API Documentation That Developers Love (and Actually Use)
Good API docs turn frustration into flow. Bad ones send devs to Stack Overflow or your support inbox. Here's the exact approach I use to write API reference docs that get read, trusted, and reduce support load by 40–60%.
Why most API docs are ignored (and how to fix it)
Developers scan, they don't read. If your docs force scrolling through walls of text or hide examples at the bottom, they’ll leave. The goal is instant usability: see → copy → run → succeed in under 60 seconds.
- First 30 seconds rule: if they can’t make a request in half a minute, you lose them
- Examples-first: code samples beat prose every time
- Error clarity: show real 4xx/5xx responses with fixes
- Searchability: good titles, anchors, and full-text search win
My Lean API Docs Stack (2026)
OpenAPI-first, auto-generated where possible, hand-tuned where it matters. Fast to maintain, beautiful to read.
| Layer | Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Spec | OpenAPI 3.1 YAML | Single source of truth for endpoints, schemas, examples |
| Renderer | Redoc / Swagger UI / Stoplight Elements | Interactive docs from OpenAPI spec |
| Static site | Eleventy + Redocly CLI | Fast, versioned, SEO-friendly output |
| Examples | Code snippets in MDX / Nunjucks | Real curl, JS fetch, Python requests |
| Validation | Spectral + OpenAPI Generator | Enforce style, catch missing fields |
| Hosting | Netlify / Vercel / GitHub Pages | Auto-deploys on spec change |
Related reads: Intro to Headless CMS Integration · Component Thinking for Static Sites · All About Headers · Technical SEO for Hand-Coded Sites
Principles that make devs stay
- Examples first: show working code before prose
- Real-world payloads: include auth, pagination, errors
- Copy-paste ready: no placeholders like YOUR_API_KEY
- Error-first: document 401, 429, 500 with fixes upfront
- Versioned URLs: /v1/ endpoints + changelog
Minimal OpenAPI starter I reuse
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
title: Maelstrom API
version: 1.0.0
description: Secure endpoints for service businesses
servers:
- url: https://api.maelstrom.dev/v1
paths:
/leads:
post:
summary: Create a new lead
operationId: createLead
requestBody:
required: true
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/LeadCreate'
examples:
basic:
summary: Simple lead
value:
name: Jane Doe
email: jane@example.com
phone: "+15551234567"
responses:
'201':
description: Lead created
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/LeadResponse'Key takeaways
- Start with OpenAPI → generate interactive docs automatically
- Lead with examples and real payloads
- Document errors and rate limits prominently
- Make docs versioned, searchable, and auto-deployed
