541 lines
9.3 KiB
Markdown
541 lines
9.3 KiB
Markdown
# docforge
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Renderer-agnostic Python documentation compiler that converts Python docstrings
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into structured documentation for both humans (MkDocs) and machines (MCP / AI agents).
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`doc-forge` statically analyzes source code, builds a semantic model of modules,
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classes, functions, and attributes, and renders that model into documentation
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outputs without executing user code.
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---
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# Installation
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Install using pip:
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```bash
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pip install doc-forge
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```
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---
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# CLI usage
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## Generate an MkDocs site from a Python package:
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```bash
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doc-forge build --mkdocs --module my_package
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```
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## Generate MCP JSON documentation:
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```bash
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doc-forge build --mcp --module my_package
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```
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## Generate MkDocs site and MCP JSON documentation:
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```bash
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doc-forge build --mcp --mkdocs --module my_package
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```
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## Serve MkDocs locally:
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```bash
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doc-forge serve --mkdocs --module my_package
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```
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## Serve MCP locally:
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```bash
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doc-forge serve --mcp --module my_package
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```
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---
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# Core concepts
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## Loader
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Extracts symbols, signatures, and docstrings using static analysis.
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## Semantic model
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Structured, renderer-agnostic representation of the API.
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## Renderer
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Converts the semantic model into output formats such as MkDocs or MCP JSON.
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## Symbol
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Any documentable object
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- module
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- class
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- function
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- method
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- property
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- attribute
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---
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# Architecture
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`doc-forge` follows a compiler architecture:
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## Front-end:
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Static analysis of modules, classes, functions, type hints, and docstrings.
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## Middle-end:
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Builds a semantic model describing symbols and relationships.
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## Back-end:
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Renders documentation using interchangeable renderers.
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This architecture ensures deterministic documentation generation.
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---
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# Rendering pipeline
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Typical flow:
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Python package
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↓
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Loader (static analysis)
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↓
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Semantic model
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↓
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Renderer
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↓
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MkDocs site or MCP JSON
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---
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# Google-Styled Doc-Forge Convention (GSDFC)
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GSDFC defines how docstrings must be written so they render correctly in MkDocs and remain machine-parsable by doc-forge and AI tooling.
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- Docstrings are the single source of truth.
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- doc-forge compiles docstrings but does not generate documentation content.
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- Documentation follows the Python import hierarchy.
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- Every public symbol should have a complete and accurate docstring.
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---
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## General rules
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- Use **Markdown headings** at package and module level.
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- Use **Google-style structured sections** at class, function, and method level.
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- Use type hints in signatures instead of duplicating types in prose.
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- Write summaries in imperative form.
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- Sections are separated by ```---```
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---
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## Notes subsection grouping
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- Group related information using labeled subsections.
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Example:
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Notes Example:
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Notes:
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**Guarantees:**
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- deterministic behavior
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**Lifecycle:**
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- created during initialization
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- reused across executions
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**Thread safety:**
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- safe for concurrent reads
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---
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## Example formatting
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- Use indentation for examples.
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- Use code blocks for example code.
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Example:
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Single example:
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Example:
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```python
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foo = Foo("example")
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process(foo, multiplier=2)
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```
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Multiple examples:
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Example:
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Create foo:
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```python
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foo = Foo("example")
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```
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Run engine:
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```python
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engine = BarEngine([foo])
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engine.run()
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```
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Avoid fenced code blocks inside structured sections.
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---
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## Separator rules
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Use horizontal separators only at docstring root level to separate sections:
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```markdown
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---
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```
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Allowed locations:
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- package docstrings
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- module docstrings
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- major documentation sections
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Do not use separators inside code sections.
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---
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## Package docstrings
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- Package docstrings act as the documentation home page.
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Recommended sections:
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# Summary
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# Installation
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# Quick start
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# CLI usage
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# Core concepts
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# Architecture
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# Rendering pipeline
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# Examples
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# Notes
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Example:
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Package Doc String:
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'''
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Foo-bar processing framework.
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Provides tools for defining Foo objects and executing Bar pipelines.
