Deploy Software Documentation with a Static Site Generator

In software development, having well-organized, accessible, and easy-to-update documentation is critical. Static site generators (SSGs) like Jekyll, Hugo, and Sphinx provide an efficient way to achieve this. In this post, I’ll walk you through a step-by-step strategy to deploy your software documentation with an SSG.

Why Use a Static Site Generator for Documentation?

SSGs are perfect for software documentation because they:

Strategy

These are the essential steps for setting up and deploying your software documentation with an SSG.

1. Define your documentation goals.

Before diving into the technical setup, identify your goals:

• Who is the audience? (developers, end-users, internal teams)
• What types of content do you need? (user guides, API references, FAQs)
• Do you need versioning or multilingual support?

Having a clear vision helps in choosing the right tools and organizing your content effectively.

2. Choose the right SSG.

Different SSGs suit different needs:

Evaluate each option based on your project’s requirements.

3. Set up your documentation project.

Organize your documentation files for easy maintenance:

/docs
  /content   # Markdown or reStructuredText files
  /assets    # Images, CSS, JS
  /themes    # Custom or pre-made themes
  /config    # Configuration files (e.g., _config.yml, config.toml)

Install your chosen SSG and set up a local development environment. For instance:

4. Write and preview content.

Focus on creating high-quality content:

• Use Markdown or reStructuredText for simplicity and consistency.
• Organize sections with headers, lists, and tables for clarity.
• Add front matter metadata (titles, tags) to improve navigation and SEO.

Preview your site locally to ensure everything looks polished before deployment.

5. Automate deployment with CI/CD.

Automating deployment ensures your documentation is always up-to-date:

a. Choose a Hosting Platform

b. Set Up CI/CD Pipelines

Use tools like GitHub Actions to automate builds and deployments. For example:

name: Deploy Documentation
on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main
jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout Code
        uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: Install Dependencies
        run: |
          sudo apt-get update
          # Install your SSG dependencies
      - name: Build Site
        run: |
          # Add your SSG build command here
      - name: Deploy
        uses: peaceiris/actions-gh-pages@v3
        with:
          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
          publish_dir: ./public

6. Monitor and optimize.

Once deployed, ensure your documentation performs well:

7. Keep the documentation updated.

Documentation is never “done.” Keep it relevant by:

• Syncing updates with software releases.
• Using version control (Git) to track changes.
• Regularly reviewing and pruning outdated content.

Conclusion

Deploying software documentation with an SSG combines speed, simplicity, and scalability. By following the steps outlined in this post, you can create user-friendly documentation that not only supports your software but also leaves a lasting impression on your audience.