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📖 Mkdocs file

Documentation plays a vital role in any software project, and organizing it effectively is crucial for readability and accessibility. In Python projects, MkDocs is a popular static site generator that simplifies the process of creating and maintaining documentation. One of the key aspects of using MkDocs is configuring the mkdocs.yml file, which defines the structure, appearance, and behavior of the generated documentation.

Let's take a closer look at a sample mkdocs.yml file and explore its various sections.

This is just an example

The mkdocs.yml file is highly customizable, and the specific configuration options you use will depend on your project's requirements. The example below is just one possible configuration.

Site Configuration

site_name: '🐍 Python for Machine Learning Course'
repo_url: https://github.com/Matesanz/python_machine_learning_course
repo_name: Matesanz/python_machine_learning_course

The site_name field specifies the name of your documentation site. In this example, it is set to '🐍 Python for Machine Learning Course'. Feel free to modify this to match your project.

The repo_url and repo_name fields indicate the URL and name of the repository associated with your project. These values can be useful for linking to your project's source code.

Theme Configuration

theme:
  name: material
  theme:
    palette:
      primary: teal
  features:
    - content.code.annotate
    - navigation.tracking
    - navigation.tabs
    - navigation.sections
    - navigation.expand

The theme section allows you to customize the appearance of your documentation. In this example, the material theme is used, which provides a clean and modern look. The palette option allows you to specify the primary color, which is set to teal here. You can modify this to suit your project's branding.

The features list enables various features provided by the theme, such as annotated code blocks, navigation tracking, tabs, sections, and expansion. Adjust these features according to your documentation requirements.

Plugin Configuration

Plugins extend the functionality of MkDocs by adding additional features. In this example, several plugins are used:

plugins:
  - search
  - autorefs
  - mkdocstrings:
      handlers:
        python:
          options:
            separate_signature: true
  - mkdocs-jupyter
  • search: Enables a search functionality to quickly find information within the documentation.
  • autorefs: Automatically generates cross-references between pages based on headings.
  • mkdocstrings: Generates API documentation from docstrings in Python code. It is configured to handle Python code and provides options such as separate_signature to display the signature separately from the documentation.
  • mkdocs-jupyter: Allows the inclusion of Jupyter notebooks in the documentation.

Feel free to add or remove plugins as needed based on your documentation requirements.

Markdown Extensions

MkDocs supports several markdown extensions that enhance the capabilities of the documentation. In this example, various extensions are included:

markdown_extensions:
  - admonition
  - pymdownx.highlight:
      anchor_linenums: true
  - pymdownx.inlinehilite
  - pymdownx.snippets
  - pymdownx.details
  - pymdownx.superfences
  - pymdownx.tabbed:
      alternate_style: true
  • admonition: Adds admonition blocks, such as note, warning, tip, etc., to highlight important information.
  • pymdownx.highlight: Enables syntax highlighting for code blocks and includes line numbers for easy reference.
  • pymdownx.inlinehilite: Allows syntax highlighting within inline code spans.
  • pymdownx.snippets: Provides the ability to include code snippets from external files.
  • pymdownx.details: Enables the use of details/summary blocks to hide/show additional information.
  • pymdownx.superfences: Extends fenced code blocks with additional capabilities.
  • pymdownx.tabbed: Creates tabbed content to organize related information with an alternate style.

Feel free to adjust the markdown extensions based on your documentation needs.

Watch Configuration

watch:
  - 'python_ml_course'
  - docs

The watch section specifies the directories to monitor for changes during development. Whenever a file within the specified directories is modified, MkDocs will automatically rebuild and refresh the documentation site. In this example, the directories 'python_ml_course' and 'docs' are being watched. Adjust this section based on the directories relevant to your project.

By understanding and customizing the mkdocs.yml file, you can structure and tailor your documentation to meet the specific requirements of your Python project. The provided example highlights some common configurations, but feel free to explore the MkDocs documentation for more options and possibilities.

Remember, well-organized and easily accessible documentation greatly enhances the user experience and contributes to the success of your project. Happy documenting!