# Documentation Patterns

> Technical documentation patterns for READMEs, ADRs, API docs (OpenAPI 3.1), changelogs, and writing style guides. Use when creating project documentation, writing architecture decisions, documenting APIs, or maintaining changelogs. Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/documentation-patterns-4` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/documentation-patterns-4`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/documentation-patterns-4/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Docs & Writing
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/documentation-patterns-4

---


# Documentation Patterns

Templates and opinionated structures for technical documentation -- READMEs, Architecture Decision Records, OpenAPI specs, changelogs, and writing style. Each category has individual rule files in `rules/` loaded on-demand.

## Quick Reference

| Category | Rule | Impact | When to Use |
|----------|------|--------|-------------|
| [README](#readme) | 1 | HIGH | Starting a project, onboarding contributors |
| [ADR](#architecture-decision-records) | 1 | HIGH | Recording architecture decisions |
| [API Docs](#api-documentation) | 1 | HIGH | Documenting REST APIs with OpenAPI 3.1 |
| [Changelog](#changelog) | 1 | MEDIUM | Maintaining release history |
| [Writing Style](#writing-style) | 1 | MEDIUM | Any technical writing task |

**Total: 5 rules across 5 categories**

## Quick Start

```markdown
## README Skeleton
# Project Name
Brief description -> Quick Start -> Installation -> Usage -> API -> Config -> Contributing -> License

## ADR Format
# ADR-001: Title
Status -> Context -> Decision -> Consequences (positive/negative) -> References

## OpenAPI Minimum
openapi: 3.1.0 with info, paths, components/schemas, error responses

## Changelog Entry
## [1.2.0] - 2026-03-05
### Added / Changed / Deprecated / Removed / Fixed / Security

## Writing Rule of Thumb
Active voice, present tense, second person, one idea per sentence
```

## README

Complete README template with all essential sections for open-source and internal projects.

- **`docs-readme-structure`** -- Project name, quick start, installation, usage, API reference, configuration, contributing, license

## Architecture Decision Records

Structured format for capturing architectural decisions with context and consequences.

- **`docs-adr-template`** -- Status, context, decision, consequences (positive/negative), references

## API Documentation

OpenAPI 3.1 specification patterns for consistent, machine-readable API docs.

- **`docs-api-openapi`** -- Path structure, operation definitions, schema components, error responses (RFC 9457)

## Changelog

Keep a Changelog format for curated, human-readable release history.

- **`docs-changelog-format`** -- Added, Changed, Deprecated, Removed, Fixed, Security sections with semver

## Writing Style

Technical writing conventions for clear, scannable documentation.

- **`docs-writing-style`** -- Active voice, present tense, concise sentences, API doc checklist

## Related Skills

- `ork:api-design` -- API design patterns (complements OpenAPI documentation)
- `ork:architecture-decision-record` -- ADR workflow and lifecycle
- `ork:release-management` -- Release process including changelog updates

**Version:** 1.0.0 (March 2026)

---
> Source: [yonatangross/orchestkit](https://github.com/yonatangross/orchestkit) — distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io).
<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-06-15 -->