Documentation Consistency Skill
This skill ensures project documentation accurately reflects the current implementation.
When to Use This Skill
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After implementing a new feature
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After fixing a bug that changes behavior
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Before creating a release
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When adding or modifying configuration options
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When adding or modifying keyboard shortcuts
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When updating architecture or patterns
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When reviewing documentation quality
Documentation Update Workflow
- Identify Changed Components
After code changes, determine which documentation needs updates:
Change Type Documents to Update
New feature README.md, CHANGELOG.md
Bug fix CHANGELOG.md
Config change README.md (Configuration), CHANGELOG.md
Shortcut change README.md (Keyboard Shortcuts), CHANGELOG.md
Architecture change CLAUDE.md, possibly domain CLAUDE.md files
WebView change src/webview/CLAUDE.md, CLAUDE.md
Test pattern change src/test/CLAUDE.md
- Update Documentation in Order
CHANGELOG.md - Always update first
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Add entry under [Unreleased] section
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Use correct section (Added/Changed/Fixed/etc.)
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Include issue/PR number if applicable
README.md - If user-visible changes
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Features table if new feature
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Configuration section if settings changed
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Keyboard Shortcuts if bindings changed
CLAUDE.md - If development process affected
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Commands section if new npm scripts
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Architecture section if patterns changed
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Guidelines if best practices updated
Domain-specific docs - If specialized area changed
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src/webview/CLAUDE.md for WebView changes
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src/test/CLAUDE.md for testing changes
- Verify Consistency
Run verification checks from references/verification-checklist.md :
Version check
node -p "require('./package.json').version"
Commands check
node -p "require('./package.json').contributes.commands.map(c => c.command).join('\n')"
Config check
node -p "Object.keys(require('./package.json').contributes.configuration.properties).join('\n')"
Pre-Release Documentation Checklist
Before each release, verify:
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CHANGELOG.md has entry for new version with correct date
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All new features documented in README.md
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All changed configurations documented correctly
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All keyboard shortcuts documented with correct platforms
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Version numbers consistent across files
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No TODO items left in documentation
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Links are working
Quick Reference Commands
Check Undocumented Commands
node -e " const pkg = require('./package.json'); const fs = require('fs'); const readme = fs.readFileSync('README.md', 'utf8'); pkg.contributes.commands.forEach(cmd => { const shortName = cmd.command.replace('secondaryTerminal.', ''); if (!readme.includes(shortName)) { console.log('Undocumented:', cmd.command); } }); "
Check Undocumented Configs
node -e " const pkg = require('./package.json'); const fs = require('fs'); const readme = fs.readFileSync('README.md', 'utf8'); Object.keys(pkg.contributes.configuration.properties).forEach(key => { if (!readme.includes(key)) { console.log('Undocumented config:', key); } }); "
Check CHANGELOG Version
VERSION=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version") grep -q "## [$VERSION]" CHANGELOG.md && echo "Version documented" || echo "Version missing in CHANGELOG"
Document Structures
README.md Structure
Product Name
[Badges] Description [Hero Image]
Quick Start
Key Features
Keyboard Shortcuts
Command Palette
Configuration
Architecture
Performance
Troubleshooting
Development
Known Limitations
Privacy
Contributing
Links
License
CHANGELOG.md Entry Format
[X.Y.Z] - YYYY-MM-DD
Added
- Feature Name: Description (#issue-number)
Fixed
- Bug Name: Fix description (#issue-number)
- Technical detail if helpful
Changed
- Component Name: What changed
CLAUDE.md Structure
Development Flow
Essential Development Commands
Architecture Overview
Development Guidelines
Known Issues & Workarounds
Performance Optimization
Testing Strategy
Emergency Response
Reference Files
For detailed information, read the following reference files:
Reference Use When
references/documentation-structure.md
Understanding project documentation layout
references/verification-checklist.md
Running consistency checks
references/writing-guidelines.md
Writing or improving documentation
Common Issues and Solutions
Issue: Feature in code but not documented
Solution:
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Add feature description to README.md Key Features table
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Add CHANGELOG.md entry under appropriate section
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If architecture changed, update CLAUDE.md
Issue: Configuration default changed
Solution:
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Update README.md Configuration section
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Add CHANGELOG.md entry under Changed
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Verify package.json description matches
Issue: Keyboard shortcut modified
Solution:
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Update README.md Keyboard Shortcuts table
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Include both Mac and Win/Linux bindings
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Add CHANGELOG.md entry
Issue: Japanese docs out of sync
Solution:
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Compare README.md with docs/README_ja.md
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Update Japanese version with new content
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Consider whether domain CLAUDE.md files should be translated
Writing Style Quick Reference
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Concise: Users skim documentation
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Accurate: Match current implementation exactly
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User-centric: Focus on "how to use" not "how it works"
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Consistent: Follow existing patterns in each file
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Actionable: Include commands and examples