---
title: "2017 archives"
description: "{% for post in site.posts %} {% capture year %}{{post.date | date:"
canonical_url: https://idratherbewriting.com/archives-2017/index.html
---

> For AI agents: a documentation index is available at https://idratherbewriting.com/llms.txt. Markdown versions of all pages are available by appending .md to any page URL.

# 2017 archives

1. [Part VIII: Conclusion](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/12/28/value-of-tech-comm-in-company-part7/) | Dec 28, 2017
2. [Part VI: Deepening documentation's value by simplifying complexity](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/12/28/value-of-tech-comm-in-company-part6/) | Dec 28, 2017
3. [Part V: Influencing the content experience](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/12/28/value-of-tech-comm-in-company-part5/) | Dec 28, 2017
4. [Part IV: Enabling information flow](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/12/28/value-of-tech-comm-in-company-part4/) | Dec 28, 2017
5. [Part III: Determining value through usage](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/12/28/value-of-tech-comm-in-company-part3/) | Dec 28, 2017
6. [Part II: Reviewing past research](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/12/28/value-of-tech-comm-in-company-part2/) | Dec 28, 2017
7. [Part I: Introduction to the series](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/12/28/value-of-tech-comm-in-company-part1/) | Dec 28, 2017
8. [Why is TC Camp's unconference format so popular? Interview with Liz Fraley, TC Camp Founder](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/12/22/tc-camp-unconference-interview-with-liz-fraley/) | Dec 22, 2017
9. [Write the Docs Podcast episode 12: Founding ideas behind Write the Docs](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/12/14/write-the-docs-founding-ideas-and-principles-podcast/) | Dec 14, 2017
10. [Biking down Coyote Creek Trail](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/12/10/biking-reviving-family-posts/) | Dec 10, 2017
11. [How to become a voracious reader](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/12/01/how-to-become-a-voracious-reader/) | Dec 1, 2017
12. [Write the Docs Podcast episode 11: Exploring the Mozilla Developer Network's Web Docs project](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/11/28/write-the-docs-mozilla-developer-network-podcast/) | Nov 28, 2017
13. [How do you communicate user progress in a course without a Learning Management System (LMS)?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/11/28/motivating-users-through-progress/) | Nov 28, 2017
14. [Case study: Switching tools to docs-as-code](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/11/21/switching-to-docs-as-code/) | Nov 21, 2017
15. [Intro to API Documentation -- recording of presentation to STC Silicon Valley chapter on 11/20/2017](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/11/19/upcoming-api-doc-presentation-stc-sv-chapter/) | Nov 19, 2017
16. [Balancing writing, editing, and learning in equal measures](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/11/18/balancing-editing-writing-and-learning/) | Nov 18, 2017
17. [New OpenAPI 3.0 specification tutorial in my API Course](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/11/07/openapi-30-swagger-tutorial-api-course/) | Nov 7, 2017
18. [The Untold Story of Techwriter.pl: A Polish website about technical communication for technical writers, trainers, and translators](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/10/31/untold-story-of-techwriter-pl-poland/) | Oct 31, 2017
19. [Question: Which software tools should I use if my goal is to write API docs?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/10/12/which-tool-for-developer-documentation/) | Oct 12, 2017
20. [Write the Docs Podcast episode 10: What's going on in our lives as documentarians and product owners](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/10/10/episode-10-wtd-podcast-whats-going-on-in-our-lives/) | Oct 10, 2017
21. [SwaggerHub: A collaborative platform for working on OpenAPI/Swagger specification files, and more](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/10/05/swaggerhub-collaborative-platform-for-swagger-openapi-projects/) | Oct 5, 2017
22. [Convert Google Docs content to Markdown or HTML using the gd2md-html add-on](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/09/22/convert-google-docs-to-markdown/) | Sep 22, 2017
23. [Has plain language deepened or ruined our delight in language?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/09/20/plain-language-ruined-my-delight-in-language/) | Sep 20, 2017
24. [Write the Docs Podcast episode 9: Chatbots in Documentation](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/09/19/chatbots-in-documentation/) | Sep 19, 2017
