Creating an official documentation system similar to Terraform Docs is an excellent idea to provide clear, structured, and easily accessible information about your product. Here are some popular open-source tools and platforms you can use to build your official documentation system:

Here’s a comparison of the top 5 open-source documentation tools based on popularity, features, and ease of use. Each tool is 100% open-source, making them ideal for creating robust and scalable documentation systems.

Feature	Docusaurus	MkDocs	Hugo	VuePress	Docsify
License	MIT	MIT	Apache 2.0	MIT	MIT
Ease of Setup	Easy for React users; Markdown-based	Simple and lightweight setup	Requires some learning for advanced customization	Easy setup for Vue.js users; Markdown-based	Extremely easy; no build process
Content Format	Markdown	Markdown	Markdown	Markdown	Markdown
Customization	Highly customizable with React components	Limited but easy with themes	Highly customizable with Go templates	Flexible with Vue components	Limited, but easy to configure
Theming Options	Multiple themes and custom themes via React	Basic themes; Material for MkDocs is popular	Hundreds of themes, including Docsy	Custom themes via Vue	Basic theming support
Search Functionality	Built-in with Algolia	Available via plugins (e.g., lunr.js)	Requires external search integration	Built-in with Algolia	Built-in with plugins like docsify-search
Static Site Generation	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No, renders dynamically in the browser
Multilingual Support	Yes	Limited	Yes	Yes	Limited
Performance	Good; React-based	Lightweight and fast	Blazing fast for large sites	Good; optimized for Vue.js	Lightweight; can slow down with large content
Plugins/Extensions	Large plugin ecosystem	Good support via plugins	Extensive plugins and extensions	Plugins for extra functionality	Plugins are simple but limited
Community Support	Active and growing	Large, active community	Large, well-established community	Growing community	Moderate community
Hosting Integration	Works well with GitHub Pages, Netlify, Vercel	Works well with GitHub Pages	Supports GitHub Pages, Netlify, and others	Works with GitHub Pages, Netlify	Works with GitHub Pages and other CDNs
Best Use Cases	Developer documentation and complex systems	Small to medium-sized projects	Large-scale, highly customized documentation	Projects using Vue.js or needing Vue integration	Quick setups or lightweight documentation

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Key Highlights of Each Tool

1. Docusaurus
   • Best for teams familiar with React or requiring multilingual support.
   • Excellent for large developer documentation with advanced customization.
2. MkDocs
   • Simple and ideal for smaller documentation projects.
   • Lightweight, with an active community and easy integration with Material for MkDocs theme.
3. Hugo
   • Blazing-fast static site generator suitable for large-scale, complex documentation systems.
   • Highly customizable with an extensive range of themes like Docsy.
4. VuePress
   • Great for Vue.js users looking for Markdown-based documentation with Vue component integration.
   • Optimized for Vue.js projects and provides flexibility with Vue-powered features.
5. Docsify
   • Ideal for lightweight documentation where no build process is needed.
   • Perfect for projects requiring quick setup and live preview capabilities.

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Recommendation

• Beginner-Friendly: MkDocs or Docsify.
• Advanced Customization: Hugo or Docusaurus.
• Vue.js Ecosystem: VuePress.

Choose the tool that best aligns with your technical expertise, project scale, and customization needs.

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1. Docusaurus

Description:
Docusaurus is a modern static site generator designed specifically for creating documentation websites. It’s highly customizable and supports versioning and translations.

Features:

• Markdown support for easy content creation.
• Built-in search functionality.
• Customizable themes with React components.
• Multi-language support.

Use Cases: Perfect for product documentation, developer guides, and knowledge bases.

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2. MkDocs

Description:
MkDocs is a simple and fast static site generator that converts Markdown files into elegant documentation websites.

Features:

• Lightweight and easy to set up.
• Built-in themes, including Material for MkDocs.
• Live preview with built-in development server.
• Supports search via plugins like lunr.js.

Use Cases: Ideal for technical documentation and API references.

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3. Hugo

Description:
Hugo is a high-performance static site generator that can also be used for documentation websites with its Markdown-based content and wide range of themes.

Features:

• Extremely fast build times.
• Hundreds of themes, including documentation-specific ones.
• Customizable layouts using Go templates.
• Multi-language support.

Use Cases: Suitable for extensive and highly customized documentation systems.

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4. GitBook

Description:
GitBook is a powerful documentation platform that supports Markdown and integrates well with Git for collaborative content creation.

Features:

• Intuitive WYSIWYG editor.
• Built-in search and navigation.
• Collaboration tools for team editing.
• Hosting options via GitBook’s platform or self-hosted.

Use Cases: Excellent for team-based documentation projects and product manuals.

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5. Read the Docs

Description:
Read the Docs is a free and open-source platform for hosting documentation. It integrates well with Sphinx and MkDocs.

Features:

• Automatic builds from Git repositories.
• Supports multiple documentation versions.
• Built-in search powered by Elasticsearch.
• Hosting or self-hosting options.

Use Cases: Best for Python-based projects and open-source software documentation.

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6. Sphinx

Description:
Sphinx is a documentation generator initially created for Python projects. It is highly extensible and supports multiple output formats.

Features:

• Supports reStructuredText (reST) and Markdown.
• Integration with Read the Docs for hosting.
• Theming and extensibility via plugins.
• Cross-referencing and index generation.

Use Cases: Perfect for technical documentation, especially for Python projects.

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7. VuePress

Description:
VuePress is a static site generator powered by Vue.js. It is simple yet powerful for creating documentation websites.