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---
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# Installation
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```bash
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pip install foo-bar
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```
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---
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# Quick start
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```python
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from foobar import Foo, BarEngine
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foo = Foo("example")
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engine = BarEngine([foo])
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result = engine.run()
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```
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---
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'''
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---
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## Module docstrings
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- Module docstrings describe a subsystem.
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Recommended sections:
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# Summary
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# Examples
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# Notes
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Example:
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Module Doc String:
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'''
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Foo execution subsystem.
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Provides utilities for executing Foo objects through Bar stages.
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---
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Example:
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```python
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from foobar.engine import BarEngine
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from foobar.foo import Foo
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foo = Foo("example")
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engine = BarEngine([foo])
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engine.run()
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```
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---
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'''
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---
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## Class docstrings
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- Class docstrings define object responsibility, lifecycle, and attributes.
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Recommended sections:
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Attributes:
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Notes:
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Example:
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Raises:
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Example:
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Simple Foo:
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```python
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class Foo:
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'''
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Represents a unit of work.
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Attributes:
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name (str):
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Identifier of the foo instance.
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value (int):
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Numeric value associated with foo.
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Notes:
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Guarantees:
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- instances are immutable after creation
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Lifecycle:
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- create instance
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- pass to processing engine
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Example:
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Create and inspect a Foo:
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```python
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foo = Foo("example", value=42)
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print(foo.name)
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```
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'''
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```
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Complex Bar:
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```python
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class BarEngine:
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'''
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Executes Foo objects through Bar stages.
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Attributes:
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foos (tuple[Foo, ...]):
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Foo instances managed by the engine.
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Notes:
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Guarantees:
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- deterministic execution order
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Example:
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Run engine:
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```python
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foo1 = Foo("a")
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foo2 = Foo("b")
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engine = BarEngine([foo1, foo2])
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engine.run()
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```
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'''
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```
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---
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## Function and method docstrings
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- Function docstrings define API contracts.
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Recommended sections:
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Args:
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Returns:
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Raises:
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Yields:
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Notes:
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Example:
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Example:
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Simple process method:
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```python
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def process(foo: Foo, multiplier: int) -> int:
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'''
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Process a Foo instance.
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Args:
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foo (Foo):
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Foo instance to process.
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multiplier (int):
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Value used to scale foo.
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Returns:
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int:
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Processed result.
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Raises:
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ValueError:
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If multiplier is negative.
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Notes:
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Guarantees:
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- foo is not modified
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Example:
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Process foo:
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```python
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foo = Foo("example", value=10)
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result = process(foo, multiplier=2)
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print(result)
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```
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'''
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```
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Multiple Examples:
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```python
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def combine(foo_a: Foo, foo_b: Foo) -> Foo:
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'''
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Combine two Foo instances.
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Args:
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foo_a (Foo):
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First foo.
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foo_b (Foo):
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Second foo.
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Returns:
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Foo:
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Combined foo.
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Example:
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Basic usage:
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```python
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foo1 = Foo("a")
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foo2 = Foo("b")
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combined = combine(foo1, foo2)
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```
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Pipeline usage:
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```python
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engine = BarEngine([foo1, foo2])
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engine.run()
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```
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'''
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```
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---
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## Property docstrings
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- Properties must document return values.
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Example:
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Property Doc String:
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```python
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@property
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def foos(self) -> tuple[Foo, ...]:
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'''
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Return contained Foo instances.
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Returns:
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tuple[Foo, ...]:
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Stored foo objects.
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Example:
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```python
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container = FooContainer()
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foos = container.foos
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```
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'''
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```
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---
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## Attribute documentation
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- Document attributes in class docstrings using Attributes:.
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Example:
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Attribute Doc String:
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```python
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'''
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Represents a processing stage.
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Attributes:
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id (str):
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Unique identifier.
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enabled (bool):
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Whether the stage is active.
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'''
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```
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---
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## Parsing guarantees
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GSDFC ensures doc-forge can deterministically extract:
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- symbol kind (module, class, function, property, attribute)
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- symbol name
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- parameters
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- return values
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- attributes
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- examples
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- structured Notes subsections
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This enables:
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- reliable MkDocs rendering
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- deterministic MCP export
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- accurate AI semantic interpretation
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---
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Notes:
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- doc-forge never executes analyzed modules.
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- Documentation is generated entirely through static analysis.
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