Documentation as Architecture Framework

A Documentation as Architecture Framework is a software architecture framework that treats documentation artifacts as intentionally designed system components with structured organization and defined relationships.

• AKA: Docs as Architecture, Documentation Architecture System, Structured Documentation Framework.
• Context:
  • It can typically establish Documentation Hierarchy Structure through purpose-based folder organization.
  • It can typically enforce Documentation Placement Rules through predetermined location assignment.
  • It can typically implement Documentation Lifecycle Management Process through systematic document tracking.
  • It can typically support Documentation Quality Measurement through objective metric evaluation.
  • It can typically enable Documentation Maintenance Automation through scripted workflow integration.
  • It can often facilitate Documentation Discovery through structured navigation pathways.
  • It can often promote Documentation Consistency through standardized organization patterns.
  • It can often reduce Documentation Debt through proactive organization practices.
  • It can often improve Documentation Accessibility through logical structure design.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Simple Documentation as Architecture Framework to being a Complex Documentation as Architecture Framework, depending on its organizational sophistication level.
  • It can range from being a Manual Documentation as Architecture Framework to being an Automated Documentation as Architecture Framework, depending on its automation integration degree.
  • It can range from being a Project-Level Documentation as Architecture Framework to being an Enterprise-Level Documentation as Architecture Framework, depending on its organizational scope.
  • It can range from being a Static Documentation as Architecture Framework to being a Dynamic Documentation as Architecture Framework, depending on its adaptation capability.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Software Project Documentation as Architecture Frameworks, such as:
    • Open Source Project Documentation Frameworks, such as:
      • Linux Kernel Documentation Framework with hierarchical subsystem documentation.
      • Mozilla Documentation Framework with MDN Web Docs structure.
    • Enterprise Software Documentation Frameworks, such as:
      • Microsoft Documentation Framework with docs.microsoft.com architecture.
      • Google Developer Documentation Framework with structured API documentation.
  • Technical Writing Documentation Frameworks, such as:
    • DITA Documentation Framework for topic-based authoring.
    • DocBook Documentation Framework for structured technical documentation.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Ad-Hoc Documentation Practice, which lacks intentional structure design.
  • Debug Output Anti-Pattern, which treats documentation as temporary artifacts.
  • Flat File Documentation System, which lacks hierarchical organization.
  • Unstructured Documentation Repository, which lacks systematic organization.
• See: Documentation as Code Practice, Software Architecture Framework, Documentation Management System, Information Architecture Framework, Content Management Framework, Documentation Organization Pattern, Structured Documentation System, Documentation Lifecycle Management Process.

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