mirror of
https://github.com/privatevoid-net/nix-super.git
synced 2024-11-10 00:08:07 +02:00
add contributing guide for documentation
This commit is contained in:
Valentin Gagarin
parent
b19bd4f348
commit
887cbcd395
5 changed files with 195 additions and 53 deletions
|
|
@ -173,6 +173,10 @@ doc/manual/generated/man1/nix3-manpages: $(d)/src/command-ref/new-cli
|
|||
done
|
||||
@touch $@
|
||||
|
||||
# the `! -name 'contributing.md'` filter excludes the one place where
|
||||
# `@docroot@` is to be preserved for documenting the mechanism
|
||||
# FIXME: maybe contributing guides should live right next to the code
|
||||
# instead of in the manual
|
||||
$(docdir)/manual/index.html: $(MANUAL_SRCS) $(d)/book.toml $(d)/anchors.jq $(d)/custom.css $(d)/src/SUMMARY.md $(d)/src/command-ref/new-cli $(d)/src/contributing/experimental-feature-descriptions.md $(d)/src/command-ref/conf-file.md $(d)/src/language/builtins.md $(d)/src/language/builtin-constants.md
|
||||
$(trace-gen) \
|
||||
tmp="$$(mktemp -d)"; \
|
||||
|
|
@ -180,7 +184,7 @@ $(docdir)/manual/index.html: $(MANUAL_SRCS) $(d)/book.toml $(d)/anchors.jq $(d)/
|
|||
find "$$tmp" -name '*.md' | while read -r file; do \
|
||||
$(call process-includes,$$file,$$file); \
|
||||
done; \
|
||||
find "$$tmp" -name '*.md' | while read -r file; do \
|
||||
find "$$tmp" -name '*.md' ! -name 'documentation.md' | while read -r file; do \
|
||||
docroot="$$(realpath --relative-to="$$(dirname "$$file")" $$tmp/manual/src)"; \
|
||||
sed -i "s,@docroot@,$$docroot,g" "$$file"; \
|
||||
done; \
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
@ -105,6 +105,7 @@
|
|||
- [Contributing](contributing/contributing.md)
|
||||
- [Hacking](contributing/hacking.md)
|
||||
- [Testing](contributing/testing.md)
|
||||
- [Documentation](contributing/documentation.md)
|
||||
- [Experimental Features](contributing/experimental-features.md)
|
||||
- [CLI guideline](contributing/cli-guideline.md)
|
||||
- [C++ style guide](contributing/cxx.md)
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
@ -1 +1,8 @@
|
|||
# Contributing
|
||||
# Development
|
||||
|
||||
Nix is developed on GitHub.
|
||||
Check the [contributing guide](https://github.com/NixOS/nix/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md) if you want to get involved.
|
||||
|
||||
This chapter is a collection of guides for making changes to the code and documentation.
|
||||
|
||||
If you're not sure where to start, try to [compile Nix from source](./hacking.md) and consider [making improvements to documentation](./documentation.md).
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
181
doc/manual/src/contributing/documentation.md
Normal file
181
doc/manual/src/contributing/documentation.md
Normal file
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
|
|||
# Contributing documentation
|
||||
|
||||
Improvements to documentation are very much appreciated, and a good way to start out with contributing to Nix.
|
||||
|
||||
This is how you can help:
|
||||
- Address [open issues with documentation](https://github.com/NixOS/nix/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3Adocumentation)
|
||||
- Review [pull requests concerning documentation](https://github.com/NixOS/nix/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Aopen+label%3Adocumentation)
|
||||
|
||||
Incremental refactorings of the documentation build setup to make it faster or easier to understand and maintain are also welcome.
|
||||
|
||||
## Building the manual
|
||||
|
||||
Build the manual from scratch:
|
||||
|
||||
```console
|
||||
nix-build $(nix-instantiate)'!doc'
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
or
|
||||
|
||||
```console
|
||||
nix build .#^doc
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
and open `./result-doc/share/doc/nix/manual/index.html`.
|
||||
|
||||
To build the manual incrementally, [enter the development shell](./hacking.md) and run:
|
||||
|
||||
```console
|
||||
make manual-html -j $NIX_BUILD_CORES
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
and open `./outputs/out/share/doc/nix/manual/language/index.html`.
|
||||
|
||||
In order to reflect changes to the [Makefile for the manual], clear all generated files before re-building:
|
||||
|
||||
[Makefile for the manual]: https://github.com/NixOS/nix/blob/master/doc/manual/local.mk
|
||||
|
||||
```console
|
||||
rm $(git ls-files doc/manual/ -o | grep -F '.md') && rmdir doc/manual/src/command-ref/new-cli && make manual-html -j $NIX_BUILD_CORES
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
## Style guide
|
||||
|
||||
The goal of this style guide is to make it such that
|
||||
- The manual is easy to search and skim for relevant information
|
||||
- Documentation sources are easy to edit
|
||||
- Changes to documentation are easy to review
|
||||
|
||||
You will notice that this is not implemented consistently yet.
