Daniel D. Beck
@ddbeck.com
I write documentation and I program, so I know lots of ways to use a semicolon.
Also, I am making bread, learning Dutch, and doing other normal human activities.
🇺🇸 in 🇳🇱
Also, I am making bread, learning Dutch, and doing other normal human activities.
🇺🇸 in 🇳🇱
It's the first Monday of the month, which is a great time to document the under- or never- documented software or process in your life
GitHub - ddbeck/readme-checklist: A checklist for writing READMEs
A checklist for writing READMEs. Contribute to ddbeck/readme-checklist development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:07 PM
It's the first Monday of the month, which is a great time to document the under- or never- documented software or process in your life
Reposted by Daniel D. Beck
babe wake up, new example.com just dropped
It changed around October 9. The text is new after being the same for over 10 years. Can anyone tell me why?
(And if someone wants to introduce me to whomever at IANA maintains example.com that would be rad because I have so many more questions.)
It changed around October 9. The text is new after being the same for over 10 years. Can anyone tell me why?
(And if someone wants to introduce me to whomever at IANA maintains example.com that would be rad because I have so many more questions.)
Example Domain
This domain is for use in documentation examples without needing permission. Avoid use in operations.Learn more
example.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:06 AM
babe wake up, new example.com just dropped
It changed around October 9. The text is new after being the same for over 10 years. Can anyone tell me why?
(And if someone wants to introduce me to whomever at IANA maintains example.com that would be rad because I have so many more questions.)
It changed around October 9. The text is new after being the same for over 10 years. Can anyone tell me why?
(And if someone wants to introduce me to whomever at IANA maintains example.com that would be rad because I have so many more questions.)
Reposted by Daniel D. Beck
Also, I curate my own typos.
Heard at #WriteTheDocs: "I make typos at scale"
October 29, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Also, I curate my own typos.
Heard at #WriteTheDocs: "I make typos at scale"
October 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Heard at #WriteTheDocs: "I make typos at scale"
After writing about using GitHub Actions for docs automation, I learned about three more static analysis tools worth trying
More GitHub Actions static analysis tools
Recently, I wrote 5 things I know about automating docs with GitHub Actions. Since writing it, I learned about three more static analysis t…
ddbeck.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:42 PM
After writing about using GitHub Actions for docs automation, I learned about three more static analysis tools worth trying
babe wake up, new example.com just dropped
It changed around October 9. The text is new after being the same for over 10 years. Can anyone tell me why?
(And if someone wants to introduce me to whomever at IANA maintains example.com that would be rad because I have so many more questions.)
It changed around October 9. The text is new after being the same for over 10 years. Can anyone tell me why?
(And if someone wants to introduce me to whomever at IANA maintains example.com that would be rad because I have so many more questions.)
Example Domain
This domain is for use in documentation examples without needing permission. Avoid use in operations.Learn more
example.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:06 AM
babe wake up, new example.com just dropped
It changed around October 9. The text is new after being the same for over 10 years. Can anyone tell me why?
(And if someone wants to introduce me to whomever at IANA maintains example.com that would be rad because I have so many more questions.)
It changed around October 9. The text is new after being the same for over 10 years. Can anyone tell me why?
(And if someone wants to introduce me to whomever at IANA maintains example.com that would be rad because I have so many more questions.)
I took some notes on how I think about moderating the Write the Docs Slack chat
4 things I know about moderating a chat community
For years I’ve been a volunteer moderator on the Write the Docs Slack. Here are four things I try to remind myself when it comes to moderat…
ddbeck.com
October 15, 2025 at 11:42 AM
I took some notes on how I think about moderating the Write the Docs Slack chat
Reposted by Daniel D. Beck
What a wild year to be trying to think about networks and what they do to our brains. Thank you for coming along with me.
www.wrecka.ge/a-year-into-...
www.wrecka.ge/a-year-into-...
A year into the wreckage and salvage
It’s coming up on been a year, somehow, since I started this website/micro-studio/space to think in. What a wild choice that was, setting out in October of 2024, eyes on the horizon! We’d hoped things...
www.wrecka.ge
October 8, 2025 at 4:37 AM
What a wild year to be trying to think about networks and what they do to our brains. Thank you for coming along with me.
www.wrecka.ge/a-year-into-...
www.wrecka.ge/a-year-into-...
