| name | Documentation Architect |
| description | Generate comprehensive technical documentation from codebases. Use when creating system docs, architecture guides, API references, or onboarding materials. Use PROACTIVELY after major features, before releases, or when documentation is outdated. |
Documentation Architect
Expert in creating comprehensive technical documentation that captures system architecture, design decisions, and implementation details.
When to Use This Skill
- Creating MVP documentation (001-009 structure)
- Documenting new features or major refactors
- Generating API references or integration guides
- Writing onboarding materials for new developers
- Producing architecture decision records (ADRs)
Quick Start
Generate MVP Documentation Set
# Analyze project and generate 001-009 docs
"Generate MVP documentation analyzing the EventOS codebase"
Document Feature with Task Breakdown
# Document feature AND generate task structure
"Document the event wizard feature with task breakdown for Task Master"
# Output includes:
# - Feature documentation with code examples
# - Task hierarchy with 5-7 subtasks each
# - Dependencies and complexity scores
# - Success criteria for each task
Create Feature Implementation Plan
# Generate comprehensive feature plan
"Create implementation plan for booking system including:
- Architecture diagrams
- Task breakdown (database, state, UI, API layers)
- Task Master commands
- Success criteria"
Document Existing Feature
# Analyze and document existing code
"Analyze the dashboard feature and create documentation with:
- Architecture explanation
- Code walkthrough
- Task breakdown for improvements
- Testing strategy"
MVP Documentation Structure
Standard EventOS documentation follows this pattern:
docs/mvp/
├── 001-overview.md # Executive summary
├── 002-architecture.md # System design, components
├── 003-setup-guide.md # Environment setup
├── 004-core-features.md # Core functionality
├── 005-intermediate-workflows.md # Automation, data flows
├── 006-advanced-features.md # AI agents, MCP servers
├── 007-best-practices.md # Standards, conventions
├── 008-success-criteria.md # Goals, metrics
└── 009-workflow-checklist.md # Task tracking
Documentation Patterns
Standard Document Structure
# [Number] - [Title]
**Purpose:** [One sentence explaining what this doc covers]
---
## 🎯 **Overview**
[High-level summary with key takeaways]
## 🏗️ **Architecture/Implementation**
[Technical details with code examples]
## 📊 **Flow Diagrams**
[Mermaid diagrams for sequences/architecture]
## ✅ **Success Criteria**
[Measurable validation points]
---
**Next Step:** Review [next-doc.md](next-doc.md)
Mermaid Diagram Templates
Sequence Diagram:
sequenceDiagram
participant User
participant Frontend
participant Backend
participant Database
User->>Frontend: Action
Frontend->>Backend: API Call
Backend->>Database: Query
Database->>Backend: Result
Backend->>Frontend: Response
Frontend->>User: Update UI
Architecture Diagram:
graph TB
A[Client] --> B[API Gateway]
B --> C[Auth Service]
B --> D[Database]
C --> E[External Auth]
Key Principles
1. Progressive Complexity
Start high-level, progressively add detail:
- Executive summary (non-technical)
- Architecture overview (technical leads)
- Implementation details (developers)
- Deep dives (specialists)
2. Explain Design Decisions
Always answer "why" questions:
## Why Supabase for Backend?
**Decision**: Use Supabase instead of custom backend
**Rationale**:
- Built-in RLS for security
- Real-time subscriptions out-of-box
- PostgreSQL for complex queries
- Edge Functions for serverless
- Faster MVP development (weeks vs months)
3. Include Code Examples
Show actual implementation, not pseudocode:
// ✅ Good: Real code from project
export function useEvents() {
return useQuery({
queryKey: ['events'],
queryFn: async () => {
const { data, error } = await supabase
.from('events')
.select('*')
.eq('status', 'published');
if (error) throw error;
return data;
}
});
}
// ❌ Bad: Generic pseudocode
function fetchEvents() {
// fetch events from database
// handle errors
// return results
}
4. Link to Source Code
Reference specific files:
Event creation logic in src/features/events/hooks/useEventMutations.ts:34-61
Document Types
System Documentation
- Audience: All technical stakeholders
- Focus: Architecture, major components, data flows
- Length: 20-100 pages
- Tools: Mermaid diagrams, code snippets
Feature Documentation
- Audience: Developers implementing/maintaining feature
- Focus: How feature works, why it's built this way
- Length: 5-20 pages
- Tools: Sequence diagrams, code examples
API Reference
- Audience: Developers integrating with APIs
- Focus: Endpoints, parameters, responses
- Length: Varies by API size
- Tools: Request/response examples, status codes
Onboarding Guide
- Audience: New team members
- Focus: Getting started, key concepts
- Length: 10-30 pages
- Tools: Setup steps, troubleshooting
Generation Workflow
Phase 1: Discovery
// Analyze codebase structure
1. List all source directories
2. Identify main components (pages, features, hooks)
3. Map dependencies and relationships
4. Extract key patterns (hooks, components, utils)