|
||||
Please follow the guide when making additions or changes to existing documentation.
|
||||
Do not make sweeping changes, unless they are programmatic and can be validated easily.
|
||||
|
||||
### Language
|
||||
|
||||
This manual is [reference documentation](https://diataxis.fr/reference/).
|
||||
The typical usage pattern is to look up isolated pieces of information.
|
||||
It should therefore aim to be correct, consistent, complete, and easy to navigate at a glance.
|
||||
|
||||
- Aim for clarity and brevity.
|
||||
|
||||
Please take the time to read the [plain language guidelines](https://www.plainlanguage.gov/guidelines/) for details.
|
||||
|
||||
- Describe the subject factually.
|
||||
|
||||
In particular, do not make value judgements or recommendations.
|
||||
Check the code or add tests if in doubt.
|
||||
|
||||
- Provide complete, minimal examples, and explain them.
|
||||
|
||||
Readers should be able to try examples verbatim and get the same results as shown in the manual.
|
||||
Always describe in words what a given example does.
|
||||
|
||||
Non-trivial examples may need additional explanation, especially if they use concepts from outside the given context.
|
||||
|
||||
- Use British English.
|
||||
|
||||
This is a somewhat arbitrary choice to force consistency, and accounts for the fact that a majority of Nix users and developers are from Europe.
|
||||
|
||||
### Links and anchors
|
||||
|
||||
Reference documentation must be readable in arbitrary order.
|
||||
Readers cannot be expected to have any particular prerequisite knowledge about Nix.
|
||||
While the table of contents can provide guidance and full-text search can help, they are most likely to find what they need by following sensible cross-references.
|
||||
|
||||
- Link to technical terms
|
||||
|
||||
When mentioning Nix-specific concepts, commands, options, settings, etc., link to appropriate documentation.
|
||||
Also link to external tools or concepts, especially if their meaning may be ambiguous.
|
||||
You may also want to link to definitions of less common technical terms.
|
||||
|
||||
Then readers won't have to actively search for definitions and are more likely to discover relevant information on their own.
|
||||
|
||||
> **Note**
|
||||
>
|
||||
> `man` and `--help` pages don't display links.
|
||||
> Use appropriate link texts such that readers of terminal output can infer search terms.
|
||||
|
||||
- Do not break existing URLs between releases.
|
||||
|
||||
There are countless links in the wild pointing to old versions of the manual.
|
||||
We want people to find up-to-date documentation when following popular advice.
|
||||
|
||||
- When moving files, update [redirects on nixos.org](https://github.com/NixOS/nixos-homepage/blob/master/netlify.toml).
|
||||
|
||||
This is especially important when moving information out of the Nix manual to other resources.
|
||||
|
||||
- When changing anchors, update [client-side redirects](https://github.com/NixOS/nix/blob/master/doc/manual/redirects.js)
|
||||
|
||||
The current setup is cumbersome, and help making better automation is appreciated.
|
||||
|
||||
The build checks for broken internal links with.
|
||||
This happens late in the process, so [building the whole manual](#building-the-manual) is not suitable for iterating quickly.
|
||||
[`mdbook-linkcheck`] does not implement checking [URI fragments] yet.
|
||||
|
||||
[`mdbook-linkcheck`]: https://github.com/Michael-F-Bryan/mdbook-linkcheck
|
||||
[URI fragments]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/URI_fragment
|
||||
|
||||
### Markdown conventions
|
||||
|
||||
The manual is written in markdown, and rendered with [mdBook](https://github.com/rust-lang/mdBook) for the web and with [lowdown](https://github.com/kristapsdz/lowdown) for `man` pages and `--help` output.
|
||||
|
||||
For supported markdown features, refer to:
|
||||
- [mdBook documentation](https://rust-lang.github.io/mdBook/format/markdown.html)
|
||||
- [lowdown documentation](https://kristaps.bsd.lv/lowdown/)
|
||||
|
||||
Please observe these guidelines to ease reviews:
|
||||
|
||||
- Write one sentence per line.
|
||||
|
||||
This makes long sentences immediately visible, and makes it easier to review changes and make direct suggestions.
|
||||
|
||||
- Use reference links – sparingly – to ease source readability.
|
||||
Put definitions close to their first use.
|
||||
|
||||
Example:
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
A [store object] contains a [file system object] and [references] to other store objects.
|
||||
|
||||
[store object]: @docroot@/glossary.md#gloss-store-object
|
||||
[file system object]: @docroot@/architecture/file-system-object.md
|
||||
[references]: @docroot@/glossary.md#gloss-reference
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
- Use admonitions of the following form:
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
> **Note**
|
||||
>
|
||||
> This is a note.
