Documentation Architect

Create comprehensive, professional documentation using the Diátaxis framework. Works with any starting point: greenfield projects, existing specs/ADRs/RFCs, or scattered documentation.

Critical: Read GUARDRAILS.md First

Before any command, Claude MUST read and internalize the behavioral constraints in GUARDRAILS.md.

Key Guardrails Summary:

#	Guardrail	Brief
1	No assumptions without approval	Every inference requires confirmation
2	No proceeding without confirmation	User controls progression
3	Source-grounded content	Every claim cites its source
4	Mandatory document review loop	Every document individually reviewed
5	Mandatory change logging	All changes tracked
6	Mandatory cascade analysis	Cross-document impact assessed
7	Idempotent operations	Safe to run at any project stage

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Commands

Command	Purpose	When to Use
/docs.init	Create docs/ structure and memory files	Starting documentation
/docs.inventory	Catalog and classify sources	After init or adding sources
/docs.plan	Create documentation WBS	Before generating docs
/docs.generate	Execute plan, create docs	When plan is ready
/docs.sync	Walk code, sync with reality	After implementation
/docs.analyze	Quality audit (read-only)	Before release, CI/CD
/docs.readme	Manage README.md, CHANGELOG.md	Project root files

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Quick Start

New project:
  /docs.init → /docs.inventory → /docs.plan → /docs.generate

After speckit implementation:
  /docs.sync → review discrepancies → update docs

Quality check before release:
  /docs.analyze → address findings → /docs.readme --changelog VERSION

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The Diátaxis Framework

Documentation organized around four user needs:

                PRACTICAL                      THEORETICAL
          ┌─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────┐
          │                             │                             │
LEARNING  │      TUTORIALS              │      EXPLANATION            │
          │  "Help me learn"            │  "Help me understand why"   │
          │                             │                             │
          ├─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────┤
          │                             │                             │
WORKING   │      HOW-TO GUIDES          │      REFERENCE              │
          │  "Help me do X"             │  "Give me the facts"        │
          │                             │                             │
          └─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────┘

See references/diataxis-framework.md for detailed guidance.

---

/docs.init

Purpose: Establish documentation foundation.

Workflow:

1. Check existing state (docs/, .claude/memory/docs-*.md)
2. Detect project type (library, CLI, app, service)
3. Create docs/ structure with Diátaxis layout
4. Create documentation memory files
5. Present summary and next steps

Outputs:

docs/
├── index.md
├── user/
│   ├── getting-started/
│   ├── guides/
│   ├── concepts/
│   └── reference/
├── developer/
│   ├── architecture/
│   ├── contributing/
│   └── reference/api/
└── _meta/
    ├── inventory.md
    ├── plan.md
    └── progress.md

.claude/memory/
├── docs-constitution.md
├── docs-terminology.md
└── docs-sources.md

Integration: Auto-suggested after /speckit.init

See references/command-workflows/init-workflow.md for details.

---

/docs.inventory

Purpose: Catalog and classify documentation sources.

Workflow:

1. Scan source locations (.claude/resources/, codebase, uploads)
2. Classify by type (SPEC, ADR, RFC, CODE, DOC)
3. Map to Diátaxis quadrants
4. Estimate token counts for chunking
5. Identify coverage gaps

Source Types:

Type	Description	Example
SPEC	Requirements, features	requirements.md, PRD
ADR	Architecture decisions	ADR-001-auth.md
RFC	Proposals, designs	RFC-002-api.md
CODE	Docstrings, comments	Python/TS files
DOC	Existing documentation	README, guides

Outputs: docs/_meta/inventory.md, updated docs-sources.md

See references/command-workflows/inventory-workflow.md for details.

---

/docs.plan

Purpose: Create documentation plan (Work Breakdown Structure).

Modes:

• /docs.plan - Plan from inventory
• /docs.plan --from-speckit - Use speckit artifacts as input

Workflow:

1. Load inventory
2. Analyze sources for documentation needs
3. Map to Diátaxis quadrants
4. Design target structure
5. Create prioritized WBS
6. Define phases and gates

WBS Item Structure:

| ID | Document | Quadrant | Priority | Sources | Dependencies |
|----|----------|----------|----------|---------|--------------|
| WBS-001 | quickstart.md | Tutorial | HIGH | SRC-001 | None |
| WBS-002 | authentication.md | How-To | HIGH | SRC-002,SRC-003 | WBS-001 |

Outputs: docs/_meta/plan.md

See references/command-workflows/plan-workflow.md for details.

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/docs.generate

Purpose: Execute plan to create documentation.

Selection Options:

• /docs.generate - All pending items
• /docs.generate WBS-001 - Specific item
• /docs.generate "Phase 1" - Items in phase
• /docs.generate --user - User docs only
• /docs.generate --dev - Developer docs only

Workflow:

1. Load plan WBS items
2. Resolve dependencies
3. For each item:
   • Load sources
   • Apply Diátaxis guidelines
   • Generate document
   • Document Review Loop (mandatory)
   • Log changes
   • Cascade analysis
   • Update memory files
4. Phase gate check

Document Review Loop (per document):

Generate → Present Review → Collect Feedback
                               ↓
                    [Approved] → Update Memory → Next
                    [Changes] → Apply → Log → Cascade → Re-present

Outputs: Generated docs in docs/user/ and docs/developer/

See references/command-workflows/generate-workflow.md for details.

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/docs.sync

Purpose: Walk codebase, sync documentation with implementation reality.

Key Insight: Documentation drifts from reality during implementation. This command bridges that gap by treating code as source of truth.

