Technical Documentation Creation

Purpose

Create focused, specific technical documentation for codebase sections. Unlike general docs (README, CHANGELOG), this skill produces deep-dive articles on components, patterns, or subsystems.

When to Use

• Documenting a complex module or subsystem
• Creating tutorials for internal APIs
• Writing architectural explainers
• Onboarding documentation for new developers
• Self-documenting AgentOps skills and workflows

Core Workflow

Analyze → Discover Topics → Present Options → Write → Review

Phase 1: Analysis

Input Types

Analysis Procedure

1. Read context map (

   .agent/map.md

   ) if available
2. Scan target scope:
   • Entry points and exports
   • Public API surface
   • Dependencies (imports/requires)
   • Configuration points
3. Check existing docs:

   • .agent/docs/

     — agent-generated docs

   • docs/

     — project docs

   • README.md

     — top-level overview
4. Output: List of components with documentation potential

Phase 2: Topic Discovery

Topic Types

Topic Sizing Guidelines

Good topics are:

• Readable in 5-15 minutes
• Self-contained (minimal external dependencies)
• Actionable (reader can do something) or educational (reader understands something)

Split large topics into series if needed.

Discovery Output

Generate topic candidates with:

• Title (action-oriented or descriptive)
• Type (How-To, Explainer, etc.)
• Target audience (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
• Estimated length (short: <500 words, medium: 500-1500, long: >1500)
• Overlap check (similar existing docs)

Phase 3: Interactive Selection

Use

agent-ops-interview

Topic Presentation Format

📚 **Documentation Topics for `src/bundle/installer.py`**

I identified 5 potential documentation topics:

1. **[How-To]** Installing bundles with category filtering
   - Audience: End users | Length: Medium
   
2. **[Explainer]** How the conflict resolution algorithm works
   - Audience: Contributors | Length: Long
   
3. **[Reference]** BundleInstaller public API
   - Audience: Developers | Length: Medium
   
4. **[Deep Dive]** Frontmatter parsing and category discovery
   - Audience: Advanced | Length: Long
   
5. **[Tutorial]** Creating a custom bundle category
   - Audience: Beginners | Length: Medium

Which topics should I write? (comma-separated numbers, 'all', or 'suggest')

Selection Options

1,3,5

all

suggest

none

refine 2

Phase 4: Writing

Code Block Standards

Always include:

• File path
• Line numbers (when referencing specific code)
• Syntax highlighting

Format:

```python title="src/bundle/installer.py" linenums="42"
def load_category_manifest(bundle_path: Path) -> CategoryManifest:
    """Load category definitions and build dynamic mappings."""
    manifest_path = bundle_path / "bundle-categories.yaml"
    if not manifest_path.exists():
        return CategoryManifest(categories={}, presets={})
    # ...
```

Code Extraction Rules

1. Show relevant context — not entire files
2. Highlight key lines — use comments or annotations
3. Link to source — provide file path for full code
4. Keep snippets runnable — when possible, show complete examples

Structure by Type

How-To Structure

# How to [Action]

## Prerequisites
- Requirement 1
- Requirement 2

## Steps

### 1. [First Step]
[Explanation + code]

### 2. [Second Step]
[Explanation + code]

## Result
[What the user should see/have]

## Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---------|----------|
| Error X | Fix Y |

Explainer Structure

# Understanding [Concept]

## What It Is
[One paragraph definition]

## Why It Exists
[Problem it solves, context]

## How It Works
[Detailed explanation with diagrams/code]

### [Subcomponent 1]
[Details]

### [Subcomponent 2]
[Details]

## Trade-offs
| Approach | Pros | Cons |
|----------|------|------|

## Related Concepts
- [Link to related doc 1]
- [Link to related doc 2]

Reference Structure

# [Component] Reference

## Overview
[Brief description]

## API

### `function_name(param1, param2)`

**Parameters:**
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|

**Returns:** `ReturnType` — Description

**Raises:**
- `ErrorType` — When condition

**Example:**
```language
// Usage example

Configuration

See Also

• [Related reference]

#### Tutorial Structure

```markdown
# Tutorial: [Learning Goal]

## What You'll Learn
- Skill 1
- Skill 2

## Prerequisites
- Knowledge required
- Tools needed

## Part 1: [Foundation]
[Explanation + hands-on]

## Part 2: [Building]
[Explanation + hands-on]

## Part 3: [Completing]
[Explanation + hands-on]

## Summary
[Recap of skills learned]

## Next Steps
- [Advanced topic link]
- [Related tutorial link]

Deep Dive Structure

# Deep Dive: [Internal Component]

> **Audience**: Contributors and advanced users

## Architecture Overview
[High-level diagram/description]

## Implementation Details

### [Subsystem 1]
[Code walkthrough with annotations]

### [Subsystem 2]
[Code walkthrough with annotations]

## Key Decisions
| Decision | Rationale | Alternatives Considered |
|----------|-----------|------------------------|

## Extension Points
[How to customize/extend]

## Known Limitations
- Limitation 1
- Limitation 2

## Future Considerations
- Potential improvement 1

Phase 5: Review

Pre-Publish Checklist

• Accuracy: Code snippets match current source
• Completeness: All sections filled, no TODOs
• Links: No broken internal links
• Code validity: Snippets parse/compile
• No secrets: No API keys, passwords, internal URLs
• Audience fit: Complexity matches stated audience

Overlap Check

Before finalizing, verify no duplication:

• Search existing docs for similar content
• If overlap found, offer to update existing instead of creating new

Output Locations

.agent/docs/

docs/

docs/

MkDocs Frontmatter

When outputting to

docs/

---
title: "Document Title"
description: "Brief description for SEO/preview"
date: 2026-01-21
tags:
  - bundle
  - installation
---

Self-Documentation Mode

This skill can document AgentOps itself:

Suggested topics:

• Skill system architecture
• Issue management workflow
• Bundle installer mechanics
• State file conventions
• Interview protocol patterns

To self-document:

Analyze .github/skills/ and create documentation for the AgentOps skill system

Integration Points

agent-ops-context-map

agent-ops-docs

agent-ops-mkdocs

agent-ops-interview

Anti-Patterns

• ❌ Writing before presenting topic options
• ❌ Entire file dumps instead of focused snippets
• ❌ Code without line numbers or file paths
• ❌ Generic content that doesn't reference actual code
• ❌ Creating docs that duplicate existing content
• ❌ Skipping the audience/complexity assessment
• ❌ Outdated code snippets that don't match source