Web Publishing Guide: Share Your Documentation with the World

Status: Complete
Purpose: Business-friendly guide for publishing documentation to a professional website
Target Users: Project managers, stakeholders, and team members who need to share documentation externally

What Does "Publish to Web" Mean?

Simply put: Transform your markdown documentation into a professional, shareable website that anyone can access with a web link.

The Business Translation

When you say "publish", here's what actually happens:

What You Have	What You Get
Markdown files in folders	Professional website with navigation
Local-only documentation	Public URL anyone can visit
Technical file structure	Beautiful, responsive web pages
Team-only access	Stakeholder-ready presentation

Business Benefits

Client Presentations: Share polished documentation with clients instantly
Investor Relations: Professional presentation of project progress and planning
Stakeholder Updates: Easy access for partners, advisors, and team members
SEO Benefits: Search-discoverable content with proper meta tags
Mobile-Friendly: Responsive design works on all devices
Search Functionality: Built-in search helps users find content quickly

Important: User Verification Required

Before any publishing happens, we need to confirm you understand what you're doing:

Content Privacy Check

Are you sure you want to publish your documentation to an external website?

This will make your content:

Publicly accessible via a web URL
Searchable by search engines (if SEO enabled)
Shareable with anyone who has the link
Potentially discoverable by unauthorized users

Pre-Publishing Checklist

Before proceeding, verify:

Content Review: All documentation is ready for external viewing
Sensitive Information: No confidential data, API keys, or internal details
Quality Check: Documents follow proper formatting and are complete
Stakeholder Approval: Team/management has approved external sharing
Private Content: Confirm private directories are properly configured

Confirmation Protocol

When a user says "publish", ask them:

"Are you ready to publish your documentation to an external website? This will make your content publicly accessible via a web URL that you can share with clients, stakeholders, and team members. Type 'YES, PUBLISH' to confirm you want to proceed."

Only proceed if they explicitly confirm their intent.

The Publishing Process

Step 1: Understanding the Command

The Magic Command:

npx -y @knowcode/doc-builder@latest deploy

What Each Part Does:

npx: Downloads and runs the latest version of the tool
-y: Automatically confirms any prompts (streamlined deployment)
@knowcode/doc-builder@latest: The documentation publishing tool
deploy: The command to publish to the web

Step 2: Where to Run It

Always run from the project root directory (where your doc-builder.config.js file is located):

# Correct location - project root
/Users/your-name/your-project/
├── doc-builder.config.js  ← Config file should be here
├── docs/                  ← Your documentation folder
├── html/                  ← Generated website files
└── package.json           ← Project file

Step 3: What Happens Behind the Scenes

The Automated Process:

Content Processing
- Reads all markdown files from the docs/ directory
- Converts markdown to beautiful HTML pages
- Processes images, diagrams, and attachments
- Applies your configured styling and branding
Website Generation
- Creates responsive web pages with navigation
- Generates search functionality and SEO meta tags
- Applies your chosen theme and design system
- Builds mobile-friendly responsive layouts
Vercel Deployment
- Uploads generated website to Vercel hosting platform
- Configures custom domain and SSL certificates
- Sets up CDN for fast global access
- Provides you with a shareable URL
Verification & Notification
- Confirms successful deployment
- Provides the live website URL
- Enables real-time monitoring and analytics

Your Current Configuration

Based on your doc-builder.config.js settings:

Website Features Enabled

Dark Mode Support - Users can toggle light/dark themes
Mermaid Diagrams - Technical diagrams render beautifully
PDF Downloads - Users can download pages as PDFs
Tooltips - Enhanced user experience with helpful hints
Responsive Design - Works perfectly on mobile and desktop
SEO Optimization - Search engine friendly with meta tags

Security Settings

Authentication Disabled - Website is publicly accessible
Private Directory Auth Disabled - Private folders need manual review
Review Needed: Ensure sensitive content is properly excluded

Deployment Platform

Platform: Vercel (professional hosting with global CDN)
Output Directory: html/ (where the generated website files live)
Domain: Will be provided after deployment

Step-by-Step Deployment Instructions

‍♂️ Quick Deployment (2 Minutes)

Open Terminal/Command Prompt
```
cd /path/to/your/project
```

Verify You're in the Right Location

ls -la
# You should see: doc-builder.config.js

Run the Deployment Command

npx -y @knowcode/doc-builder@latest deploy

Monitor Progress
- Watch for "Building documentation..." messages
- Look for "Deploying to Vercel..." status
- Wait for "Deployment successful!" confirmation
Get Your Website URL
- Copy the provided URL (e.g., https://your-docs-abc123.vercel.app)
- Test the link in your browser
- Share with stakeholders as needed

What Success Looks Like

You'll see output similar to:

✅ Documentation built successfully
🚀 Deploying to Vercel...
🌐 Deployment complete!
📍 Your website is live at: https://your-project-xyz789.vercel.app
📊 Analytics available at: [dashboard URL]

After Publishing: Next Steps

Immediate Actions

Test Your Website
- Visit the provided URL
- Navigate through different sections
- Test on mobile and desktop
- Verify all images and links work
Share with Stakeholders
- Send the URL to relevant team members
- Include it in client communications
- Update project documentation with the link
- Add to investor update materials
Monitor Performance
- Check Vercel dashboard for analytics
- Monitor page load speeds
- Review search functionality
- Track visitor engagement

