl -> *name*`` if present, ``None`` otherwise.
+        :returns: value of ``ctl.*name*`` if present, ``None`` otherwise.
         """
         return config.get('ctl', {}).get(name, default)
 
@@ -83,12 +84,13 @@ class PatroniRequest(object):
 
         :param config: Patroni YAML configuration.
         :param name: prefix of the Patroni SSL related setting name. Currently, supports these:
+
             * ``cert``: gets translated to ``certfile``
             * ``key``: gets translated to ``keyfile``
 
             Will attempt to fetch the requested key first from ``ctl`` section.
 
-        :returns: value of ``ctl -> *name*file`` if present, ``None`` otherwise.
+        :returns: value of ``ctl.*name*file`` if present, ``None`` otherwise.
         """
         value = self._get_ctl_value(config, name + 'file')
         self._apply_pool_param(name + '_file', value)
@@ -99,13 +101,13 @@ class PatroniRequest(object):
 
         Configure these HTTP headers for requests:
 
-        * ``authorization``: based on Patroni' CTL or REST API authentication config;
-        * ``user-agent``: based on `patroni.utils.USER_AGENT`.
+            * ``authorization``: based on Patroni' CTL or REST API authentication config;
+            * ``user-agent``: based on ``patroni.utils.USER_AGENT``.
 
         Also configure SSL related settings for requests:
 
-        * ``ca_certs`` is configured if ``ctl -> cacert`` or ``restapi -> cafile`` is available;
-        * ``cert``, ``key`` and ``key_password`` are configured if ``ctl -> certfile`` is available.
+            * ``ca_certs`` is configured if ``ctl.cacert`` or ``restapi.cafile`` is available;
+            * ``cert``, ``key`` and ``key_password`` are configured if ``ctl.certfile`` is available.
 
         :param config: Patroni YAML configuration.
         """
diff --git a/patroni/utils.py b/patroni/utils.py
index 0e12eaf2..be468d2e 100644
--- a/patroni/utils.py
+++ b/patroni/utils.py
@@ -130,8 +130,8 @@ def parse_bool(value: Any) -> Union[bool, None]:
     .. note::
 
         The parsing is case-insensitive, and takes into consideration these values:
-        * ``on``, ``true``, ``yes``, and ``1`` as ``True``.
-        * ``off``, ``false``, ``no``, and ``0`` as ``False``.
+            * ``on``, ``true``, ``yes``, and ``1`` as ``True``.
+            * ``off``, ``false``, ``no``, and ``0`` as ``False``.
 
     :param value: value to be parsed to :class:`bool`.
 
@@ -246,14 +246,16 @@ def convert_to_base_unit(value: Union[int, float], unit: str, base_unit: Optiona
     """Convert *value* as a *unit* of compute information or time to *base_unit*.
 
     :param value: value to be converted to the base unit.
-    :param unit: unit of *value*. Accepts these units (case sensitive)
-        * For space: ``B``, ``kB``, ``MB``, ``GB``, or ``TB``;
-        * For time: ``d``, ``h``, ``min``, ``s``, ``ms``, or ``us``.
+    :param unit: unit of *value*. Accepts these units (case sensitive):
+
+            * For space: ``B``, ``kB``, ``MB``, ``GB``, or ``TB``;
+            * For time: ``d``, ``h``, ``min``, ``s``, ``ms``, or ``us``.
 
     :param base_unit: target unit in the conversion. May contain the target unit with an associated value, e.g
-        ``512MB``. Accepts these units (case sensitive)
-        * For space: ``B``, ``kB``, or ``MB``;
-        * For time: ``ms``, ``s``, or ``min``.
+        ``512MB``. Accepts these units (case sensitive):
+
+            * For space: ``B``, ``kB``, or ``MB``;
+            * For time: ``ms``, ``s``, or ``min``.
 
     :returns: *value* in *unit* converted to *base_unit*. Returns ``None`` if *unit* or *base_unit* is invalid.
 
@@ -403,7 +405,8 @@ def compare_values(vartype: str, unit: Optional[str], old_value: Any, new_value:
     """Check if *old_value* and *new_value* are equivalent after parsing them as *vartype*.
 
     :param vartpe: the target type to parse *old_value* and *new_value* before comparing them. Accepts any among of the
-        following (case sensitive)
+        following (case sensitive):
+
         * ``bool``: parse values using :func:`parse_bool`; or
         * ``integer``: parse values using :func:`parse_int`; or
         * ``real``: parse values using :func:`parse_real`; or
@@ -460,7 +463,7 @@ def compare_values(vartype: str, unit: Optional[str], old_value: Any, new_value:
 
 
 def _sleep(interval: Union[int, float]) -> None:
-    """Wrap :func:`time.sleep`.
+    """Wrap :func:`~time.sleep`.
 
     :param interval: Delay execution for a given number of seconds. The argument may be a floating point number for
         subsecond precision.
@@ -549,6 +552,7 @@ class Retry(object):
         """Set next cycle delay.
 
         It will be the minimum value between:
+
             * current delay with ``backoff``; or
             * ``max_delay``.
         """
@@ -562,10 +566,14 @@ class Retry(object):
     def ensure_deadline(self, timeout: float, raise_ex: Optional[Exception] = None) -> bool:
         """Calculates, sets, and checks the remaining deadline time.
 
