AI Code Documentation Workflow
Generate documentation that matches the code instead of drifting from it — have AI explain what the code really does, write it up as structured docs, then validate the format holds.
The problem
Generated docs have a credibility problem: the model writes confident documentation for what it assumes the code does, and the gap between that and reality is where docs go to die. Documentation is only worth having if it matches the code — and stays matching. The reliable approach grounds the writing in an actual explanation of the code first, structures it as real docs rather than prose, and checks the output format so it slots into your docs site instead of needing a cleanup pass.
Recommended workflow
Each step uses an existing NewPrompt tool, pre-filled by a matching resource. Open the resource to read it, or jump straight into the tool with the inputs ready.
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Explain what the code really does
Before documenting anything, get a grounded explanation of the code's actual behavior — inputs, outputs, side effects — so the docs describe reality, not an assumption.
Goal An accurate read of the code to document from.
Open this step in Code Explanation Prompt -
Write it up as structured docs
Turn the explanation into proper documentation — overview, usage, parameters, examples — in a consistent markdown structure, not a wall of prose.
Goal Structured docs that match the code's behavior.
Open this step in Markdown Output BuilderResource README Prompt Template -
Validate the format holds
Check the markdown structure — headings, code blocks, sections — so the output drops into your docs without a manual fixup.
Goal Docs that are structurally valid and ready to publish.
Open this step in AI Output ValidatorResource Validate Markdown StructureTool AI Output Validator
Expected outcome
Documentation that reflects what the code actually does and lands in a clean, consistent structure — ready to publish instead of needing a rewrite, and grounded enough to trust.
Best for
- Documenting code that has little or none
- Writing a README or API docs from existing code
- Keeping docs structurally consistent
Not for
- Explaining code to yourself — the Code Explanation Prompt alone is enough
- Getting up to speed on a codebase — use the AI Codebase Onboarding Workflow
FAQ
How is this different from the Code Explanation Prompt?
Explanation is step one. This turns that understanding into published documentation — structured, formatted, and validated — rather than a one-time explanation you read and close.
Why explain before documenting?
Because documentation written from assumptions documents the assumptions. Grounding the docs in an actual explanation of the code is what keeps them from confidently describing behavior the code doesn't have.
Does it keep my code private?
Yes. Every tool runs in your browser and only generates prompts; you run them against your own AI. Nothing is uploaded.