Feature Specification: Comprehensive End-User Documentation

Feature Branch: 014-comprehensive-end-user-documentation Created: 2026-01-16 Status: Draft Mission: documentation Input: User description: "a documentation mission that replaces this project's current documentation with a fresh, comprehensive, professional documentation that covers all use cases and all 4 types of docs."

Overview

Create fresh, comprehensive, professional documentation for spec-kitty targeting end users (people using spec-kitty to manage their project specifications). The documentation will follow the Divio 4-type documentation system and replace all existing documentation after auditing it for any salvageable content.

Target Audience

  • Primary: End users of spec-kitty who want to use the tool for their own projects
  • Excluded: Contributors/developers extending spec-kitty itself (internal documentation)

Approach

1. Audit existing documentation to identify content worth preserving 2. Remove all outdated or ill-fitting material - no legacy cruft 3. Build fresh documentation following Divio 4-type structure 4. Result: Cohesive, professional documentation set

User Scenarios & Testing (mandatory)

User Story 1 - First-Time User Learns Spec-Kitty (Priority: P1)

A developer discovers spec-kitty and wants to understand what it does and how to get started. They need a clear learning path that takes them from zero knowledge to successfully using spec-kitty on a real project.

Why this priority: Without a clear onboarding path, users abandon the tool before experiencing its value. Tutorials are the gateway to adoption.

Independent Test: Can be fully tested by having a new user follow the tutorial from start to finish and successfully create their first feature specification.

Acceptance Scenarios:

1. Given a developer with no prior spec-kitty experience, When they follow the Getting Started tutorial, Then they successfully install spec-kitty and create their first feature specification within 30 minutes. 2. Given a user completing the introductory tutorial, When they want to learn more, Then they find clear links to the next tutorials in the learning path. 3. Given a user following a tutorial, When they encounter an error, Then the tutorial includes troubleshooting guidance for common issues.

User Story 2 - User Solves a Specific Problem (Priority: P1)

An active spec-kitty user needs to accomplish a specific task (e.g., "How do I review a work package?", "How do I handle dependencies between work packages?"). They need quick, task-focused instructions without reading background material.

Why this priority: Users spend most of their time solving specific problems. How-to guides directly impact daily productivity.

Independent Test: Can be fully tested by having a user with a specific goal find and follow the relevant how-to guide to accomplish their task.

Acceptance Scenarios:

1. Given a user who needs to perform a specific task, When they search the documentation, Then they find a how-to guide that addresses their exact need within 2 minutes. 2. Given a user following a how-to guide, When they complete the steps, Then they achieve the stated goal without needing additional resources. 3. Given a user reading a how-to guide, When they need related information, Then cross-references point them to relevant how-tos, reference docs, or explanations.

User Story 3 - User Looks Up Command Details (Priority: P2)

A user knows what command or feature they need but wants to check exact syntax, available flags, or behavior details. They need accurate, complete reference material.

Why this priority: Reference documentation supports confident, correct usage. Users who already know what they need should find precise answers quickly.

Independent Test: Can be fully tested by having a user look up any spec-kitty command and find complete, accurate documentation for it.

Acceptance Scenarios:

1. Given a user who needs command syntax, When they consult the reference documentation, Then they find complete information including all flags, options, and examples. 2. Given a user checking reference docs, When they read a command description, Then the documented behavior matches the actual tool behavior. 3. Given a user browsing reference docs, When they need context for why something works a certain way, Then they find links to relevant explanation articles.

User Story 4 - User Understands the "Why" (Priority: P2)

A user wants to understand spec-kitty's design philosophy, the reasoning behind the workspace-per-work-package model, or why missions work the way they do. They need conceptual explanations that build mental models.

Why this priority: Understanding the "why" enables users to make better decisions and use the tool more effectively. Explanations turn users into experts.

Independent Test: Can be fully tested by having a user read an explanation article and then correctly explain the concept to someone else.