25. [Discoveries and realizations while walking down the Docs-as-Code path](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/08/23/content-architecture-and-repo-sizes/) | Aug 23, 2017
26. [Write the Docs Podcast episode 8: Stack Overflow's Documentation Failure and Open Source Challenges](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/08/22/write-the-docs-episode-8-stack-overflow/) | Aug 22, 2017
27. [Why Stack Overflow's Documentation effort failed -- a few thoughts from a technical writer's perspective](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/08/05/why-stack-overflow-documentation-effort-failed/) | Aug 5, 2017
28. [Tech docs and Agile: Alternatives to integrating into engineering Scrums (Part 2)](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/08/04/part2_alternatives-to-agile-scrum-for-tech-writers/) | Aug 4, 2017
29. [Tech docs and Agile: Problems with integrating tech writers into engineering Scrums (Part 1)](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/08/04/part1_when-agile-doesnt-work-technical-writers/) | Aug 4, 2017
30. [Why simple language isn't so simple: the struggle to create plain language in documentation](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/07/27/why-simple-language-isnt-so-simple/) | Jul 27, 2017
31. [When the pain of ignorance exceeds the pain of learning](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/07/23/pain-of-ignorance-versus-pain-of-learning/) | Jul 23, 2017
32. [Transparency in documentation: dealing with limits about what you can and cannot say](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/07/13/transparency-in-documentation/) | Jul 13, 2017
33. [Write the Docs Podcast episode 7: Let The Robots Do The Work](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/07/06/write-the-docs-podcast-episode-7-robot-takeover/) | Jul 6, 2017
34. [Circle review -- How to manage your kids' access to Internet devices](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/06/30/circle-review/) | Jun 30, 2017
35. [My second-chance points strategy with documentation](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/06/25/second-chance-points/) | Jun 25, 2017
36. [The problem with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in documentation](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/06/23/why-tech-writers-hate-faqs/) | Jun 23, 2017
37. [Recording of my WTD Portland 2017 presentation on Building navigation for your doc site -- 5 best practices](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/06/08/write-the-docs-presentation-navigation-best-practices/) | Jun 8, 2017
38. [Write the Docs Podcast episode 6: Metadata and UI copy](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/06/08/write-the-docs-podcast-metadata-and-ui-copy/) | Jun 8, 2017
39. [Limits to the idea of treating docs as code](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/06/02/when-docs-are-not-like-code/) | Jun 2, 2017
40. [How big should your documentation repo be?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/05/26/big-repos-versus-small-repos/) | May 26, 2017
41. [Impressions from the Write the Docs Conference -- and thoughts on achieving sustainability without selling out to vendors](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/05/23/write-the-docs-and-the-battle-against-vendor-evil/) | May 23, 2017
42. [Slides for Write the Docs Portland presentation on doc navigation best practices](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/05/14/write-the-docs-portland-doc-navigation-design-principles/) | May 14, 2017
43. [Testing your documentation -- updates in API doc course](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/05/04/2017-testing-your-docs/) | May 4, 2017
44. [Write the Docs Podcast episode 5: Where do we belong?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/05/01/write-the-docs-podcast-episode-5-where-do-we-belong/) | May 1, 2017
45. [My Calm Meditation app -- another experiment to test my docs](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/04/27/calm-meditation-app/) | Apr 27, 2017
46. [Tutorial on converting an HTML site into a Jekyll theme](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/04/13/jekyll-tutorial-on-converting-html-templates-to-jekyll-themes/) | Apr 13, 2017
47. [Following instructions involves learning a new language -- adventures with Tinker Crate projects](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/04/13/assembling-tinker-crates-list-of-parts-is-glossary/) | Apr 13, 2017
48. [Write the Docs Podcast app now on Fire TV, and the importance of testing your docs with sample apps](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/04/09/write-the-docs-app-on-fire-tv/) | Apr 9, 2017
