Introducing Claude Code Documentation Standards: Automated Documentation with Built-in Linting

Source: Dev.to

Keeping documentation tidy, readable, and easy to navigate shouldn’t feel like a chore. In most projects it eventually becomes one: different people write differently, folders get messy, and soon no one knows where anything lives.

So I built something to fix that.

Introducing Claude Code Documentation Standards — a framework that helps you write better documentation with less effort, using a consistent structure, automated checks, and a simple one‑line install.

Why Documentation Usually Feels Hard

If you’ve ever joined or handed over a project, you’ve probably faced one (or all) of these:

• Every project stores documentation differently
• It’s difficult to figure out “where to start” reading
• Markdown formatting isn’t consistent
• No quality control — mistakes slip through
• Setting up documentation tools takes time

None of this should be your problem. You just want your documentation to look good, stay organised, and help people find what they need quickly.

What This Framework Does For You

Claude Code Documentation Standards gives you:

• ✅ A clean, numbered folder structure so you always know where things belong
• ✅ Automatic markdown linting so everything stays consistent
• ✅ A simple /docs command that generates and organises your documentation
• ✅ One‑line installation — truly plug‑and‑play
• ✅ CI/CD examples for teams
• ✅ Pre‑commit hooks so docs stay clean before they’re even committed

It’s designed to save you time, reduce confusion, and make your project look polished — with almost no setup.

What You’ll Love About It

1. A Structure That Actually Makes Sense

Your documentation is grouped by context, not by random categories.

docs/
├── 01-architecture/
├── 02-development/
├── 03-deployment/
└── 04-api/

The numbering tells you the order things should be read — so new contributors always start in the right place.

2. Your Documentation Cleans Itself

With built‑in markdown linting, you don’t have to worry about:

• Odd formatting
• Incorrect heading levels
• Missing code block labels
• Extra whitespace
• Long, unreadable lines

Write normally — the tools help keep it clean.

3. A Single Command That Builds Everything For You

Just type:

/docs

Claude Code will:

• Scan your project
• Create the correct folder structure
• Generate READMEs with tables of contents
• Lint everything
• Fix formatting issues

Documentation setup becomes a 5‑second task instead of a weekend chore.

4. Easy‑to‑Understand Flow

Your docs now guide readers naturally:

• Overview — What this project is
• Getting Started — How to use it immediately
• Deep Dives — How it works behind the scenes
• Reference — APIs, endpoints, commands, etc.

This keeps your project beginner‑friendly and expert‑friendly.

Installation (Takes Only One Line)

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nasrulhazim/claude-docs/main/install.sh | bash

That’s all. The installer sets up:

• Documentation templates
• Markdown linting
• Slash commands
• Default linting rules

If you prefer a manual install:

git clone https://github.com/nasrulhazim/claude-docs.git
cd claude-docs
./install.sh

Using It

In any Claude Code project, run:

/docs

It will:

• Analyse your project
• Generate all documentation folders
• Create READMEs
• Lint your files
• Automatically fix issues

Additional commands:

/docs reorganize
/docs validate
/docs update-toc

Need to lint manually?

markdownlint docs/**/*.md
markdownlint --fix docs/**/*.md

A Documentation Layout That Stays Consistent

Example structure:

docs/
├── README.md
├── 01-getting-started/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── 01-installation.md
│   ├── 02-authentication.md
│   └── 03-first-request.md
├── 02-endpoints/
│   ├── README.md
│   ├── 01-users.md
│   ├── 02-posts.md
│   └── 03-comments.md
└── 03-guides/
    ├── README.md
    ├── 01-pagination.md
    ├── 02-filtering.md
    └── 03-rate-limiting.md

Your readers will never wonder where to look again.

Works Beautifully in CI/CD

Add automatic documentation linting to your workflows with a few lines. This keeps your project polished even as more contributors join in.

Why This Matters (Even If You’re a Solo Developer)

For Developers

• Faster onboarding
• Cleaner, more readable docs
• Less manual formatting
• A consistent experience across projects

For Teams

• Everyone follows the same structure
• Automated checks mean fewer review headaches
• Clearer documentation means fewer repeated questions

For Open Source

• Your project looks more mature
• Contributors instantly understand where to add docs
• Easier discovery = more engagement

Customise It Your Way

Want shorter line lengths? Different contexts? Working on mobile apps, microservices, or data science? You can adjust everything:

• Add new contexts
• Update linting rules
• Modify folder structure
• Create your own templates

The framework is opinionated — but flexible.

Final Thoughts

Writing documentation shouldn’t drain your energy or slow down your project. With Claude Code Documentation Standards, you get:

• A clean structure
• Automatic quality control
• One‑command generation
• Consistent formatting
• A beginner‑friendly experience

Let your tools handle the boring parts — so you can focus on building great software.