Modes:

• /docs.sync - Incremental sync (changed files)
• /docs.sync --walkthrough - Full code exploration
• /docs.sync --component auth - Specific component

Workflow:

1. Code walkthrough (analyze implementation)
2. Extract reality (APIs, configs, behavior)
3. Compare to existing documentation
4. Generate discrepancy report
5. Present update options per finding:
   • Auto-update: Apply simple fixes
   • Manual review: Complex changes
   • Skip: Acknowledge, don't change
   • Code issue: Doc is correct, code needs fix
6. Update memory files with code snapshot

Discrepancy Types:

Type	Severity	Example
MISSING	HIGH	Public API not documented
INCORRECT	HIGH	Doc says 201, code returns 200
OUTDATED	MEDIUM	References deprecated endpoint
UNDOCUMENTED	MEDIUM	Public function lacks docstring

Outputs:

• docs/_meta/sync-report.md
• .claude/memory/docs-codebase-snapshot.md
• Updated documentation

Integration: Suggested after /speckit.implement

See references/command-workflows/sync-workflow.md for details.

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/docs.analyze

Purpose: Read-only audit of documentation quality.

Characteristics:

• Read-only: Never modifies files
• Deterministic: Same input = same output
• Stable IDs: Finding IDs consistent across runs

Checks:

• Document quality scores
• Diátaxis coverage matrix
• Broken links, orphan pages
• TODO/placeholder markers
• User journey coverage

Quality Metrics:

Metric	Weight	Criteria
Accuracy	25%	Claims verified, sources cited
Clarity	25%	Scannable, examples present
Completeness	25%	All sections, no TODOs
Structure	25%	Follows quadrant template

Outputs: docs/_meta/analysis-report.md

See references/command-workflows/analyze-workflow.md for details.

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/docs.readme

Purpose: Direct management of README.md and CHANGELOG.md.

Modes:

• /docs.readme - Update README.md
• /docs.readme --init - Create from scratch
• /docs.readme --changelog VERSION - Add changelog entry

README Best Practices:

# Project Name
> One-line description

## Installation
## Quick Start
## Features
## Documentation (links to docs/)
## Contributing
## License

CHANGELOG Format (Keep a Changelog):

## [Unreleased]
### Added / Changed / Fixed

## [1.0.0] - YYYY-MM-DD
### Added
- Initial release

Outputs: README.md, CHANGELOG.md (with user review)

See references/command-workflows/readme-workflow.md for details.

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speckit-generator Integration

After speckit Command	Suggested docs Action
/speckit.init	/docs.init
/speckit.plan	/docs.plan --from-speckit
/speckit.tasks	/docs.inventory
/speckit.implement	/docs.sync

See references/speckit-integration.md for integration details.

---

docs/ Output Structure

docs/
├── index.md                    # Landing page
│
├── user/                       # USER-FACING
│   ├── getting-started/        # Tutorials
│   │   ├── quickstart.md
│   │   └── installation.md
│   ├── guides/                 # How-To
│   │   └── [task].md
│   ├── concepts/               # Explanations
│   │   └── [concept].md
│   └── reference/              # Reference
│       └── configuration.md
│
├── developer/                  # DEVELOPER-FACING
│   ├── architecture/           # Design, ADRs
│   │   ├── overview.md
│   │   └── decisions/
│   ├── contributing/           # Contribution guides
│   │   └── getting-started.md
│   └── reference/              # API/Technical
│       └── api/
│
└── _meta/                      # Metadata (not published)
    ├── inventory.md
    ├── plan.md
    ├── progress.md
    ├── change-log.md
    ├── sync-report.md
    └── analysis-report.md

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Memory Files

File	Purpose	Created By
docs-constitution.md	Documentation principles	/docs.init
docs-sources.md	Source registry	/docs.inventory
docs-terminology.md	Term definitions	/docs.generate
docs-codebase-snapshot.md	Code state snapshot	/docs.sync

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Idempotency Guarantees

Command	Behavior
/docs.init	Skips existing, updates changed, preserves customizations
/docs.inventory	Re-scans, updates registry, adds new, never removes
/docs.plan	Detects existing, offers update/regenerate
/docs.generate	Preserves completed, regenerates pending
/docs.sync	Always safe, produces comparison, user chooses
/docs.analyze	Read-only, stable IDs
/docs.readme	Proposes changes, user approves

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Scripts

Script	Purpose	Used By
scripts/analyze_docs.py	Quality analysis	/docs.analyze
scripts/doc_research.py	Research competitors	/docs.inventory
scripts/generate_wbs.py	Generate WBS	/docs.plan
scripts/validate_docs.py	Validation checks	/docs.analyze
scripts/sync_codebase.py	Code walkthrough	/docs.sync
scripts/readme_generator.py	README/CHANGELOG	/docs.readme

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References

Document	Purpose
GUARDRAILS.md	Behavioral constraints
references/diataxis-framework.md	Quadrant guidelines
references/chunking-strategy.md	Large source handling
references/source-tracking.md	Citation protocols
references/quality-criteria.md	Assessment rubrics
references/speckit-integration.md	speckit workflow
references/command-workflows/*.md	Command details

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Anti-Patterns

Anti-Pattern	Correct Approach
Mixed quadrant content	Separate by user need
No quickstart	5-minute first experience
Scattered explanations	Dedicated concepts section
Reference-only docs	Full quadrant coverage
Docs drift from code	Use /docs.sync after implementation
Generating without sources	Register sources first
Proceeding without confirmation	Wait for user approval