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### The `@docroot@` variable
|
||||
|
||||
`@docroot@` provides a base path for links that occur in reusable snippets or other documentation that doesn't have a base path of its own.
|
||||
|
||||
If a broken link occurs in a snippet that was inserted into multiple generated files in different directories, use `@docroot@` to reference the `doc/manual/src` directory.
|
||||
|
||||
If the `@docroot@` literal appears in an error message from the [`mdbook-linkcheck`] tool, the `@docroot@` replacement needs to be applied to the generated source file that mentions it.
|
||||
See existing `@docroot@` logic in the [Makefile for the manual].
|
||||
Regular markdown files used for the manual have a base path of their own and they can use relative paths instead of `@docroot@`.
|
||||
|
||||
## API documentation
|
||||
|
||||
[Doxygen API documentation] is available online.
|
||||
You can also build and view it yourself:
|
||||
|
||||
[Doxygen API documentation]: https://hydra.nixos.org/job/nix/master/internal-api-docs/latest/download-by-type/doc/internal-api-docs
|
||||
|
||||
```console
|
||||
# nix build .#hydraJobs.internal-api-docs
|
||||
# xdg-open ./result/share/doc/nix/internal-api/html/index.html
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
or inside `nix-shell` or `nix develop`:
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
# make internal-api-html
|
||||
# xdg-open ./outputs/doc/share/doc/nix/internal-api/html/index.html
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
|
@ -220,54 +220,3 @@ Configure your editor to use the `clangd` from the shell, either by running it i
|
|||
> For some editors (e.g. Visual Studio Code), you may need to install a [special extension](https://open-vsx.org/extension/llvm-vs-code-extensions/vscode-clangd) for the editor to interact with `clangd`.
|
||||
> Some other editors (e.g. Emacs, Vim) need a plugin to support LSP servers in general (e.g. [lsp-mode](https://github.com/emacs-lsp/lsp-mode) for Emacs and [vim-lsp](https://github.com/prabirshrestha/vim-lsp) for vim).
|
||||
> Editor-specific setup is typically opinionated, so we will not cover it here in more detail.
|
||||
|
||||
### Checking links in the manual
|
||||
|
||||
The build checks for broken internal links.
|
||||
This happens late in the process, so `nix build` is not suitable for iterating.
|
||||
To build the manual incrementally, run:
|
||||
|
||||
```console
|
||||
make manual-html -j $NIX_BUILD_CORES
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
In order to reflect changes to the [Makefile], clear all generated files before re-building:
|
||||
|
||||
[Makefile]: https://github.com/NixOS/nix/blob/master/doc/manual/local.mk
|
||||
|
||||
```console
|
||||
rm $(git ls-files doc/manual/ -o | grep -F '.md') && rmdir doc/manual/src/command-ref/new-cli && make html -j $NIX_BUILD_CORES
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
[`mdbook-linkcheck`] does not implement checking [URI fragments] yet.
|
||||
|
||||
[`mdbook-linkcheck`]: https://github.com/Michael-F-Bryan/mdbook-linkcheck
|
||||
[URI fragments]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/URI_fragment
|
||||
|
||||
#### `@docroot@` variable
|
||||
|
||||
`@docroot@` provides a base path for links that occur in reusable snippets or other documentation that doesn't have a base path of its own.
|
||||
|
||||
If a broken link occurs in a snippet that was inserted into multiple generated files in different directories, use `@docroot@` to reference the `doc/manual/src` directory.
|
||||
|
||||
If the `@docroot@` literal appears in an error message from the `mdbook-linkcheck` tool, the `@docroot@` replacement needs to be applied to the generated source file that mentions it.
|
||||
See existing `@docroot@` logic in the [Makefile].
|
||||
Regular markdown files used for the manual have a base path of their own and they can use relative paths instead of `@docroot@`.
|
||||
|
||||
## API documentation
|
||||
|
||||
Doxygen API documentation is [available
|
||||
online](https://hydra.nixos.org/job/nix/master/internal-api-docs/latest/download-by-type/doc/internal-api-docs). You
|
||||
can also build and view it yourself:
|
||||
|
||||
```console
|
||||
# nix build .#hydraJobs.internal-api-docs
|
||||
# xdg-open ./result/share/doc/nix/internal-api/html/index.html
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
or inside a `nix develop` shell by running:
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
# make internal-api-html
|
||||
# xdg-open ./outputs/doc/share/doc/nix/internal-api/html/index.html
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
Loading…
Reference in a new issue