Learn how to automate Git History Documentation

Learn how to automate Git History Documentation

Automating the generation of API documentation and release notes from Git history helps streamline the documentation process, ensuring it remains up-to-date and accurate. Below are steps and strategies to automate this workflow.

1. Automating API Documentation Generation

Steps to Automate API Documentation:

1. Use GitHub Actions: Set up workflows to automatically generate API documentation from Git history.

2. Example Workflow:

   xxxxxxxxxx
   22
   1
   name: Generate API Documentation
   2
   on:
   3
   push:
   4
      branches:
   5
         - main
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   jobs:
   7
   generate-api-docs:
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      runs-on: ubuntu-latest
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      steps:
   10
         - name: Checkout Repository
   11
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
   12
         - name: Generate API Docs
   13
         uses: actions/github-script@v3
   14
         with:
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            script: |
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               const { context } = require('@actions/github');
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               const fs = require('fs');
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               // Example logic to generate API docs from Git history
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               const documentation = generateAPIDocs(context);
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               fs.writeFileSync('./docs/api.md', documentation);
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            outputs:
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               documentation: ${{ steps.documentation.outputs.documentation }}
   

2. Generating Release Notes from Git History

Steps to Automate Release Notes Generation:

1. Use GitHub Actions: Automate the process of generating release notes based on commit messages, pull requests, and issues.

2. Example Workflow for Release Notes:

   xxxxxxxxxx
   22
   1
   name: Generate Release Notes
   2
   on:
   3
   push:
   4
      branches:
   5
         - main
   6
   jobs:
   7
   generate-release-notes:
   8
      runs-on: ubuntu-latest
   9
      steps:
   10
         - name: Checkout Repository
   11
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
   12
         - name: Generate Release Notes
   13
         uses: actions/github-script@v3
   14
         with:
   15
            script: |
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               const { context } = require('@actions/github');
   17
               const fs = require('fs');
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               // Example logic to generate release notes from Git history
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               const releaseNotes = generateReleaseNotes(context);
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               fs.writeFileSync('./docs/release-notes.md', releaseNotes);
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            outputs:
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               releaseNotes: ${{ steps.releaseNotes.outputs.releaseNotes }}
   

3. Including Git History in Release Documentation

To include Git history in release documentation:

1. Combine Release Notes and Git History: Use Git commands to fetch commit history for a specific release and merge it with the release notes.

2. Example Workflow:

   xxxxxxxxxx
   27
   1
   name: Integrate Release Documentation
   2
   on:
   3
   push:
   4
      branches:
   5
         - main
   6
   jobs:
   7
   integrate-docs:
   8
      runs-on: ubuntu-latest
   9
      steps:
   10
         - name: Checkout Repository
   11
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
   12
         - name: Fetch Git History
   13
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
   14
         with:
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            ref: <release-commit-hash>
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         - name: Combine Release Notes with Git History
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         uses: actions/github-script@v3
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         with:
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            script: |
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               const { context } = require('@actions/github');
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               const fs = require('fs');
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               const gitHistory = getGitHistory(context);
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               const releaseDocs = fs.readFileSync('./docs/release-notes.md', 'utf8');
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   `             const combinedDocs = `$ ```{releaseDocs}\n\n${gitHistory}``` `; `
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               fs.writeFileSync('./docs/complete-release-notes.md', combinedDocs);
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            outputs:
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               combinedDocs: ${{ steps.combinedDocs.outputs.combinedDocs }}
   

4. Integrating Release Notes into Documentation Pipeline

1. Use a Documentation Pipeline: Automate publishing of release documentation to a dedicated documentation site or Wiki.

2. Example Workflow for Publishing:

   xxxxxxxxxx
   15
   1
   name: Publish Documentation
   2
   on:
   3
   push:
   4
      branches:
   5
         - main
   6
   jobs:
   7
   publish-docs:
   8
      runs-on: ubuntu-latest
   9
      steps:
   10
         - name: Checkout Repository
   11
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
   12
         - name: Publish Docs
   13
         uses: actions/gh-pages@v3
   14
         with:
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            path: ./docs/
   

5. Automating Documentation Publishing

1. Automated Deployment: Deploy documentation (API docs, release notes) to a web server or GitHub Pages.

2. Continuous Updates: Ensure documentation is updated with each release or change pushed to the repository.

6. Benefits of Automating Documentation

1. Efficiency: Automates the process of generating and maintaining documentation, reducing manual effort.

2. Accuracy: Ensures documentation is always in sync with the latest codebase.

3. Consistency: Uniform formatting and structure across documentation.

4. Version Control: Easily track changes and updates across different documentation versions.

Summary

By automating documentation generation and publishing, teams can significantly enhance collaboration, maintain up-to-date content, and reduce the risk of outdated documentation.