Oxc Documentation Improvement Plan (Amp)

[Boshen]

Oxc Documentation Improvement Plan

Analysis Summary

After analyzing the Oxc project documentation, several critical gaps were identified that prevent newcomers from understanding and adopting the tools effectively.

Key Issues Identified

Critical Gaps

• Missing unified "What is Oxc?" mental model - users don't understand the ecosystem relationship
• No clear installation guide covering all tools together - each tool has different installation methods
• Scattered getting started experience - no single journey from zero to productive
• Inconsistent tool maturity communication - checkmarks vs reality don't align

User Experience Problems

• No decision tree for "when to use which tool?"
• Missing migration paths from existing tools (ESLint, swc, etc.)
• Complex configuration examples without practical context
• Limited editor integration guidance
• Type-aware linting requires additional package but this is buried in docs

Proposed Documentation Improvements

Phase 1: Immediate Impact (High Priority)

1. Create Unified Onboarding Path

• New Page: /docs/guide/quick-start.md

  • 5-minute installation guide covering the entire ecosystem
  • Decision tree: "Which Oxc tools should I use?"
  • Three common scenarios: React project, TypeScript library, Node.js app
  • Before/after comparisons with existing tools

• Enhanced Landing Experience:

  • Restructure introduction.md to focus on value proposition
  • Add clear ecosystem diagram showing tool relationships
  • Include realistic project setup examples

2. Improve Tool Selection Guidance

• New Page: /docs/guide/choosing-tools.md

  • Tool maturity matrix with realistic timelines
  • "Replace vs Integrate" guidance for each tool
  • Performance comparison tables
  • Migration effort estimates

• Update Homepage:

  • Replace ambiguous checkmarks with clear maturity indicators
  • Add "Get Started with Linting" vs "Explore All Tools" paths
  • Include realistic project size recommendations

3. Streamline Installation & Setup

• Enhanced Installation Docs:

  • Single command installation for common setups
  • Platform-specific binary installation guide
  • Package manager comparison table
  • Troubleshooting section for common issues

• Configuration Quickstarts:

  • Template configurations for popular frameworks
  • Step-by-step migration from ESLint with working examples
  • Integration patterns for existing toolchains

4. Fix Tool Maturity Communication

• Update homepage feature matrix with realistic status indicators
• Add clear roadmap information for incomplete tools
• Better communicate what "alpha" and "work in progress" mean for users

Phase 2: Enhanced Experience (Medium Priority)

1. Expand Integration Examples

• New Section: /docs/guide/integrations/

  • Comprehensive editor setup guides (VSCode, Vim, etc.)
  • CI/CD examples for multiple platforms (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, etc.)
  • Build tool integration (Vite, Webpack, Rollup, etc.)
  • Monorepo configuration patterns

• Practical Examples:

  • Real-world project before/after case studies
  • Common configuration recipes
  • Performance optimization guides for large codebases

2. Create Migration Guides

• From ESLint: Complete migration guide with config converter usage
• From swc: Parser and transformer migration examples
• From Prettier: When formatter becomes available
• Type-aware setup: Clearer guidance on oxlint-tsgolint requirement

3. Enhance Learning Resources

• Progressive Learning Path:
  • "Your First Oxc Linting Setup" tutorial
  • "Advanced Configuration" guide
  • "Contributing to Oxc Rules" walkthrough
  • Architecture deep-dives for advanced users

Phase 3: Advanced Features (Lower Priority)

1. Interactive Elements

• Configuration playground/generator
• Rule explorer with live examples
• Performance calculator for project sizing

2. Community Resources

• Video tutorials and demos
• Community cookbook with patterns
• Multi-language support
• FAQ section with common issues

Current Documentation Structure Analysis

Strengths

• Comprehensive linter documentation
• Good performance benchmarks and endorsements
• Clear CLI reference
• Active maintenance with up-to-date information

Weaknesses

• No unified getting started experience
• Tool selection guidance is missing
• Installation instructions are scattered
• Editor integration is briefly mentioned but not detailed
• Type-aware linting setup is not prominent enough

Specific File Improvements Needed

Homepage (src/index.md)

• Replace feature checkmarks with clearer maturity indicators
• Add decision tree for tool selection
• Include realistic project size recommendations
• Add "Quick Start" call-to-action button

Introduction (src/docs/guide/introduction.md)

• Restructure to focus on value proposition first
• Add ecosystem relationship diagram
• Include practical setup examples
• Clarify tool maturity and production readiness

Linter Documentation (src/docs/guide/usage/linter.md)

• Move type-aware linting setup to more prominent position
• Add more integration examples
• Expand troubleshooting section
• Include performance optimization tips

New Pages Needed

• /docs/guide/quick-start.md - Unified getting started guide
• /docs/guide/choosing-tools.md - Tool selection guidance
• /docs/guide/integrations/ - Integration examples and guides
• /docs/guide/migration/ - Migration guides from existing tools

Success Metrics

Primary Goals

• Reduce time from "first visit" to "successfully linting a project"
• Increase adoption of appropriate tools for project size
• Decrease support questions about basic setup
• Improve user understanding of tool relationships

Measurable Outcomes

• Documentation page views and user flow analytics
• GitHub issues related to setup/configuration
• Community feedback and surveys
• Download/usage statistics for different tools

Next Steps

1. Immediate Actions:

   • Create quick-start guide
   • Update homepage with clearer tool status
   • Add tool selection decision tree
   • Improve installation documentation

2. Medium-term Actions:

   • Build comprehensive integration guides
   • Create migration documentation
   • Add troubleshooting sections
   • Expand editor integration docs

3. Long-term Actions:

   • Develop interactive documentation elements
   • Create video content and tutorials
   • Build community cookbook
   • Add multi-language support

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This document outlines the comprehensive plan to improve Oxc documentation for better user onboarding and adoption.