Creating the right software development documentation is essential to the success of any software development project.
Technical writers and developers may not be able to do a great job at it without the right tools. But given its immense importance to the software development process, you must find the best way to create easy-to-use software development documentation for all stakeholders.
So, what exactly is software development documentation, and what does it look like?
This article will take you through all those details. Here we go!
What is Software Development Documentation?
Software development documentation is the process of creating, managing, and sharing documentation around various processes and aspects of software development to meet different goals.
So, some documentation is created specifically to assist developers, some for software engineers and designers, and some for end-users. There are also many documents, like the software requirements documentation and project documentation, that are meant to keep all stakeholders from different teams on the same page.
It is a crucial part of working software, without which teams go directionless and waste a lot of time figuring things out on the go.
Here are some of the most important software development documentation.
7 Types of Software Development Documentation
#1. Requirements Documentation
The software requirements documentation is the initial blueprint for any software project. It details the purpose of the software in development, its key requirements, and the assumptions and constraints in its development, if any.
The SRD clarifies the why of the software – what problems it solves, who it is for, how it works, and its role in the business. It usually includes:
- Introduction and purpose
- Detailed functional requirements
- Non-functional specifications
- External interface requirements
- Assumptions and constraints
An SRD is a written agreement between the clients/ investors, developers, and all the stakeholders to ensure everyone is on the same page. It boosts stakeholder confidence by addressing all their initial concerns and minimizes the possibility of any misunderstanding or misalignment between software delivery and expectation.
#2. Software Design Document (SDD)
The software requirements document addresses the what of the software development process, and the software design document addresses its how. It serves as a guide for how the developers should develop the software in a detailed step-by-step manner.
Because an SDD describes the design of the software system, it is a technical document that outlines the architecture, components, and interfaces of the software. It also specifies the design patterns and principles to be used in the development of the software.
The SDD clearly outlines the software design, making it a reference document for the development team. This document helps them easily understand and quickly implement the software design.
#3. Code Documentation
Code documentation is created mainly for the software engineering team. As the name suggests, it is a completely technical documentation that explains how the source code works. Because of this, this document must comprise short sections instead of blocks of text.
The code document explains the code’s purpose, functions, and proper use. It is a technical guide for the software engineering team for maintenance and updates, and also for new members to understand the software architecture and coding. So, the most complex aspects of the code must be included in this document, such as:
- HTML generation framework and other frameworks applied
- Type of data binding
- Design pattern and its examples
- Security measures
#4. User Documentation
User documentation is meant for the end users and system administrators. It is a crucial part of software development documentation because if the users cannot use your software the way it was meant to, it is not a success.
User documentation consists mostly of how-to documents, including, but not limited to, guides, troubleshooting manuals, installation manuals, tutorials, and more. These documents are meant to guide the user through the process step-by-step. Other user documents include reference manuals, FAQ booklets, etc. 
#5. Process Documentation
Process documentation is the record of all the process-related and maintenance documents of the software. It contains information about the processes and procedures used to develop, test, and maintain the software in development.
Process documentation starts at the ideation stage and continues with each step of development and maintenance. Some examples of process documentation are project and development plans, test schedules, release plans, bug tracking reports, standards, and meeting notes.
Businesses use process documentation tools to preserve organizational knowledge in a knowledge base for new employees. Recording the process of software development is also important to ensure clarity later about why certain decisions were taken.
Above all, by documenting the process and testing its effectiveness, you can plug any inefficiencies in your process and optimize it for the best results.
#6. Test Documentation
Test documentation is prepared at three stages of software development, before testing, during testing, and after testing.
Test documentation starts with the generation of test cases, and here are some of the documents created before testing:
- Test policy document – Defining the overall vision, goals, and principles of testing
- Test strategy document – Outlining the approach and scope of testing for the software in question
- Traceability matrix – Mapping the relationship between requirement specifications and test cases.
During testing, a different set of documents are created, some of which are:
- Test case document – list of tests
- Test description – detail of each test and how it is to be done
- Test report – the result of each test with a case report
After testing, a test summary or a test closure report is created which is an account of all the tests and their results. Based on how the tests go, the report/ summary suggests whether the software is ready for launch.
#7. Maintenance Documentation – remove please
This is key documentation in the SDLC( Software Development Life Cycle). It is the written record that you will refer to for updating and fixing bugs after your initial deployment.
This documentation ensures that software remains functional and secure when there are new realses and new environmental changes and update to the existing technologies.
Though this documentation is created only after deployment during the maintenance phase, planning begins during the design and development phase.
#8. Project Documentation
Project documentation is the central repository for all the documentation prepared during a software development project. It includes recording and sharing key deliverables and milestones of the project, along with regular progress of software development, keeping everyone up-to-date and on the same page.
Some examples of project documentation include a project proposal, project charter, project requirement specifications, and technical design documents.
Conclusion
I hope that by the end of this article, you have a clear idea of how important software development documentation is and what are the different types of documents that serve different stakeholders.
Now, go ahead and choose the right tools to create your dynamic software development documentation.