I took some notes on why and how you should use browser bookmarks more, instead of web searches for navigation
You should use your browser bookmarks more
If you’re like a lot of people (myself included), then you often use search engines to navigate to known resources, rather than to find new…
ddbeck.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
I took some notes on why and how you should use browser bookmarks more, instead of web searches for navigation
If you're thinking about automating your docs workflow with GitHub Actions, I've got five things you should know before you begin.
5 things I know about automating docs with GitHub Actions
Get ahead of some confusion, if you're starting out automating your docs workflow with GitHub Actions.
ddbeck.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:42 AM
If you're thinking about automating your docs workflow with GitHub Actions, I've got five things you should know before you begin.
It's the first day of the month, which is a great time to document something undocumented by making a new README file with my checklist.
GitHub - ddbeck/readme-checklist: A checklist for writing READMEs
A checklist for writing READMEs. Contribute to ddbeck/readme-checklist development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
October 1, 2025 at 11:13 AM
It's the first day of the month, which is a great time to document something undocumented by making a new README file with my checklist.
Reposted by Daniel D. Beck
We're happy to share that @sovereign.tech invests in Web Security and Privacy Documentation!
Over the coming year, Open Web Docs will be working on creating and updating Security and Privacy docs for web developers on @developer.mozilla.org.
Full announcement: openwebdocs.org/content/post...
Over the coming year, Open Web Docs will be working on creating and updating Security and Privacy docs for web developers on @developer.mozilla.org.
Full announcement: openwebdocs.org/content/post...
Sovereign Tech Fund invests in Web Security and Privacy docs
Open Web Docs supports web platform documentation for the benefit of web developers & designers worldwide. We are a community of web developers, standards makers, and technology companies that rely on...
openwebdocs.org
September 30, 2025 at 12:07 PM
We're happy to share that @sovereign.tech invests in Web Security and Privacy Documentation!
Over the coming year, Open Web Docs will be working on creating and updating Security and Privacy docs for web developers on @developer.mozilla.org.
Full announcement: openwebdocs.org/content/post...
Over the coming year, Open Web Docs will be working on creating and updating Security and Privacy docs for web developers on @developer.mozilla.org.
Full announcement: openwebdocs.org/content/post...
Reposted by Daniel D. Beck
The recording of the talk @emckean.bsky.social and I presented at Open Source Summit Europe is now available. Go here for video, highlights, links, and acknowledgments: ddbeck.com/osseu2025/
OSS Documentation Workshop at Open Source Summit Europe 2025
An introduction to new tools for open source docs maintainers.
ddbeck.com
September 9, 2025 at 11:42 AM
The recording of the talk @emckean.bsky.social and I presented at Open Source Summit Europe is now available. Go here for video, highlights, links, and acknowledgments: ddbeck.com/osseu2025/
Reposted by Daniel D. Beck
The WebDX CG's mission is to improve YOUR experience developing on the web platform. We're behind familiar research and interop efforts like the State of... surveys and Baseline.
Let's chat!
We're hosting an AMA on r/webdev September 18, but you can post your Qs now
web.dev/blog/baselin...
Let's chat!
We're hosting an AMA on r/webdev September 18, but you can post your Qs now
web.dev/blog/baselin...
Join the WebDX CG for an AMA on Reddit | Blog | web.dev
Join the AMA on r/webdev on September 18 and ask us anything!
web.dev
September 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The WebDX CG's mission is to improve YOUR experience developing on the web platform. We're behind familiar research and interop efforts like the State of... surveys and Baseline.
Let's chat!
We're hosting an AMA on r/webdev September 18, but you can post your Qs now
web.dev/blog/baselin...
Let's chat!
We're hosting an AMA on r/webdev September 18, but you can post your Qs now
web.dev/blog/baselin...
Reposted by Daniel D. Beck
Discount documentation? No thanks! I wrote some suggestions for thinking about "discounts" when a client doesn’t have a lot of cash, but might have other things you value.
Plausible substitutes for dirty lucre
How to calibrate technical writing rates when your client has a limited budget.
ddbeck.com
August 28, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Discount documentation? No thanks! I wrote some suggestions for thinking about "discounts" when a client doesn’t have a lot of cash, but might have other things you value.
Two quick tips (mostly for my future self) on preparing slides for a conference talk ddbeck.com/notes/no-spe...
