Examples are the best documentation

Developers spend the majority of their time hunting for a single, working example rather than reading exhaustive reference material. The article argues that documentation should start with a clear, minimal example that solves the most common use case, because that is what developers actually need when they drop into a new codebase.

The Python "max" function illustration shows how a seemingly simple reference entry can hide layers of syntax - positional-only parameters, keyword-only arguments, and iterator concepts - that block quick comprehension. By contrast, a handful of concrete calls - max(4,6) → 6, max([1,2,3]) → 3, max([],default=5) → 5 - immediately demonstrate the function's behavior and edge cases without requiring deep background knowledge.

The piece highlights community-driven sites like clojuredocs.org, where developers contribute real examples for built-in functions, turning documentation into a practical, searchable toolbox. For technical leaders, the takeaway is to prioritize example-first documentation practices, reducing onboarding friction, improving knowledge sharing, and keeping engineers productive.