/support-docs

name: support-docs
description: When the user needs to create help center articles, FAQs, troubleshooting guides, API documentation, or getting-started guides for customers.
related: [process-docs, onboarding-flow]
reads: [startup-context]

Support Documentation

When to Use

Activate when a founder or team member needs to create customer-facing documentation that helps users solve problems independently. This includes prompts like "write a help center article," "create an FAQ," "document our API," "write a troubleshooting guide," "build a getting-started guide," or "our support tickets keep asking the same questions."

Context Required

• **From startup-context:** product type, target user technical level, existing documentation (if any), top support ticket categories, and tools used for docs hosting (e.g., Notion, GitBook, Zendesk, ReadMe).
• **From the user:** the specific topic to document, the target audience (end users, admins, developers), the user's technical sophistication, common failure modes or confusion points, and whether this is a new article or an update to existing content.

Workflow

1. **Identify document type** — Determine which template fits: help center article, FAQ, troubleshooting guide, API reference, or getting-started guide. Each serves a different user intent. 2. **Define the user's entry point** — How will someone find this document? Search query, error message, support agent link, in-app help button? This determines the title and opening line. 3. **Write in problem-solution format** — Lead with the user's problem (in their words), then provide the solution. Never start with product architecture explanations. 4. **Apply progressive disclosure** — Put the most common answer first. Nest edge cases, advanced options, and technical details in expandable sections or later in the article. 5. **Add searchability elements** — Include the exact error messages, feature names, and colloquial terms users search for. Repeat key terms naturally. 6. **Test with the "3 AM rule"** — Read the article as if you are a frustrated user at 3 AM with a broken workflow. Does it get you to a solution in under 2 minutes? If not, restructure. 7. **Link related articles** — Add "Related" or "Next steps" links at the bottom to keep users in the self-serve flow.

Output Format

A markdown document following one of the five templates below. Every support doc should be scannable in under 30 seconds and solvable in under 2 minutes.

Template 1: Help Center Article

# [Action-oriented title: "How to X" or "Setting up Y"]

[One sentence describing what this article helps you do.]

## Before You Start
- Prerequisites or permissions needed

## Steps
1. Action step with specific UI path (Settings > Integrations > Slack)
2. Next action step
   > **Note:** Important callout for common mistakes

## Frequently Asked Questions
**Q: Common question about this feature?**
A: Direct answer.

## Still Need Help?
Contact support at [link] or chat with us in-app.

Template 2: Troubleshooting Guide

# Troubleshooting: [Problem in user's words]

## Symptoms
What the user sees when this problem occurs (exact error messages in code blocks).

## Quick Fix
The solution that works 80% of the time. Put this first.

## If That Didn't Work
### Cause 1: [Most common cause]
How to diagnose → How to fix

### Cause 2: [Second most common]
How to diagnose → How to fix

## Collect Information for Support
If none of the above worked, gather these details before contacting support:
- [Specific data point 1]
- [Specific data point 2]

Template 3: FAQ Page

Group questions by category (Getting Started, Common Issues, Billing). Each answer is 1-3 sentences with a link to the full article if the answer requires more detail.

Template 4: API Documentation

Structure: endpoint + method, authentication, request parameters (table with name/type/required/description), example request (working curl), response examples (success + every error code), and rate limits. Every code snippet must be copy-pasteable and functional.

Template 5: Getting-Started Guide

Structure: welcome sentence with outcome and time commitment, 3-5 sequential steps (each with the action and why it matters), a verification moment ("you should now see X"), and "What's Next" links to deeper features.

Frameworks & Best Practices

The Problem-Solution-Verification Pattern

Every support document should follow this arc: 1. **Problem:** State what the user is trying to do or what went wrong (using their language, not internal jargon). 2. **Solution:** Provide the fix or steps, in order, with exact UI paths and expected outcomes at each step. 3. **Verification:** Tell the user how to confirm it worked. "You should now see X on the Y page."

Searchability Principles

• **Title matches the search query.** "How to export data to CSV" not "Data Export Functionality Overview."
• **Include error messages verbatim.** If users see `Error 403: Insufficient permissions`, that exact string must appear in your troubleshooting guide.
• **Use both technical and colloquial terms.** Write "single sign-on (SSO)" so both "SSO" and "single sign-on" searches find the article.
• **Front-load the answer.** Put the solution in the first 100 words. Many users never scroll.

Progressive Disclosure Rules

• **Level 1 (visible):** The answer that works for 80% of users.
• **Level 2 (expandable):** Edge cases, advanced configuration, platform-specific variations.
• **Level 3 (linked):** Deep technical details, architecture explanations, full API reference.
• Never force a basic user through advanced content to get a simple answer.

Writing Style and Maintenance

• **Second person, present tense.** "Click Save" not "You will click Save." "You can" not "Users can."
• **Specific UI paths.** "Go to Settings > Team > Permissions" not "Navigate to your team settings."
• **Show, then explain.** Lead with the action, then add context. Users wa