Documentation

Documentation is a product. Treat it with the same care as code: version it, review it, test it, maintain it.

Context

Documentation is a cross-cutting concern that applies at every lifecycle phase. Good documentation reduces onboarding time, prevents knowledge loss, and enables async collaboration. The Diataxis framework provides a useful structure.

In the phase matrix, documentation is always a must_consider concern. It only becomes a must_produce obligation when the change creates durable knowledge another person or later phase must rely on. Approved intake_mode=fast-track work may waive routine documentation updates, but it does not waive durable docs when the change would otherwise leave important knowledge implicit.

Diataxis Framework

Organize documentation into four types: