Best Practices for Documentation Management with Azure DevOps

Continuing from the previous tutorial on publishing your documentation with Git and Azure DevOps, this tutorial will focus on leveraging Azure DevOps Git repositories and integrating documentation workflows with existing source code management practices. Specifically, we'll cover how to utilize pull requests and code reviews to manage and maintain documentation quality and consistency.

Efficient documentation management is crucial for maintaining high-quality, up-to-date documentation. Azure DevOps provides a robust platform for managing your documentation alongside your source code, leveraging features such as pull requests and code reviews. This tutorial guides you through integrating documentation workflows into your existing source code management processes in Azure DevOps.

Using Azure DevOps Git Repositories for Documentation

Just as with source code, your documentation can benefit from version control. Storing your documentation in an Azure DevOps Git repository allows you to track changes, collaborate with team members, and manage your content more effectively.

1. Storing Documentation in Your Repository

• Organization: Store your documentation in a dedicated folder within your repository. This keeps it separate from your code but still under the same version control system.
• File Naming and Structure: Adopt a consistent naming convention and structure for your documentation files, mirroring your project's organization. This approach makes navigation and understanding the documentation easier for all team members.

2. Branching Strategy

• Use a branching strategy for your documentation similar to that of your source code. Feature branches can be used for significant documentation updates, whereas minor changes might be made directly to the main branch.
• Ensure that your documentation updates are relevant to the code changes in the branch, keeping documentation and code synchronized.

Managing Documentation Changes with Pull Requests

Pull requests are not only for code changes; they are also an effective tool for managing documentation updates. Using pull requests for documentation ensures that updates are reviewed and approved before being merged, maintaining quality and consistency.

1. Creating Pull Requests for Documentation

When you make significant updates or additions to the documentation, create a pull request:

• Description: Clearly describe the changes in the pull request description, explaining why the update was necessary.
• Linking Work Items: If applicable, link the pull request to related work items or issues to provide context.

2. Conducting Code Reviews for Documentation

Just as with source code, documentation benefits from reviews. When reviewing documentation:

• Content Accuracy: Ensure the information is accurate and up-to-date.
• Clarity and Comprehensibility: Check that the documentation is well-written, clear, and understandable by your target audience.
• Consistency: Verify that the documentation follows the established formatting and style guidelines.

Automating Documentation Checks

Leverage Azure DevOps pipelines to automate certain checks for your documentation:

• Spelling and Grammar: Integrate tools that automatically check spelling and grammar as part of your build process.
• Link Validation: Ensure that all links in your documentation are valid and accessible.

Conclusion

Integrating your documentation workflows with Azure DevOps enhances collaboration, improves quality, and ensures your documentation remains synchronized with your codebase. By leveraging pull requests and code reviews, you can maintain high documentation standards, similar to how you manage code quality.

In our next steps, we'll explore advanced topics such as localizing your documentation and using Azure DevOps for more complex documentation workflows.