Code Mysteries: Because Who Does not Love a Good Puzzle?
How to build out your documentation to tell the code story
When starting a new puzzle, how do you know what the puzzle will look like when it's completed? You look at the box, right? Well, in code, that's exactly what documentation is. Documentation provides an understanding of the pieces and the bigger picture. However, we often forget its importance.
Consider this: if you are the engineer on-call and need to figure out what went wrong with a program, or if you are a data engineer trying to decipher someone else's code after they've left the company, or if you simply want to remember what you did a few months down the road, good documentation is essential.
It's worth spending an extra 10 minutes on documentation instead of just focusing on feature development. Not only will it make your life easier in the long run, but there are also plenty of other benefits!
In this post, we'll explore why it's so important to document your code, how to do it effectively, and ways to minimize the impact of documentation on your work schedule.
Benefits of Documenting Your Code
In the introduction, we discussed that including documentation in code can decrease the time it takes to solve problems (also known as "improved debugging"). Here are four additional benefits:
Improved code readability
Good documentation makes your code easier to understand and read. It allows other developers to quickly understand what your code does, and how it works. This can save time and reduce the chances of bugs or errors.
Easier maintenance
Code documentation makes it easier to maintain and update your code. When you document your code, you create a roadmap that helps you understand how different parts of your code work together. This can help you identify areas that need improvement or optimization, and make changes without breaking the code.
Better collaboration
When multiple developers work on the same project, good documentation makes it easier for them to work together. It ensures that everyone is on the same page and has a common understanding of how the code works. This can reduce misunderstandings and conflicts, and lead to a more cohesive team.
Easier onboarding
This is probably the most impactful and also most often ignored benefit. But when you have new developers (especially vendors or contractors) join the team, which will happen more often than most of us admit, good documentation will help them get up to speed quickly. It provides a clear understanding of how the code works and what it does, reducing the learning curve and making it easier for new team members to contribute.
These benefits are only seen when you have documentation processes in the entire team.
Setting processes for documentation
When it comes to creating a new project, building out the README.md file is the first step. This file provides an essential overview of your code and should include key information about what the code does, how to use it, and any dependencies or requirements. But don't stop there!
If you're working on a new feature or package, take the time to add comments and docstrings to the files. Comments are an excellent way to explain what your code is doing and why it's doing it. They can help new team members understand your thought process, and they can also provide context for complex code or potential bugs that others may encounter.
In addition to comments, you can use external-to-code documentation tools to further enhance the clarity of your code. These tools can streamline the documentation process and make it less time-consuming. For instance, popular options like Doxygen, Sphinx, and Javadoc can automate parts of the documentation process, generating documentation from specially formatted comments in your code.
Remember, the goal of documentation is not just to explain what your code does, but to create a clear, concise, and comprehensive picture of your project. By taking the time to build out your README.md file, add comments and docstrings, and use external tools, you can ensure that your code is as accessible and understandable as possible.
Minimize your effort and maximize returns
There are several ways to reduce the impact of documentation on your work schedule, while still ensuring that it is done well. One approach is to integrate documentation into your workflow so that it becomes a natural part of the process. For instance, you could require documentation as part of your code review process, or make it a standard part of your sprint planning. This can help to reduce the amount of time that you need to spend on documentation since it becomes part of the work that you are already doing.
To further streamline the documentation process, you may also want to consider automating it wherever possible. There are a number of tools available that can help you to do this, such as Sphinx, which is designed to generate documentation from specially-formatted comments in your code. By using tools like this, you can save yourself a significant amount of time and effort, while still ensuring that your documentation is of high quality.
Another way to reduce the amount of time you spend on documentation is to delegate some of the work to other members of your team. If there are people on your team who are particularly interested or skilled in documentation, you could consider making it part of their responsibilities (and make it part of their performance review!). Not only will this help to reduce the burden on you, but it will also ensure that the documentation is done by someone with the appropriate skills and knowledge.
By implementing these strategies, you can minimize the impact of documentation on your work schedule, while still ensuring that it is done well. Whether you choose to integrate documentation into your workflow, automate the process, or delegate some of the work to others, there are many ways to ensure that your documentation is of high quality without sacrificing too much of your time or energy.
Conclusion
Documentation can often be overlooked, but it's actually essential. Not only does it help other developers understand your code, it can also improve code readability, make maintenance easier, and foster better collaboration. By integrating documentation into your workflow, automating the process, or delegating some of the work, you can ensure that your documentation is of high quality without sacrificing too much of your time or energy. So, take the time to document your code – you will be glad you did!