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diff --git a/doc/development/documentation/styleguide.md b/doc/development/documentation/styleguide.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..e7ffba635c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/development/documentation/styleguide.md @@ -0,0 +1,499 @@ +--- +description: 'Writing styles, markup, formatting, and reusing regular expressions throughout the GitLab Documentation.' +--- + +# Documentation style guidelines + +The documentation style guide defines the markup structure used in +GitLab documentation. Check the +[documentation guidelines](index.md) for general development instructions. + +Check the GitLab handbook for the [writing styles guidelines](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/communication/#writing-style-guidelines). + +## Text + +- Split up long lines (wrap text), this makes it much easier to review and edit. Only + double line breaks are shown as a full line break in [GitLab markdown][gfm]. + 80-100 characters is a good line length +- Make sure that the documentation is added in the correct + [directory](index.md#documentation-directory-structure) and that + there's a link to it somewhere useful +- Do not duplicate information +- Be brief and clear +- Unless there's a logical reason not to, add documents in alphabetical order +- Write in US English +- Use [single spaces][] instead of double spaces +- Jump a line between different markups (e.g., after every paragraph, header, list, etc) +- Capitalize "G" and "L" in GitLab +- Use sentence case for titles, headings, labels, menu items, and buttons. +- Use title case when referring to [features](https://about.gitlab.com/features/) or [products](https://about.gitlab.com/pricing/), and methods. Note that some features are also objects (e.g. "Merge Requests" and "merge requests"). E.g.: GitLab Runner, Geo, Issue Boards, Git, Prometheus, Continuous Integration. + +## Formatting + +- Use double asterisks (`**`) to mark a word or text in bold (`**bold**`) +- Use undescore (`_`) for text in italics (`_italic_`) +- Jump a line between different markups, for example: + + ```md + ## Header + + Paragraph. + + - List item + - List item + ``` + +### Punctuation + +For punctuation rules, please refer to the [GitLab UX guide](https://design.gitlab.com/content/punctuation/). + +### Ordered and unordered lists + +- Use dashes (`-`) for unordered lists instead of asterisks (`*`) +- Use the number one (`1`) for ordered lists +- For punctuation in bullet lists, please refer to the [GitLab UX guide](https://design.gitlab.com/content/punctuation/) + +## Headings + +- Add **only one H1** in each document, by adding `#` at the beginning of + it (when using markdown). The `h1` will be the document `<title>`. +- For subheadings, use `##`, `###` and so on +- Avoid putting numbers in headings. Numbers shift, hence documentation anchor + links shift too, which eventually leads to dead links. If you think it is + compelling to add numbers in headings, make sure to at least discuss it with + someone in the Merge Request +- [Avoid using symbols and special chars](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/gitlab-docs/issues/84) + in headers. Whenever possible, they should be plain and short text. +- Avoid adding things that show ephemeral statuses. For example, if a feature is + considered beta or experimental, put this info in a note, not in the heading. +- When introducing a new document, be careful for the headings to be + grammatically and syntactically correct. Mention one or all + of the following GitLab members for a review: `@axil` or `@marcia`. + This is to ensure that no document with wrong heading is going + live without an audit, thus preventing dead links and redirection issues when + corrected +- Leave exactly one newline after a heading + +## Links + +- Use the regular inline link markdown markup `[Text](https://example.com)`. + It's easier to read, review, and maintain. +- If there's a link that repeats several times through the same document, + you can use `[Text][identifier]` and at the bottom of the section or the + document add: `[identifier]: https://example.com`, in which case, we do + encourage you to also add an alternative text: `[identifier]: https://example.com "Alternative text"` that appears when hovering your mouse on a link. +- To link to internal documentation, use relative links, not full URLs. Use `../` to + navigate tp high-level directories, and always add the file name `file.md` at the + end of the link with the `.md` extension, not `.html`. + Example: instead of `[text](../../merge_requests/)`, use + `[text](../../merge_requests/index.md)` or, `[text](../../ci/README.md)`, or, + for anchor links, `[text](../../ci/README.md#examples)`. + Using the markdown extension is necessary for the [`/help`](index.md#gitlab-help) + section of GitLab. +- To link from CE to