Phase 2: Structure
// Plan documentation hierarchy
1. Determine document types needed
2. Create logical chapter flow
3. Plan diagram requirements
4. Identify code examples to include
Phase 3: Generation
// Write documentation
1. Start with executive summary
2. Document architecture/design
3. Add implementation details
4. Include diagrams and examples
5. Add validation/testing sections
Phase 4: Validation
// Review and refine
1. Check for missing context
2. Verify code examples work
3. Ensure diagrams are clear
4. Test navigation and links
Best Practices
✅ Do
- Start with "why" before "how"
- Use real code from the project
- Create clear, labeled diagrams
- Include success criteria
- Link between related docs
- Add troubleshooting sections
- Show before/after comparisons
❌ Don't
- Write generic tutorials Claude knows
- Include obvious explanations
- Use pseudocode instead of real code
- Create orphaned documentation
- Skip diagram labels
- Forget to update after changes
- Document implementation-specific details that change frequently
Examples
Example 1: MVP Documentation
Request: "Generate MVP documentation for EventOS"
Output: 9 numbered documents covering:
- System overview and goals
- Architecture and components
- Setup and configuration
- Core features implementation (WITH task breakdown)
- Workflows and automation
- Advanced integrations
- Coding standards
- Success metrics
- Implementation checklist
Example 2: Feature Documentation with Tasks
Request: "Document the event wizard feature with task breakdown"
Output: Comprehensive guide including:
- Feature purpose and user flow
- Architecture diagrams (sequence, state, component)
- Task breakdown: 10 tasks, 50 subtasks with:
- Layer-based structure (Database → State → UI)
- Dependencies mapped
- Complexity scores (4-8)
- Task Master commands
- Implementation code examples
- Success criteria per task
- Testing strategy
Example 3: Feature Implementation Plan
Request: "Create implementation plan for booking system"
Output: Complete plan with:
- Architecture design (diagrams + rationale)
- Task hierarchy:
Task 1: Ticket System Database (5 subtasks) Task 2: Booking State Management (5 subtasks) Task 3: Cart UI Components (5 subtasks) Task 4: Payment Integration (6 subtasks) Task 5: Order Confirmation (4 subtasks) - Dependency flow chart
- Success metrics
- E2E test plan
Example 4: Analyze Existing Feature
Request: "Analyze dashboard and suggest improvements"
Output: Analysis including:
- Current architecture documentation
- Code pattern analysis
- Identified improvement areas
- Task breakdown for improvements:
- Performance optimization tasks
- UI enhancement tasks
- Feature addition tasks
- Migration strategy if needed
Task Breakdown & Feature Planning
Breaking Features into Tasks
When documenting features, use systematic task breakdown:
# Generate task structure from feature documentation
"Analyze the Event Wizard feature and create Task Master task breakdown"
# Output: Task hierarchy with subtasks, dependencies, complexity scores
Key Principles:
- 5-7 subtasks per task (optimal size)
- Clear dependencies (sequential vs parallel)
- Measurable criteria for completion
- Complexity scoring (1-10 scale)
- Layer-based breakdown (Database → State → UI)
Task Breakdown Patterns
Database Features
Task: Database Schema
└─ Subtasks: Migration → Indexes → RLS → Functions → Validation
UI Features
Task: Component Implementation
└─ Subtasks: Structure → Styling → Logic → Validation → Integration
E2E Features
Task: User Journey
└─ Subtasks: UI → State → API → Testing → Documentation
Task Master Integration
# Parse feature docs into tasks
task-master parse-prd --input="docs/mvp/004-core-features.md"
# Expand complex tasks
task-master expand-task --id=4 --num=5
# Track implementation
task-master set-status --id=4.1 --status=in-progress
See resources/task-breakdown-guide.md for complete methodology.
Resources
Templates
See resources/ folder for:
doc-template.md- Standard document structuretask-breakdown-guide.md- Feature task decomposition methodologymermaid-patterns.md- Diagram templates and patternsquick-reference.md- Command cheat sheet
Mermaid Quick Reference
# Sequence Diagram
sequenceDiagram
A->>B: Request
B->>A: Response
# Graph
graph TB
A[Start] --> B[Process]
B --> C[End]
# ERD
erDiagram
USER ||--o{ ORDER : places
Troubleshooting
Issue: Documentation too verbose Solution: Focus on project-specific patterns only. Remove explanations of well-known concepts.
Issue: Diagrams unclear Solution: Add labels, limit to 5-7 nodes, use clear names, include legend if needed.
Issue: Code examples don't work Solution: Copy actual working code from project, verify file paths, test before including.
Issue: Documentation quickly outdated Solution: Document "why" and patterns, not implementation details. Include last-updated date.
Quick Commands:
# Generate full MVP docs
Skill("docs-architect") "Generate MVP documentation"
# Document specific area
Skill("docs-architect") "Document authentication system"
# Create diagrams
Skill("docs-architect") "Create architecture diagram for event booking flow"
Last Updated: 2025-10-19 Version: 1.0 Status: Production Ready