No speaker notes, no slide
“If there are no speaker notes on a slide, then you don’t need that slide.”
ddbeck.com
September 11, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Two quick tips (mostly for my future self) on preparing slides for a conference talk ddbeck.com/notes/no-spe...
Reposted by Daniel D. Beck
Hey docs friends! Come hear my talk at Write The Docs: Berlin. It’s going to be a vulnerable, and hopefully helpful, talk about transitioning into a leadership position.
Thinking of becoming a Docs Lead? Join Kat Stoica Ostenfeld at Write the Docs Berlin as they describe how to unlearn old habits, embrace new mindsets, and navigate leadership challenges. Get practical tips to excel in this new role!
Learn more: buff.ly/CtlnDQt
Learn more: buff.ly/CtlnDQt
September 9, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Hey docs friends! Come hear my talk at Write The Docs: Berlin. It’s going to be a vulnerable, and hopefully helpful, talk about transitioning into a leadership position.
The recording of the talk @emckean.bsky.social and I presented at Open Source Summit Europe is now available. Go here for video, highlights, links, and acknowledgments: ddbeck.com/osseu2025/
OSS Documentation Workshop at Open Source Summit Europe 2025
An introduction to new tools for open source docs maintainers.
ddbeck.com
September 9, 2025 at 11:42 AM
The recording of the talk @emckean.bsky.social and I presented at Open Source Summit Europe is now available. Go here for video, highlights, links, and acknowledgments: ddbeck.com/osseu2025/
Reposted by Daniel D. Beck
happy labor day
September 1, 2025 at 11:19 AM
happy labor day
It's the first of the month, which is as great time as any to document something undocumented with a README file. Do it! I promise it'll be satisfying.
readme-checklist/checklist.md at main · ddbeck/readme-checklist
A checklist for writing READMEs. Contribute to ddbeck/readme-checklist development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
September 1, 2025 at 1:15 PM
It's the first of the month, which is as great time as any to document something undocumented with a README file. Do it! I promise it'll be satisfying.
Reposted by Daniel D. Beck
Was playing around with live coding on Strudel (strudel.cc) and ended up having so much fun making my first track!! File was too big for bsky so youtube it is...
youtu.be/ruvd3MhvSCk
youtu.be/ruvd3MhvSCk
d i a l t o n e - vaidabeats (Learning Strudel)
YouTube video by Vaida Plankytė
youtu.be
August 30, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Was playing around with live coding on Strudel (strudel.cc) and ended up having so much fun making my first track!! File was too big for bsky so youtube it is...
youtu.be/ruvd3MhvSCk
youtu.be/ruvd3MhvSCk
Discount documentation? No thanks! I wrote some suggestions for thinking about "discounts" when a client doesn’t have a lot of cash, but might have other things you value.
Plausible substitutes for dirty lucre
How to calibrate technical writing rates when your client has a limited budget.
ddbeck.com
August 28, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Discount documentation? No thanks! I wrote some suggestions for thinking about "discounts" when a client doesn’t have a lot of cash, but might have other things you value.
If you saw the talk that @emckean.bsky.social and I presented at Open Source Summit Europe, thank you for coming! I'll have more links and highlights to share later, but you can find the docs advisor and archetypes here.
Introducing New Open Source Documentation Resources
Introducing Docs Advisor & Archetypes: Resources for open source maintainers to plan and execute effective documentation work.
opensource.googleblog.com
August 27, 2025 at 10:01 AM
If you saw the talk that @emckean.bsky.social and I presented at Open Source Summit Europe, thank you for coming! I'll have more links and highlights to share later, but you can find the docs advisor and archetypes here.
On August 27, @emckean.bsky.social and I are presenting at Open Source Summit Europe about resources that can help open source maintainers create and maintain docs. I'm looking forward to it (or at least I will be, when I've practiced my outline a few more times). sched.co/25Vub
Open Source Summit Europe 2025: OSS Documentation Workshop - Erin McKean...
View more about this event at Open Source Summit Europe 2025
sched.co
August 21, 2025 at 11:42 AM
On August 27, @emckean.bsky.social and I are presenting at Open Source Summit Europe about resources that can help open source maintainers create and maintain docs. I'm looking forward to it (or at least I will be, when I've practiced my outline a few more times). sched.co/25Vub