/doc-gen — Documentation Generator

When to Use

• Add JSDoc/docstrings to functions in a file or set of files
• Write a README for a module or directory
• Document an HTTP API or exported library surface

Mode auto-detected from target:

• File path → function-level mode
• Directory path → module-level mode
• Route file or API directory → API reference mode
• Explicit override: /doc-gen --mode function|module|api [target]

Commands

Protocol

Phase 1: DETECT STYLE

1. Read CLAUDE.md for doc conventions
2. Search for existing doc comments in the target area — note density, tone, tags used, and line length
3. Default when no existing docs: JSDoc (@param, @returns, @throws, @example) for TS/JS; Google-style for Python; idiomatic format for others

Apply detected style consistently across all generated docs.

Phase 2: ANALYZE TARGET

Function-Level Mode

For each function:

1. Read the full body, not just the signature
2. Classify:
   • Trivial: simple getters/setters, one-line wrappers with obvious names — SKIP
   • Non-trivial: document purpose, parameter semantics (not types — TS has those), return guarantees, throws/errors, side effects, non-obvious edge cases, and @example when usage is non-obvious
3. Write using detected style

Core rule: every doc must add information beyond what the signature already says. If you cannot, skip it.

Module-Level Mode

1. Read all files in the directory (one level deep)
2. Identify: problem space, key exports, internal files, external dependencies, and what imports this module
3. README schema: # {Module Name} | one-paragraph description | ## Key Exports table (name, description) | ## Architecture (only if non-obvious internal structure) | ## Usage (real import paths) | ## Dependencies (non-obvious only)
4. If a README already exists, update rather than replace — preserve sections not covered by your analysis

API Reference Mode

For HTTP endpoints: method + path, description, path/query/body params (with types), response shape and status codes, errors, auth level, and a curl/fetch example for non-trivial endpoints.

For exported libraries: name and kind (function/class/constant/type), description, parameters/properties with semantics, return type with guarantees, import and usage example.

Structure as a single reference document with a table of contents.

Phase 3: WRITE

1. Apply detected style consistently
2. Function-level: insert doc comments above each function
3. Module-level: write or update README.md in the target directory
4. API reference: write to docs/api/ or adjacent to route files
5. Run typecheck after writing (malformed JSDoc can cause TS errors)

Phase 4: VERIFY

Re-read every doc comment. For each: "Does this add information beyond the signature?" If not, delete it. Check accuracy: parameter names, return types, side effects, and that examples would actually compile/run.

Contextual Gates

Disclosure: "Generating documentation for [target]. Source files will be modified." Reversibility: amber — adds JSDoc/docstrings to source files; undo with git checkout on modified files. Trust gates:

• Any: additive doc generation on undocumented functions.
• Familiar (5+ sessions): rewriting existing docstrings that may discard prior content.

Quality Gates

• Every doc comment adds information beyond the signature; if not, delete it
• Docs match actual code behavior — wrong docs are worse than no docs
• Style matches the project's existing convention throughout
• No @param name - The name filler; omit parameters when their name is self-explanatory
• Typecheck passes after insertion
• At least some functions skipped as trivial — if every function was documented, you over-documented

Exit Protocol

=== Doc-Gen Report ===
Mode: {function-level | module-level | api-reference}
Target: {path}
Style: {detected style}
Documented: {N functions ({M} skipped as trivial) | README.md ({N} exports) | {N} endpoints}
Skipped: {item}: {reason}

---HANDOFF---
- Generated {mode} docs for {target}
- Matched existing {style} convention
- {what was skipped and why}
- Reversibility: amber — undo with `git checkout` on modified source files
---