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API & SDK Documentation

API & SDK Documentation

Why API Documentation Matters​

That’s a fact: the global API market continues to expand rapidly.

Read the market report of the Persistence Market Research.

The report highlights key trends such as:

  • Expansion of biotech APIs and green chemistry practices
  • Growth in cloud-based API platforms for scalability and flexibility
  • Increasing adoption of AI-powered APIs for predictive analytics and automation

This momentum confirms what technical writers and developer advocates already know: APIs are no longer just backend tools — they’re strategic assets. And with that, the need for clear, actionable documentation is more important than ever.

It’s not just your technical brilliance that sets you apart — it’s your ability to explain how to integrate your API quickly and easily.
Developer time is precious. Give them what they need: detailed information, sample code, and a smooth onboarding experience.

That’s where the technical writer steps in. And yes — our cost is often lower than that of a developer, while our impact is just as critical.

Tools & Styles for API Documentation​

While AI offers fresh ways to support API and SDK documentation (see below) — from parsing codebases to drafting first-pass reference content — the foundation still lies in documenting according to the technical specifications of the code itself. Traditional approaches like ReDoc, Javadoc, or Doxygen remain essential for structured, maintainable, and developer-friendly documentation.

  • ReDoc generates interactive and elegant documentation from OpenAPI/Swagger files, making REST endpoints easier to navigate and understand.
  • Javadoc works directly in Java source code, allowing developers to embed documentation inline.
  • Doxygen supports C++, Python, and more, automatically generating readable HTML from annotated comments.
  • The richer and more purposeful the comments, the better the output. Documentation isn’t just generated — it’s designed.
  • Templates can enhance visual presentation, ensuring consistency across products or teams.

What AI can’t replace is the writer’s judgment: knowing when to summarize, when to detail, and how to guide the user journey. Whether using modern tooling or emerging automation, it's still all about helping developers connect with your product confidently — and quickly.

Note that Docusaurus offers a ReDoc plugin allowing you to integrate and display your OpenAPI specification directly in the documentation site. 👇

Displaying OpenAPI Docs with ReDoc in Docusaurus​

For teams using Docusaurus 🦖 to build developer portals, ReDoc offers a seamless way to integrate OpenAPI documentation.

Through plugins like Redocusaurus, you can render interactive API reference pages directly from your OpenAPI YAML or JSON files — all within your existing site structure.

The result? Clean, responsive documentation that matches your site's look and feel, supports dark mode, and requires no custom frontend coding. Whether you're documenting a RESTful API or a microservice suite, ReDoc helps developers explore endpoints, parameters, and responses with clarity and ease.

Using AI in API & SDK Documentation​

AI is becoming a valuable ally for technical writers documenting APIs and SDKs. It can assist with parsing large codebases to identify method definitions, parameters, and return values — especially helpful when working with evolving repositories. For example, AI-powered tools can auto-generate first-pass reference content, suggest consistent terminology, or flag missing documentation.

One increasingly helpful use case is code snippet generation. AI can produce ready-to-use examples in multiple programming languages based on an API specification — illustrating how to make a call, pass parameters, or handle responses.
This is a huge timesaver, especially when a product supports several SDKs and the same use case needs to be documented in Python, JavaScript, and C#. Writers can then refine these snippets and add context, improving accessibility and comprehension for developers at different skill levels.

It’s not about replacing the writer — it’s about accelerating the routine tasks, so we can focus on crafting high-quality tutorials, conceptual guides, and collaborative workflows that make your API not just usable, but truly developer-friendly.

Services​

See my Services in API & SDK Documentation

©Author: Florence Venisse, STW – Reviewed version of 07/23/2025.