BMAD-METHOD/.bmad/bmm/workflows/techdoc/documentation-standards.md

Technical Documentation Standards for BMAD

For Agent: Technical Writer Purpose: Concise reference for documentation creation and review

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CRITICAL RULES

Rule 1: CommonMark Strict Compliance

ALL documentation MUST follow CommonMark specification exactly. No exceptions.

Rule 2: NO TIME ESTIMATES

NEVER document time estimates, durations, or completion times for any workflow, task, or activity. This includes:

• Workflow execution time (e.g., "30-60 min", "2-8 hours")
• Task duration estimates
• Reading time estimates
• Implementation time ranges
• Any temporal measurements

Time varies dramatically based on:

• Project complexity
• Team experience
• Tooling and environment
• Context switching
• Unforeseen blockers

Instead: Focus on workflow steps, dependencies, and outputs. Let users determine their own timelines.

CommonMark Essentials

Headers:

• Use ATX-style ONLY: # ## ### (NOT Setext underlines)
• Single space after #: # Title (NOT #Title)
• No trailing #: # Title (NOT # Title #)
• Hierarchical order: Don't skip levels (h1→h2→h3, not h1→h3)

Code Blocks:

• Use fenced blocks with language identifier:

  ```javascript
  const example = 'code';
  ```
  

• NOT indented code blocks (ambiguous)

Lists:

• Consistent markers within list: all - or all * or all + (don't mix)
• Proper indentation for nested items (2 or 4 spaces, stay consistent)
• Blank line before/after list for clarity

Links:

• Inline: [text](url)
• Reference: [text][ref] then [ref]: url at bottom
• NO bare URLs without <> brackets

Emphasis:

• Italic: *text* or _text_
• Bold: **text** or __text__
• Consistent style within document

Line Breaks:

• Two spaces at end of line + newline, OR
• Blank line between paragraphs
• NO single line breaks (they're ignored)

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Mermaid Diagrams: Valid Syntax Required

Critical Rules:

1. Always specify diagram type first line
2. Use valid Mermaid v10+ syntax
3. Test syntax before outputting (mental validation)
4. Keep focused: 5-10 nodes ideal, max 15

Diagram Type Selection:

• flowchart - Process flows, decision trees, workflows
• sequenceDiagram - API interactions, message flows, time-based processes
• classDiagram - Object models, class relationships, system structure
• erDiagram - Database schemas, entity relationships
• stateDiagram-v2 - State machines, lifecycle stages
• gitGraph - Branch strategies, version control flows

Formatting:

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    Start[Clear Label] --> Decision{Question?}
    Decision -->|Yes| Action1[Do This]
    Decision -->|No| Action2[Do That]
```

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Style Guide Principles (Distilled)

Apply in this hierarchy:

1. Project-specific guide (if exists) - always ask first
2. BMAD conventions (this document)
3. Google Developer Docs style (defaults below)
4. CommonMark spec (when in doubt)

Core Writing Rules

Task-Oriented Focus:

• Write for user GOALS, not feature lists
• Start with WHY, then HOW
• Every doc answers: "What can I accomplish?"

Clarity Principles:

• Active voice: "Click the button" NOT "The button should be clicked"
• Present tense: "The function returns" NOT "The function will return"
• Direct language: "Use X for Y" NOT "X can be used for Y"
• Second person: "You configure" NOT "Users configure" or "One configures"

Structure:

• One idea per sentence
• One topic per paragraph
• Headings describe content accurately
• Examples follow explanations

Accessibility:

• Descriptive link text: "See the API reference" NOT "Click here"
• Alt text for diagrams: Describe what it shows
• Semantic heading hierarchy (don't skip levels)
• Tables have headers
• Emojis are acceptable if user preferences allow (modern accessibility tools support emojis well)

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OpenAPI/API Documentation

Required Elements:

• Endpoint path and method
• Authentication requirements
• Request parameters (path, query, body) with types
• Request example (realistic, working)
• Response schema with types
• Response examples (success + common errors)
• Error codes and meanings

Quality Standards:

• OpenAPI 3.0+ specification compliance
• Complete schemas (no missing fields)
• Examples that actually work
• Clear error messages
• Security schemes documented

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Documentation Types: Quick Reference

README:

• What (overview), Why (purpose), How (quick start)
• Installation, Usage, Contributing, License
• Under 500 lines (link to detailed docs)

API Reference:

• Complete endpoint coverage
• Request/response examples
• Authentication details
• Error handling
• Rate limits if applicable

User Guide:

• Task-based sections (How to...)
• Step-by-step instructions
• Screenshots/diagrams where helpful
• Troubleshooting section

Architecture Docs:

• System overview diagram (Mermaid)
• Component descriptions
• Data flow
• Technology decisions (ADRs)
• Deployment architecture

Developer Guide:

• Setup/environment requirements
• Code organization
• Development workflow
• Testing approach
• Contribution guidelines

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Quality Checklist

Before finalizing ANY documentation:

• CommonMark compliant (no violations)
• NO time estimates anywhere (Critical Rule 2)
• Headers in proper hierarchy
• All code blocks have language tags
• Links work and have descriptive text
• Mermaid diagrams render correctly
• Active voice, present tense
• Task-oriented (answers "how do I...")
• Examples are concrete and working
• Accessibility standards met
• Spelling/grammar checked
• Reads clearly at target skill level

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BMAD-Specific Conventions

File Organization:

• README.md at root of each major component
• docs/ folder for extensive documentation
• Workflow-specific docs in workflow folder
• Cross-references use relative paths

Frontmatter: Use YAML frontmatter when appropriate:

---
title: Document Title
description: Brief description
author: Author name
date: YYYY-MM-DD
---

Metadata:

• Always include last-updated date
• Version info for versioned docs
• Author attribution for accountability

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Remember: This is your foundation. Follow these rules consistently, and all documentation will be clear, accessible, and maintainable.