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name: ark-documentation description: Guidance for structuring Ark documentation using the Diataxis framework. Use this skill when creating new docs, deciding where content belongs, reviewing documentation PRs, or restructuring existing documentation.

Ark Documentation

Guidance for structuring Ark documentation using Diataxis adapted for Ark's needs.

When to use this skill

• Creating new documentation
• Deciding where content belongs
• Reviewing documentation PRs
• Restructuring existing documentation

ARK's Diataxis structure

docs/content/
├── Introduction
├── Quickstart
├── Tutorials          → Linear learning paths
├── How-to Guides      → Task-oriented, by persona
├── Core Concepts      → Understanding "why" and "how"
├── Reference          → Factual lookup material
├── Marketplace        → External link
└── Disclaimer

Terminology

Diataxis	Ark Term	Why
Explanation	Core Concepts	More accessible

The four quadrants

1. Tutorials (learning-oriented)

Purpose: Hands-on lessons for newcomers.

Characteristics:

• Linear, numbered paths (1, 2, 3...)
• Single prescribed path - no choices
• Frequent visible results
• Ends with "Next step" → How-to Guides

Writing style:

• Use "we" language
• Don't explain - link to Core Concepts

Content belongs here if:

• It teaches a skill through doing
• Reader is studying, not working
• Success requires following steps in order

Examples: Quickstart, Running the Dashboard, Starting a New Project, Complete Worked Example

---

2. How-to guides (task-oriented)

Purpose: Help competent users complete specific tasks.

Organized by persona:

Build with ARK (application developers)

• Configure models, create agents, coordinate teams, run queries, add tools.

Extend ARK (contributors)

• Build services locally, implement APIs, build A2A servers, add tests.

Operate ARK (operators / SRE / security)

• Platform operations: Provisioning, deploying
• CI/CD and supply chain: Build pipelines
• Security & assurance: Pen testing, code analysis

Writing style:

• Goal-oriented: "If you want X, do Y"
• Assumes competence
• Don't teach - link to Tutorials or Core Concepts

Content belongs here if:

• Reader has a specific task to complete
• Reader is working, not studying

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3. Core concepts (understanding-oriented)

Purpose: Explain what ARK is, how it's designed, and why.

Topics:

• What ARK is and how it works.
• Design effective agentic systems.
• Platform architecture concepts.
• Extensibility concepts.
• Security and identity concepts.

Writing style:

• Discursive: "The reason for X is..."
• Make connections between concepts
• Provide design decision context

Content belongs here if:

• It answers "why" or "how does this work"
• Reader is deciding how to design/extend/operate
• Content provides context, not procedures

---

4. Reference (information-oriented)

Purpose: Factual lookup material.

Organized by type:

• Interfaces: ARK APIs.
• Kubernetes API: CRDs, resources.
• Evaluations: Guides, event-based evaluations.
• System behavior: Query execution, relationships.
• Operations: Upgrading, troubleshooting.
• Project: Contributors.

Writing style:

• Austere, factual, neutral
• Structure mirrors product
• No instruction, explanation, or opinion

Content belongs here if:

• It describes what something IS
• Reader needs to look up specific details
• Content is consulted, not read cover-to-cover

---

Decision guide

Is the reader LEARNING or WORKING?
│
├─ LEARNING (studying)
│   ├─ Hands-on, step-by-step? → TUTORIALS
│   └─ Understanding concepts? → CORE CONCEPTS
│
└─ WORKING (applying)
    ├─ Completing a task? → HOW-TO GUIDES
    └─ Looking up facts? → REFERENCE

Hub pages

Hub pages link to content without moving files:

• tutorials.mdx - Lists tutorials in order.
• how-to-guides.mdx - Groups by persona.
• core-concepts.mdx - Groups by topic.
• reference/index.mdx - Groups by type.

Hub pages should:

• Explain purpose in one sentence.
• Group links logically.
• Not duplicate content.

Personas

Persona	Sections
End users	Quickstart, Tutorials
Agent builders	Tutorials, How-to (Build)
Platform engineers	How-to (Operate), Reference
Contributors	How-to (Extend), Core Concepts

Writing guidelines

Lexicon

• The product is known as ARK rather than Ark.

General style

• Be concise and direct.
• Use simple language.
• Keep descriptions to 1-2 sentences.
• Use active voice: "Creates agent" not "Agent is created".
• Write "ARK" not "Ark".
• Use US English.
• Use Oxford commas in lists.

Bullets

• Capitalize the first word and end with a period.
• Use numbered lists only for sequences of instructions or when referencing items later.

Capitalization

• Capitalize only proper nouns (product names, tools, services).
• Use sentence case for titles: "An introduction to data visualization" not "An Introduction to Data Visualization".
• Don't capitalize: cloud, internet, machine learning, advanced analytics.

Headings

• Avoid gerunds: "Get started" not "Getting started," "Customize a layout" not "Customizing a layout".
• Keep titles short and descriptive for search discoverability.

Instructions

• Use imperatives: "Complete the configuration steps".
• Don't use "please".
• Don't use passive tense: "Complete the steps" not "The steps should be completed".

Links

• Make hyperlinks descriptive: Learn how to [contribute to ARK](url).
• Don't write: To contribute, see [here](url).

Avoid

• Gerunds in headings.
• Colloquialisms (may not translate across regions/languages).
• Business speak: "leverage", "utilize", "facilitate".

What not to mix

Don't put in...	This content...
Tutorials	Explanations, choices.
How-to guides	Teaching, complete reference.
Core concepts	Instructions, reference.
Reference	Instructions, explanations.

References

• Diataxis Framework
• Issue #338
• PR #620