Sigberg’s six laws of documentation
Note: As will soon become evident, this must be assumed to be an incomplete and out of date copy of Sigberg’s laws of documentation.
Sigberg’s first law of documentation
In order for someone to read a document they must first:
- Know that it exists
- Know where to find it
- Care enough about the subject to actually take the time out of their life to look it up.
Sigberg’s second law of documentation
Derived from the first law:
The odds that anyone will ever read a document are approaching zero. Update: The odds have now arrived at zero.
Sigberg’s third law of documentation
Derived from the second law:
People who are made aware of the existence of a document will still complain about its non-existance on a regular basis. Reminding them that it exists will not make them stop.
Sigberg’s fourth law of documentation
If by some fluke of the universe someone actually reads a document, they will always find that either
- it’s outdated
- the information sought is not in it
- or both (see addendum).
Sigberg’s fifth and final law of documentation
The number of pages in a document and the time spent writing it, is in perfect negative correlation with the likelihood of someone ever reading it.
Sigberg’s sixth (this time it IS final) law of documentation
Since no one ever reads documentation, it’s impossible to know whether something has been documented.
Addendum
Sigberg’s paradox of documentation
The document states «complete» and «outdated» are one and the same, and the transition to both states are instantaneous. From this follows the paradox that a document will always be either
Up to date but incomplete
or
Complete but out of date (and thus incomplete).
As a consequence, finishing documentation is logically impossible. Thus, the inevitable end state of any document is to be out of date and incomplete.
Follow me on Twitter: @TSigberg
Footnote: A nod to Arnold’s laws of documentation
