Why you should stop writing documentation manually
Tags: productivity, github, devops, ai
Published: 2024-03-28 11:34:38

Team projects and startups thrive on clear communication, but code documentation often becomes a silent battleground. Developers juggle writing clear code with explaining it all in detail – a time-consuming and frustrating dance.

## Nobody loves to write Documentation

I will say it, manually documenting projects is not a smart way to do the job. There are reasons I am saying this:

**1. Context Switching:** Developers switch between coding and writing, losing focus and momentum.
**2. Inconsistency:** Documentation styles and details vary, leading to confusion.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/vb06eefd9sl304clmmxs.png)


**3. Outdated Docs:** Keeping up with code changes becomes a documentation nightmare.
**4. Lost Time:** Precious development hours are wasted writing, not coding.

These issues create friction within teams, especially in startups. Incomplete or outdated documentation hinders onboarding new members and slows down collaboration. Who hasn't seen this meme:


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/37g8be5g435x8yza1s9i.png)


And that's why, you need to

## Work Smarter, not Harder

Let's get rid of this pain. There are bunch of tools out there you haven't looked into carefully. For example, **Supacodes** integrates with your GitHub workflow, automatically generating and updating code documentation whenever your codebase changes. This means:

**1. Focus on Features:** Developers can dedicate their time to building new features, not writing manuals.
**2. Consistent Quality:** Supacodes ensures a uniform style and level of detail across your entire codebase.
**3. Always in Sync:** Documentation automatically reflects the latest code, eliminating confusion and wasted effort.
**4. Improved Collaboration:** Clear, readily available documentation fosters better understanding within your team.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/nn6yg58ja1m6sklv8sfi.png)



Supacodes goes beyond simple comments, allowing you to include details like function descriptions, parameter definitions, return values, render descriptions, and even code examples. This provides a comprehensive picture of your code, making it easier for everyone on your team to:

**1. Onboard Faster:** New team members can get up to speed quicker with clear and consistent documentation. (Yup, the meme gets changed)
**2. Collaborate Effectively:** Team members can understand each other's code more easily, leading to better communication and fewer bugs.
**3. Maintain Code Quality:** Consistent documentation helps identify potential issues and maintain a higher coding standard.

It takes the burden of documentation off your team's shoulders. This frees them to focus on what they do best: writing great code and working together to build amazing things. 

## Let's Do It

You know the good part? SupaCodes is already out in **BETA**! You can give it a try right now to have another mug of coffee instead of writing crazy docs.

So, what do you think? Is it going to change how you document your project today?

**Check out SupaCodes:** https://supacodes.com

(Secret tip: hit me on twitter for a 70% off discount code for the first month. Supacodes is providing free access to selected teams too)

PS. I am the developer behind SupaCodes