-        :param timeout: if the *deadline* is smaller than the provided *timeout* value raise *raise_ex* exception
-        :param raise_ex: the exception object that will be raised if the *deadline* is smaller than provided *timeout*
-        :returns: `False` if *deadline* is smaller than a provided *timeout* and *raise_ex* isn't set. Otherwise `True`
-        :raises Exception: if calculated deadline is smaller than provided *timeout*
+        :param timeout: if the *deadline* is smaller than the provided *timeout* value raise *raise_ex* exception.
+        :param raise_ex: the exception object that will be raised if the *deadline* is smaller than provided *timeout*.
+
+        :returns: ``False`` if *deadline* is smaller than a provided *timeout* and *raise_ex* isn't set. Otherwise
+            ``True``.
+
+        :raises:
+            :class:`Exception`: *raise_ex* if calculated deadline is smaller than provided *timeout*.
         """
         self.deadline = self.stoptime - time.time()
         if self.deadline < timeout:
@@ -578,9 +586,10 @@ class Retry(object):
         """Call a function *func* with arguments ``*args`` and ``*kwargs`` in a loop.
 
         *func* will be called until one of the following conditions is met:
-        * It completes without throwing one of the configured ``retry_exceptions``; or
-        * ``max_retries`` is exceeded.; or
-        * ``deadline`` is exceeded.
+
+            * It completes without throwing one of the configured ``retry_exceptions``; or
+            * ``max_retries`` is exceeded.; or
+            * ``deadline`` is exceeded.
 
         .. note::
             * It will set loop stop time based on ``deadline`` attribute.
@@ -589,9 +598,10 @@ class Retry(object):
         :param func: function to call.
         :param args: positional arguments to call *func* with.
         :params kwargs: keyword arguments to call *func* with.
-        :raises :class:`RetryFailedError`
-            * If ``max_tries`` is exceeded; or
-            * If ``deadline`` is exceeded.
+        :raises:
+            :class:`RetryFailedError`:
+                * If ``max_tries`` is exceeded; or
+                * If ``deadline`` is exceeded.
         """
         self.reset()
 
@@ -626,7 +636,8 @@ def polling_loop(timeout: Union[int, float], interval: Union[int, float] = 1) ->
 
     :param timeout: for how long (in seconds) from now it should keep returning values.
     :param interval: for how long to sleep before returning a new value.
-    :rtype: Iterator[:class:`int`] with current iteration counter, starting from ``0``.
+
+    :yields: current iteration counter, starting from ``0``.
     """
     start_time = time.time()
     iteration = 0
@@ -640,14 +651,16 @@ def polling_loop(timeout: Union[int, float], interval: Union[int, float] = 1) ->
 def split_host_port(value: str, default_port: Optional[int]) -> Tuple[str, int]:
     """Extract host(s) and port from *value*.
 
-    :param value: string from where host(s) and port will be extracted. Accepts either of these formats
-        * ``host:port``; or
-        * ``host1,host2,...,hostn:port``.
+    :param value: string from where host(s) and port will be extracted. Accepts either of these formats:
+
+            * ``host:port``; or
+            * ``host1,host2,...,hostn:port``.
 
         Each ``host`` portion of *value* can be either:
-        * A FQDN; or
-        * An IPv4 address; or
-        * An IPv6 address, with or without square brackets.
+
+            * A FQDN; or
+            * An IPv4 address; or
+            * An IPv6 address, with or without square brackets.
 
     :param default_port: if no port can be found in *param*, use *default_port* instead.
 
@@ -682,18 +695,23 @@ def uri(proto: str, netloc: Union[List[str], Tuple[str, Union[int, str]], str],
 
     :param proto: the URI protocol.
     :param netloc: the URI host(s) and port. Can be specified in either way among
+
         * A :class:`list` or :class:`tuple`. The second item should be a port, and the first item should be composed of
             hosts in either of these formats:
+
             * ``host``; or.
             * ``host1,host2,...,hostn``.
+
         * A :class:`str` in either of these formats:
+
             * ``host:port``; or
             * ``host1,host2,...,hostn:port``.
 
         In all cases, each ``host`` portion of *netloc* can be either:
-        * An FQDN; or
-        * An IPv4 address; or
-        * An IPv6 address, with or without square brackets.
+
+            * An FQDN; or
+            * An IPv4 address; or
+            * An IPv6 address, with or without square brackets.
 
     :param path: the URI path.
     :param user: the authenticating user, if any.
@@ -711,10 +729,11 @@ def uri(proto: str, netloc: Union[List[str], Tuple[str, Union[int, str]], str],
 
 
 def iter_response_objects(response: HTTPResponse) -> Iterator[Dict[str, Any]]:
-    """Iterate over the chunks of a :class:`HTTPResponse` and yield each JSON document that is found along the way.
+    """Iterate over the chunks of a :class:`~urllib3.response.HTTPResponse` and yield each JSON document that is found.
 
     :param response: the HTTP response from which JSON documents will be retrieved.
-    :rtype: Iterator[:class:`dict`] with current JSON document.
+
+    :yields: current JSON document.
     """
     prev = ''
     decoder = JSONDecoder()
@@ -743,33 +762,36 @@ def iter_response_objects(response: HTTPResponse) -> Iterator[Dict[str, Any]]:
 def cluster_as_json(cluster: 'Cluster', global_config: Optional['GlobalConfig'] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """Get a JSON representation of *cluster*.
 
-    :param cluster: the :class:`Cluster` object to be parsed as JSON.
-    :param global_config: optional :class:`GlobalConfig` object to check the cluster state.
+    :param cluster: the :class:`~patroni.dcs.Cluster` object to be parsed as JSON.
+    :param global_config: optional :class:`~patroni.config.GlobalConfig` object to check the cluster state.
                           if not provided will be instantiated from the `Cluster.config`.
 
     :returns: JSON representation of *cluster*.
 
