On 1/11/2024 12:01 AM, Moshe Dicker wrote:
I should not that I'm only being critical to improve.
The docs are well written, it's just disorganized.

Something I've learned over the past 47 years of reading computer documentation is that _no_ documentation is "perfect" - especially not for everyone.

All documentation is a compromise.

Different people have different ways of reading and understanding written material. There is no "one right way" to write or organize a set of manuals. The best you can hope for is to create docs that are complete, materially correct, and internally consistent.

I have also learned through the years that it's _me_ that needs to adapt myself to the different styles of documentation available. Yes, I have preferences for certain styles. But, I also recognize that not everyone reads and processes information the same way I do. I have no doubt that _you_ would find it an improvement to change the docs as you describe. However, I would suggest that you not try to sell the idea as being objectively true for everyone and that it's "obviously better".

Me? Personally, I have an extreme dislike of docs embedded in code. When I want to read the code, I want to see the code - not a full set of reference information that I have to wade through - and ignore - while I'm trying to find the information I want to see.

I want the code to be free of any clutter that can be better stored elsewhere.

Likewise, I greatly prefer docs that go well beyond just being an "API reference". I find sites for libraries showing nothing more than Javadoc-style pages to be virtually useless to me when I'm first getting started.

I have long maintained that I am more than twice as productive using Python than I am in any other language - and part of that is the quality of the Python docs. I always seem to be able to easily find what I'm looking for.

In my opinion, the Django docs are close - but not quite as good - as the Python docs. There are a couple of specific topics where I do find myself thinking "Where is that documented?" and have to search for it. It's not that I think they're in the "wrong" place, but it's probably not where _I_ would have put that information. But that's ok, I probably should just bookmark those pages...

So no, I'd be a strong -1 to any recommendation suggesting that docstrings be used to clutter up the code.


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