📋 Ideal Use Cases
This document presents the main use cases and recommended structures for different types of documentation projects.
🎯 Overview
Efficient documentation organization is crucial for the success of any project. This guide presents tested and approved structures for different scenarios.
📚 Project Documentation
Basic Structure
docs/
├── README.md # Project overview
├── CONTRIBUTING.md # Contribution guide
├── CHANGELOG.md # Change history
├── installation/
│ ├── index.md # Main installation guide
│ ├── requirements.md # Prerequisites
│ ├── docker.md # Docker installation
│ └── troubleshooting.md # Common issues
├── guides/
│ ├── getting-started.md # Getting started
│ ├── configuration.md # Configuration
│ ├── deployment.md # Deployment
│ └── best-practices.md # Best practices
├── api/
│ ├── overview.md # API overview
│ ├── reference/ # Complete reference
│ └── examples/ # Practical examples
└── assets/
├── images/ # Images and diagrams
└── videos/ # Tutorial videos
Ideal Use Cases:
- ✅ Open source projects
- ✅ Libraries and frameworks
- ✅ Corporate applications
- ✅ Development tools
🔌 API Documentation
Complete Structure
docs/
├── index.md # API introduction
├── authentication/
│ ├── overview.md # Authentication methods
│ ├── api-keys.md # API keys
│ ├── oauth.md # OAuth 2.0
│ └── jwt.md # JSON Web Tokens
├── quick-start/
│ ├── first-request.md # First request
│ ├── postman.md # Postman collection
│ └── curl-examples.md # cURL examples
├── endpoints/
│ ├── users/ # User endpoints
│ ├── products/ # Product endpoints
│ ├── orders/ # Order endpoints
│ └── webhooks/ # Webhooks
├── sdks/
│ ├── javascript.md # JavaScript SDK
│ ├── python.md # Python SDK
│ ├── php.md # PHP SDK
│ └── mobile.md # Mobile SDKs
├── examples/
│ ├── use-cases/ # Real use cases
│ ├── integrations/ # Integrations
│ └── code-samples/ # Code samples
├── errors/
│ ├── codes.md # Error codes
│ └── handling.md # Error handling
└── changelog/
├── v1.md # Version 1.x
├── v2.md # Version 2.x
└── migration.md # Migration guides
Ideal Use Cases:
- ✅ REST and GraphQL APIs
- ✅ Microservices
- ✅ Integration platforms
- ✅ SaaS services
📖 Knowledge Base
Organizational Structure
docs/
├── index.md # Main portal
├── getting-started/
│ ├── overview.md # Overview
│ ├── account-setup.md # Account setup
│ └── first-steps.md # First steps
├── tutorials/
│ ├── beginner/ # Beginner level
│ ├── intermediate/ # Intermediate level
│ ├── advanced/ # Advanced level
│ └── video-guides/ # Video guides
├── how-to/
│ ├── common-tasks/ # Common tasks
│ ├── integrations/ # Integrations
│ └── customization/ # Customization
├── troubleshooting/
│ ├── common-issues.md # Common issues
│ ├── error-messages.md # Error messages
│ ├── performance.md # Performance
│ └── debugging.md # Debugging
├── faq/
│ ├── general.md # General questions
│ ├── technical.md # Technical questions
│ ├── billing.md # Billing
│ └── security.md # Security
├── resources/
│ ├── tools.md # Useful tools
│ ├── links.md # External links
│ ├── glossary.md # Glossary
│ └── downloads.md # Downloads
└── community/
├── forums.md # Forums
├── discord.md # Discord/Slack
└── events.md # Events
Ideal Use Cases:
- ✅ Customer support
- ✅ Product documentation
- ✅ Internal knowledge bases
- ✅ Corporate wikis
🏢 Enterprise Documentation
Corporate Structure
docs/
├── governance/
│ ├── policies.md # Policies
│ ├── standards.md # Standards
│ └── compliance.md # Compliance
├── architecture/
│ ├── overview.md # Overview
│ ├── diagrams/ # Diagrams
│ ├── decisions/ # ADRs (Architecture Decision Records)
│ └── patterns/ # Architectural patterns
├── processes/
│ ├── development.md # Development process
│ ├── deployment.md # Deployment process
│ ├── testing.md # Testing process
│ └── security.md # Security process
├── teams/
│ ├── frontend/ # Frontend team
│ ├── backend/ # Backend team
│ ├── devops/ # DevOps team
│ └── qa/ # QA team
└── training/
├── onboarding/ # Onboarding
├── workshops/ # Workshops
└── certifications/ # Certifications
🎓 Educational Content
Educational Structure
docs/
├── courses/
│ ├── fundamentals/ # Fundamentals
│ ├── intermediate/ # Intermediate
│ └── advanced/ # Advanced
├── lessons/
│ ├── theory/ # Theory
│ ├── practice/ # Practice
│ └── exercises/ # Exercises
├── projects/
│ ├── beginner/ # Beginner projects
│ ├── portfolio/ # Portfolio projects
│ └── capstone/ # Capstone projects
└── assessments/
├── quizzes/ # Quizzes
├── assignments/ # Assignments
└── rubrics/ # Assessment criteria
🛠️ Technical Specifications
Technical Structure
docs/
├── specifications/
│ ├── requirements.md # Requirements
│ ├── design.md # Design
│ └── implementation.md # Implementation
├── protocols/
│ ├── communication.md # Communication protocols
│ ├── data-formats.md # Data formats
│ └── security.md # Security protocols
├── standards/
│ ├── coding.md # Coding standards
│ ├── naming.md # Naming conventions
│ └── documentation.md # Documentation standards
└── testing/
├── unit-tests.md # Unit tests
├── integration.md # Integration tests
└── e2e.md # End-to-end tests
📊 Best Practices
🎯 Fundamental Principles
Clarity and Simplicity
- Use clear and direct language
- Avoid unnecessary jargon
- Structure content logically
Intuitive Navigation
- Organize by related topics
- Use indexes and summaries
- Implement efficient search
Maintainability
- Keep documentation up to date
- Use proper versioning
- Establish review processes
Accessibility
- Consider different knowledge levels
- Provide multiple formats (text, video, diagrams)
- Ensure screen reader compatibility
🔧 Recommended Tools
- Site Generators: VitePress, Docusaurus, GitBook
- Diagrams: Mermaid, Draw.io, Lucidchart
- Version Control: Git, GitHub/GitLab
- Collaboration: Notion, Confluence, Obsidian
📈 Success Metrics
Documentation KPIs
- Usage: Page views, time on page, most accessed pages
- Quality: User feedback, problem resolution rate
- Maintenance: Update frequency, time to corrections
- Adoption: Number of contributors, documentation pull requests
🚀 Next Steps
- Evaluate your specific use case
- Choose the most suitable structure
- Adapt as needed for your context
- Implement gradually starting with essentials
- Collect feedback and iterate continuously
💡 Tip: Start simple and evolve as needed. The best documentation is the one that is actually used and maintained.