     These are the possible keys in the returning object depending on the available information in *cluster*:
 
-    * ``members``: list of members in the cluster. Each value is a :class:`dict` that may have the following keys:
-        * ``name``: the name of the host (unique in the cluster). The ``members`` list is sorted by this key;
-        * ``role``: ``leader``, ``standby_leader``, ``sync_standby``, or ``replica``;
-        * ``state``: ``stopping``, ``stopped``, ``stop failed``, ``crashed``, ``running``, ``starting``,
-            ``start failed``, ``restarting``, ``restart failed``, ``initializing new cluster``, ``initdb failed``,
-            ``running custom bootstrap script``, ``custom bootstrap failed``, or ``creating replica``;
-        * ``api_url``: REST API URL based on ``restapi->connect_address`` configuration;
-        * ``host``: PostgreSQL host based on ``postgresql->connect_address``;
-        * ``port``: PostgreSQL port based on ``postgresql->connect_address``;
-        * ``timeline``: PostgreSQL current timeline;
-        * ``pending_restart``: ``True`` if PostgreSQL is pending to be restarted;
-        * ``scheduled_restart``: scheduled restart timestamp, if any;
-        * ``tags``: any tags that were set for this member;
-        * ``lag``: replication lag, if applicable;
-    * ``pause``: ``True`` if cluster is in maintenance mode;
-    * ``scheduled_switchover``: if a switchover has been scheduled, then it contains this entry with these keys:
-        * ``at``: timestamp when switchover was scheduled to occur;
-        * ``from``: name of the member to be demoted;
-        * ``to``: name of the member to be promoted.
+        * ``members``: list of members in the cluster. Each value is a :class:`dict` that may have the following keys:
+
+            * ``name``: the name of the host (unique in the cluster). The ``members`` list is sorted by this key;
+            * ``role``: ``leader``, ``standby_leader``, ``sync_standby``, or ``replica``;
+            * ``state``: ``stopping``, ``stopped``, ``stop failed``, ``crashed``, ``running``, ``starting``,
+                ``start failed``, ``restarting``, ``restart failed``, ``initializing new cluster``, ``initdb failed``,
+                ``running custom bootstrap script``, ``custom bootstrap failed``, or ``creating replica``;
+            * ``api_url``: REST API URL based on ``restapi->connect_address`` configuration;
+            * ``host``: PostgreSQL host based on ``postgresql->connect_address``;
+            * ``port``: PostgreSQL port based on ``postgresql->connect_address``;
+            * ``timeline``: PostgreSQL current timeline;
+            * ``pending_restart``: ``True`` if PostgreSQL is pending to be restarted;
+            * ``scheduled_restart``: scheduled restart timestamp, if any;
+            * ``tags``: any tags that were set for this member;
+            * ``lag``: replication lag, if applicable;
+
+        * ``pause``: ``True`` if cluster is in maintenance mode;
+        * ``scheduled_switchover``: if a switchover has been scheduled, then it contains this entry with these keys:
+
+            * ``at``: timestamp when switchover was scheduled to occur;
+            * ``from``: name of the member to be demoted;
+            * ``to``: name of the member to be promoted.
     """
     if not global_config:
         from patroni.config import get_global_config
@@ -845,15 +867,18 @@ def validate_directory(d: str, msg: str = "{} {}") -> None:
         If the directory does not exist, :func:`validate_directory` will attempt to create it.
 
     :param d: the directory to be checked.
-    :param msg: a message to be thrown when raising :class:`PatroniException`, if any issue is faced. It must contain
-        2 placeholders to be used by :func:`format`:
-        * The first placeholder will be replaced with path *d*;
-        * The second placeholder will be replaced with the error condition.
-
-    :raises :class:`PatroniException`: if any issue is observed while validating *d*. Can be thrown in these situations
-        * *d* did not exist, and :func:`validate_directory` was not able to create it; or
-        * *d* is an existing directory, but Patroni is not able to write to that directory; or
-        * *d* is an existing file, not a directory.
+    :param msg: a message to be thrown when raising :class:`~patroni.exceptions.PatroniException`, if any issue is
+        faced. It must contain 2 placeholders to be used by :func:`format`:
+
+            * The first placeholder will be replaced with path *d*;
+            * The second placeholder will be replaced with the error condition.
+
+    :raises:
+        :class:`~patroni.exceptions.PatroniException`: if any issue is observed while validating *d*. Can be thrown if:
+
+            * *d* did not exist, and :func:`validate_directory` was not able to create it; or
+            * *d* is an existing directory, but Patroni is not able to write to that directory; or
+            * *d* is an existing file, not a directory.
     """
     if not os.path.exists(d):
         try:
@@ -908,13 +933,22 @@ def keepalive_socket_options(timeout: int, idle: int, cnt: int = 3) -> Iterator[
     :param idle: value for ``TCP_KEEPIDLE``.
     :param cnt: value for ``TCP_KEEPCNT``.
 
-    :rtype: Iterator[Tuple[:class:`int`, :class:`int`, :class:`int`]] of all keepalive related socket options to be
-        set. The first item in the tuple is the protocol, the second item is the option, and the third item is the
-        value to be used. The return values depend on the platform:
-        * ``Windows``: yield ``SO_KEEPALIVE``;
-        * ``Linux``: yield ``SO_KEEPALIVE``, ``TCP_USER_TIMEOUT``, ``TCP_KEEPIDLE`, ``TCP_KEEPINTVL``, and
-            ``TCP_KEEPCNT``;
-        * ``MacOS``: yield ``SO_KEEPALIVE``, ``TCP_KEEPIDLE`, ``TCP_KEEPINTVL``, and ``TCP_KEEPCNT``
+    :yields: all keepalive related socket options to be set. The first item in the tuple is the protocol, the second
+        item is the option, and the third item is the value to be used. The return values depend on the platform:
+
+            * ``Windows``:
+                * ``SO_KEEPALIVE``.
+            * ``Linux``:
+                * ``SO_KEEPALIVE``;
+                * ``TCP_USER_TIMEOUT``;
+                * ``TCP_KEEPIDLE``;
+                * ``TCP_KEEPINTVL``;
+                * ``TCP_KEEPCNT``.
+            * ``MacOS``:
+                * ``SO_KEEPALIVE``;
+                * ``TCP_KEEPIDLE``;
+                * ``TCP_KEEPINTVL``;
+                * ``TCP_KEEPCNT``.
     """
     yield (socket.SOL_SOCKET, socket.SO_KEEPALIVE, 1)
 
@@ -952,7 +986,7 @@ def enable_keepalive(sock: socket.socket, timeout: int, idle: int, cnt: int = 3)
     :param idle: value for ``TCP_KEEPIDLE``.
     :param cnt: value for ``TCP_KEEPCNT``.
 