Ongoing Maintenance

When to Republish:

After significant content updates
🆕 When adding new documentation sections
After fixing errors or broken links
When updating styling or branding

How Often:

Weekly: For active projects with frequent updates
Monthly: For stable documentation with occasional changes
As Needed: For urgent fixes or critical updates

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: "Command not found" Error

Symptoms:

npx: command not found

Solution:

Install Node.js from nodejs.org
Restart your terminal
Verify installation: node --version
Try the deploy command again

Problem: "No such file or directory" Error

Symptoms:

Error: Cannot find doc-builder.config.js

Solution:

Navigate to the correct directory: cd /path/to/project
Verify config file exists: ls doc-builder.config.js
If missing, you're in the wrong directory

Problem: Deployment Fails with Authentication Error

Symptoms:

Error: Vercel authentication failed

Solution:

Check your internet connection
Verify Vercel account settings
Try again in a few minutes (may be temporary)
Contact support if persistent

Problem: Website Shows 404 Errors

Symptoms:

Pages exist locally but show "Not Found" online
Navigation links break

Solution:

Check File Names: Ensure no special characters or spaces
Verify Links: Update any absolute paths to relative paths
Rebuild: Run the deploy command again
Clear Cache: Try accessing the site in an incognito browser

Problem: Images Don't Display

Symptoms:

Broken image icons on website
Images work locally but not online

Solution:

Check Image Paths: Verify images are in _images/ directories
File Extensions: Ensure proper extensions (.png, .jpg, .svg)
Case Sensitivity: Match exact filename capitalization
File Size: Large images may fail to upload (>10MB limit)

Security and Privacy Considerations

Content Security Review

Before Each Publish:

API Keys: Remove any authentication tokens or secrets
Internal URLs: Replace internal server references
Personal Information: Scrub any personal contact details
Financial Data: Remove budget or cost information
Strategic Plans: Consider if competitive information should be public
Client Data: Ensure no client-confidential information

Private Content Management

Your Current Setup:

Private directories: docs/private/ - Review needed
Authentication: Disabled - Content is publicly accessible
Directory auth: Disabled - Manual review required

Recommendations:

Move Sensitive Content: Keep truly private docs outside the docs/ folder
Review Private Directories: Ensure they contain only shareable content
Consider Authentication: Enable if you need access control
Regular Audits: Review published content monthly

Advanced Features and Customization

Branding and Styling

Current Configuration:

Site Name: "Documentation" (can be customized)
Favicon: (emoji favicon)
Theme: Dark mode enabled with subtle colors
Icons: Phosphor icon system with regular weight

Customization Options:

Update siteName in config for better branding
Replace favicon with company logo
Modify siteDescription for better SEO
Add keywords array for search optimization

Analytics and Tracking

Built-in Features:

Vercel provides deployment analytics
Page view tracking available in dashboard
Performance monitoring included

Enhancement Options:

Add Google Analytics integration
Set up conversion tracking
Monitor search queries and popular content
Track user engagement and session duration

SEO Optimization

Current SEO Settings:

SEO Enabled: Meta tags and descriptions generated
Sitemap Generation: Automatic XML sitemap creation
Robots.txt: Search engine crawling instructions
Auto Keywords: Intelligent keyword extraction from content

SEO Enhancement Tips:

Update Site URL: Add your custom domain to config
Add Author Information: Include author and organization details
Social Media: Configure Twitter handle and OpenGraph images
Structured Data: Rich snippet support for better search results

📞 Support and Resources

Getting Help

If You Encounter Issues:

Documentation: Check the @knowcode/doc-builder documentation
Search: Look for similar issues in GitHub discussions
Community: Ask questions in relevant developer forums
Support: Contact the doc-builder support team

Related Guides

In This Documentation System:

Markdown Document Standards - Content formatting guidelines
Screenshot Capture Guide - Adding visual content
Beautiful Documentation Design Guide - Styling best practices

External Resources

Vercel Documentation: vercel.com/docs
Markdown Guide: markdownguide.org
Mermaid Diagrams: mermaid.js.org

Success Stories and Best Practices

Effective Publishing Workflows

Weekly Documentation Review:

Monday: Review and update content
Wednesday: Test locally and fix issues
Friday: Publish updates and notify stakeholders

Stakeholder Communication:

Send weekly digest emails with documentation updates
Include direct links to specific sections that changed
Provide context for major updates or new content
Request feedback and incorporate suggestions

Quality Maintenance:

Monthly content audits for accuracy and relevance
Quarterly design and branding reviews
Annual comprehensive restructuring if needed
Continuous monitoring of user feedback and analytics

Pro Tips for Professional Results

Content Quality
- Write for your audience (clients, investors, team members)
- Use consistent terminology and styling
- Include clear navigation and section summaries
- Add relevant images and diagrams for clarity
Performance Optimization
- Optimize images for web (compress large files)
- Use appropriate heading hierarchy for SEO
- Include descriptive alt text for accessibility
- Test loading speed on mobile devices
User Experience
- Organize content logically with clear categories
- Use search-friendly titles and descriptions
- Include a comprehensive table of contents
- Provide clear next steps and calls to action

Remember: Publishing documentation is about sharing your expertise and progress with the world. Make it count by ensuring quality, accuracy, and professional presentation.

This guide ensures your documentation publishing process is smooth, secure, and successful. Great documentation deserves a great presentation!