Doclea MCP

# Doclea Documentation Excellence Summary Executive summary of the complete documentation strategy for creating world-class developer documentation. --- ## The Challenge Doclea needs documentation that serves **two conflicting needs:** 1. **Beginners** want to see something work in 5 minutes before investing time 2. **Advanced users** need complete reference material and customization options Most projects choose one over the other, creating frustrated users. This strategy serves both simultaneously through clean layering. --- ## The Solution: Three-Tier Architecture ### Tier 1: Quick Start (5-15 minutes) - **Purpose:** Get people experiencing value immediately - **Content:** Get Started in 5 Minutes, Memory Types, Installation - **User goal:** "Show me this works" - **Success:** Beginner finishes with working Doclea, understands what it does ### Tier 2: Core Features (30 minutes - 2 hours) - **Purpose:** Use Doclea productively on real work - **Content:** Feature guides, real workflows, integration patterns - **User goal:** "How do I use this for my project?" - **Success:** Developer uses Doclea daily, extracts real value ### Tier 3: Advanced (2+ hours) - **Purpose:** Customize, extend, or deeply understand - **Content:** API reference, configuration, architecture, troubleshooting - **User goal:** "How do I get maximum value?" - **Success:** Power user optimizes Doclea for their specific needs **Key insight:** Users navigate the tiers naturally as they become more sophisticated. Documentation moves out of the way for beginners but is there when needed. --- ## Critical Success Factors ### 1. Tone: Confident and Practical - Assume developer competence (understands git, terminal, APIs) - Be direct: "Do this" not "You might consider..." - Use active voice: "Doclea stores" not "Memories can be stored" - Avoid hedging: Use "will" not "might" **Example:** ``` Good: "Store a decision when you make an architectural choice that affects multiple files." Bad: "You might want to consider potentially storing architectural decisions if they could possibly affect multiple files in the future." ``` ### 2. Code Examples: Complete and Runnable Every code example must be copy-pasteable and work without external context. **Always include:** - Required imports/setup - Expected output shown - Brief explanation of what happened - Pointer to next step **Never:** - Assume context ("assume you have X") - Show fragments ("the rest of the code...") - Use fictional variables without showing assignment ### 3. Progressive Disclosure Without Repetition Same concept explained at three depths for three audiences: **Depth 1 (Quick Start):** ``` "Semantic search finds memories by meaning, not keywords." ``` **Depth 2 (Feature Guide):** ``` "Search converts your query and memories into numerical vectors (embeddings), finding memories with similar vectors. This works because 'authentication' and 'identity verification' have similar meaning despite different words." ``` **Depth 3 (Reference):** ``` "Embedding provider converts text to numerical vectors using a transformer model. Default: Xenova/all-MiniLM-L6-v2 (384-dimensional). Alternative providers: OpenAI (1536-dim), custom (variable). Search time: O(n) for sqlite-vec, O(log n) for Qdrant." ``` ### 4. Every Tool Has an Example Users should see output format before learning to use a tool. **Must show:** - Input (what you provide) - Output (what you get back) - What the output means - When you'd use this tool ### 5. Real Workflows, Not Abstract Concepts Every feature documented should include a realistic scenario. **Bad:** ``` "Memories can be stored using the store function. The type parameter determines the memory type." ``` **Good:** ``` "You just discovered a bug and fixed it. Store the fix so Claude learns this pattern: const memory = await doclea.store({ type: 'solution', title: 'Fixed race condition in payment processing', content: '...' }); Later, Claude will suggest this pattern when similar issues appear." ``` --- ## Content Strategy: What to Write First ### Must-Have Content (MVP - Publish First) - Quick Start (5 minutes) - Memory Types (understand what to store) - Installation Guide (choose method) - Memory Management Guide (core feature) **This gets people activated and productive. About 45-50 pages of documentation.** ### Should-Have Content (Publish Second) - Git Tools Guide (show integration) - Expertise Mapping (show advanced feature) - Complete Workflows (see it all together) - API Reference (for reference) - Configuration Guide (for customization) **This helps users extract full value. Another 60-70 pages.** ### Nice-to-Have Content (Publish Third) - Architecture explanation (deep understanding) - Development setup (for contributors) - Troubleshooting deep dives (for debugging) - FAQ (from real user questions) **This is the long tail. 40-50 pages.** --- ## Practical Implementation ### Code Example Structure Every example should be: ```markdown ### Scenario: When you'd do this Brief explanation of the use case. ```typescript // Complete, runnable code // including all imports and setup const memory = await doclea.store({...