-    :returns: output of :func:`socket.ioctl` if we are on Windows, nothing otherwise.
+    :returns: output of :func:`~socket.ioctl` if we are on Windows, nothing otherwise.
     """
     SIO_KEEPALIVE_VALS = getattr(socket, 'SIO_KEEPALIVE_VALS', None)
     if SIO_KEEPALIVE_VALS is not None:  # Windows
@@ -966,23 +1000,27 @@ def enable_keepalive(sock: socket.socket, timeout: int, idle: int, cnt: int = 3)
 def unquote(string: str) -> str:
     """Unquote a fully quoted *string*.
 
+    :param string: The string to be checked for quoting.
+
+    :returns: The string with quotes removed, if it is a fully quoted single string, or the original string if quoting
+        is not detected, or unquoting was not possible.
+
     :Examples:
 
         A *string* with quotes will have those quotes removed
+
         >>> unquote('"a quoted string"')
         'a quoted string'
 
         A *string* with multiple quotes will be returned as is
+
         >>> unquote('"a multi" "quoted string"')
         '"a multi" "quoted string"'
 
         So will a *string* with unbalanced quotes
+
         >>> unquote('unbalanced "quoted string')
         'unbalanced "quoted string'
-
-    :param string: The string to be checked for quoting.
-    :returns: The string with quotes removed, if it is a fully quoted single string,
-              or the original string if quoting is not detected, or unquoting was not possible.
     """
     try:
         ret = split(string)
@@ -998,9 +1036,11 @@ def get_major_version(bin_dir: Optional[str] = None, bin_name: str = 'postgres')
     It is based on the output of ``postgres --version``.
 
     :param bin_dir: path to the PostgreSQL binaries directory. If ``None`` or an empty string, it will use the first
-    *bin_name* binary that is found by the subprocess in the ``PATH``.
+                    *bin_name* binary that is found by the subprocess in the ``PATH``.
     :param bin_name: name of the postgres binary to call (``postgres`` by default)
+
     :returns: the PostgreSQL major version.
+
     :raises:
         :exc:`~patroni.exceptions.PatroniException`: if the postgres binary call failed due to :exc:`OSError`.
 
diff --git a/patroni/validator.py b/patroni/validator.py
index 2f70e334..c99b3d32 100644
--- a/patroni/validator.py
+++ b/patroni/validator.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 This module contains facilities for validating configuration of Patroni processes.
 
-:var schema: configuration schema of the daemon launched by `patroni` command.
+:var schema: configuration schema of the daemon launched by ``patroni`` command.
 """
 import os
 import shutil
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ def data_directory_empty(data_dir: str) -> bool:
     """Check if PostgreSQL data directory is empty.
 
     :param data_dir: path to the PostgreSQL data directory to be checked.
+
     :returns: ``True`` if the data directory is empty.
     """
     if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(data_dir, "global", "pg_control")):
@@ -32,12 +33,14 @@ def data_directory_empty(data_dir: str) -> bool:
 def validate_connect_address(address: str) -> bool:
     """Check if options related to connection address were properly configured.
 
-    :param address: address to be validated in the format
-        ``host:ip``.
+    :param address: address to be validated in the format ``host:ip``.
+
     :returns: ``True`` if the address is valid.
-    :raises :class:`patroni.exceptions.ConfigParseError`:
-        * If the address is not in the expected format; or
-        * If the host is set to not allowed values (``127.0.0.1``, ``0.0.0.0``, ``*``, ``::1``, or ``localhost``).
+
+    :raises:
+        :class:`~patroni.exceptions.ConfigParseError`:
+            * If the address is not in the expected format; or
+            * If the host is set to not allowed values (``127.0.0.1``, ``0.0.0.0``, ``*``, ``::1``, or ``localhost``).
     """
     try:
         host, _ = split_host_port(address, 1)
@@ -51,20 +54,25 @@ def validate_connect_address(address: str) -> bool:
 def validate_host_port(host_port: str, listen: bool = False, multiple_hosts: bool = False) -> bool:
     """Check if host(s) and port are valid and available for usage.
 
-    :param host_port: the host(s) and port to be validated. It can be in either of these formats
+    :param host_port: the host(s) and port to be validated. It can be in either of these formats:
+
         * ``host:ip``, if *multiple_hosts* is ``False``; or
         * ``host_1,host_2,...,host_n:port``, if *multiple_hosts* is ``True``.
 
