Commit b883e4cd authored by Suzanne Selhorn's avatar Suzanne Selhorn Committed by Diana Logan

Updated language to focus on content rather than topics

parent 81e12628
......@@ -7,37 +7,40 @@ description: What to include in GitLab documentation pages.
# Documentation topic types
At GitLab, we have not traditionally used topic types. However, we are starting to
move in this direction, and we now use four topic types:
At GitLab, we have not traditionally used types for our content. However, we are starting to
move in this direction, and we now use four primary topic types:
- [Concept](#concept)
- [Task](#task)
- [Reference](#reference)
- [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting)
Each page contains multiple topic types. For example,
a page with the title `Pipelines`, which is generated from a file called `index.md`,
can include a concept and multiple task and reference topics.
In general, each page in our docset contains multiple topics. (Each heading indicates a new topic.)
Each topic on a page should be a specific topic type. For example,
a page with the title `Pipelines` can include topics that are concepts and tasks.
A page might also contain only one type of information. These pages are generally one of our
[other content types](#other-types-of-content).
## Concept
A concept topic introduces a single feature or concept.
A concept introduces a single feature or concept.
A concept should answer the questions:
- What is this?
- Why would I use it?
Think of everything someone might want to know if they've never heard of this topic before.
Think of everything someone might want to know if they've never heard of this concept before.
Don't tell them **how** to do this thing. Tell them **what it is**.
If you start describing another topic, start a new concept and link to it.
If you start describing another concept, start a new concept and link to it.
Also, do not use "Overview" or "Introduction" for the topic title. Instead,
Also, do not use **Overview** or **Introduction** for the title. Instead,
use a noun or phrase that someone would search for.
Concept topics should be in this format:
Concepts should be in this format:
```markdown
# Title (a noun, like "Widgets")
......@@ -47,14 +50,14 @@ A paragraph that explains what this thing is.
Another paragraph that explains what this thing is.
Remember, if you start to describe about another concept, stop yourself.
Each concept topic should be about one concept only.
Each concept should be about one concept only.
```
## Task
A task topic gives instructions for how to complete a procedure.
A task gives instructions for how to complete a procedure.
Task topics should be in this format:
Tasks should be in this format:
```markdown
# Title (starts with an active verb, like "Create a widget" or "Delete a widget")
......@@ -89,20 +92,21 @@ Prerequisites:
To create an issue:
1. Go to **Issues > List**.
1. In the top right, select **New issue**.
1. Complete the fields. (If you have a reference topic that lists each field, link to it here.)
1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Projects** and find your project.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Issues > List**.
1. In the top right corner, select **New issue**.
1. Complete the fields. (If you have reference content that lists each field, link to it here.)
1. Select **Create issue**.
The issue is created. You can view it by going to **Issues > List**.
```
If you have several tasks on a page that share prerequisites, you can make a
reference topic with the title **Prerequisites**, and link to it.
If you have several tasks on a page that share prerequisites, you can use the title
**Prerequisites**, and link to it.
## Reference
A reference topic provides information in an easily-scannable format,
Reference information should be in an easily-scannable format,
like a table or list. It's similar to a dictionary or encyclopedia entry.
```markdown
......@@ -115,18 +119,18 @@ Introductory sentence.
| **Name** | Descriptive sentence about the setting. |
```
If a feature or concept has its own prerequisites, you can use the reference
topic type to create a **Prerequisites** header for the information.
If a feature or concept has its own prerequisites, you can use reference
content to create a **Prerequisites** header for the information.
## Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting topics can be one of two categories:
Troubleshooting can be one of two categories:
- **Troubleshooting task.** This topic is written the same as a [standard task topic](#task).
- **Troubleshooting task.** This information is written the same way as a [standard task](#task).
For example, "Run debug tools" or "Verify syntax."
- **Troubleshooting reference.** This topic has a specific format.
- **Troubleshooting reference.** This information has a specific format.
Troubleshooting reference topics should be in this format:
Troubleshooting reference information should be in this format:
```markdown
# Title (the error message or a description of it)
......@@ -138,104 +142,24 @@ This issue occurs when...
The workaround is...
```
For the topic title:
For the heading:
- Consider including at least a partial error message in the title.
- Consider including at least a partial error message.
- Use fewer than 70 characters.
Remember to include the complete error message in the topics content if it is
not complete in the title.
## Other information on a topic
Topics include other information.
For example:
- Each topic must have a [tier badge](styleguide/index.md#product-tier-badges).
- New topics must have information about the
[GitLab version where the feature was introduced](styleguide/index.md#where-to-put-version-text).
### Help and feedback section
This section ([introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-docs/-/merge_requests/319) in GitLab 11.4)
is displayed at the end of each document and can be omitted by adding a key into
the front matter:
```yaml
---
feedback: false
---
```
The default is to leave it there. If you want to omit it from a document, you
must check with a technical writer before doing so.
