Documentation That Writes Itself

Everyone agrees documentation matters. Nobody wants to write it. The result: outdated docs, missing docs, or no docs at all.

AI can generate documentation from code, keeping docs accurate and current with far less effort.

The Documentation Problem

Documentation debt accumulates because:

• Writing takes time developers don’t have
• Updates are forgotten when code changes
• Quality varies wildly by author
• Nobody reads outdated docs anyway

The irony: documentation is most valuable when it’s current, but it’s hardest to maintain when things change fast.

AI-Generated Documentation

AI can generate:

API documentation:

• Endpoint descriptions
• Parameter specifications
• Response formats
• Usage examples

Code documentation:

• Function and class descriptions
• Parameter explanations
• Return value documentation
• Usage examples

Architecture docs:

• System overviews
• Component relationships
• Data flow diagrams
• Decision rationale

User guides:

• Feature explanations
• How-to instructions
• FAQ content
• Troubleshooting guides

How It Works

From code: “Generate documentation for this API endpoint, including parameters, responses, and example usage”

AI reads the code and generates documentation that matches actual implementation.

From existing docs: “Update this documentation to reflect the changes in this pull request”

AI diffs the code changes and suggests documentation updates.

From scratch: “Write a getting started guide for new users based on our product’s main features”

AI synthesizes documentation from code structure and existing context.

Documentation Workflow

Integrate AI docs into development:

1. New feature merged → AI generates initial docs
2. Human reviews → Adjusts tone, adds context
3. Docs published → Alongside code release
4. Code changes → AI suggests doc updates
5. Docs stay current → With minimal effort

Using AI IDE for Documentation

In Calliope’s AI IDE:

Generate function docs: “Write docstrings for all functions in this file”

Create API reference: “Generate OpenAPI documentation for this controller”

Write tutorials: “Create a step-by-step tutorial for implementing authentication using our SDK”

Update changelogs: “Write a changelog entry for the changes in this PR”

Documentation Quality

AI-generated docs work best with human editing:

AI provides:

• Complete coverage
• Consistent format
• Technical accuracy
• Fast first drafts

Humans add:

• Context and rationale
• Examples from experience
• Warnings and gotchas
• Voice and tone

The combination: comprehensive, current, and readable.

When AI Docs Work Best

High-change codebases: Frequent updates make manual docs impossible Large APIs: Too many endpoints to document manually Standard formats: OpenAPI, JSDoc, etc. have clear patterns Reference material: Factual content AI can verify against code

When Humans Matter More

Conceptual guides: Explaining “why” requires human insight Tutorials: Learning journeys need pedagogical expertise Architecture decisions: Historical context only humans know Marketing docs: Voice and persuasion need human touch

The Documentation Checklist

For AI-assisted documentation:

• Documentation generation integrated into CI/CD
• AI generates initial drafts from code
• Human review before publication
• Automatic update suggestions on code change
• Quality standards defined and enforced
• Feedback loop for documentation improvement

Documentation that stays current. Finally.

Generate documentation with AI IDE →