     :param listen: if the address is expected to be available for binding. ``False`` means it expects to connect to that
         address, and ``True`` that it expects to bind to that address.
     :param multiple_hosts: if *host_port* can contain multiple hosts.
+
     :returns: ``True`` if the host(s) and port are valid.
-    :raises: :class:`patroni.exceptions.ConfigParserError`:
-        * If the *host_port* is not in the expected format; or
-        * If ``*`` was specified along with more hosts in *host_port*; or
-        * If we are expecting to bind to an address that is already in use; or
-        * If we are not able to connect to an address that we are expecting to do so; or
-        * If :class:`socket.gaierror` is thrown by socket module when attempting to connect to the given address(es).
+
+    :raises:
+        :class:`~patroni.exceptions.ConfigParseError`:
+            * If the *host_port* is not in the expected format; or
+            * If ``*`` was specified along with more hosts in *host_port*; or
+            * If we are expecting to bind to an address that is already in use; or
+            * If we are not able to connect to an address that we are expecting to do so; or
+            * If :class:`~socket.gaierror` is thrown by socket module when attempting to connect to the given
+              address(es).
     """
     try:
         hosts, port = split_host_port(host_port, 1)
@@ -104,6 +112,7 @@ def validate_host_port_list(value: List[str]) -> bool:
     Call :func:`validate_host_port` with each item in *value*.
 
     :param value: list of host(s) and port items to be validated.
+
     :returns: ``True`` if all items are valid.
     """
     assert all([validate_host_port(v) for v in value]), "didn't pass the validation"
@@ -116,6 +125,7 @@ def comma_separated_host_port(string: str) -> bool:
     Call :func:`validate_host_port_list` with a list represented by the CSV *string*.
 
     :param string: comma-separated list of host and port items.
+
     :returns: ``True`` if all items in the CSV string are valid.
     """
     return validate_host_port_list([s.strip() for s in string.split(",")])
@@ -127,7 +137,7 @@ def validate_host_port_listen(host_port: str) -> bool:
     Call :func:`validate_host_port` with *listen* set to ``True``.
 
     :param host_port: the host and port to be validated. Must be in the format
-        `host:ip`.
+        ``host:ip``.
 
     :returns: ``True`` if the host and port are valid and available for binding.
     """
@@ -140,8 +150,9 @@ def validate_host_port_listen_multiple_hosts(host_port: str) -> bool:
     Call :func:`validate_host_port` with both *listen* and *multiple_hosts* set to ``True``.
 
     :param host_port: the host(s) and port to be validated. It can be in either of these formats
-        * `host:ip`; or
-        * `host_1,host_2,...,host_n:port`
+
+        * ``host:ip``; or
+        * ``host_1,host_2,...,host_n:port``
 
     :returns: ``True`` if the host(s) and port are valid and available for binding.
     """
@@ -152,8 +163,11 @@ def is_ipv4_address(ip: str) -> bool:
     """Check if *ip* is a valid IPv4 address.
 
     :param ip: the IP to be checked.
+
     :returns: ``True`` if the IP is an IPv4 address.
-    :raises :class:`patroni.exceptions.ConfigParserError`: if *ip* is not a valid IPv4 address.
+
+    :raises:
+        :class:`~patroni.exceptions.ConfigParseError`: if *ip* is not a valid IPv4 address.
     """
     try:
         socket.inet_aton(ip)
@@ -166,8 +180,11 @@ def is_ipv6_address(ip: str) -> bool:
     """Check if *ip* is a valid IPv6 address.
 
     :param ip: the IP to be checked.
+
     :returns: ``True`` if the IP is an IPv6 address.
-    :raises :class:`patroni.exceptions.ConfigParserError`: if *ip* is not a valid IPv6 address.
+
+    :raises:
+        :class:`~patroni.exceptions.ConfigParseError`: if *ip* is not a valid IPv6 address.
     """
     try:
         socket.inet_pton(socket.AF_INET6, ip)
@@ -196,14 +213,17 @@ def validate_data_dir(data_dir: str) -> bool:
         * Point to a non-empty directory that seems to contain a valid PostgreSQL data directory.
 
     :param data_dir: the value of ``postgresql.data_dir`` configuration option.
+
     :returns: ``True`` if the PostgreSQL data directory is valid.
-    :raises :class:`patroni.exceptions.ConfigParserError`:
-        * If no *data_dir* was given; or
-        * If *data_dir* is a file and not a directory; or
-        * If *data_dir* is a non-empty directory and:
-            * ``PG_VERSION`` file is not available in the directory
-            * ``pg_wal``/``pg_xlog`` is not available in the directory
-            * ``PG_VERSION`` content does not match the major version reported by ``postgres --version``
+
+    :raises:
+        :class:`~patroni.exceptions.ConfigParseError`:
+            * If no *data_dir* was given; or
+            * If *data_dir* is a file and not a directory; or
+            * If *data_dir* is a non-empty directory and:
+                * ``PG_VERSION`` file is not available in the directory
+                * ``pg_wal``/``pg_xlog`` is not available in the directory
+                * ``PG_VERSION`` content does not match the major version reported by ``postgres --version``
     """
     if not data_dir:
         raise ConfigParseError("is an empty string")
@@ -244,11 +264,12 @@ def validate_binary_name(bin_name: str) -> bool:
 
     :returns: ``True`` if the conditions are true
 
-    :raises :class:`patroni.exceptions.ConfigParserError`: if:
-        * *bin_name* is not set; or
-        * the path join of the ``postgresql.bin_dir`` plus *bin_name* does not exist; or
-        * the path join as above is not executable; or
-        * the *bin_name* cannot be found in the system PATH
+    :raises:
+        :class:`~patroni.exceptions.ConfigParseError` if:
+            * *bin_name* is not set; or
+            * the path join of the ``postgresql.bin_dir`` plus *bin_name* does not exist; or
+            * the path join as above is not executable; or
+            * the *bin_name* cannot be found in the system PATH
 
     """
     if not bin_name:
@@ -275,7 +296,7 @@ class Result(object):
 
         .. note::
 
-            ``error`` attribute is only set if ``status`` is failed.
+            ``error`` attribute is only set if *status* is failed.
 
