Generate API Docs

Extract docstrings from functions and classes to automatically generate API reference documentation.

When to Use

• Documenting public module interfaces
• Creating reference guides for libraries
• Generating HTML API documentation
• Maintaining up-to-date API specs

Quick Reference

# Python with pdoc
pdoc --html module_name -o docs/

# Python with Sphinx
sphinx-quickstart docs/
make -C docs html

# Extract docstrings
python3 -c "import module; help(module.function)"

Workflow

1. Ensure docstrings: Verify all public functions/classes have docstrings
2. Validate format: Check docstring format (Google, NumPy, or reStructuredText)
3. Extract metadata: Parse function signatures, parameter types, return types
4. Generate documentation: Create HTML or Markdown API reference
5. Validate output: Verify links work and examples are correct

Output Format

API documentation:

• Module overview
• Function/class signatures with type hints
• Parameter documentation (type, description, default)
• Return value documentation
• Raises/exceptions
• Code examples
• Cross-references to related APIs

References

• See generate-docstrings skill for creating docstrings
• See CLAUDE.md > Documentation for standards
• See doc-issue-readme skill for issue documentation