Documentation Sync Check Skill
Checklist for ensuring documentation stays synchronized with code changes.
When to use this skill
Use this skill when changes affect:
- User-visible behavior or features
- API contracts or endpoints
- Configuration options or environment variables
- Deployment or installation procedures
- Developer workflows or contribution processes
- Build or validation processes
Core Principle
Documentation must be updated in the same PR as the code change. Outdated docs are a maintenance burden and user pain point.
Prerequisites
Before running this checklist:
- Identify which documentation files might be affected
- Read AGENTS.md section "Documentation expectations"
- Review CONTRIBUTING.md for documentation standards
Quick Reference: Which Docs to Update
| Change Type | Docs to Check |
|---|---|
| User-facing feature | README.md + .zh-CN.md, docs/features/*.md + .zh-CN.md |
| Configuration option | docs/configuration.md + .zh-CN.md, example configs |
| Installation/deployment | docs/installation.md + .zh-CN.md, skill-sublinkpro/reference/deploy.md |
| API endpoint | skill-sublinkpro/reference/api.md |
| Developer workflow | docs/development.md + .zh-CN.md, CONTRIBUTING.md + .zh-CN.md |
| Architecture/guidelines | AGENTS.md |
| New documentation | skill-sublinkpro/reference/docs.md (documentation map) |
Feature Documentation Checklist
When user-facing features change:
README updates
- Updated
README.mdif feature overview affected - Updated
README.zh-CN.md(Chinese version) - Updated feature list if new feature added
- Updated screenshots/GIFs if UI changed significantly
Feature docs
- Updated relevant
docs/features/*.mdfile - Updated corresponding
.zh-CN.mdfile - Added new feature doc if new feature (both languages)
- Updated examples and usage instructions
- Verified code samples are accurate
Cross-references
- Updated links from README to feature docs
- Updated internal cross-references in docs
- Added new doc to
docs/index/TOC (if applicable)
Configuration Documentation Checklist
When configuration options change:
Configuration guide
- Updated
docs/configuration.md - Updated
docs/configuration.zh-CN.md - Documented new environment variables
- Documented new config file options
- Updated config precedence order (if changed)
- Updated default values
Example files
- Updated
.env.example(if env vars changed) - Updated
config.example.yaml(if config file changed) - Updated
docker-compose.example.yml(if Docker config changed)
Deployment docs
- Updated
skill-sublinkpro/reference/deploy.mdif deployment-related - Updated Docker/install instructions if needed
API Documentation Checklist
When API endpoints change:
Skill API reference
- Updated
skill-sublinkpro/reference/api.md - Documented new endpoints
- Updated changed endpoints
- Marked deprecated endpoints
- Updated request/response examples
- Updated error codes and messages
- Updated authentication requirements
Skill workflows
- Updated
skill-sublinkpro/SKILL.mdif workflow affected - Updated usage examples
- Updated error handling examples
Skill README
- Updated
skill-sublinkpro/README.mdif needed - Updated
skill-sublinkpro/README.zh-CN.md
Installation/Deployment Documentation Checklist
When installation or deployment changes:
Installation guide
- Updated
docs/installation.md - Updated
docs/installation.zh-CN.md - Updated Docker installation steps
- Updated docker-compose instructions
- Updated one-line script instructions
- Updated update/upgrade instructions
Deployment guide
- Updated
skill-sublinkpro/reference/deploy.md - Updated environment variable setup
- Updated port mappings
- Updated volume mounts
- Updated default credentials
- Updated security recommendations
Build process
- Updated production build instructions (if changed)
- Updated CI/CD documentation (if changed)
Developer Documentation Checklist
When developer workflows change:
Development guide
- Updated
docs/development.md - Updated
docs/development.zh-CN.md - Updated local setup instructions
- Updated validation commands
- Updated testing instructions
- Updated protocol extension guide (if protocol system changed)
Contributing guide
- Updated
CONTRIBUTING.md - Updated
CONTRIBUTING.zh-CN.md - Updated branch conventions
- Updated PR process
- Updated testing requirements
Architecture guide
- Updated
AGENTS.mdif architectural boundaries changed - Updated project structure documentation
- Updated cross-layer sync requirements (if changed)
Theme/i18n guidelines
- Updated
docs/frontend-theme-guidelines.md+.zh-CN.md(if theme rules changed) - Updated
