docstringi

Docstringi is a lightweight documentation framework designed to embed structured metadata directly into source code files. It extends the concept of traditional docstrings found in languages such as Python, PHP, and Ruby by providing a standardized syntax that can be parsed by automated tools to generate static documentation sites, API references, or inline help systems. The name “docstringi” reflects its origin in the educational software community, where scholars sought an improved method for annotating instructional content in programming textbooks.

Features of docstringi include short and long-form description blocks, tag-based annotations for parameters, return values, exceptions, and author credits, as well as optional code examples. The syntax is intentionally minimal, using a pair of triple backticks followed by a language identifier and a block of key-value pairs. For example:

```

title: Example function

description: Calculates the sum of two integers.

params:

a: First integer.

b: Second integer.

returns: Integer

```

By embedding this block within a source file, developers can run a docstringi parser that extracts the data, validates consistency with the actual code, and publishes the result in HTML or Markdown form. The framework is available as an open-source package for several ecosystems, including JavaScript (npm), Python (pip), and Deno. It is particularly popular in academia and open-source projects where documentation quality is critical to code maintainability and learner-accessibility.