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Re:Ask HN: What is key to good technical documentation? by mooreds on Sunday September 08, 2019 @08:41AM (#20910202)
A couple of things:

* High level architecture (what pieces talk to each other, how they communicate, what they do)

* A list of 'here be dragons' areas, places where the code is gnarly

* A bug database, which will give you history of decisions

Then I'd ask the manager/product owner for a requirements document (or documents), as that should be something a non technical person can/has put together.

Frankly, though outside the scope of your question, I would also look at hiring one of the departed senior devs on a contract basis, just to ask questions of. I have offered this for the past few jobs I have left and there are times when 15 minutes of my time could save a few hours of investigation.

Re:Ask HN: What is key to good technical documentation? by ka0lin on Sunday September 08, 2019 @08:49AM (#20910240)
Is this an improvement over for example the Eclipse foundation's pile of high level architecture, bug database and here be dragons-areas?
Re:Ask HN: What is key to good technical documentation? by mooreds on Sunday September 08, 2019 @09:54AM (#20910565)
I am not sure what you mean?
Re:Ask HN: What is key to good technical documentation? by jnxx on Sunday September 08, 2019 @09:01AM (#20910304)
Good points, thank you!