20 April 2025

Why Docs Make or Break Your Tool

1m18s

svelte

documentation

robotics

ftc

When you build a tool as feature-packed as FTControl Panels - with real-time robot control, telemetry visualization, and plugin support—good documentation isn't just nice-to-have; it's survival gear. If users can't figure out your tool quickly, they'll abandon ship. Here's how I engineered docs that stay in sync with code and solve real pain points.

SveltePress Setup Done Right

For an FTC dashboard that juggles OpMode control, Limelight tuning, and match data replay, docs need to be dynamic and easy to update. SveltePress delivered:

- Markdown simplicity for quick content iteration

- Svelte components baked into docs

- Built-in routing and SSG for performance

- Easy core template modifications

Minimal Setup:

# Initialize SveltePress
bun create @sveltepress@latest

Reliable Code Examples

Broken examples destroy trust. I solved this by using SveltePress' embed feature to link snippets directly from our working Android Studio project, ensuring accuracy:

@code(/../test-codebase/TeamCode/src/main/java/org/firstinspires/ftc/teamcode/examples/configurables/TestKotlinObject.kt)

Teaching Critical Features

Since FTControl handles complex robotics operations, our docs focus on guiding users with concrete examples rather than overwhelming them. This approach prevents frustration and addresses common pitfalls directly.

Changelog That Builds Trust

Robotics tools evolve rapidly. Our changelog helps users track updates and understand version differences at a glance.

Conclusion

Great docs do three things: they anticipate mistakes, stay current, and invite collaboration. By treating documentation as a living system—with automated syncing, type validation, and user feedback loops—FTControl's docs became a competitive advantage rather than an afterthought.

Your challenge: What's the one documentation pain point you can automate today?