When writing build and deployment documentation, avoid hard-coding specific version numbers, toolchain assumptions, or environment-specific details that will become outdated or may not apply to all users. Instead, use generic language that describes the underlying requirement or constraint.
When writing build and deployment documentation, avoid hard-coding specific version numbers, toolchain assumptions, or environment-specific details that will become outdated or may not apply to all users. Instead, use generic language that describes the underlying requirement or constraint.
For example, instead of specifying exact versions like “Ubuntu 22.04” or “libc6 (>= 2.34)”, explain the general compatibility concern: “The CI may use a libc version greater than what your Ubuntu/Debian/Mint version requires.” Similarly, avoid assuming specific toolchain managers like rustup when providing build commands - not all users will have the same setup.
This approach ensures documentation remains accurate and useful over time, reduces maintenance burden, and provides better user experience across different development environments.
Example of brittle documentation:
# Assumes rustup is available
cargo +stable install --path helix-term --locked
Better approach:
# Works with any cargo installation
cargo install --path helix-term --locked
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