EE-only documentation, use the EE-only doc full URL. +- Use [meaningful anchor texts](https://www.futurehosting.com/blog/links-should-have-meaningful-anchor-text-heres-why/). + E.g., instead of writing something like `Read more about GitLab Issue Boards [here](LINK)`, + write `Read more about [GitLab Issue Boards](LINK)`. + +## Images + +- Place images in a separate directory named `img/` in the same directory where + the `.md` document that you're working on is located. Always prepend their + names with the name of the document that they will be included in. For + example, if there is a document called `twitter.md`, then a valid image name + could be `twitter_login_screen.png`. [**Exception**: images for + [articles](index.md#technical-articles) should be + put in a directory called `img` underneath `/articles/article_title/img/`, therefore, + there's no need to prepend the document name to their filenames.] +- Images should have a specific, non-generic name that will differentiate them. +- Keep all file names in lower case. +- Consider using PNG images instead of JPEG. +- Compress all images with <https://tinypng.com/> or similar tool. +- Compress gifs with <https://ezgif.com/optimize> or similar tool. +- Images should be used (only when necessary) to _illustrate_ the description +of a process, not to _replace_ it. + +Inside the document: + +- The Markdown way of using an image inside a document is: + `` +- Always use a proper description for what the image is about. That way, when a + browser fails to show the image, this text will be used as an alternative + description +- If there are consecutive images with little text between them, always add + three dashes (`---`) between the image and the text to create a horizontal + line for better clarity +- If a heading is placed right after an image, always add three dashes (`---`) + between the image and the heading + +## Alert boxes + +Whenever you want to call the attention to a particular sentence, +use the following markup for highlighting. + +_Note that the alert boxes only work for one paragraph only. Multiple paragraphs, +lists, headers, etc will not render correctly._ + +### Note + +```md +NOTE: **Note:** +This is something to note. +``` + +How it renders in docs.gitlab.com: + +NOTE: **Note:** +This is something to note. + +### Tip + +```md +TIP: **Tip:** +This is a tip. +``` + +How it renders in docs.gitlab.com: + +TIP: **Tip:** +This is a tip. + +### Caution + +```md +CAUTION: **Caution:** +This is something to be cautious about. +``` + +How it renders in docs.gitlab.com: + +CAUTION: **Caution:** +This is something to be cautious about. + +### Danger + +```md +DANGER: **Danger:** +This is a breaking change, a bug, or something very important to note. +``` + +How it renders in docs.gitlab.com: + +DANGER: **Danger:** +This is a breaking change, a bug, or something very important to note. + +## Blockquotes + +For highlighting a text within a blue blockquote, use this format: + +```md +> This is a blockquote. +``` + +which renders in docs.gitlab.com to: + +> This is a blockquote. + +If the text spans across multiple lines it's OK to split the line. + +## Specific sections and terms + +To mention and/or reference specific terms in GitLab, please follow the styles +below. + +### GitLab versions and tiers + +- Every piece of documentation that comes with a new feature should declare the + GitLab version that feature got introduced. Right below the heading add a + note: + + ```md + > Introduced in GitLab 8.3. + ``` + +- Whenever possible, every feature should have a link to the MR, issue, or epic that introduced it. + The above note would be then transformed to: + + ```md + > [Introduced][ce-1242] in GitLab 8.3. + ``` + + , where the [link identifier](#links) is named after the repository (CE) and + the MR number. + +- If the feature is only available in GitLab Enterprise Edition, don't forget to mention + the [paid tier](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/marketing/product-marketing/#tiers) + the feature is available in: + + ```md + > [Introduced][ee-1234] in [GitLab Starter](https://about.gitlab.com/pricing/) 8.3. + ``` + +### Product badges + +When a feature is available in EE-only tiers, add the corresponding tier according to the +feature availability: + +- For GitLab Starter and GitLab.com Bronze: `**[STARTER]**` +- For GitLab Premium and GitLab.com Silver: `**[PREMIUM]**` +- For GitLab Ultimate and GitLab.com Gold: `**[ULTIMATE]**` +- For GitLab Core and GitLab.com Free: `**[CORE]**` + +To exclude GitLab.com tiers (when the feature is not available in GitLab.com), add the +keyword "only": + +- For GitLab Starter: `**[STARTER ONLY]**` +- For GitLab Premium: `**[PREMIUM ONLY]**` +- For GitLab Ultimate: `**[ULTIMATE ONLY]**` +- For GitLab Core: `**[CORE ONLY]**` + +The tier should be ideally added to headers, so that the full badge will be displayed. +But it can be