49. [Amazon begins pilot with voice-interactive user manuals](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/04/01/voice-interactive-manuals/) | Apr 1, 2017
50. [Tutorials versus docs -- why you need both](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/03/30/tutorials-in-jekyll-docs/) | Mar 30, 2017
51. [Moved my API doc site into separate repo](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/03/30/moved-my-api-doc-site-into-separate-path/) | Mar 30, 2017
52. [Simplifying my life and writing](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/03/15/simplifying-my-life-and-writing/) | Mar 15, 2017
53. [Guest post -- The effects of terminology consistency on the reader's comprehension and attitude](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/03/10/effects-of-terminology-consistency-guest-post/) | Mar 10, 2017
54. [Crowdsourcing docs with docs-as-code tools -- same result as with wikis?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/03/08/crowdsourcing-docs-with-github-docs-as-code-tools-same-as-wikis/) | Mar 8, 2017
55. [Write the Docs Podcast Episode 4 -- Continuous Integration and Docs as Code](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/03/06/write-the-docs-podcast-continuous-integration-and-docs-as-code/) | Mar 6, 2017
56. [Adobe FrameMaker 2017 -- time, tools, and the tech writer’s focus on content](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/03/06/adobe-framemaker-2017-doc-time-and-tools/) | Mar 6, 2017
57. [Upcoming 2017 Write the Docs Conference in Portland](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/03/03/upcoming-write-the-docs-talk-and-conference/) | Mar 3, 2017
58. [Guest Post -- MadCap Central: A Review for Companies Delivering Technical Communication Services](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/03/02/madcap-central-review-guest-post/) | Mar 2, 2017
59. [How do you learn what you need to learn to be successful as a technical writer?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/02/24/how-to-learn-what-you-need-to-learn/) | Feb 24, 2017
60. [Guest post: Design choices for organizing API reference content with other documentation](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/02/21/designing-good-static-api-docs/) | Feb 21, 2017
61. [Recording of User-Centered Design Principles for Organizing Documentation](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/02/18/design-principles-organizing-docs/) | Feb 18, 2017
62. [Write the Docs Podcast episode 3: Trends for 2017](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/02/03/wtd-podcast-trends-2017/) | Feb 3, 2017
63. [Technical Writing Trends and Predictions for 2017](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/01/28/technical-writing-trends-for-2017/) | Jan 28, 2017
64. [Simplified Technical English and HyperSTE](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/01/25/hyperste-simplified-technical-english-asd-ste100/) | Jan 25, 2017
65. [Recording: Modern Technical Writing, by Andrew Etter (STC Silicon Valley chapter)](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/01/24/modern-technical-writing-andrew-etter-presentation/) | Jan 24, 2017
66. [Recording: Writing tech docs like a hacker with Jekyll](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/01/18/writing-tech-docs-like-a-hacker-with-jekyll/) | Jan 18, 2017
67. [My top 3 posts of 2016 are all Swagger-related -- lessons learned from 2016 analytics](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/01/17/trends-2017-swagger-all-the-way/) | Jan 17, 2017
68. [Swagger presentation recording -- Harnessing the Chi of Swagger in your REST API documentation](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/01/17/swagger-presentation-documenting-rest-apis/) | Jan 17, 2017
69. [FrameMaker and the mobile web: Evaluating Adobe FrameMaker's responsive HTML5 output](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/01/16/adobe-framemaker-html5-mobile-responsive-view/) | Jan 16, 2017
70. [MadCap Central -- a first look at MadCap’s new cloud-based collaboration and publishing solution](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/01/16/madcap-central-review/) | Jan 16, 2017
71. [How much code do you need to know to create API developer documentation?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/01/06/how-much-code-do-you-need-to-know/) | Jan 6, 2017
72. [Attend my upcoming TC Dojo presentation on Swagger on Jan 9, 2017](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/01/06/upcoming-swagger-tc-dojo-presentation/) | Jan 6, 2017
73. [TC Camp in Santa Clara to be held Jan 21, 2017](https://idratherbewriting.com/2017/01/06/tc-camp-coming-up-santa-clara/) | Jan 6, 2017