OpenClaw Documentation Updater
Guides you through updating OpenClaw documentation based on code changes on the active branch. Designed for maintainers reviewing PRs for documentation completeness.
Quick Start
- Analyze changes: Run
git diff main...HEAD --statto see what files changed - Identify affected docs: Map changed source files to documentation paths
- Review each doc: Walk through updates with user confirmation
- Validate: Check formatting and links
- Commit: Stage documentation changes
Workflow: Analyze Code Changes
Step 1: Get the diff
# See all changed files on this branch
git diff main...HEAD --stat
# See changes in specific areas
git diff main...HEAD -- skills/
git diff main...HEAD -- src/api/
Step 2: Identify documentation-relevant changes
Look for changes in these areas:
| Source Path | Likely Doc Impact |
|---|---|
skills/ |
Skill documentation |
src/api/ |
API reference documentation |
src/config/ |
Configuration guides |
examples/ |
Tutorial and example guides |
src/core/ |
Core architecture documentation |
Step 3: Map to documentation files
Use the code-to-docs mapping in references/CODE-TO-DOCS-MAPPING.md to find corresponding documentation files.
Example mappings:
skills/browser-hosting/→docs/skills/browser-hosting.mdsrc/api/browser.ts→docs/api/browser.mdexamples/basic-agent/→docs/guides/basic-agent.md
Workflow: Update Existing Documentation
Step 1: Read the current documentation
Before making changes, read the existing doc to understand:
- Current structure and sections
- Frontmatter fields in use
- Code examples and their accuracy
Step 2: Identify what needs updating
Common updates include:
- New features/options: Add to reference tables and create sections explaining usage
- Changed behavior: Update descriptions and examples
- Deprecated features: Add deprecation notices and migration guidance
- New examples: Add code blocks following conventions
Step 3: Apply updates with confirmation
For each change:
- Show the user what you plan to change
- Wait for confirmation before editing
- Apply the edit
- Move to the next change
Step 4: Validate changes
Check documentation for common issues:
- Frontmatter has required fields (
title,description) - Code blocks are properly formatted
- Links point to valid paths
- Spelling and grammar
Workflow: Scaffold New Feature Documentation
Use this when adding documentation for entirely new features.
Step 1: Determine the doc type
| Feature Type | Doc Location | Template |
|---|---|---|
| New skill | docs/skills/ |
Skill Reference |
| New API function | docs/api/ |
API Reference |
| New config option | docs/config/ |
Config Reference |
| New concept/guide | docs/guides/ |
Guide |
| Core architecture | docs/architecture/ |
Architecture Guide |
Step 2: Create the file with proper naming
- Use kebab-case:
my-new-feature.md - Add numeric prefix if ordering matters:
05-my-new-feature.md - Place in the correct directory based on feature type
Step 3: Use the appropriate template
API Reference Template: See assets/api-reference-template.md
Guide Template: See assets/guide-template.md
Step 4: Add related links
Update frontmatter with related documentation:
related:
title: Next Steps
description: Learn more about related features.
links:
- api/browser
- guides/browser-automation
Documentation Conventions
See references/DOC-CONVENTIONS.md for complete formatting rules.
Quick Reference
Frontmatter (required):
---
title: Page Title (2-3 words)
description: One or two sentences describing the page.
---
Code blocks:
# Python example
code_here()
// JavaScript example
code_here();
Notes:
> **Good to know**: Single line note.
> **Good to know**:
>
> - Multi-line note point 1
> - Multi-line note point 2
Validation Checklist
Before committing documentation changes:
- Frontmatter has
titleanddescription - Code blocks have proper language specification
- Links point to valid paths
- Spelling and grammar are correct
- Examples are tested and working
- Documentation matches current code behavior
References
references/DOC-CONVENTIONS.md- Complete frontmatter and formatting rulesreferences/CODE-TO-DOCS-MAPPING.md- Source code to documentation mappingassets/api-reference-template.md- API reference templateassets/guide-template.md- Guide template