Acceptance Scenarios:

1. Given a user confused about a spec-kitty concept, When they read the relevant explanation, Then they understand the reasoning and can apply the concept correctly. 2. Given a user reading an explanation, When they want to try it out, Then they find links to relevant tutorials and how-to guides. 3. Given a user who has read an explanation, When they encounter related decisions in their work, Then they can make informed choices based on their understanding.

User Story 5 - User Navigates Documentation Efficiently (Priority: P3)

A user (new or experienced) needs to find information quickly. The documentation structure should be intuitive, searchable, and well-organized.

Why this priority: Even excellent content fails if users cannot find it. Navigation and discoverability are foundational.

Independent Test: Can be fully tested by having users with different goals find their target content using navigation, search, or cross-references.

Acceptance Scenarios:

1. Given a user arriving at the documentation, When they view the landing page, Then they understand the documentation structure and where to find different types of content. 2. Given a user looking for specific information, When they use documentation search or navigation, Then they find relevant content within 3 clicks or searches. 3. Given a user reading any documentation page, When they want related content, Then cross-references guide them to logical next steps.

Edge Cases

  • What happens when a user follows a tutorial but has an older version of spec-kitty?
  • How does the documentation handle features that differ between missions (software-dev vs. research vs. documentation)?
  • What if a user searches for a term that appears in multiple Divio types?
  • How should the documentation handle deprecated features or breaking changes?

Requirements (mandatory)

Functional Requirements

Audit & Cleanup

  • FR-001: Documentation team MUST audit all existing documentation files before creating new content
  • FR-002: All outdated, redundant, or ill-fitting documentation MUST be removed
  • FR-003: Any valuable content from existing docs MUST be migrated to the appropriate Divio type

Divio Structure

  • FR-004: Documentation MUST include Tutorials (learning-oriented, step-by-step guides)
  • FR-005: Documentation MUST include How-To Guides (task-oriented, problem-solving recipes)
  • FR-006: Documentation MUST include Reference (complete, accurate command/feature descriptions)
  • FR-007: Documentation MUST include Explanations (concept-oriented, "why" discussions)

Content Quality

  • FR-008: Each documentation page MUST clearly indicate its Divio type
  • FR-009: Cross-references MUST link related content across Divio types
  • FR-010: All command documentation MUST include working examples
  • FR-011: Tutorials MUST be testable end-to-end by a new user

Coverage

  • FR-012: Documentation MUST cover all spec-kitty slash commands (specify, plan, tasks, implement, review, accept, merge, status, etc.)
  • FR-013: Documentation MUST cover all three missions (software-dev, research, documentation)
  • FR-014: Documentation MUST explain the workspace-per-work-package model
  • FR-015: Documentation MUST explain dependency handling between work packages

Navigation & Discoverability

  • FR-016: Documentation MUST have a clear landing page with navigation to all Divio types
  • FR-017: Documentation MUST have consistent navigation structure across all pages

Key Entities

  • Documentation Page: A single markdown file covering one topic, classified by Divio type
  • Divio Type: One of four documentation categories (Tutorial, How-To, Reference, Explanation)
  • Cross-Reference: A link connecting related content across different pages or Divio types
  • Landing Page: The documentation entry point with navigation to all sections

Success Criteria (mandatory)

Measurable Outcomes

  • SC-001: A new user can complete the Getting Started tutorial and create their first feature specification within 30 minutes
  • SC-002: Users can find answers to common questions within 3 clicks or searches from the landing page
  • SC-003: 100% of spec-kitty slash commands are documented in the Reference section
  • SC-004: Each major feature has content in at least 2 of the 4 Divio types (typically Reference + either Tutorial or How-To)
  • SC-005: Zero outdated or inaccurate information remains after audit (verified by comparison with current codebase)
  • SC-006: All tutorials are end-to-end testable (a user can follow them and achieve the stated outcome)

Assumptions

  • The documentation will be written in Markdown and stored in the repository
  • The primary documentation location is the docs/ directory
  • Existing valuable content (if any) will be identified during the audit phase
  • The documentation does not need to cover spec-kitty internals or contributor guides (out of scope)
  • Version-specific documentation is not required; docs will target the current stable version