PAVEMENT VIEWS

This article highlights three common documentation errors: explaining what users already know, detailing things they can't control, and failing to explain non-obvious yet crucial information. It stresses that such "noise" frustrates users, increases costs, and indicates a fundamental failure to prioritize user needs in documentation.

Stop documenting basic tasks! Your microwave manual nails it: 80% cooking, 20% how-to. Software docs often flip this, acting as a band-aid for bad UI. Focus on complex "secondary scenarios" and let friction-free design speak for itself. Documentation isn't a safety net; it's a tactical weapon. Use its limited ammo wisely, or it's just noise.

When someone complains about poor documentation, they’re usually looking for something that isn’t a straightforward process.