#### Disqus
We also have integrated the docs site with Disqus (introduced by
[!151](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-docs/-/merge_requests/151)),
allowing our users to post comments.
To omit only the comments from the feedback section, use the following key in
the front matter:
```yaml
---
comments: false
---
```
We're hiding comments only in main index pages, such as [the main documentation index](../../index.md),
since its content is too broad to comment on. Before omitting Disqus, you must
check with a technical writer.
Note that after adding `feedback: false` to the front matter, it will omit
Disqus, therefore, don't add both keys to the same document.
The click events in the feedback section are tracked with Google Tag Manager.
The conversions can be viewed on Google Analytics by navigating to
**Behavior > Events > Top events > docs**.
### Guidelines for good practices
> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/36576/) in GitLab 13.2 as GitLab Development documentation.
*Good practice* examples demonstrate encouraged ways of writing code while
comparing with examples of practices to avoid. These examples are labeled as
*Bad* or *Good*. In GitLab development guidelines, when presenting the cases,
it's recommended to follow a *first-bad-then-good* strategy. First demonstrate
the *Bad* practice (how things *could* be done, which is often still working
code), and then how things *should* be done better, using a *Good* example. This
is typically an improved example of the same code.
Consider the following guidelines when offering examples:
- First, offer the *Bad* example, and then the *Good* one.
- When only one bad case and one good case is given, use the same code block.
- When more than one bad case or one good case is offered, use separated code
blocks for each. With many examples being presented, a clear separation helps
the reader to go directly to the good part. Consider offering an explanation
(for example, a comment, or a link to a resource) on why something is bad
practice.
- Better and best cases can be considered part of the good case(s) code block.
In the same code block, precede each with comments: `# Better` and `# Best`.
Although the bad-then-good approach is acceptable for the GitLab development
guidelines, do not use it for user documentation. For user documentation, use
*Do* and *Don't*. For examples, see the [Pajamas Design System](https://design.gitlab.com/content/punctuation/).
If you do not put the full error in the title, include it in the body text.
## Other types of content
There are other types of content in the GitLab documentation that don't
classify as one of the four [topic types](#documentation-topic-types).
classify as one of the four primary [topic types](#documentation-topic-types).
These include:
- [Tutorials](#tutorials)
- [Get started pages](#get-started)
- [Topics and resources pages](#topics-and-resources-pages)
In most cases, these content types are on their own standalone page.
In most cases, these pages are standalone.
### Tutorials
......@@ -315,10 +239,78 @@ or you have to create one, use this format:
Brief sentence to describe the feature.
The following topics and resources can help you understand and work with this feature:
Refer to these resources for more information about <this feature>:
- Link 1
- Link 2
- Link 3
```
## Help and feedback section
This section ([introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-docs/-/merge_requests/319) in GitLab 11.4)
is displayed at the end of each document and can be omitted by adding a key into
the front matter:
```yaml
---
feedback: false
---
```
The default is to leave it there. If you want to omit it from a document, you
must check with a technical writer before doing so.
### Disqus
We also have integrated the docs site with Disqus (introduced by
[!151](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-docs/-/merge_requests/151)),
allowing our users to post comments.
To omit only the comments from the feedback section, use the following key in
the front matter:
```yaml
---
comments: false
---
```
We're hiding comments only in main index pages, such as [the main documentation index](../../index.md),
since its content is too broad to comment on. Before omitting Disqus, you must
check with a technical writer.
Note that after adding `feedback: false` to the front matter, it will omit
Disqus, therefore, don't add both keys to the same document.
The click events in the feedback section are tracked with Google Tag Manager.
The conversions can be viewed on Google Analytics by navigating to
**Behavior > Events > Top events > docs**.
## Guidelines for good practices
> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/36576/) in GitLab 13.2 as GitLab Development documentation.
*Good practice* examples demonstrate encouraged ways of writing code while
comparing with examples of practices to avoid. These examples are labeled as
*Bad* or *Good*. In GitLab development guidelines, when presenting the cases,
it's recommended to follow a *first-bad-then-good* strategy. First demonstrate
the *Bad* practice (how things *could* be done, which is often still working
code), and then how things *should* be done better, using a *Good* example. This
is typically an improved example of the same code.
Consider the following guidelines when offering examples:
- First, offer the *Bad* example, and then the *Good* one.
- When only one bad case and one good case is given, use the same code block.
- When more than one bad case or one good case is offered, use separated code
blocks for each. With many examples being presented, a clear separation helps
the reader to go directly to the good part. Consider offering an explanation
(for example, a comment, or a link to a resource) on why something is bad
practice.
- Better and best cases can be considered part of the good case(s) code block.
In the same code block, precede each with comments: `# Better` and `# Best`.
Although the bad-then-good approach is acceptable for the GitLab development
guidelines, do not use it for user documentation. For user documentation, use
*Do* and *Don't*. For examples, see the [Pajamas Design System](https://design.gitlab.com/content/punctuation/).
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