}); ``` Result: What you expect to see ``` { id: 'mem_...', createdAt: '2025-12-10...' } ``` What happened: Explanation of what just occurred. Next: [Link to next logical step] ``` ### Instruction Structure Every how-to should: ```markdown # [Goal] You'll [specific outcome] in [X minutes]. ## What You Need - Prerequisites - Time required ## Step 1: [Clear action] [Instruction] [Expected output] ## Step 2: [Clear action] [Instruction] [Expected output] ## Success Criteria [How to know it worked] ## Next Steps [What to do now] ## Troubleshooting [Common problems and solutions] ``` ### Concept Explanation Structure Every concept should explain: 1. **What it is** (1 sentence definition) 2. **Why it matters** (1-2 sentences on impact) 3. **How it works** (brief explanation) 4. **Real example** (concrete scenario) 5. **When to use it** (decision rule) --- ## What "World-Class" Documentation Looks Like ### Criteria 1: Discoverability Users find answers by exploring the structure, not external search. **Implement:** - Consistent naming throughout (same term always means same thing) - Clear hierarchy (page → major sections → subsections) - Breadcrumbs showing where you are - "Next" links guiding through progressive learning ### Criteria 2: Completeness for the Scope Every documented tool has: - Input schema clearly shown - Output format with example - Complete working example - Common errors and fixes - When/why you'd use it ### Criteria 3: Clarity Without Dumbing Down Respect audience intelligence while remaining accessible. **Good:** ``` Importance (0-1) is a weight affecting search ranking. Set to 0.9 for critical architectural decisions, 0.5 for conventions, 0.2 for historical notes. ``` **Bad (too simple):** ``` Importance is how important the memory is. ``` **Bad (too complex):** ``` The importance scalar is computed as a normalized weight factor in the vector similarity calculation, modifying the relevance score by the specified coefficient. ``` ### Criteria 4: Immediate Actionability Every concept should connect to action within 2-3 sentences. ``` Search finds memories by meaning. When you make database changes, search for "ACID compliance" and it surfaces this decision: "We chose PostgreSQL because transactions need ACID guarantees." This prevents rebuilding context you already captured. ``` Then show how to actually search: ```typescript const results = await doclea.search('ACID compliance'); ``` ### Criteria 5: Testing Against Reality All examples tested end-to-end against the actual code. **Never:** - "Run X" when it doesn't match actual command - Show output different from what actually happens - Assume setup not documented - Use outdated examples ### Criteria 6: Recovery from Mistakes When users get stuck, docs help them get unstuck. **Implement:** - "Common errors" sections with fixes - "What if X happens?" addressing likely problems - Troubleshooting diagnostics (yes/no questions to narrow issues) - Clear error messages linked from docs --- ## Writing Guidelines Summary ### Tone - Confident, not tentative - Direct, not wordy - Technical but accessible - Consistent voice throughout ### Language - Active voice (subject → verb → object) - Present tense - Simple words (not fancy synonyms) - No hedging ("perhaps", "might", "could potentially") ### Structure - Scannable (headings, short paragraphs) - Progressive (simple to complex) - Contextual (show, then explain) - Linked (related content connected) ### Examples - Runnable (copy-paste works) - Complete (no "assume you have X") - Explained (what it does and why) - Realistic (real use cases, not artificial) --- ## Specific to Doclea's Features ### Documenting Memory Types Each type needs: - When you'd use it - Real memory example - How Claude uses it - What tags work well with it - Common tagging mistakes ### Documenting Tools Each tool needs: - What it does (one sentence) - When you'd use it - Input parameters (table with types/constraints) - Output format (with example) - Complete working example - Common errors and fixes ### Documenting Workflows Each workflow needs: - Start state (what's true before starting) - Each step with expected result - End state (what's accomplished) - Why you'd do this (business value) - Variations (alternate approaches) --- ## Timeline and Effort ### Tier 1 (Activation) - 2-3 weeks - Quick Start - Memory Types - Installation - README optimization **Effort:** 10-15 hours ### Tier 2 (Features) - 3-4 weeks - Memory Management - Git Tools - Expertise Mapping - Bootstrap/Initialization - Workflows **Effort:** 15-20 hours ### Tier 3 (Reference) - Ongoing - API Reference (extensive) - Configuration - Architecture - Troubleshooting - FAQ (from real questions) - Development **Effort:** 25-35 hours **Total:** 50-70 hours over 8-12 weeks --- ## Success Metrics ### For Tier 1 (Activation) - % of new users completing "Get Started" without external help (target: >85%) - Time to first stored memory (target: <15 minutes) - % returning after first try (target: >70%) ### For Tier 2 (Features) - Which features are most used (informs what to document next) - Common workflows in docs vs real usage (gaps indicate missing docs) - User questions on documented features (indicates clarity issues) ### For Tier 3 (Reference) - % of questions answerable from docs (target: >80%) - Time to find answers (target: <2 minutes for documented topics) - User-reported clarity (qualitative feedback) ### Overall Health - Documentation freshness (docs should match code within one release) - Broken links (should be zero, checked quarterly) - Outdated examples (should be tested in CI) --- ## Key