also mentioned from paragraphs, list items, and table cells. For these cases, +the tier mention will be represented by an orange question mark. +E.g., `**[STARTER]**` renders **[STARTER]**, `**[STARTER ONLY]**` renders **[STARTER ONLY]**. + +The absence of tiers' mentions mean that the feature is available in GitLab Core, +GitLab.com Free, and higher tiers. + +#### How it works + +Introduced by [!244](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/gitlab-docs/merge_requests/244), +the special markup `**[STARTER]**` will generate a `span` element to trigger the +badges and tooltips (`<span class="badge-trigger starter">`). When the keyword +"only" is added, the corresponding GitLab.com badge will not be displayed. + +### GitLab Restart + +There are many cases that a restart/reconfigure of GitLab is required. To +avoid duplication, link to the special document that can be found in +[`doc/administration/restart_gitlab.md`][doc-restart]. Usually the text will +read like: + + ``` + Save the file and [reconfigure GitLab](../../administration/restart_gitlab.md) + for the changes to take effect. + ``` + +If the document you are editing resides in a place other than the GitLab CE/EE +`doc/` directory, instead of the relative link, use the full path: +`http://docs.gitlab.com/ce/administration/restart_gitlab.html`. +Replace `reconfigure` with `restart` where appropriate. + +### Installation guide + +**Ruby:** +In [step 2 of the installation guide](../../install/installation.md#2-ruby), +we install Ruby from source. Whenever there is a new version that needs to +be updated, remember to change it throughout the codeblock and also replace +the sha256sum (it can be found in the [downloads page][ruby-dl] of the Ruby +website). + +[ruby-dl]: https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/downloads/ "Ruby download website" + +### Configuration documentation for source and Omnibus installations + +GitLab currently officially supports two installation methods: installations +from source and Omnibus packages installations. + +Whenever there is a setting that is configurable for both installation methods, +prefer to document it in the CE docs to avoid duplication. + +Configuration settings include: + +- settings that touch configuration files in `config/` +- NGINX settings and settings in `lib/support/` in general + +When there is a list of steps to perform, usually that entails editing the +configuration file and reconfiguring/restarting GitLab. In such case, follow +the style below as a guide: + +```md +**For Omnibus installations** + +1. Edit `/etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb`: + + ```ruby + external_url "https://gitlab.example.com" + ``` + +1. Save the file and [reconfigure] GitLab for the changes to take effect. + +--- + +**For installations from source** + +1. Edit `config/gitlab.yml`: + + ```yaml + gitlab: + host: "gitlab.example.com" + ``` + +1. Save the file and [restart] GitLab for the changes to take effect. + + +[reconfigure]: path/to/administration/restart_gitlab.md#omnibus-gitlab-reconfigure +[restart]: path/to/administration/restart_gitlab.md#installations-from-source +``` + +In this case: + +- before each step list the installation method is declared in bold +- three dashes (`---`) are used to create a horizontal line and separate the + two methods +- the code blocks are indented one or more spaces under the list item to render + correctly +- different highlighting languages are used for each config in the code block +- the [references](#references) guide is used for reconfigure/restart + +### Fake tokens + +There may be times where a token is needed to demonstrate an API call using +cURL or a variable used in CI. It is strongly advised not to use real +tokens in documentation even if the probability of a token being exploited is +low. + +You can use the following fake tokens as examples. + +| **Token type** | **Token value** | +| --------------------- | --------------------------------- | +| Private user token | `9koXpg98eAheJpvBs5tK` | +| Personal access token | `n671WNGecHugsdEDPsyo` | +| Application ID | `2fcb195768c39e9a94cec2c2e32c59c0aad7a3365c10892e8116b5d83d4096b6` | +| Application secret | `04f294d1eaca42b8692017b426d53bbc8fe75f827734f0260710b83a556082df` | +| Secret CI variable | `Li8j-mLUVA3eZYjPfd_H` | +| Specific Runner token | `yrnZW46BrtBFqM7xDzE7dddd` | +| Shared Runner token | `6Vk7ZsosqQyfreAxXTZr` | +| Trigger token | `be20d8dcc028677c931e04f3871a9b` | +| Webhook secret token | `6XhDroRcYPM5by_h-HLY` | +| Health check token | `Tu7BgjR9qeZTEyRzGG2P` | +| Request profile token | `7VgpS4Ax5utVD2esNstz` | + +### API + +Here is a list of must-have items. Use them in the exact order that appears +on this document. Further explanation is given below. + +- Every method must have the REST API request. For example: + + ``` + GET /projects/:id/repository/branches + ``` + +- Every method must