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Feature Documentation Template

This template should be used for documenting any new feature, whether it's a large, multi-sprint epic or a small, single-task improvement. The goal is to create a comprehensive, single source of truth for the Problem and the Solution.

1. Overview​

StatusIdea
OwnerThe primary developer or product manager responsible for this feature.
ProductLink to the parent product overview (e.g., ../01-Overview.md).
Last UpdatedYYYY-MM-DD

2. The Problem​

This section focuses on WHY we are building this. It should be clear enough for a new team member to understand the business and user context.

2.1. Problem Statement​

A clear, concise description of the user or business problem this feature solves. What pain point are we addressing?

2.2. Target User​

Who is this feature for? (e.g., All Users, Authenticated Employees, System Administrators, etc.)

2.3. Use Cases / User Stories​

Provide specific, concrete examples of how the user will interact with this feature. Follow the "As a [user], I want to [action], so that [benefit]" format where possible.

  • Example: "As an employee, I want to log in with my email and password, so that I can access the internal dashboard."

3. The Solution​

This section focuses on WHAT we built and HOW it works. It should be detailed enough for another developer to understand the implementation, debug issues, and build upon it.

3.1. High-Level Solution Overview​

Briefly describe the feature. What does it do? How does it solve the problem outlined above?

3.2. Technical Architecture & Design​

This is the core of the technical documentation.

  • Key Components: What new code modules, services, database tables, or UI components were created or modified?
  • Data Flow: Explain how data moves through the system for this feature. Simple diagrams or numbered lists are effective here.
  • API Endpoints: If this feature introduces or changes APIs, document them here (Path, Method, Payload, Response).
  • Dependencies: What other systems, features, or external services does this feature rely on? (e.g., "Depends on the Firebase Auth service.")

3.3. User Interface (UI) & Experience (UX)​

  • Link to the final design files (e.g., Figma, Sketch).
  • Include screenshots or GIFs of the final implemented feature.
  • Describe the user flow from a UI perspective.

3.4. Non-Goals (What This Feature Is NOT)​

Clearly state what is out of scope. This is crucial for managing expectations and preventing scope creep.

  • Example: "This feature handles email/password login only. It does not include Google or other social logins."

4. Implementation & Maintenance​

4.1. Key Decisions & Trade-offs​

Document the important decisions made during development. Why was this specific technical approach chosen? What alternatives were considered? This provides invaluable context for future maintenance.

  • Example: "We chose Firestore over a relational database because the data structure is flexible and aligns with our user-centric document model."

4.2. How to Test​

Provide step-by-step instructions for a QA engineer or another developer to verify that the feature is working correctly.

4.3. Metrics & Monitoring​

How do we know this feature is successful and healthy? List any relevant metrics, and link to the dashboards or logging tools used to monitor them.