         :param status: if the validation succeeded.
         :param error: error message related to the validation that was performed, if the validation failed.
@@ -322,8 +343,8 @@ class Case(object):
                 "url": str,
             })
 
-        That will check that ``host`` configuration, if given, is valid based on ``validate_host_port`` function, and
-        will also check that ``url`` configuration, if given, is a ``str`` instance.
+        That will check that ``host`` configuration, if given, is valid based on :func:`validate_host_port`, and will
+        also check that ``url`` configuration, if given, is a ``str`` instance.
         """
         self._schema = schema
 
@@ -349,7 +370,7 @@ class Or(object):
 
         The outer :class:`Or` is used to define that ``host`` and ``hosts`` are possible options in this scope.
         The inner :class`Or` in the ``hosts`` key value is used to define that ``hosts`` option is valid if either of
-            the functions ``comma_separated_host_port`` or ``validate_host_port`` succeed to validate it.
+            :func:`comma_separated_host_port` or :func:`validate_host_port` succeed to validate it.
         """
         self.args = args
 
@@ -391,12 +412,12 @@ class Directory(object):
         self.contains_executable = contains_executable
 
     def _check_executables(self, path: OptionalType[str] = None) -> Iterator[Result]:
-        """Check that all executables from contains_executable list exist within the given directory or within PATH.
+        """Check that all executables from contains_executable list exist within the given directory or within ``PATH``.
 
         :param path: optional path to the base directory against which executables will be validated.
-                     If not provided, check within PATH.
-        :rtype: Iterator[:class:`Result`] objects with the error message containing the name of the executable,
-                if any check fails.
+                     If not provided, check within ``PATH``.
+
+        :yields: objects with the error message containing the name of the executable, if any check fails.
         """
         for program in self.contains_executable or []:
             if not shutil.which(program, path=path):
@@ -406,8 +427,9 @@ class Directory(object):
         """Check if the expected paths and executables can be found under *name* directory.
 
         :param name: path to the base directory against which paths and executables will be validated.
-                     Check against PATH if name is not provided.
-        :rtype: Iterator[:class:`Result`] objects with the error message related to the failure, if any check fails.
+                     Check against ``PATH`` if name is not provided.
+
+        :yields: objects with the error message related to the failure, if any check fails.
         """
         if not name:
             yield from self._check_executables()
@@ -455,12 +477,13 @@ class Schema(object):
     be performed against each one of them. The validations will be performed whenever the :class:`Schema` object is
     called, or its :func:`validate` method is called.
 
-    :ivar validator: validator of the configuration schema. Can be any of these
+    :ivar validator: validator of the configuration schema. Can be any of these:
+
         * :class:`str`: defines that a string value is required; or
-        * :class:`type`: any subclass of `type`, defines that a value of the given type is required; or
-        * `callable`: any callable object, defines that validation will follow the code defined in the callable
-            object. If the callable object contains an ``expected_type`` attribute, then it will check if the
-            configuration value is of the expected type before calling the code of the callable object; or
+        * :class:`type`: any subclass of :class:`type`, defines that a value of the given type is required; or
+        * ``callable``: any callable object, defines that validation will follow the code defined in the callable
+          object. If the callable object contains an ``expected_type`` attribute, then it will check if the
+          configuration value is of the expected type before calling the code of the callable object; or
         * :class:`list`: list representing one or more values in the configuration; or
         * :class:`dict`: dictionary representing the YAML configuration tree.
     """
@@ -477,11 +500,12 @@ class Schema(object):
             nodes, when it performs checks of the actual setting values.
 
         :param validator: validator of the configuration schema. Can be any of these:
+
             * :class:`str`: defines that a string value is required; or
             * :class:`type`: any subclass of :class:`type`, defines that a value of the given type is required; or
-            * `callable`: Any callable object, defines that validation will follow the code defined in the callable
-                object. If the callable object contains an ``expected_type`` attribute, then it will check if the
-                configuration value is of the expected type before calling the code of the callable object; or
+            * ``callable``: Any callable object, defines that validation will follow the code defined in the callable
+              object. If the callable object contains an ``expected_type`` attribute, then it will check if the
+              configuration value is of the expected type before calling the code of the callable object; or
             * :class:`list`: list representing it expects to contain one or more values in the configuration; or
             * :class:`dict`: dictionary representing the YAML configuration tree.
 
@@ -489,18 +513,22 @@ class Schema(object):
             to stop.
 
             If *validator* is a :class:`dict`, then you should follow these rules:
+
             * For the keys it can be either:
+
                 * A :class:`str` instance. It will be the name of the configuration option; or
                 * An :class:`Optional` instance. The ``name`` attribute of that object will be the name of the
-                    configuration option, and that class makes this configuration option as optional to the
-                    user, allowing it to not be specified in the YAML; or
+                  configuration option, and that class makes this configuration option as optional to the
+                  user, allowing it to not be specified in the YAML; or
                 * An :class:`Or` instance. The ``args`` attribute of that object will contain a tuple of
                     configuration option names. At least one of them should be specified by the user in the YAML;
+
             * For the values it can be either:
+
                 * A new :class:`dict` instance. It will represent a new level in the YAML configuration tree; or
                 * A :class:`Case` instance. This is required if the key of this value is an :class:`Or` instance,
-                    and the :class:`Case` instance is used to map each of the ``args`` in :class:`Or` to their
-                    corresponding base validator in :class:`Case`; or
+                  and the :class:`Case` instance is used to map each of the ``args`` in :class:`Or` to their
+                  corresponding base validator in :class:`Case`; or
                 * An :class:`Or` instance with one or more base validators; or
                 * A :class:`list` instance with a single item which is the base validator; or
                 * A base validator.
@@ -523,15 +551,16 @@ class Schema(object):
             })
 
