Essential Documentation Rules for Future You
Essential Documentation Rules for Future You
“Who needs docs? I’ll totally remember this brilliant solution in three months!” That’s what I used to tell myself. Fast forward a few months, and I’d be staring at my own code, utterly bewildered, wondering what past-me was thinking. The truth hits hard when you realize those “brilliant solutions” vanish into the ether of forgotten details, leaving you to waste precious hours deciphering your own work. “Future You” is your most important client, and they deserve clear, concise documentation.
Why Document for "Future You"?
Think about it. Why did you choose that specific, obscure math function for your physics engine? Future You will definitely wonder. Debugging code you wrote months ago, especially if it’s uncommented, feels like an archaeological dig in a digital wasteland. Even if you’re a solo developer, you’re constantly collaborating with Past You. Effective documentation makes onboarding new collaborators (even if it’s just Future You) seamless and efficient. It also provides a clear blueprint for planning future iterations and expansions of your game, saving countless hours of rediscovery.
Common “Future You” Pain Points & How to Avoid Them
Let’s address some of the most common pitfalls I’ve personally tumbled into and show you how to sidestep them.
Pain Point 1: The “Mental Note” Fallacy
“It’s just a quick fix, no need to write it down.” This is the classic trap. You tell yourself it’s a minor tweak, a simple bypass, something you’ll definitely recall. Then, three weeks later, that “quick fix” causes an inexplicable bug, and you have no memory of implementing it, let alone why.
Even small decisions cascade into complex systems. Every choice, no matter how insignificant it seems at the moment, can have far-reaching consequences.
Start a simple game dev journal or dev log. Even a few bullet points about what you did, why you did it, and any unexpected issues are gold. This isn’t about writing an essay; it’s about capturing context that your future self will desperately need. This game development log helps you track game development progress effectively.
Pain Point 2: The “Self-Documenting Code” Myth (when taken to an extreme)
“My code is so elegant, it explains itself!” While good, clean code with descriptive variable names is undeniably helpful, it rarely tells the whole story. Code explains what is happening, but it rarely explains why you made a particular design choice or why a seemingly illogical step is necessary for performance or compatibility.
Context and intent are crucial. When to comment: use comments for complex logic, non-obvious choices, and, most importantly, the intention behind a block of code. Descriptive variable names are excellent, but they can’t convey design philosophy. For example, if you’re using a specific algorithm that has known edge cases, a comment explaining why you chose it despite those edge cases is invaluable.
Pain Point 3: The “Future Me Will Organize This” Delusion
“I’ll sort out these messy assets and temporary files later.” This is the digital equivalent of stuffing everything into a closet and hoping it magically organizes itself. Future You will inherit a chaotic project structure, leading to wasted time searching for assets, deciphering temporary files, and wondering which version of a sprite is the “final” one.
Consistent naming conventions and a logical folder structure are your best friends. Decide on a system early and stick to it. For instance, Assets/Art/Characters/Player/Sprites/ is far better than stuff/char_anim_final_final2.png. Version control is essential here. Use Git, Perforce, or whatever suits your workflow. Tag important milestones and clearly label experimental branches. This discipline helps you track game development progress by providing a clear history of your project’s evolution.
Pain Point 4: The “I’ll Just Remember the Design Decisions” Fable
“The core mechanics are so clear in my head, I don’t need a design document.” Your brilliant game idea, the intricate lore, the subtle balance of your mechanics—it all feels so vivid now. But memory is fallible. Details blur, new ideas supersede old ones, and before you know it, your initial vision becomes a vague recollection.
Document your design decisions. This doesn’t mean writing a 100-page GDD (Game Design Document) upfront, especially for indie devs. It means creating a living document that evolves with your game.
Start with key pillars: core loop, unique selling points, target audience. As you implement features, add notes about why you made certain design choices. For example, “Decided to make combat real-time to increase player immersion, despite potential technical challenges with networking.” This explains the trade-off. Your game dev journal is perfect for this.
Integrating Documentation Into Your Daily Workflow
The key to effective documentation is consistency, not volume. Think of it as a low-friction habit, not a chore.
The Daily Dev Journal: This is your secret weapon. At the end of each development session (or even mid-day during a coffee break), spend 5-10 minutes jotting down:
- What you did: Briefly list tasks completed.
- What you learned/solved: Any specific problems or breakthroughs.
- Why you did it that way: Crucial design or code decisions and their reasoning.
- Next steps: What you plan to work on next.
- Open questions/Challenges: Anything unresolved or causing difficulty. This continuous game development log builds a rich historical record of your project.
Contextual Code Comments: Don’t just comment on what a line of code does if it’s obvious. Comment on why it’s there. For complex functions, include a brief header explaining its purpose, inputs, and outputs. If you use a specific algorithm or mathematical formula, cite its source or explain its derivation if it’s not commonly known.
Visual Documentation: Screenshots, simple flowcharts, or even quick sketches can often convey information more efficiently than pages of text. Keep them organized alongside your project files. For instance, if you’re experimenting with UI layouts, save dated screenshots of different iterations with brief notes on their pros and cons.
Version Control Messages: Your commit messages are mini-documentation entries. Make them descriptive. Instead of “fixes,” write “Fix: Player character sometimes falls through floor due to collider offset issue (adjusted offset by 0.1).” This creates a searchable history of changes.
Your Future Self Will Thank You
Embracing these habits for your game dev journal isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being prepared. It’s about respecting Future You. They’re going to pick up your project with fresh eyes, and the more context you provide, the faster and smoother their journey will be. Think of your documentation as a roadmap through your creative process.
Ready to start capturing your game development journey? You can easily manage your game development log and track game development progress with our dedicated journaling tool. Start documenting for Future You right now: Start Your Game Dev Journal Today!