How to use the command 'docsify' (with examples)
The ‘docsify’ command is used to initialize and serve markdown documentation. It is a powerful tool to create and maintain documentation websites. With ‘docsify’, you can easily generate and customize markdown documentation for your project.
Use case 1: Initialize a new documentation in the current directory
Code:
docsify init
Motivation: When starting a new project, it is important to have a well-structured and easily accessible documentation. By using ‘docsify init’, you can quickly create a new documentation site in the current directory.
Explanation:
- ‘docsify’: The name of the command.
- ‘init’: The argument that initializes a new documentation site.
Example output:
Docsify has been initialized successfully in the current directory.
Use case 2: Initialize a new documentation in the specified directory
Code:
docsify init path/to/directory
Motivation: Sometimes, you may want to create a documentation site in a specific directory. By providing the path to the directory as an argument in the ‘docsify init’ command, you can initialize a new documentation site in the desired location.
Explanation:
- ‘docsify’: The name of the command.
- ‘init’: The argument that initializes a new documentation site.
- ‘path/to/directory’: The path to the directory where you want to initialize the documentation site.
Example output:
Docsify has been initialized successfully in 'path/to/directory'.
Use case 3: Serve local documentation on localhost:3000 with live reload
Code:
docsify serve path/to/directory
Motivation: When working on documentation, it is convenient to have a local server that serves the documentation site and automatically updates it whenever changes are made. By using ‘docsify serve’ command, you can start a local server that serves the documentation on localhost:3000 with live reload.
Explanation:
- ‘docsify’: The name of the command.
- ‘serve’: The argument that starts the local server for serving the documentation site.
- ‘path/to/directory’: The path to the directory where the documentation site is located.
Example output:
Serving documentation on http://localhost:3000
Use case 4: Serve local documentation on localhost at the specified port
Code:
docsify serve --port 80 path/to/directory
Motivation: In some cases, you may want to serve the documentation site on a specific port other than the default 3000. By specifying the desired port using the --port option, you can serve the documentation site on your preferred port.
Explanation:
- ‘docsify’: The name of the command.
- ‘serve’: The argument that starts the local server for serving the documentation site.
- ‘–port 80’: An option to specify the desired port number.
- ‘path/to/directory’: The path to the directory where the documentation site is located.
Example output:
Serving documentation on http://localhost:80
Use case 5: Generate a sidebar markdown file in the specified directory
Code:
docsify generate path/to/directory
Motivation: A sidebar is a navigation menu that helps users easily navigate through your documentation. By using the ‘docsify generate’ command, you can automatically generate a sidebar markdown file in the specified directory, which can then be customized to fit your documentation structure.
Explanation:
- ‘docsify’: The name of the command.
- ‘generate’: The argument that generates a sidebar markdown file.
- ‘path/to/directory’: The path to the directory where you want to generate the sidebar markdown file.
Example output:
Successfully generated sidebar.md in 'path/to/directory'.
Conclusion:
The ‘docsify’ command is a versatile tool for initializing, serving, and generating markdown documentation. By utilizing its various arguments and options, you can easily create and maintain well-structured documentation websites for your projects. Whether you need to start a new documentation site, serve it locally with live reload, or generate a sidebar, ‘docsify’ has got you covered.
