Documentation-Driven Development with BB

by BB Team
best-practicesdocumentationprojectproductivity

How do you maintain momentum and context across multiple BB conversations? Documentation is the key to successful objective-focused development, serving as both a record of decisions and a guide for future work. Let's explore how to use documentation effectively with BB.

Key Insight

Documentation isn't just about recording what happened - it's about driving what happens next. When used effectively, it becomes the engine of progress.

The Documentation Cycle

The core of documentation-driven development follows a continuous cycle:

Documentation-Driven Development

  1. Document Objectives

    • Clear goals
    • Success criteria
    • Context information
    • Constraints

  2. Guide Conversations

    • Reference previous decisions
    • Maintain context
    • Track progress
    • Plan next steps

  3. Capture Outcomes

    • Decisions made
    • Progress achieved
    • Lessons learned
    • Future plans

Pro Tip

Let BB create and maintain documentation. It will structure information effectively and ensure consistency across conversations.

Types of Documentation

Planning Documents

# Project Plan

## Objectives

- Primary goal
- Secondary goals
- Success criteria

## Context

- Current status
- Constraints
- Resources

## Timeline

- Major milestones
- Dependencies
- Deadlines

Progress Tracking

# Progress Report

## Completed

- [x] Task 1
- [x] Task 2

## In Progress

- [ ] Current task
- Next steps

## Blockers

- Issues
- Dependencies
- Questions

Decision Records

# Decision Log

## Decision 1

- Context
- Options considered
- Choice made
- Rationale

## Decision 2

- Context
- Options considered
- Choice made
- Rationale

Common Mistake

Don't treat documentation as a static record. Use it actively to drive conversations and guide development.

Documentation Best Practices

Structure for Success

  1. Clear Hierarchy

    • Logical organization
    • Easy navigation
    • Clear relationships
    • Progressive detail

  2. Consistent Format

    • Standard sections
    • Common patterns
    • Clear markup
    • Regular updates

  3. Active Usage

    • Reference in conversations
    • Update regularly
    • Build on progress
    • Guide decisions

Natural Conversation Flow

Documentation Impact

Well-structured documentation naturally guides conversations toward productive outcomes and maintains momentum across sessions.

Using Documentation Effectively

Starting New Projects

  1. Initial Setup

    # Project Overview

## Objectives

## Context

## Timeline

## Success Criteria

  2. Planning Phase

    # Development Plan

## Phase 1

## Phase 2

## Dependencies

## Risks

  3. Execution Tracking

    # Progress Tracking

## Current Status

## Next Steps

## Blockers

## Decisions

Managing Ongoing Work

  1. Daily Progress

    • Update status
    • Note achievements
    • Document blockers
    • Plan next steps

  2. Weekly Review

    • Assess progress
    • Update plans
    • Adjust timeline
    • Document learnings

  3. Milestone Tracking

    • Review objectives
    • Measure progress
    • Update documentation
    • Plan next phase

Regular Updates

Make documentation updates part of your regular workflow. Each conversation should either reference or update documentation.

Documentation Patterns

The Planning Pattern

1. Define objectives
2. List requirements
3. Plan approach
4. Set milestones

The Progress Pattern

1. Update status
2. Note completion
3. Document issues
4. Plan next steps

The Review Pattern

1. Assess progress
2. Document learnings
3. Adjust plans
4. Set new goals

Common Use Cases

Solo Development

  • Track personal progress
  • Maintain context
  • Guide development
  • Document decisions

Team Collaboration

  • Share knowledge
  • Coordinate work
  • Track decisions
  • Maintain alignment

Complex Projects

  • Break down work
  • Track dependencies
  • Manage complexity
  • Ensure consistency

Scale Appropriately

Adjust documentation detail based on project complexity. Simple projects need less documentation than complex ones.

Getting Started

Ready to improve your documentation practices?

  1. Start Simple

    • Basic project structure
    • Regular updates
    • Clear organization
    • Active usage

  2. Build Habits

    • Regular updates
    • Reference in conversations
    • Track progress
    • Document decisions

  3. Scale Up

    • Add more detail
    • Improve structure
    • Enhance tracking
    • Refine process

Remember: Documentation is most effective when it's actively used to drive development forward. Let BB help you create and maintain documentation that serves as both a record of progress and a guide for future work.