         This sample schema defines that your YAML configuration follows these rules:
-        * It must contain an ``application_name`` entry which value should be a :class:`str` instance;
-        * It must contain a ``bind.host`` entry which value should be valid as per function ``validate_host``;
-        * It must contain a ``bind.port`` entry which value should be an :class:`int` instance;
-        * It must contain a ``aliases`` entry which value should be a :class:`list` of :class:`str` instances;
-        * It may optionally contain a ``data_directory`` entry, with a value which should be a string;
-        * It must contain at least one of ``log_to_file`` or ``log_to_db``, with a value which should be a
-            :class:`bool` instance;
-        * It must contain a ``version`` entry which value should be either an :class:`int` or a :class:`float`
-            instance.
+
+            * It must contain an ``application_name`` entry which value should be a :class:`str` instance;
+            * It must contain a ``bind.host`` entry which value should be valid as per function ``validate_host``;
+            * It must contain a ``bind.port`` entry which value should be an :class:`int` instance;
+            * It must contain a ``aliases`` entry which value should be a :class:`list` of :class:`str` instances;
+            * It may optionally contain a ``data_directory`` entry, with a value which should be a string;
+            * It must contain at least one of ``log_to_file`` or ``log_to_db``, with a value which should be a
+              :class:`bool` instance;
+            * It must contain a ``version`` entry which value should be either an :class:`int` or a :class:`float`
+              instance.
         """
         self.validator = validator
 
@@ -539,6 +568,7 @@ class Schema(object):
         """Perform validation of data using the rules defined in this schema.
 
         :param data: configuration to be validated against ``validator``.
+
         :returns: list of errors identified while validating the *data*, if any.
         """
         errors: List[str] = []
@@ -553,14 +583,15 @@ class Schema(object):
         It first checks that *data* argument type is compliant with the type of ``validator`` attribute.
 
         Additionally:
-        * If ``validator`` attribute is a callable object, calls it to validate *data* argument. Before doing so, if
-            `validator` contains an ``expected_type`` attribute, check if *data* argument is compliant with that
-            expected type.
-        * If ``validator`` attribute is an iterable object (:class:`dict`, :class:`list`, :class:`Directory` or
-            :class:`Or`), then it iterates over it to validate each of the corresponding entries in *data* argument.
+            * If ``validator`` attribute is a callable object, calls it to validate *data* argument. Before doing so, if
+                `validator` contains an ``expected_type`` attribute, check if *data* argument is compliant with that
+                expected type.
+            * If ``validator`` attribute is an iterable object (:class:`dict`, :class:`list`, :class:`Directory` or
+                :class:`Or`), then it iterates over it to validate each of the corresponding entries in *data* argument.
 
         :param data: configuration to be validated against ``validator``.
-        :rtype: Iterator[:class:`Result`] objects with the error message related to the failure, if any check fails.
+
+        :yields: objects with the error message related to the failure, if any check fails.
         """
         self.data = data
 
@@ -601,7 +632,7 @@ class Schema(object):
 
         Only :class:`dict`, :class:`list`, :class:`Directory` and :class:`Or` objects are considered iterable objects.
 
-        :rtype: Iterator[:class:`Result`] objects with the error message related to the failure, if any check fails.
+        :yields: objects with the error message related to the failure, if any check fails.
         """
         if isinstance(self.validator, dict):
             if not isinstance(self.data, dict):
@@ -629,7 +660,7 @@ class Schema(object):
     def iter_dict(self) -> Iterator[Result]:
         """Iterate over a :class:`dict` based ``validator`` to validate the corresponding entries in ``data``.
 
-        :rtype: Iterator[:class:`Result`] objects with the error message related to the failure, if any check fails.
+        :yields: objects with the error message related to the failure, if any check fails.
         """
         # One key in `validator` attribute (`key` variable) can be mapped to one or more keys in `data` attribute (`d`
         # variable), depending on the `key` type.
@@ -652,12 +683,12 @@ class Schema(object):
                                      path=(d + ("." + v.path if v.path else "")), level=v.level, data=v.data)
 
     def iter_or(self) -> Iterator[Result]:
-        """Perform all validations defined in an `Or` object for a given configuration option.
+        """Perform all validations defined in an :class:`Or` object for a given configuration option.
 
         This method can be only called against leaf nodes in the configuration tree. :class:`Or` objects defined in the
         ``validator`` keys will be handled by :func:`iter_dict` method.
 
-        :rtype: Iterator[:class:`Result`] objects with the error message related to the failure, if any check fails.
+        :yields: objects with the error message related to the failure, if any check fails.
         """
         results: List[Result] = []
         for a in self.validator.args:
@@ -683,7 +714,7 @@ class Schema(object):
 
         :param key: key from the ``validator`` attribute.
 
-        :rtype: Iterator[str], keys that should be used to access corresponding value in the ``data`` attribute.
+        :yields: keys that should be used to access corresponding value in the ``data`` attribute.
         """
         # If the key was defined as a `str` object in `validator` attribute, then it is already the final key to access
         # the `data` dictionary.
@@ -710,12 +741,11 @@ class Schema(object):
 
 
 def _get_type_name(python_type: Any) -> str:
-    """Get a user friendly name for a given Python type.
+    """Get a user-friendly name for a given Python type.
 
     :param python_type: Python type which user friendly name should be taken.
 
-    Returns:
-        User friendly name of the given Python type.
+    :returns: User friendly name of the given Python type.
     """
     types: Dict[Any, str] = {str: 'a string', int: 'an integer', float: 'a number',
                              bool: 'a boolean', list: 'an array', dict: 'a dictionary'}
@@ -736,11 +766,11 @@ def assert_(condition: bool, message: str = "Wrong value") -> None:
 class IntValidator(object):
     """Validate an integer setting.
 
