Yes, the 4 doc model is flawed, but if everybody followed it, we would still get on average 10 times better doc. When that happen, we can worry about improving, but most people are just terrible at explaining things.
Also, how to guide are not more and more covered by chatgpt.
But I don't think it should be a good reason to stop writing them.
For example, I wrote an article on "Parameters, options and flags for Python scripts":
This is typically the type of things you get great ROI with chatgpt.
Yet:
- it's still faster to copy the summary of the article
- you need to understand the output of chatgpt so the article is useful to beginners
- you need to be able to use the right words to ask chatgpt what you want, which again, implies you understand the problem
- good practices and conventions are contextual, so the doc still helps
On the other hand, it's hard to find a lone article on the net, most people will find it faster with chatgpt.
But for your particular documentation of your particular product, that's still important to produce it. Because your best users will get familiar about your docs.
Also, how to guide are not more and more covered by chatgpt.
But I don't think it should be a good reason to stop writing them.
For example, I wrote an article on "Parameters, options and flags for Python scripts":
https://www.bitecode.dev/p/parameters-options-and-flags-for
This is typically the type of things you get great ROI with chatgpt.
Yet:
- it's still faster to copy the summary of the article
- you need to understand the output of chatgpt so the article is useful to beginners
- you need to be able to use the right words to ask chatgpt what you want, which again, implies you understand the problem
- good practices and conventions are contextual, so the doc still helps
On the other hand, it's hard to find a lone article on the net, most people will find it faster with chatgpt.
But for your particular documentation of your particular product, that's still important to produce it. Because your best users will get familiar about your docs.