Deliverables Created This documentation strategy includes: 1. **DOCUMENTATION_STRATEGY.md** (47KB) - Complete philosophy and approach - All content patterns explained - Real examples for each pattern 2. **WRITING_CHECKLIST.md** (13KB) - Before/during/after writing checklist - Quick reference for writers - Common mistakes to avoid 3. **VISUAL_STYLE_GUIDE.md** (15KB) - Typography standards - Code block formatting - Callout box usage - Accessibility guidelines 4. **CONTENT_ROADMAP.md** (25KB) - Page-by-page content plan - Estimated effort per page - Navigation structure - Success metrics 5. **This Summary** (this file) - Executive overview - Quick reference - Decision framework --- ## Getting Started: Next Steps ### Week 1: Quick Start Pages 1. Create `docs/getting-started/quick-start.md` 2. Create `docs/getting-started/memory-types.md` 3. Create `docs/getting-started/installation.md` 4. Optimize README.md to link to above **Goal:** New users can get Doclea working in 5 minutes ### Weeks 2-3: Feature Guides 1. Create `docs/features/memory-management.md` 2. Create `docs/features/git-tools.md` 3. Create `docs/features/expertise.md` 4. Create `docs/features/workflows.md` **Goal:** Users understand how to use Doclea daily ### Weeks 4+: Reference 1. Create `docs/reference/api.md` (comprehensive tool reference) 2. Create `docs/reference/configuration.md` 3. Create `docs/reference/troubleshooting.md` 4. Gather FAQ from real user questions **Goal:** Advanced users can customize and extend --- ## Using This Strategy ### For Writers Creating Documentation 1. Read **WRITING_CHECKLIST.md** before writing 2. Use the appropriate template from **CONTENT_ROADMAP.md** 3. Follow the tone/style guidelines in this document 4. Check formatting against **VISUAL_STYLE_GUIDE.md** 5. Self-review against **DOCUMENTATION_STRATEGY.md** ### For Reviewers 1. Check against **WRITING_CHECKLIST.md** 2. Verify examples are tested and complete 3. Ensure tone is consistent with this strategy 4. Validate depth matches tier (quick start vs reference) ### For Maintainers 1. Test examples quarterly against latest code 2. Check links monthly 3. Update based on user feedback and questions 4. Keep docs in sync within one release --- ## Key Philosophy ### Respect the Reader's Time - Frontload the most important information - Make skimming easy (headings, lists, short paragraphs) - Don't make people read to understand; show first ### Assume Competence - Developers understand their tools and platforms - Don't explain basic concepts (git, terminal, APIs) - Do explain Doclea-specific concepts clearly ### Show, Don't Tell - Code examples before explanations - Real scenarios before abstract descriptions - Output before describing what happens ### Build Progressively - Start simple, add complexity - Connect concepts naturally - Each page builds on the previous ### Serve All Users - Beginners get a clear path (Tier 1) - Working developers find practical guides (Tier 2) - Advanced users get complete reference (Tier 3) - Same information at right depth for all --- ## Questions This Strategy Answers **Q: Should documentation be brief or comprehensive?** A: Both. Brief for beginners (Tier 1), comprehensive for reference (Tier 3). **Q: How do we avoid 30-page guides?** A: One concept per page. Longer guides split into feature-focused pages. **Q: What if people skip Tier 1?** A: They'll get to Tier 2 confused. Make Tier 1 so good they don't skip. **Q: How many code examples per page?** A: Minimum 1, typically 3-5 for feature guides, many for API reference. **Q: How do we keep docs fresh?** A: Test examples in CI. Link docs from code. Gather feedback from issues. **Q: What about different learning styles?** A: Visual (diagrams), textual (explanations), kinesthetic (examples). **Q: How do we know it's working?** A: Track metrics: activation rate, support questions, user feedback. --- ## Final Advice 1. **Start with Tier 1** - Don't try to be comprehensive. Activation first. 2. **Write for your real users** - Use scenarios you've actually seen. 3. **Test everything** - Code examples must work as written. 4. **Iterate based on feedback** - Users will tell you what's unclear. 5. **Celebrate good docs** - Share them in releases, conferences, socially. 6. **Keep it up to date** - Outdated docs are worse than no docs. 7. **Make it easy to contribute** - Write the checklist, then others can help. --- ## Reference Quick Links - **Strategy Details:** See DOCUMENTATION_STRATEGY.md - **Writing Standards:** See WRITING_CHECKLIST.md - **Visual Standards:** See VISUAL_STYLE_GUIDE.md - **Content Plan:** See CONTENT_ROADMAP.md - **For questions:** Reference this summary --- ## Conclusion This strategy enables you to create documentation that: - Gets beginners productive in 5 minutes - Helps working developers use Doclea daily - Provides complete reference for power users - Stays clear and maintainable as Doclea evolves - Reflects the quality and thought of the product The key is respecting that different users need different levels of depth, and organizing documentation to serve all of them without overwhelming anyone. Start with quick start pages. Build from there. Let user feedback guide what's needed next. Good documentation is an investment in your users' success. Doclea's features are excellent—documentation that matches that excellence will make Doclea remarkable.