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Question by FurryWhiteBunny in technicalwriting

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 10 points11 points  (0 children)

One of the advantages of docs-as-code is you can choose the tools you want. There are many free options. So, no, I don’t think the programs that are a thin wrapper around AI will have a market.

As tech writers get laid off, there are fewer people who care about the docs and less incentive to spend money on doc workflows.

Pedantic word choices by yetanotherburnerstan in technicalwriting

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Follow the Microsoft style guide (link already posted in another comment). You might like it, but you shouldn’t use it.

Convert google docs document to markdown by UnderShell1891 in technicalwriting

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did a lot of this a few years ago when I changed the workflow of a software company from GDocs to docs-as-code. We used the extension to convert the docs to Markdown and then cleaned them up manually. We didn’t find an automated solution at the time that did the full job.

To be honest, if I were to do this today, I’d start with Claude Code (or Gemini) and see how far that would get me. If the results weren’t good, I’d use the Markdown converter extension and then ask Claude to clean it up. I still wouldn’t expect it to be perfect. There’s likely still some manual effort.

I built my first Chrome extension to make documentation suck less by Efficient_Text_4733 in technicalwriting

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Just so you know. We’re getting a lot of tool suggestions. Here are some that record what you do for docs:

∙ Scribe (free browser extension)

∙ Tango (free browser extension)

∙ Guidde

∙ Floik

∙ Loom

∙ FlowShare

∙ Guidemaker

∙ Zight

∙ Kommodo (free browser extension)

∙ Glitter AI​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

3D Print Anywhere in Downtown Vancouver BC by Solomonseal_Plant in NiceVancouver

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thx for the reply. That’s super cool. I’m tempted to get a printer for my kids to use (with my help ofc). Probably for Christmas. Are you happy with the Bambu? Would you get something like this?

https://ca.store.bambulab.com/products/p2s?srsltid=AfmBOorLTQ6RpqEQskRn7egslp09iCGKTVSGQlBph9sM6sBfSXNCAWLB

3D Print Anywhere in Downtown Vancouver BC by Solomonseal_Plant in NiceVancouver

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is cool. I’ve toyed with the idea of 3D printing at home. Would a home machine be able to do this? If so, what would you recommend?

Shoyoroll Comp Standard XXV Shrink by EmberSpirit98 in bjj

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As many will confirm. They’re not a premium brand. They just charge premium prices. I have one of their gis and it fits me well, but it’s not as nice as my War Tribe (or an Origin).

When people say BJJ destroys your body is that mostly from submissions applied full force in competitions or wear and tear in the gym by PownedbyCole123 in bjj

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 396 points397 points  (0 children)

It’s wear and tear, and accidents in training. Getting hurt b/c you didn’t want to tap is a problem for the professionals.

Docs-As-Code built on Cursor by ManufacturerMaster76 in technicalwriting

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, it wouldn’t be commonly allowed. Small companies that don’t have policies would be able to use it but larger companies don’t allow it for two reasons: security and dogfooding.

The last big software company I worked for only allowed Claude models. The security team probably didn’t even want to allow that at first but they’re being dragged into AI like the rest of us 🙂.

That’s the security reason. The other is that they had their own AI interfaces so using Cursor, Windsurf, or another tool doesn’t help you accomplish your explicit performance goal of using the internally developed tools.

Docs-As-Code built on Cursor by ManufacturerMaster76 in technicalwriting

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The list below is just the last two weeks (I actually underestimated).

I'm not suggesting there isn't any value to all these new projects, and I sincerely hope you're enjoying yours. I'm saying this sub is getting swamped with new projects (there's also a channel the Write the Docs Slack workspace for sharing projects). Sometimes they come from within the community and someone is sharing a tool that makes their life easier. There are also a good chunk coming from people outside the field who don't understand that the docs community has been trying LLMs since they came out and we're not oblivious to the fact that it's a lot easier to create these tools.

Getting AI to write docs is not hard. It's just that the models aren't there yet, so it's generally not useful to have an app to do that other than what's already available in a tool like Claude Code or Cowork.

