21. Startup Workflow
Tier: Pro + Agency | Part: Company Workflow Simulations
The Startup Documentation Challenge
Startups face unique pressures: ship fast, iterate constantly, small team, limited time.
Lean Documentation Process
Document as You Build
- Write documentation in the same sprint as the feature
- Use the API spec as your starting point
- Keep docs minimal but complete
Priority Order for Startups
- Authentication (developers can't start without it)
- Getting started guide (onboarding is critical)
- Most-used endpoints (80/20 rule)
- Error codes (reduces support tickets)
- Everything else
Startup Tool Stack
| Tool | Cost | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Docusaurus | Free | Documentation site |
| GitHub Pages | Free | Hosting |
| VS Code | Free | Writing |
| Postman | Free tier | API testing |
NotiFlow Startup Simulation
Context: NotiFlow in early days. 2 engineers, 1 technical writer, fast iteration.
Their process:
- Each sprint includes a "docs" ticket for new endpoints
- Writer attends the engineering standup
- Docs are written in the same week as the feature ships
- GitHub auto-deploys docs on every merge
Result: Documentation is never more than one sprint behind the product.
Checklist
- Documentation included in sprint planning
- Writer has access to engineering standup
- Docs ticket created for every new endpoint
- Auto-deploy configured