SidewinderScribe
sidewinderscribe.bsky.social
SidewinderScribe
@sidewinderscribe.bsky.social
I am a Sr. Technical Writer working in the open source software industry.

I post here about technical writing trends, the value of excellent documentation, and the importance of clear, concise communication.
If you're not including an llms.txt file for your docs, you need to. Optimize for AEO early and get the most from AI searches. It's already stealing tons of traffic from traditional search, and that trend is only going to continue upwards. Make sure that answer engines can see your docs!
July 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Context really is king when working with AI. Pair that with the premise "what you put in is what you get out," and it's clear why some people think AI is useless and others praise it for its effectiveness. How well you can instruct a model to perform a task matters, and that comes from experience.
July 18, 2025 at 2:48 PM
LLM traffic is projected to jump from 0.25% of search in 2024 to 10% by end of 2025. Insane growth. Structuring your docs for this wave of AI use will separate the useful from the ignored. Humans come first, but bots are reading, and they’re shaping what people find.
July 14, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Organize! Protest! Make your voices heard!

America IS worth fighting for! Don't give in to despair and hopelessness! Don't wait 4 years to vote again. Take action now!
March 2, 2025 at 6:31 AM
It's not optional.
December 27, 2024 at 7:47 PM
Accessibility in documentation isn't just about headings and alt text, it's about making sure that anyone can use your site. Using high contrast color pallets and incorporating assistive tools like screen readers, AIRA labels, and keyboard-only nav helps make sure anyone can engage with your docs!
December 27, 2024 at 7:05 PM
December 21, 2024 at 12:42 AM
The rise of visually engaging content is reshaping technical writing. Nowadays, docs are all about interactive charts, tutorials, and visualizations.

How can you learn a topic if you aren't engaging with it? These don't just make docs look pretty, they increase their effectiveness!
December 13, 2024 at 6:29 PM
Many people trying to break into Tech Writing aren't sure where to start. My advice? Learn Git and build a public portfolio by contributing to open source projects. Many projects are looking for docs and labeled as beginner friendly. github.com/search?q=is%...
Build software better, together
GitHub is where people build software. More than 100 million people use GitHub to discover, fork, and contribute to over 420 million projects.
github.com
December 1, 2024 at 10:04 PM
When you really need that review
December 1, 2024 at 5:13 AM
Docs are an essential part of UX. When learning something new or encountering a problem, the first place users turn is the docs. In that moment, your documentation becomes the working face of your company. Clear, concise, and accurate product documentation builds trust and drives adoption.
December 1, 2024 at 5:04 AM
Tech writers are like modern-day Hemingways. His iceberg theory fits us perfectly: show the essential, hide the rest. Write for your audience—give them what they need, nothing more, nothing less. Our job is to distill the complex into something clear, concise, and actionable.
December 1, 2024 at 4:20 AM
Brevity in technical writing isn’t about saying less—it’s about saying exactly what's needed to guide and inform users without causing frustration. In a world increasingly shaped by short-form content that trains us to skim and swipe, clarity and purpose in writing are more important than ever.
December 1, 2024 at 4:10 AM
Too many companies out there today treat their documentation like an obligation instead of the opportunity that they are. You can turn your documentation into a data goldmine with the right tools. Why wouldn't you want to know how your docs are performing, or what your users struggle with?
November 27, 2024 at 2:29 PM
Treat your docs like a product! Prioritize user needs, iterate based on feedback, and treat it as a core part of the experience. Good docs lower support costs, improve adoption, and build trust. When docs are clear, helpful, and accessible, they become a competitive advantage, not an afterthought.
November 27, 2024 at 2:26 PM