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Knowledge Management

In This Document​

Knowledge Sharing Principles​

Our team follows these core principles for knowledge management:

  1. Documentation First: Critical knowledge should be documented, not just shared verbally
  2. Accessibility: All team knowledge should be easily accessible to all team members
  3. Continuous Updates: Documentation should evolve alongside the codebase
  4. Contextual Information: Include the "why" behind decisions, not just the "what" and "how"
  5. Standardized Format: Follow consistent documentation patterns

Documentation Requirements​

Code Documentation​

Aligning with our Global Coding Standards, we require:

  • Document all public methods and functions with PHPDoc/JSDoc
  • Add appropriate comments to explain complex logic
  • Include examples for complex functionality
  • Document any non-obvious behavior or edge cases
  • Update documentation when code changes

Architecture Documentation​

  • Create and maintain architecture diagrams
  • Document system interactions and data flows
  • Explain key architectural decisions with Architecture Decision Records (ADRs)
  • Update diagrams when architecture changes

Process Documentation​

  • Document development workflows
  • Create onboarding guides for new team members
  • Maintain troubleshooting guides for common issues
  • Document deployment processes

Knowledge Transfer Mechanisms​

Pair Programming​

  • Schedule regular pair programming sessions
  • Rotate pairs to spread knowledge across the team
  • Document insights gained during pair programming

Code Reviews​

In alignment with both our Communication Protocols and Global Coding Standards:

  • All code must go through a review process before being merged
  • Each merge request requires minimum 2 reviewers (including CTO)
  • Follow the established pull request template
  • Address all review comments before requesting a re-review
  • Use code reviews as knowledge sharing opportunities

Internal Tech Talks​

  • Schedule monthly tech talks on relevant topics
  • Record sessions for team members who cannot attend
  • Share slides and resources after presentations

Documentation Platforms​

  • README files: Basic setup and usage instructions
  • Inline comments: Explanation of complex logic
  • PHPDoc/JSDoc: API documentation
  • OpenAPI/Swagger: REST API documentation

Project Documentation​

  • Docusaurus: Main knowledge base (this site)
  • Diagrams: System architecture and workflows
  • Confluence: Detailed project documentation

Onboarding Process​

New team members should follow this knowledge acquisition process:

  1. Review project README and setup instructions
  2. Read through key documentation sections
  3. Pair program with experienced team members
  4. Start with small, well-documented tasks
  5. Gradually take on more complex responsibilities

Documentation Maintenance​

Review Cycle​

  • Quarterly review of all documentation
  • Update outdated information
  • Archive obsolete documentation
  • Identify documentation gaps

Ownership​

  • Each major component has a designated documentation owner
  • Owners are responsible for keeping their section up-to-date
  • All team members can suggest improvements to any documentation

Knowledge Gaps Protocol​

When identifying knowledge gaps:

  1. Document the gap in the appropriate Telegram channel
  2. Create a task to address the documentation need
  3. Assign an owner to create the missing documentation
  4. Review and approve the new documentation
  5. Share with the team

Integration with Coding Standards​

Our knowledge management practices align with our Global Coding Standards in these ways:

  • Naming Conventions: Documentation uses the same terminology as the code
  • Code Organization: Documentation structure mirrors code organization
  • File Structure: Documentation references follow the same structure as the codebase
  • Documentation Requirements: Both standards emphasize thorough documentation

Best Practices​

Writing Effective Documentation​

  • Use clear, concise language
  • Include examples and use cases
  • Add visuals (diagrams, screenshots) where helpful
  • Structure content with clear headings
  • Link related documentation

Keeping Documentation Updated​

  • Update documentation as part of the development process
  • Include documentation updates in pull requests
  • Review documentation during code reviews
  • Schedule regular documentation maintenance
Last updated on by Behnam Moradi