Pw Docs Architect

ProcessWire Docs Architect

Create comprehensive, long-form technical documentation for ProcessWire modules, packages, and systems. Captures both the what and the why of every component.

When to Use

• Writing a module README from scratch
• Documenting architecture decisions for a ProcessWire package
• Creating CLI command reference for vendor/bin/wire commands
• Generating onboarding documentation for a ProcessWire project
• Writing module installation and configuration guides
• Documenting URL hook endpoints and MCP tool interfaces

Documentation Process

Phase 1: Discovery

Before writing anything, analyze the codebase:

# Understand the schema
pw_schema_read

# List installed modules
pw_module_list

# Check module structure
ls site/modules/MyModule/

# Review existing docs
cat site/modules/MyModule/README.md

Key questions to answer:

• What templates and fields does this module create?
• What hooks does it register?
• What CLI commands does it provide?
• What permissions/roles does it require?
• What other modules does it depend on?

Phase 2: Structuring

Organize documentation with progressive disclosure:

1. Executive Summary        → 1 paragraph, what it does
2. Installation             → Composer, module install, config
3. Quick Start              → Working example in 30 seconds
4. Configuration            → All module config options
5. Usage                    → Core features with examples
6. CLI Commands             → Full command reference
7. Architecture             → How it works internally
8. API Reference            → Hooks, methods, events
9. Security                 → RBAC, sanitization, CSRF
10. Troubleshooting         → Common issues and solutions

Phase 3: Writing

Follow these ProcessWire-specific conventions:

Module README Structure

# ModuleName

> One-line description of what the module does.

## Requirements

- ProcessWire >= 3.0.200
- PHP >= 8.3
- [Other module dependencies]

## Installation

\`\`\`bash
composer require vendor/module-name
\`\`\`

Then install via ProcessWire admin:
**Modules → Refresh → Find → Install**

Or via CLI:
\`\`\`bash
wire module:install ModuleName
\`\`\`

## Configuration

| Setting | Type | Default | Description |
|---------|------|---------|-------------|
| `apiKey` | string | `''` | API key for external service |
| `cacheTime` | int | `3600` | Cache duration in seconds |

## Quick Start

\`\`\`php
// In a template file
$result = $modules->get('ModuleName')->process($page);
echo $result->output;
\`\`\`

## Features

### Feature A

Description with code example...

### Feature B

Description with code example...

API.md (Module API Reference)

For modules exposing public methods, always create an API.md file alongside README.md.

# MyModuleClass

> API reference for interacting with MyModule from templates or hooks.

## Value Types
- Returns `\ProcessWire\WireArray` for grouped items.
- Returns `\ProcessWire\NullPage` on search failure.

## Selectors
\`\`\`php
$results = $modules->get('MyModuleClass')->find("status=active");
\`\`\`

Fieldtype IDE Companion Class

For Fieldtype modules, document properties by creating a companion [Type]Field.php class with PHPDoc annotations. This is how IDEs understand the Field settings.

<?php namespace ProcessWire;
/**
 * Companion class for IDE autocompletion 
 * 
 * @property int $maxLength Maximum string length
 * @property string $defaultText Default fallback text
 */
class FieldtypeMyCustomField extends Field {}

CLI Command Documentation

## CLI Commands

### `domain:action`

Brief description of what this command does.

**Usage:**
\`\`\`bash
wire domain:action [options] [arguments]
\`\`\`

**Arguments:**
| Argument | Required | Description |
|----------|----------|-------------|
| `name` | Yes | The resource name |

**Options:**
| Option | Short | Default | Description |
|--------|-------|---------|-------------|
| `--json` | `-j` | `false` | Output as JSON |
| `--dry-run` | | `false` | Preview without changes |
| `--force` | `-f` | `false` | Skip confirmation |

**Examples:**
\`\`\`bash
# Basic usage
wire domain:action my-resource

# With JSON output
wire domain:action my-resource --json

# Force without confirmation
wire domain:action my-resource --force
\`\`\`

Hook/Endpoint Documentation

## Hooks

### `Pages::saved`

Triggered after a page is saved. Updates the search index.

\`\`\`php
$wire->addHookAfter('Pages::saved', function (HookEvent $event) {
    $page = $event->arguments(0);
    if ($page->template->name !== 'article') return;

    $indexer = $event->wire()->modules->get('SearchIndexer');
    $indexer->reindex($page);
});
\`\`\`

### URL Hook: `/api/search/`

Returns search results as JSON.

**Method:** GET
**Authentication:** None required
**Rate Limit:** 60/minute

**Parameters:**
| Param | Type | Required | Description |
|-------|------|----------|-------------|
| `q` | string | Yes | Search query (sanitized via `selectorValue`) |
| `limit` | int | No | Max results (default: 20, max: 100) |

**Response:**
\`\`\`json
{
  "count": 5,
  "results": [
    {"id": 1042, "title": "Example", "url": "/blog/example/"}
  ]
}
\`\`\`

Architecture Documentation

## Architecture

### Overview

Brief description of how the module works internally.

### Data Flow

\`\`\`
User Input → $sanitizer → Selector Query → $pages->find()
                                                ↓
                                         Page Processing
                                                ↓
                                    Template Rendering → Output
\`\`\`

### Database Schema

This module creates the following fields:

| Field | Type | Description |
|-------|------|-------------|
| `ai_summary` | FieldtypeTextarea | AI-generated page summary |
| `ai_status` | FieldtypeOptions | Processing status (pending/done/error) |

### Design Decisions

**Why Page References instead of Repeaters?**
Page references allow cross-template querying and independent lifecycle management.
Repeaters would constrain data to a single parent context.

**Why URL hooks instead of template-based routing?**
The API endpoints have no corresponding page tree structure.
URL hooks provide cleaner separation between data API and content pages.

Quality Checklist

Before publishing documentation:

• API.md is generated for modules exposing public API methods
• [Type]Field.php companion class is created for Fieldtypes
• Executive summary exists and is clear in 1 paragraph
• Installation steps are copy-paste ready
• Quick Start example works within 30 seconds
• All CLI commands have usage, options, and examples
• All hooks/endpoints have parameters and response format
• Code examples use $sanitizer for user input
• RBAC requirements are documented
• Module config options are in a table
• Requirements (PHP/PW version, dependencies) are listed
• Architecture section explains "why" not just "what"
• No Laravel/Artisan/Eloquent terminology

Anti-Patterns

• ❌ "See source code for details" — always document inline
• ❌ Placeholder text like "TODO" or "coming soon"
• ❌ Laravel framework examples in PW module docs
• ❌ Missing installation steps
• ❌ Code examples without context (which file? template? module?)
• ❌ Undocumented config options
• ❌ Missing error/edge case documentation

Output Characteristics

• Length: Proportional to module complexity (1-50+ pages)
• Style: Technical but accessible, progressive complexity
• Format: Markdown with tables, code blocks, and diagrams
• Audience: ProcessWire developers with varying experience levels