---
name: documentation
description: "Write and maintain technical documentation. Trigger with \"write docs for\", \"document this\", \"create a README\", \"write a runbook\", \"onboarding guide\", or when the user needs help with any form of technical writing — API docs, architecture docs, or operational runbooks."
tags: []
tools: []
license: Apache-2.0
source: https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins
source_path: "engineering/skills/documentation"
source_commit: 8444efcd48f7012f09797778a36a33e73d0861f4
---
# Technical Documentation

Write clear, maintainable technical documentation for different audiences and purposes.

## Document Types

### README
- What this is and why it exists
- Quick start (< 5 minutes to first success)
- Configuration and usage
- Contributing guide

### API Documentation
- Endpoint reference with request/response examples
- Authentication and error codes
- Rate limits and pagination
- SDK examples

### Runbook
- When to use this runbook
- Prerequisites and access needed
- Step-by-step procedure
- Rollback steps
- Escalation path

### Architecture Doc
- Context and goals
- High-level design with diagrams
- Key decisions and trade-offs
- Data flow and integration points

### Onboarding Guide
- Environment setup
- Key systems and how they connect
- Common tasks with walkthroughs
- Who to ask for what

## Principles

1. **Write for the reader** — Who is reading this and what do they need?
2. **Start with the most useful information** — Don't bury the lede
3. **Show, don't tell** — Code examples, commands, screenshots
4. **Keep it current** — Outdated docs are worse than no docs
5. **Link, don't duplicate** — Reference other docs instead of copying