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Docs or it didn't happen! [FOSS North 2019]

Docs or it didn't happen! [FOSS North 2019]

**This version of the talk was presented at FOSS North 2019**

If you ever skimmed through a README, tried to follow a quickstart tutorial, attempted to decipher an error message, or typed '--help' in your console, congratulations -- you have encountered documentation!
Long gone are the days of massive books with never-ending stories about your software. Today's users are smarter and less patient, which means that we no longer need to document *all the things*, as long as what we do document is clear, concise, helpful, and accessible. And that's where the real work starts.
Documentation requires some attitude adjustment, since prose doesn't neatly compile into binaries as code does. But Don't Panic(tm)! No matter what your role is, you can apply a few key principles from the technical writing world to make your project more docs-friendly, and therefore more user- and contributor-friendly.

https://foss-north.se/2019/speakers-and-talks.html#mariel

thatdocslady

April 08, 2019
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Transcript

  1. Why are we here? We are *not* here to argue

    whether documentation is important (or to argue about anything, really). Please leave your flamewars at the door, documentation is communication so let’s remember how to do that. This talk will run the full 45 minutes, with no on-stage questions. Personal interaction is recommended (find me at the Red Hat booth!), or you can email, Slack, or tweet @ThatDocsLady with your questions any time. ◉ We want to have more users and contributors ◉ We believe (or want to believe) that docs can help ◉ <something> is stopping us from working on docs
  2. Content Strategy Plan a little, save a lot DevOps for

    Docs Not just for developers anymore
  3. Content Strategy Plan a little, save a lot Community Spirit

    We’re all in this together DevOps for Docs Not just for developers anymore
  4. “ “A documentarian is someone who cares about documentation and

    communication in the software industry, regardless of job title.” http:/ /www.writethedocs.org/documentarians/
  5. “ Docs or it didn’t happen! - Me, at the

    beginning of this presentation