-    :cvar expected_type: the expect Python type for an integer setting (:class:`int`).
+    :cvar expected_type: the expected Python type for an integer setting (:class:`int`).
     :ivar min: minimum allowed value for the setting, if any.
     :ivar max: maximum allowed value for the setting, if any.
-    :ivar base_unit: the base unit to convert the value to before checking if it's within `min` and `max` range.
-    :ivar raise_assert: if an ``assert`` call should be performed regarding expected type and valid range.
+    :ivar base_unit: the base unit to convert the value to before checking if it's within *min* and *max* range.
+    :ivar raise_assert: if an ``assert`` test should be performed regarding expected type and valid range.
     """
 
     expected_type = int
@@ -752,7 +782,7 @@ class IntValidator(object):
         :param min: minimum allowed value for the setting, if any.
         :param max: maximum allowed value for the setting, if any.
         :param base_unit: the base unit to convert the value to before checking if it's within *min* and *max* range.
-        :param raise_assert: if an ``assert`` call should be performed regarding expected type and valid range.
+        :param raise_assert: if an ``assert`` test should be performed regarding expected type and valid range.
         """
         self.min = min
         self.max = max
@@ -763,8 +793,10 @@ class IntValidator(object):
         """Check if *value* is a valid integer and within the expected range.
 
         .. note::
-            If ``raise_assert`` is ``True`` and *value* is not valid, then an ``AssertionError`` will be triggered.
+            If ``raise_assert`` is ``True`` and *value* is not valid, then an :class:`AssertionError` will be triggered.
+
         :param value: value to be checked against the rules defined for this :class:`IntValidator` instance.
+
         :returns: ``True`` if *value* is valid and within the expected range.
         """
         value = parse_int(value, self.base_unit) or ""
diff --git a/requirements.docs.txt b/requirements.docs.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..67493140
--- /dev/null
+++ b/requirements.docs.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+sphinx>=4
+sphinx_rtd_theme
+sphinxcontrib-apidoc
+sphinx-github-style
+pyyaml
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 71104357..b145f483 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ platform =
     {[common]platforms}
 allowlist_externals =
     rm
+    true
     {env:OPEN_CMD}
 
 [testenv:dep]
@@ -174,23 +175,51 @@ platform =
     {[common]platforms}
 
 [testenv:docs-{lin,mac,win}]
-description = Build Sphinx documentation
+description = Build Sphinx documentation in HTML format
 labels:
     docs
 deps =
-    sphinx>=4
-    sphinx_rtd_theme
+    -r requirements.docs.txt
+    -r requirements.txt
+    psycopg[binary]
+    psycopg2-binary
 commands =
     sphinx-build \
     -d "{envtmpdir}{/}doctree" docs "{toxworkdir}{/}docs_out" \
     --color -b html \
+    -T -E -W --keep-going \
     {posargs}
 commands_post =
     - {tty:{env:OPEN_CMD} "{toxworkdir}{/}docs_out{/}index.html":true:}
 allowlist_externals =
+    true
+    {env:OPEN_CMD}
+platform =
+    {[common]platforms}
+
+[testenv:pdf-{lin,mac,win}]
+description = Build Sphinx documentation in PDF format
+labels:
+    docs
+deps =
+    -r requirements.docs.txt
+    -r requirements.txt
+    psycopg[binary]
+    psycopg2-binary
+commands =
+    python -m sphinx -T -E -b latex -d _build/doctrees -D language=en . pdf
+    - latexmk -r pdf/latexmkrc -cd -C pdf/Patroni.tex
+    latexmk -r pdf/latexmkrc -cd -pdf -f -dvi- -ps- -jobname=Patroni -interaction=nonstopmode pdf/Patroni.tex
+
+commands_post =
+    - {tty:{env:OPEN_CMD} "pdf{/}Patroni.pdf":true:}
+allowlist_externals =
+    true
+    latexmk
     {env:OPEN_CMD}
 platform =
     {[common]platforms}
+change_dir = docs
 
 [flake8]
 max-line-length = 120


Test patch:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
index 0540cca0..bc6a1be3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
@@ -174,3 +174,27 @@ jobs:
     - uses: jakebailey/pyright-action@v1
       with:
         version: 1.1.320
+
+  docs:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
+    - name: Set up Python 3.11
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+      with:
+        python-version: 3.11
+        cache: pip
+
+    - name: Install dependencies
+      run: pip install tox
+
+    - name: Install package dependencies
+      run: |
+        sudo apt update \
+        && sudo apt install -y \
+            latexmk texlive-latex-extra tex-gyre \
+            --no-install-recommends
+
+    - name: Generate documentation
+      run: tox -m docs
diff --git a/tests/test_ha.py b/tests/test_ha.py
index f7378b43..6acb2e15 100644
--- a/tests/test_ha.py
+++ b/tests/test_ha.py
@@ -1294,6 +1294,19 @@ class TestHa(PostgresInit):
         mock_restart.assert_called_once()
         self.ha.dcs.get_cluster.assert_not_called()
 
+    def test_enable_synchronous_mode(self):
+        self.ha.is_synchronous_mode = true
+        self.ha.has_lock = true
+        self.p.name = 'leader'
+        self.ha.dcs.write_sync_state = Mock(return_value=SyncState.empty())
+        with patch('patroni.ha.logger.info') as mock_logger:
+            self.ha.run_cycle()
+            self.assertEqual(mock_logger.call_args[0][0], 'Enabled synchronous replication')
+        self.ha.dcs.write_sync_state = Mock(return_value=None)
+        with patch('patroni.ha.logger.warning') as mock_logger:
+            self.ha.run_cycle()
+            self.assertEqual(mock_logger.call_args[0][0], 'Updating sync state failed')
+
     def test_effective_tags(self):
         self.ha._disable_sync = True
         self.assertEqual(self.ha.get_effective_tags(), {'foo': 'bar', 'nosync': True})