DevOps processes and infrastructure are constantly evolving, making documentation challenging to maintain. Here’s how I ensure my documentation stays up-to-date.
Documentation as Code: I actually maintain my documentation files like code in the same Git repository; these could be either Markdown or AsciiDoc. With this approach, we update documentation through pull requests in confluence with the code change. The version control avails an audit trail about changes; hence it helps track traceability and accountability.
Automation in CI/CD Pipelines: I configure CI/CD pipelines to automatically update documentation whenever changes are made to the infrastructure. For example, using CI tools like GitHub Actions, documentation can be auto-published to platforms like MkDocs or docsify, creating live, web-accessible documentation that stays current with the latest updates.
For bigger teams, I rely on collaborative tools such as Confluence or Notion. In these tools, members of the DevOps team can update documentation in a collaborative manner. Structured pages, templates, and permissions allow teams to track and review edits, and notifications ensure that relevant stakeholders are informed.
Documentation Reviews and Sprints: During sprints and retrospectives, we allocate time for planning and reviewing documentation. Incorporating documentation as part of the "Definition of Done" in DevOps ensures thoroughness. Significant changes to infrastructure and tools are consistently documented, and periodic reviews help close gaps, providing updated and higher-quality documentation.
