Ok, so it only just occurred to me actually how many people don’t know where to get started when it comes to documentation. Especially the functional kind. Sure, it’s not really something that you ever get ‘taught’ and it takes years of mistakes to master a half ideal specification, but it still surprises me how hard it is for many to even get started. Some even foregoing the documentation all together after it’s been deemed something that belongs in the ‘too hard basket’ only to suffer with applications that never ever meet user expectations.
I was at work the other day, when my boss asked me with worried concern if I could provide some example specs that the team could use as templates whilst I am on my maternity leave break. I had a hard time convincing her that it didn’t really work that way, as much as I would love it too. I feel that a specification, strategy or any other document should be almost as customised as the website or application it is being written for. So, it had me thinking that there actually aren’t many resources on this kind of thing on the web. Sure you can get samples if you look hard enough that might get the writing flowing, but as for sites dedicated to writing better documentation – I have yet to find one (please let me know if you have)
In short, I think I have finally found that ’something to write about’. Documentation is definitely something I have a passion for and I believe that it is something that most people can do, at ease, if given the right tools and I hope that this site eventually becomes one of them as I slowly get the content out of my head and into this thing.