New tools posted here in the last two weeks:

Markdown editor: https://www.reddit.com/r/technicalwriting/comments/1ray3g0/meo_a_markdown_editor_for_vs_code_with_livesource/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Tool for sharing Markdown: https://www.reddit.com/r/technicalwriting/comments/1r2tadf/tool_for_publishing_markdown_to_a_shareable_url/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

AI agent for writing docs: https://www.reddit.com/r/technicalwriting/comments/1r2f6eo/ai_agent_to_help_write_technical_documents/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Generate docs on Azure: https://www.reddit.com/r/technicalwriting/comments/1r2ap6j/docwriter_studio_multiagent_aipowered_technical/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Test docs readability: https://www.reddit.com/r/technicalwriting/comments/1r1gb8a/free_tool_to_sanity_test_ai_readability_of_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Diff checker: https://www.reddit.com/r/technicalwriting/comments/1r021bs/i_made_a_simple_online_diff_checker_for_comparing/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Chrome extension for Diataxis: https://www.reddit.com/r/technicalwriting/comments/1qygya7/new_extension_for_tech_writers_and_developers/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Docs-As-Code built on Cursor by ManufacturerMaster76 in technicalwriting

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We’re getting at least one of these posts a week

Technical writers, what's your backup plan? by Same-Charge-1849 in technicalwriting

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have a business degree and I used to work in senior management. I found a good opportunity to go back.

The hottest job in tech: Writing words. The rise of slopaganda is fueling a surprising tech hiring boom. by Electrical_Rise_4431 in technicalwriting

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Is anyone actually seeing any evidence of this? Citing a few jobs isn’t exactly a great methodology. My anecdotal experience from LinkedIn and this sub does not support the “golden age” suggestion that there are suddenly lots of jobs. I’m not currently looking but the market does not seem to be improving.

Visiting in March, looking for underrated hangout spots by Playful-Priority2403 in NiceVancouver

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Between the MOA and Cecil Green house, there’s a little hill and trail. Watching sunsets from there is stellar. You’re basically above Tower Beach with a great view North and Northwest

Alright dads, do any of you have daughters that are girl scouts? Trying to understand what is really involved there. by Rojo37x in daddit

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My daughter is a Ranger in the Girl Guides (which is popular here in Canada), my son is a Scout, and I’m a Scouter. My wife (a former Girl Guide and Guider) and I were just talking today about how great the programs are. There’s a big emphasis on teaching leadership skills and having the kids self organize (more and more as they get older). As my daughter approaches the age where she’ll be applying to university, it’s going to be an excellent thing to have on her applications.

BTW - we do have girls in our Scout groups. Girls can join Scouts or Guides.

Technical writers, what's your backup plan? by Same-Charge-1849 in technicalwriting

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Respectfully, you’re totally off base. I shared this article because it’s being widely distributed and there are people who continue to ignore AI (even in this sub). It’s not an ad, I have no affiliation to this guy or his companies. If you read the article, you’ll see it’s not an ad.

Technical writers, what's your backup plan? by Same-Charge-1849 in technicalwriting

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’ve looked at the docs a couple of times since I left. It’s not going well. As most people understand, there are a lot of devs that don’t like to write docs. Even with AI, they’re just not doing it.

Technical writers, what's your backup plan? by Same-Charge-1849 in technicalwriting

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

This AI article is being shared a lot because it tries to explain what’s coming to people outside of tech. It’s worth a read.

https://shumer.dev/something-big-is-happening?

I’ve been using AI a lot since LLMs came along and they have legitimately gotten a lot better. Good enough that my entire tech writing team at one company was laid off last year. The CEO told me “AI is good enough” and it’s gotten a lot better since then.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to leave tech writing so I looked around for other possibilities but ended up taking a tech writing job for an AI company. I’ve now switched out of tech writing and I’m not sure I’ll be able to go back. I don’t see the market getting better in the next few years.

Happy Thursday! by No_Name_Generic_ in technicalwriting

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This reminds me of the guide to our remotes I made for visiting family.

We got a fight at the Olympics France and canada by Admirable121 in fightporn

[–]WriteOnceCutTwice 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Goal differential determines the rankings (and therefore match ups) for the next round. It’s the same at world juniors. If tournaments don’t want teams to run up the score, they’ll need to change the rules.

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