common-documentation
Write effective code comments, READMEs, and technical documentation following intent-first principles. Use when adding comments, writing docstrings, creating READMEs, or updating any documentation. (triggers: comment, docstring, readme, documentation)
Best use case
common-documentation is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Write effective code comments, READMEs, and technical documentation following intent-first principles. Use when adding comments, writing docstrings, creating READMEs, or updating any documentation. (triggers: comment, docstring, readme, documentation)
Teams using common-documentation should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/common-documentation/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How common-documentation Compares
| Feature / Agent | common-documentation | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Write effective code comments, READMEs, and technical documentation following intent-first principles. Use when adding comments, writing docstrings, creating READMEs, or updating any documentation. (triggers: comment, docstring, readme, documentation)
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
Related Guides
SKILL.md Source
# Documentation Standards ## **Priority: P2 (MAINTENANCE)** ## 1. Write Intent-First Code Comments - Explain **"Why"** not "What" — code describes the logic, comments explain non-obvious intent. - Use triple-slash (Dart/Swift) or JSDoc (TS/JS) for all public functions and classes. - Delete commented-out code immediately — use Git history for retrieval. - Use `TODO(username): description` or `FIXME` with ownership and a linked ticket. See [implementation examples](references/implementation.md) for intent-first comment patterns. ## 2. Structure READMEs for Onboarding - **Mission**: Clear one-sentence summary of the project purpose. - **Onboarding**: Exact Prerequisites (runtimes), Installation steps, and Usage examples. - **Maintainability**: Document inputs/outputs, known quirks, and troubleshooting tips. - **Synchronization**: Documentation ships with the feature, not after. ## 3. Maintain Architectural Docs - **ADRs**: Document significant architectural changes and the "Why" in `docs/adr/`. - **Docstrings**: Document Classes/Functions with Args, Returns, and usage Examples (`>>>`). - **Diagrams**: Use Mermaid.js inside Markdown for high-level system overviews. ## 4. Document APIs - Use Swagger/OpenAPI for REST or specialized doc generators. - Provide copy-pasteable examples for every major endpoint. - Define the interface contract before the implementation. ## Anti-Patterns - **No "what" comments**: Explain intent, not mechanics. Refactor instead. - **No orphan TODOs**: Every TODO needs `(owner)` and a linked ticket. - **No stale docs**: Documentation ships with the feature, not after.
Related Skills
nestjs-documentation
Automate Swagger/OpenAPI documentation and standardize API response schemas in NestJS. Use when generating OpenAPI specs, documenting paginated or generic responses, configuring the Nest CLI Swagger plugin, or publishing versioned API docs. (triggers: main.ts, **/*.dto.ts, DocumentBuilder, SwaggerModule, ApiProperty, ApiResponse)
common-observability
Enforce structured JSON logging, OpenTelemetry distributed tracing, and RED metrics across backend services. Use when adding request correlation, setting up tracing spans, defining SLO burn-rate alerts, or instrumenting middleware. (triggers: **/*.service.ts, **/*.handler.ts, **/*.middleware.ts, **/*.interceptor.ts, **/*.go, **/*.java, **/*.kt, **/*.py, logging, tracing, metrics, opentelemetry, observability, slo)
common-mobile-ux-core
Enforce universal mobile UX principles for touch-first interfaces including touch targets, safe areas, and mobile-specific interaction patterns. Use when building mobile screens, handling touch interactions, or validating safe area compliance. (triggers: **/*_page.dart, **/*_screen.dart, **/*_view.dart, **/*.swift, **/*Activity.kt, **/*Screen.tsx, mobile, responsive, SafeArea, touch, gesture, viewport)
common-mobile-animation
Apply motion design principles for mobile apps covering timing curves, transitions, gestures, and performance-conscious animations. Use when implementing screen transitions, gesture-driven interactions, shared-element animations, or optimizing animation frame rates on iOS, Android, or Flutter. (triggers: **/*_page.dart, **/*_screen.dart, **/*.swift, **/*Activity.kt, **/*Screen.tsx, Animation, AnimationController, Animated, MotionLayout, transition, gesture)
common-error-handling
Cross-cutting standards for error design, response shapes, error codes, and boundary placement across API, domain, and infrastructure layers. Use when defining error hierarchies, wrapping exceptions, building standardized error responses, or placing error boundaries in layered architectures. (triggers: **/*.service.ts, **/*.handler.ts, **/*.controller.ts, **/*.go, **/*.java, **/*.kt, **/*.py, error handling, exception, try catch, error boundary, error response, error code, throw)
common-architecture-diagramming
Standards for creating clear, audience-appropriate C4 and UML architecture diagrams with Mermaid. Use when producing system context diagrams, container views, sequence diagrams, or updating ARCHITECTURE.md files. (triggers: ARCHITECTURE.md, **/*.mermaid, **/*.drawio, diagram, architecture, c4, system design, mermaid)
common-architecture-audit
Audit structural debt, logic leakage, and monolithic components across Web, Mobile, and Backend codebases. Use when reviewing architecture, assessing tech debt, detecting logic in wrong layers, or identifying God classes. (triggers: package.json, pubspec.yaml, go.mod, pom.xml, nest-cli.json, architecture audit, code review, tech debt, logic leakage, refactor)
common-api-design
Apply REST API conventions — HTTP semantics, status codes, versioning, pagination, and OpenAPI standards for any framework. Use when designing endpoints, choosing HTTP methods, implementing pagination, or writing OpenAPI specs. (triggers: **/*.controller.ts, **/*.router.ts, **/*.routes.ts, **/routes/**, **/controllers/**, **/handlers/**, rest api, endpoint, http method, status code, versioning, pagination, openapi, api design, api contract)
common-accessibility
Enforce WCAG 2.2 AA compliance with semantic HTML, ARIA roles, keyboard navigation, and color contrast standards for web UIs. Use when building interactive components, adding form labels, fixing focus traps, or auditing a11y compliance. (triggers: **/*.tsx, **/*.jsx, **/*.html, **/*.vue, **/*.component.html, accessibility, a11y, wcag, aria, screen reader, focus, alt text)
common-workflow-writing
Rules for writing concise, token-efficient workflow and skill files. Prevents over-building that requires costly optimization passes. Use when creating or editing workflow files, SKILL.md files, or new skill definitions. (triggers: .agent/workflows/*.md, SKILL.md, create workflow, write workflow, new skill, new workflow)
common-ui-design
Design distinctive, production-grade frontend UI with bold aesthetic choices. Use when building web components, pages, interfaces, dashboards, or applications in any framework (React, Next.js, Angular, Vue, HTML/CSS). (triggers: build a page, create a component, design a dashboard, landing page, UI for, build a layout, make it look good, improve the design, build UI, create interface, design screen)
common-tdd
Implements a strict Red-Green-Refactor loop to ensure zero production code is written without a prior failing test. Use when: creating new features, fixing bugs, or expanding test coverage. (triggers: **/*.test.ts, **/*.spec.ts, **/*_test.go, **/*Test.java, **/*_test.dart, **/*_spec.rb, tdd, unit test, write test, red green refactor, failing test, test coverage)