API Documentation Writer Skill

Overview

This skill helps you create clear, comprehensive API documentation that developers love. Covers OpenAPI/Swagger specifications, endpoint references, authentication guides, code examples in multiple languages, and developer experience best practices.

Documentation Philosophy

The Three C's

1. Clear: Unambiguous, jargon-free explanations
2. Complete: All parameters, responses, and edge cases documented
3. Current: Always in sync with the actual API behavior

What to Document

• DO: Document every public endpoint
• DO: Include request/response examples for all scenarios
• DO: Document error codes with remediation steps
• DO: Provide code examples in popular languages
• DON'T: Document internal/private endpoints
• DON'T: Assume readers know your domain
• DON'T: Let documentation drift from implementation

OpenAPI Specification

Basic Structure

# openapi.yaml
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: My API
  version: 1.0.0
  description: |
    Welcome to the My API documentation.

    ## Getting Started
    1. Sign up for an API key at [dashboard.example.com](https://dashboard.example.com)
    2. Include your key in the `Authorization` header
    3. Start making requests!

    ## Rate Limits
    - Free tier: 100 requests/minute
    - Pro tier: 1000 requests/minute
  contact:
    name: API Support
    email: api@example.com
    url: https://support.example.com
  license:
    name: MIT
    url: https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT

servers:
  - url: https://api.example.com/v1
    description: Production
  - url: https://staging-api.example.com/v1
    description: Staging

tags:
  - name: Users
    description: User management operations
  - name: Items
    description: Item CRUD operations

Endpoint Documentation

paths:
  /users:
    get:
      tags:
        - Users
      summary: List all users
      description: |
        Retrieves a paginated list of users. Results are sorted by creation date (newest first).

        **Permissions required:** `users:read`
      operationId: listUsers
      parameters:
        - name: page
          in: query
          description: Page number (1-indexed)
          required: false
          schema:
            type: integer
            minimum: 1
            default: 1
          example: 1
        - name: limit
          in: query
          description: Number of results per page (max 100)
          required: false
          schema:
            type: integer
            minimum: 1
            maximum: 100
            default: 20
          example: 20
        - name: status
          in: query
          description: Filter by user status
          required: false
          schema:
            type: string
            enum: [active, inactive, pending]
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Successful response
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/UserList'
              example:
                data:
                  - id: "usr_123"
                    email: "john@example.com"
                    name: "John Doe"
                    status: "active"
                    created_at: "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"
                meta:
                  page: 1
                  limit: 20
                  total: 150
                  total_pages: 8
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
        '403':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Forbidden'
        '429':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/RateLimited'

    post:
      tags:
        - Users
      summary: Create a new user
      description: |
        Creates a new user account. An email verification will be sent to the provided address.

        **Permissions required:** `users:write`
      operationId: createUser
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/CreateUserRequest'
            examples:
              basic:
                summary: Basic user creation
                value:
                  email: "jane@example.com"
                  name: "Jane Doe"
              with_metadata:
                summary: User with metadata
                value:
                  email: "jane@example.com"
                  name: "Jane Doe"
                  metadata:
                    department: "Engineering"
                    role: "Developer"
      responses:
        '201':
          description: User created successfully
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/User'
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/BadRequest'
        '409':
          description: User with this email already exists
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/compone

...