have a detailed + [description of the parameters](#method-description). +- Every method must have a cURL example. +- Every method must have a response body (in JSON format). + +#### Method description + +Use the following table headers to describe the methods. Attributes should +always be in code blocks using backticks (``` ` ```). + +``` +| Attribute | Type | Required | Description | +| --------- | ---- | -------- | ----------- | +``` + +Rendered example: + +| Attribute | Type | Required | Description | +| --------- | ---- | -------- | ----------- | +| `user` | string | yes | The GitLab username | + +#### cURL commands + +- Use `https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/` as an endpoint. +- Wherever needed use this personal access token: `9koXpg98eAheJpvBs5tK`. +- Always put the request first. `GET` is the default so you don't have to + include it. +- Use double quotes to the URL when it includes additional parameters. +- Prefer to use examples using the personal access token and don't pass data of + username and password. + +| Methods | Description | +| ------- | ----------- | +| `-H "PRIVATE-TOKEN: 9koXpg98eAheJpvBs5tK"` | Use this method as is, whenever authentication needed | +| `-X POST` | Use this method when creating new objects | +| `-X PUT` | Use this method when updating existing objects | +| `-X DELETE` | Use this method when removing existing objects | + +#### cURL Examples + +Below is a set of [cURL][] examples that you can use in the API documentation. + +##### Simple cURL command + +Get the details of a group: + +```bash +curl --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: 9koXpg98eAheJpvBs5tK" https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/groups/gitlab-org +``` + +##### cURL example with parameters passed in the URL + +Create a new project under the authenticated user's namespace: + +```bash +curl --request POST --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: 9koXpg98eAheJpvBs5tK" "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/projects?name=foo" +``` + +##### Post data using cURL's --data + +Instead of using `-X POST` and appending the parameters to the URI, you can use +cURL's `--data` option. The example below will create a new project `foo` under +the authenticated user's namespace. + +```bash +curl --data "name=foo" --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: 9koXpg98eAheJpvBs5tK" "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/projects" +``` + +##### Post data using JSON content + +> **Note:** In this example we create a new group. Watch carefully the single +and double quotes. + +```bash +curl --request POST --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: 9koXpg98eAheJpvBs5tK" --header "Content-Type: application/json" --data '{"path": "my-group", "name": "My group"}' https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/groups +``` + +##### Post data using form-data + +Instead of using JSON or urlencode you can use multipart/form-data which +properly handles data encoding: + +```bash +curl --request POST --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: 9koXpg98eAheJpvBs5tK" --form "title=ssh-key" --form "key=ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EA..." https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/users/25/keys +``` + +The above example is run by and administrator and will add an SSH public key +titled ssh-key to user's account which has an id of 25. + +##### Escape special characters + +Spaces or slashes (`/`) may sometimes result to errors, thus it is recommended +to escape them when possible. In the example below we create a new issue which +contains spaces in its title. Observe how spaces are escaped using the `%20` +ASCII code. + +```bash +curl --request POST --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: 9koXpg98eAheJpvBs5tK" "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/projects/42/issues?title=Hello%20Dude" +``` + +Use `%2F` for slashes (`/`). + +##### Pass arrays to API calls + +The GitLab API sometimes accepts arrays of strings or integers. For example, to +restrict the sign-up e-mail domains of a GitLab instance to `*.example.com` and +`example.net`, you would do something like this: + +```bash +curl --request PUT --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: 9koXpg98eAheJpvBs5tK" --data "domain_whitelist[]=*.example.com" --data "domain_whitelist[]=example.net" https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/application/settings +``` + +[cURL]: http://curl.haxx.se/ "cURL website" +[single spaces]: http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2011/01/space_invaders.html +[gfm]: http://docs.gitlab.com/ce/user/markdown.html#newlines "GitLab flavored markdown documentation" +[ce-1242]: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/1242 +[doc-restart]: ../../administration/restart_gitlab.md "GitLab restart documentation" |