docs/internationalization.md+.zh-CN.md(if i18n rules changed)
Bilingual Documentation Checklist
For every documentation change:
Both languages
- Updated English canonical file (
.md) - Updated Chinese translation file (
.zh-CN.md) - Content semantically equivalent (not just machine-translated)
- Examples work in both language contexts
Language switches
- Language switch links at top of document work
- Links use correct format:
English | [简体中文](filename.zh-CN.md) - Chinese version links back:
[English](filename.md) | 简体中文
Internal links
- Relative links work in both language files
- Cross-references point to correct language variants
- No broken links in either version
Documentation Map Updates
When documentation structure changes:
Adding new docs
- Added new doc path to
skill-sublinkpro/reference/docs.md - Added description/topic in the documentation map
- Added both English and Chinese variants to map
Renaming/moving docs
- Updated path in
skill-sublinkpro/reference/docs.md - Updated all references in other docs
- Verified old paths return 404 (on GitHub)
Removing docs
- Removed from
skill-sublinkpro/reference/docs.md - Checked for incoming links from other docs
- Redirected or updated incoming links
Code Examples in Documentation
When documenting code:
Accuracy
- Code examples actually work
- Commands match what exists in repo
- File paths are correct
- Configuration examples are valid
Completeness
- Required context is provided
- Output examples are realistic
- Error handling shown where relevant
Maintenance
- Examples use current API
- Examples use current configuration format
- Examples reflect current project structure
Common Documentation Files
Project-level
README.md/README.zh-CN.md- Project overviewCONTRIBUTING.md/CONTRIBUTING.zh-CN.md- How to contributeCODE_OF_CONDUCT.md/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.zh-CN.md- Community standardsAGENTS.md- AI agent architectural guide
Core documentation
docs/installation.md/.zh-CN.md- Installation guidedocs/configuration.md/.zh-CN.md- Configuration referencedocs/development.md/.zh-CN.md- Developer guidedocs/internationalization.md/.zh-CN.md- i18n guidelinesdocs/frontend-theme-guidelines.md/.zh-CN.md- Theme adaptation rules
Feature documentation
docs/features/*.md/.zh-CN.md- Feature-specific guidesdocs/script_support.md/.zh-CN.md- Script support documentation
Skill documentation
skill-sublinkpro/SKILL.md- Skill definitionskill-sublinkpro/README.md/.zh-CN.md- Skill overviewskill-sublinkpro/reference/api.md- API referenceskill-sublinkpro/reference/deploy.md- Deployment guideskill-sublinkpro/reference/docs.md- Documentation map
Verification Checklist
Before committing:
Link checking
- All internal links work (test by clicking in preview)
- No broken references to code files
- No references to removed/renamed files
- Language switch links work
Formatting
- Markdown renders correctly
- Code blocks have correct syntax highlighting
- Tables render properly
- Lists and indentation correct
Consistency
- Both language versions have same structure
- Terminology consistent across docs
- Examples match actual codebase
- Commands match repo's actual commands
When Only Documentation Changed
Pure documentation commits:
No build required
- ✅ No need to run
yarn run lintoryarn run build - ✅ No need to run Go validation
Manual verification required
- Links work
- Both languages updated
- Command examples accurate
- No conflicts with AGENTS.md cross-layer rules
Documentation Anti-Patterns
Avoid these common mistakes:
- ❌ Documenting commands that don't exist (
yarn testwhen no test script) - ❌ Only updating English docs
- ❌ Describing old behavior after code changed
- ❌ Copy-pasting from generic templates without adapting
- ❌ Leaving broken links
- ❌ Documenting "future features" not yet implemented
- ❌ Outdated screenshots showing old UI
Delivery Requirements
Before marking documentation changes complete:
- Bilingual verification: Both
.mdand.zh-CN.mdupdated - Link verification: All links tested and working
- Accuracy verification: Examples/commands tested
- Consistency verification: No conflicts with code behavior
Exit Criteria
✅ Can exit when:
- All affected documentation files updated
- Both English and Chinese versions synchronized
- Links verified
- Examples tested
- Code behavior matches documentation
❌ Cannot exit when:
- Only one language updated
- Documentation still describes old behavior
- Broken links remain
- Examples are inaccurate
- New documentation not added to map