Features:

• Markdown-first with Vue components integration.
• Built-in search powered by Algolia.
• Theming and plugin support.
• Hot-reloading for development.

Use Cases: Best for projects with a Vue.js or JavaScript ecosystem.

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8. Docsify

Description:
Docsify generates documentation websites on the fly from Markdown files without requiring a static site generator.

Features:

• No build step—just write Markdown and deploy.
• Lightweight with a single-page application (SPA) approach.
• Theming and plugin support.
• Live preview during editing.

Use Cases: Ideal for lightweight documentation systems and quick setups.

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9. Jekyll

Description:
Jekyll is a popular static site generator that works well for blogs and documentation systems.

Features:

• Markdown-based content creation.
• Extensive theme and plugin ecosystem.
• Easy integration with GitHub Pages for hosting.

Use Cases: Best for smaller documentation projects and personal websites.

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10. Docsy

Description:
Docsy is a documentation theme for Hugo, designed specifically for technical documentation.

Features:

• Built-in navigation and search.
• Support for versioned documentation.
• Responsive design.
• Integrated with Google Analytics and Algolia search.

Use Cases: Ideal for professional and comprehensive documentation systems.

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Recommendation

If you’re looking for:

• Ease of setup: Start with Docsify or MkDocs.
• Customization: Choose Hugo or Docusaurus.
• Team collaboration: Go for GitBook or Read the Docs.
• Python projects: Use Sphinx or Read the Docs.

Each tool has its strengths, and your choice will depend on your specific requirements, such as ease of use, customization, and hosting preferences.

Here’s a list of documentation systems and tools used by some of the most popular companies for their official product documentation. These systems are selected based on their performance, scalability, and ease of use to meet the demands of large-scale audiences.

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1. Google (e.g., Google Cloud, Firebase)

Documentation System: Sphinx (with custom theming)

• Why:
  • Google uses Sphinx for Python-based projects due to its extensibility and robust support for cross-references and indexing.
  • It is combined with custom theming and hosting to create a clean, user-friendly interface.
• Example: Google Cloud Documentation

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2. Microsoft (e.g., Azure, Visual Studio)

Documentation System: DocFX

• Why:
  • DocFX is an open-source static site generator specifically designed by Microsoft for generating API and product documentation.
  • It supports Markdown and cross-platform functionality, making it perfect for large ecosystems like Azure.
• Example: Azure Documentation

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3. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Documentation System: Hugo (with Docsy theme)

• Why:
  • Hugo, paired with the Docsy theme, powers AWS documentation to deliver blazing-fast performance and a highly organized structure.
  • AWS integrates advanced search capabilities to improve user experience.
• Example: AWS Documentation

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4. Facebook (e.g., React, GraphQL)

Documentation System: Docusaurus

• Why:
  • Docusaurus, developed by Facebook, is used to power documentation for projects like React and GraphQL.
  • It’s optimized for React-based projects, with features like versioning, multi-language support, and theming.
• Example: React Documentation

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5. GitHub

Documentation System: Jekyll

• Why:
  • Jekyll is GitHub’s static site generator and integrates seamlessly with GitHub Pages.
  • It is lightweight, supports Markdown, and is perfect for repositories requiring simple, elegant documentation.
• Example: GitHub Docs

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6. Stripe

Documentation System: Custom-Built Static Site Generator

• Why:
  • Stripe uses a custom-built documentation system designed for performance and developer usability.
  • It includes interactive API explorers and examples, improving the learning curve for developers.
• Example: Stripe Documentation

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7. Kubernetes

Documentation System: Hugo (with Docsy theme)

• Why:
  • Kubernetes documentation uses Hugo and the Docsy theme for a structured and scalable solution.
  • It includes versioned documentation and clear navigation for complex content.
• Example: Kubernetes Documentation

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8. Docker

Documentation System: Read the Docs

• Why:
  • Docker uses Read the Docs for hosting their product documentation, taking advantage of its seamless integration with Sphinx and reStructuredText.
  • It provides easy versioning and hosting for large audiences.
• Example: Docker Documentation

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9. Elastic (e.g., Elasticsearch, Kibana)

Documentation System: Asciidoctor

• Why:
  • Elastic uses Asciidoctor for its lightweight and modular approach to writing and rendering technical content.
  • It ensures consistent formatting and styling across their extensive documentation.
• Example: Elastic Documentation

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10. Netflix (e.g., Open Source Tools)

Documentation System: MkDocs (Material Theme)

• Why:
  • Netflix uses MkDocs with the Material for MkDocs theme for open-source projects like Spinnaker.
  • Its simplicity and clean design ensure easy navigation and fast page loads.
• Example: Netflix Spinnaker Documentation

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Summary of Popular Systems

Company	System Used	Features	Example
Google	Sphinx	Cross-referencing, extensible	Google Cloud Docs
Microsoft	DocFX	Markdown support, API generation	Azure Docs
AWS	Hugo + Docsy	Performance, scalability	AWS Docs
Facebook	Docusaurus	React-based, multi-language, versioning	React Docs
GitHub	Jekyll	Lightweight, Markdown-based	GitHub Docs
Stripe	Custom-Built	Interactive, API-focused	Stripe Docs
Kubernetes	Hugo + Docsy	Versioning, scalability	Kubernetes Docs
Docker	Read the Docs	Versioning, Sphinx integration	Docker Docs
Elastic	Asciidoctor	Lightweight, modular	Elastic Docs
Netflix	MkDocs + Material Theme	Clean, simple, fast	Spinnaker Docs

These examples demonstrate how leading companies leverage open-source and custom tools to deliver exceptional documentation experiences tailored to their users’ needs.