# Akeru.ai Documentation Style Guide

## Introduction

This guide establishes standards for creating clear, accessible, and effective documentation for the Akeru.ai project. It ensures consistency and quality across all documentation to aid both contributors and end-users.

## Table of Contents

1. [Purpose and Audience](#purpose-and-audience)
2. [Tone and Style](#tone-and-style)
3. [Document Structure](#document-structure)
4. [Writing Guidelines](#writing-guidelines)
5. [Formatting](#formatting)
6. [Language and Grammar](#language-and-grammar)
7. [Technical Content](#technical-content)
8. [Visual Content](#visual-content)
9. [Review Process](#review-process)
10. [Feedback and Updates](#feedback-and-updates)

### Purpose and Audience

- **Purpose**: Define the purpose of each document type, whether for API usage, setup instructions, or end-user operations.
- **Audience**: Identify the primary and secondary audiences, and tailor content to their technical level and needs.

### Tone and Style

- **Tone**: Use a professional, engaging tone. Opt for the active voice and present tense to keep the documentation lively and readable.
- **Inclusivity**: Ensure language is inclusive and accessible, avoiding jargon and providing explanations for technical terms.

### Document Structure

- **Headers**: Use headers to logically organize information. Begin with an introduction, follow with detailed content, and conclude with a summary or call to action.
- **Navigation**: Include a clickable table of contents in longer documents for easy navigation.

### Writing Guidelines

- **Clarity and Brevity**: Aim for concise explanations. Avoid redundant words and focus on clear, direct communication.
- **Consistency**: Use consistent terminology throughout your documentation to avoid confusion.

### Formatting

- **Highlighting Techniques**: Utilize **bold** for key terms, *italics* for emphasis, and `code` for inline code references.
- **Lists and Bullet Points**: Use bullet points for unordered lists and numbered lists for sequences or instructions.

### Language and Grammar

- **Grammar and Spelling**: Utilize tools like [Grammarly](https://www.grammarly.com/) and [Hemingway Editor](http://www.hemingwayapp.com/) to ensure correctness. Adhere to American English spelling conventions.
- **Examples and Tutorials**: Provide clear examples and detailed tutorials. Use [link to a style guide](/docs/documentation_style_guide.md) for complex topics.

### Technical Content

- **Code Examples**: Include fully tested code examples to illustrate technical explanations. Ensure they adhere to the project's coding conventions.
- **API Documentation**: Clearly detail parameters, methods, and example requests and responses for API calls.

### Visual Content

- **Screenshots and Diagrams**: Ensure screenshots are current and clearly annotated. Use diagrams to explain complex processes; tools like [Lucidchart](https://www.lucidchart.com/) or [Draw.io](https://draw.io/) can be helpful.

### Review Process

- **Peer Review**: Documentation should undergo peer review to catch errors and ensure it meets quality standards.
- **Iterative Reviews**: Regularly scheduled reviews of documentation to update and refine content.

### Feedback and Updates

- **Feedback Mechanism**: Implement a system for collecting feedback on documentation, such as a feedback form linked at the end of each document.
- **Regular Updates**: Establish a routine for regularly updating documents to reflect changes in the software and feedback from users.

