Documentation Style Guide

Documentation formatting standards

This page gives writing style guidelines for the Flux documentation. These are guidelines, not rules. Use your best judgment, and feel free to propose changes to this document in a pull request.

Use upper camel case for API objects

When you refer specifically to interacting with an API object, use UpperCamelCase, also known as Pascal case.

When you are generally discussing an API object, use sentence-style capitalization.

You may use the word “resource”, “API”, or “object” to clarify a Flux resource type in a sentence.

Don’t split an API object name into separate words. For example, use HelmRelease, not Helm Release.

The following examples focus on capitalization. For more information about formatting API object names, review the related guidance on Code Style.

Use angle brackets for placeholders

Use angle brackets (<>) for placeholders. Tell the reader what a placeholder represents, for example

Reconcile a kustomization :

flux reconcile kustomization <name> --with-source

Use bold for user interface elements

Use italics to define or introduce new terms

Use code style for filenames, directories, and paths

Use the international standard for punctuation inside quotes

Inline Code Formatting

For inline code in an HTML document, use the <code> tag. In a Markdown document, use the backtick (`).

Use code style for inline code, commands, and API objects

Use code style for object field names

Use code style for Flux command-line tool and component names

Starting a sentence with a component tool or component name

Use a general descriptor over a component name

Use normal style for string and integer field values

For field values of type string or integer, use normal style without quotation marks.

Code Snippet Formatting

Don’t include the command prompt

Separate commands from output

Verify that your cluster satisfies the prerequisites with:

flux check --pre

The output is similar to this:

► checking prerequisites
✔ kubectl 1.18.3 >=1.18.0
✔ kubernetes 1.18.2 >=1.16.0
✔ prerequisites checks passed

Fluxcd.io Word List

A list of Flux-specific terms and words to be used consistently across the site.

Shortcodes

Hugo Shortcodes help create different rhetorical appeal levels.

1. Surround the text with an opening and closing shortcode.

2. Use the following syntax to apply a style:

   {{< note >}}
   No need to include a prefix; the shortcode automatically provides one. (Note:, Caution:, etc.)
   {{< /note >}}
   

   The output is:

   Note: The prefix you choose is the same text for the tag.

Note

Use {{< note >}} to highlight a tip or a piece of information that may be helpful to know.

For example:

{{< note >}}
You can _still_ use Markdown inside these callouts.
{{< /note >}}

The output is:

You can use a {{< note >}} in a list:

1. Use the note shortcode in a list

1. A second item with an embedded note

   {{< note >}}
   Warning, Caution, and Note shortcodes, embedded in lists, need to be indented four spaces. See [Common Shortcode Issues](https://kubernetes.io/docs/contribute/style/style-guide/#common-shortcode-issues).
   {{< /note >}}

1. A third item in a list

1. A fourth item in a list

The output is:

1. Use the note shortcode in a list

2. A second item with an embedded note

   Note: Warning, Caution, and Note shortcodes, embedded in lists, need to be indented four spaces. See Common Shortcode Issues.

3. A third item in a list

4. A fourth item in a list

Caution

Use {{< caution >}} to call attention to an important piece of information to avoid pitfalls.

For example:

{{< caution >}}
The callout style only applies to the line directly above the tag.
{{< /caution >}}

The output is:

Warning

Use {{< warning >}} to indicate danger or a piece of information that is crucial to follow.

For example:

{{< warning >}}
Beware.
{{< /warning >}}

The output is:

Markdown elements

Line breaks

Use a single newline to separate block-level content like headings, lists, images, code blocks, and others. The exception is second-level headings, where it should be two newlines. Second-level headings follow the first-level (or the title) without any preceding paragraphs or texts. A two line spacing helps visualize the overall structure of content in a code editor better.

Headings

People accessing this documentation may use a screen reader or other assistive technology (AT). Screen readers are linear output devices, they output items on a page one at a time. If there is a lot of content on a page, you can use headings to give the page an internal structure. A good page structure helps all readers to easily navigate the page or filter topics of interest.

Paragraphs

Links

Lists

Group items in a list that are related to each other and need to appear in a specific order or to indicate a correlation between multiple items. When a screen reader comes across a list—whether it is an ordered or unordered list—it will be announced to the user that there is a group of list items. The user can then use the arrow keys to move up and down between the various items in the list. Website navigation links can also be marked up as list items; after all they are nothing but a group of related links.

• End each item in a list with a period if one or more items in the list are complete sentences. For the sake of consistency, normally either all items or none should be complete sentences.

  Note: Ordered lists that are part of an incomplete introductory sentence can be in lowercase and punctuated as if each item was a part of the introductory sentence.

• Use the number one (1.) for ordered lists.

• Use (+), (*), or (-) for unordered lists.

• Leave a blank line after each list.

• Indent nested lists with four spaces (for example, ⋅⋅⋅⋅).

• List items may consist of multiple paragraphs. Each subsequent paragraph in a list item must be indented by either four spaces or one tab.

Tables

The semantic purpose of a data table is to present tabular data. Sighted users can quickly scan the table but a screen reader goes through line by line. A table caption is used to create a descriptive title for a data table. Assistive technologies (AT) use the HTML table caption element to identify the table contents to the user within the page structure.

• Add table captions.

Content best practices

Use present tense

Use active voice

Exception: Use passive voice if active voice leads to an awkward construction.

Use simple and direct language

Use simple and direct language. Avoid using unnecessary phrases, such as saying “please.”

Address the reader as “you”

Avoid Latin phrases

Prefer English terms over Latin abbreviations.

Exception: Use “etc.” for et cetera.

Patterns to avoid

Avoid using we

Using “we” in a sentence can be confusing, because the reader might not know whether they’re part of the “we” you’re describing.

Avoid jargon and idioms

Some readers speak English as a second language. Avoid jargon and idioms to help them understand better.

Avoid statements about the future

Avoid making promises or giving hints about the future. If you need to talk about an alpha feature, put the text under a heading that identifies it as alpha information.

An exception to this rule is documentation about announced deprecations targeting removal in future versions.

Avoid statements that will soon be out of date

Avoid words like “currently” and “new.” A feature that is new today might not be considered new in a few months.

Avoid statements that assume a specific level of understanding

Avoid words such as “just”, “simply”, “easy”, “easily”, “basically” or “simple”. These words do not add value.