Documentation Overhaul: Create Separate Tracks for Simple Users and Developers

[wtfsayo]

📚 Documentation Overhaul Proposal

Background

We've received valuable feedback from a developer building on ElizaOS that our current documentation, while comprehensive, doesn't effectively serve our two distinct user groups. After using the product, they found it much improved since early 2024, but the documentation doesn't reflect this quality.

The Problem

1. Mixed Audiences: Current docs blend beginner and advanced concepts without clear separation
2. Missing Technical Details: Core concepts like state management, sockets, and architecture decisions aren't well explained
3. Unclear Guidance: No clear direction on when to use standalone projects vs monorepo development
4. Accessibility: Non-technical users ("vibecoders") struggle to get started quickly

Proposed Solution

Create a two-track documentation system that serves both audiences effectively:

🎯 Track 1: Simple Docs (For Vibecoders)

Goal: Get non-technical users running agents in 5 minutes without understanding internals

Content Structure:

• Quick Start: One-page guide to go from zero to running agent
• Templates Gallery: Pre-built agents for common use cases
  • Discord bot template
  • Telegram assistant template
  • Trading bot template
  • Customer service agent template
• Simple Customization:
  • How to change personality traits
  • Adding basic knowledge
  • Enabling/disabling features
• Visual Guides: Screenshots and videos for every step
• FAQ: Common issues and simple solutions

Key Principles:

• Hide complexity
• Focus on outcomes, not process
• Provide copy-paste solutions
• Use elizaos create workflow exclusively

🔧 Track 2: Technical Documentation (For Developers)

Goal: Provide deep technical understanding for developers building on or contributing to ElizaOS

Content Structure:

Architecture Deep Dive

• System architecture overview with diagrams
• Data flow and component interactions
• Design decisions and rationale

Core Concepts (Currently Missing!)

• State Management: How agent memory, context, and state work
• Room/World Abstraction: Understanding the UUID system and agent perspectives
• Socket Architecture: Real-time communication implementation
• Plugin Lifecycle: From creation to deployment
• Service Layer: How services interact and maintain state

Development Guides

• Monorepo vs Standalone: Clear decision matrix
  • Standalone: For running agents, trying plugins, basic customization
  • Monorepo: For core development, custom plugins, contributing
• Plugin Development: Step-by-step guide with best practices
• Testing Strategies: Unit, integration, and e2e testing approaches
• Performance Optimization: Profiling and tuning guides

API Reference

• Complete API documentation
• TypeScript interfaces and types
• Code examples for every endpoint

🚀 Implementation Plan

Phase 1: Structure & Navigation (Week 1-2)

1. Create new documentation structure with clear separation
2. Design interactive landing page with user journey paths
3. Set up navigation for both tracks

Phase 2: Simple Docs (Week 3-4)

1. Write streamlined quick start guide
2. Create template gallery with 5-10 ready-to-use agents
3. Develop visual guides and screenshots
4. Build comprehensive FAQ

Phase 3: Technical Docs (Week 5-8)

1. Document architecture with diagrams
2. Write deep dives on state, sockets, and core concepts
3. Create comprehensive plugin development guide
4. Build API reference documentation

Phase 4: Enhancements (Week 9-10)

1. Add interactive examples
2. Create video tutorials
3. Implement search functionality
4. Add feedback mechanism

📊 Success Metrics

• Reduce "getting started" time from 30+ minutes to 5 minutes for simple users
• Decrease documentation-related issues by 50%
• Increase contributor onboarding success rate
• Positive feedback from both user segments

🎨 Documentation Design Principles

1. Clear Audience Separation: Never mix simple and technical content
2. Progressive Disclosure: Start simple, reveal complexity as needed
3. Practical Examples: Every concept paired with real-world usage
4. Visual Learning: Diagrams, screenshots, and videos throughout
5. Searchable: Comprehensive search across both tracks

📝 Specific Improvements Requested

Based on developer feedback, ensure we address:

• Clear explanation of who should use standalone vs monorepo
• Deep technical explanations of state management
• Socket implementation details
• Architecture decisions and rationale
• Better onboarding for both audiences

🤝 How You Can Help

• Developers: Share what technical details you wish were documented
• Users: Tell us what confused you when getting started
• Contributors: Help write documentation for areas you understand
• Reviewers: Provide feedback on documentation PRs

This overhaul will make ElizaOS accessible to everyone while maintaining the technical depth developers need. Let's build documentation that matches the quality of our product! 🚀

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Labels: documentation, enhancement, high-priority
Assignees: @ElizaOS/docs-team
Project: Documentation Improvement Q1 2025