Good documentation software

Question

I'm looking for some system to create documentation for my software. I'd like something with as many as possible of the following properties:

• I can install it on my own server
• Wiki-style editing
• I can create an export (PDF/Word doc/CHM/web site archive/sth. else) by just clicking a button or similar.
• Cheap/free

Is there such system out there? I've seen this question, but it is focused on turning doc-comment into documentation files, whereas what I'm looking for is more of a free-text system for higher level documentation.

Answer 1

Take a look at TddlyWiki http://www.tiddlywiki.com/

Here is a YouTube tutorial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezNScBd7_h4

Answer 2

As a roll-your-own solution, I propose that you:

1. Install your own copy of MediaWiki (software behind Wikipedia)
2. Use a tool like WikiType to convert the articles you write into PDF's

Answer 3

Trac is free and has a "wiki" function that also allows you to link to files in a SVN/CVS repository that it manages (or is aware of). I think there are some plug-ins that allow for easy export as well but I wouldn't bet on this.

Answer 4

Why not use MediaWiki?

Answer 5

How about MindTouch Core?

It's built on top of MediaWiki, and tries to take advantage of the good parts of that platform, but also provides a solid RESTful API if you need to get fancy.

It has a rich-text editor if you want to use it, has built in export to PDF (but not the other formats you asked about, which is a negative, though you could extend it...), and is completely free.

It also runs as a ready-to-go VMware image, so you can download that, and run it in VMware player/server within your server...

Answer 6

For a Wiki, I like Dokuwiki the best. It fulfills all your criteria, is simple, nice, and very easily extendable. It requires a bit of manual work until everything works well and smoothly, but it's worth it. It can export ODT and PDF.

I asked a similar question - about good documentation tools in general - a while back and got very good results. There is a number of suggestions not based on Wikis that may nevertheless be worth a look.

• Minimalistic tools for developer documentation

Then I remember these:

• Creating Great API Documentation: Tools and Techniques

• With emphasis on styling paper documentation, probably not for you but for completeness's sake: What tool or technology does Apple use to create its documentation?

Answer 7

I like PmWiki, requires no database, uses PHP, and there is a Cookbook that exports to PDF.

Answer 8

Confluence should satisfy all your requirements. You can have hosted or in-house version (for only 10$).

Major companies use it. Those include JetBrains, VMWare, Sun etc.

I personally, as a visitor of the sites based on confluence, am vary happy with the experience.

Answer 9

Maybe the MediaWiki is the best choice if what you need is a well-formed WikiStyle page.