Advertisement

Styling Technical Documentation

Perfect settings for code and API docs

Overview

Technical documentation has unique requirements: clear code block presentation, syntax highlighting, and monospace fonts that distinguish code from prose.

Velvet MD excels at rendering README files, API documentation, and code-heavy tutorials.

Technical Documentation Example

See how the Terminal template renders an installation guide:

Markdown
# Installation Guide

## Prerequisites

- Node.js 18+
- npm or yarn

## Quick Start

```bash
npm install @mylib/core
```

## Basic Usage

```javascript
import { Client } from '@mylib/core';

const client = new Client({
  apiKey: process.env.API_KEY
});

const result = await client.query('data');
console.log(result);
```

> **Note:** Always use environment variables for API keys.
Terminal Template

Installation Guide

Prerequisites

  • Node.js 18+
  • npm or yarn

Quick Start

npm install @mylib/core

Basic Usage

import { Client } from '@mylib/core';

const client = new Client({
  apiKey: process.env.API_KEY
});

const result = await client.query('data');
console.log(result);
Note: Always use environment variables for API keys.

Why It Looks Technical

The Terminal template creates a developer-friendly appearance through specific design choices:

  • Monospace fonts — Code appears with consistent character width for easy reading
  • Syntax highlighting — Keywords, strings, and comments are color-coded for quick scanning
  • Dark background — Matches the terminal/IDE environment developers are familiar with
  • Compact spacing — More content fits on screen, reducing scrolling during reference

Recommended Templates

These templates are optimized for technical content:

API Reference
const api = new API();
Terminal Dark background with monospace fonts. The go-to choice for developer docs.
README.md
npm install package
GitHub Familiar GitHub README styling. Perfect for open-source project documentation.
Documentation
Code with syntax highlight.
Dark Mode Comfortable for extended reading sessions. Reduces eye strain.

Markdown Tips for Documentation

These markdown features are essential for technical writing:

Fenced Code Blocks

Add the language name for syntax highlighting. Supports 100+ languages.

```javascript
const config = { debug: true };
```
Inline Code

Wrap variable names, functions, or commands in backticks for emphasis.

Run `npm install` to install dependencies.
Callout Boxes

Use blockquotes with bold labels for warnings, notes, and tips.

> **Warning:** This action is irreversible.

> **Note:** See the API reference for details.
Parameter Lists

Document API parameters using bold names and inline code for types.

**Parameters:**
- `apiKey` (string) - Your API key
- `timeout` (number) - Request timeout in ms

Code Block Features

Velvet MD provides excellent code presentation:

  • Automatic syntax highlighting for 100+ languages
  • Configurable code font (Fira Code, JetBrains Mono, etc.)
  • Rounded or sharp code block corners option
Supported Languages

JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Bash, JSON, HTML, CSS, SQL, Go, Rust, Java, C#, PHP, Ruby, Swift, Kotlin, and more.

Exporting Documentation

Choose based on how the documentation will be used:

  • HTML — Best for hosting on websites or intranets
  • DOCX — Preserves syntax highlighting colors in Word

Ready to Style Your Docs?

Start with the Terminal template for a developer-friendly look.

Try Terminal Template
Advertisement