The newdoc tool

The newdoc tool generates pre-populated module and assembly files formatted with AsciiDoc, which are used in Red Hat and Fedora documentation. The generated files follow the Modular Documentation guidelines: https://redhat-documentation.github.io/modular-docs/.

Installing newdoc

To install newdoc on Fedora, RHEL, or CentOS, use the Copr package repository:
1. Enable the repository:
```
# dnf copr enable mareksu/newdoc-rs
```
2. Install newdoc:
```
# dnf install newdoc
```
  The Copr repository distributes packages only for supported releases of Fedora. If you have enabled the repository but the package fails to install, check if your Fedora is still supported.
3. Test that newdoc works:
```
$ newdoc
```
To install newdoc from source on a Linux distribution, on macOS, or on Microsoft Windows, use the cargo package manager:
1. Install the Rust toolchain: see https://rustup.rs/.
2. Install newdoc:
```
$ cargo install newdoc
```
3. Test that newdoc works:
```
$ newdoc
```

Updating newdoc

To update newdoc that is installed from RPM, use the DNF package manager:
1. Make sure that you are using a supported release of your Linux distribution. The Copr repository does not publish newdoc packages for unsupported distribution releases.
2. Refresh repository metadata and update the package:
```
# dnf --refresh upgrade newdoc
```
To update newdoc from source, use the cargo package manager:
1. Update the Rust toolchain:
```
$ rustup update
```
2. Update newdoc:
```
$ cargo install newdoc
```

Creating a new module

In the directory where modules are located, use newdoc to create a new file:
```
modules-dir]$ newdoc --procedure "Setting up thing"
```
The script also accepts the --concept and --reference options. You can use these short forms instead: -p, -c, and -r.
Rewrite the placeholders in the generated file with your docs.

Creating a new assembly

In the directory where assemblies are located, use newdoc to create a new file:
```
assemblies-dir]$ newdoc --assembly "Achieving thing"
```
You can use the short form of the --assembly option instead: newdoc -a "Achieving thing".
Rewrite the placeholders in the generated file with your docs.

Add AsciiDoc include statements to include modules. See Include Files in the AsciiDoc Syntax Quick Reference.

Alternatively, you can use the --include-in option when creating the assembly to generate modules and include them automatically, in a single step. See the description in the Options section.

Validating a file for Red Hat requirements

You can use the --validate (-l) option to check an existing file for Red Hat publishing requirements. For example:

$ newdoc --validate modules/empty-file.adoc

💾 File: empty-file.adoc
    🔴 Error: The file has no title or headings.
    🔴 Error: The file is missing an ID.
    🔶 Warning: The file is missing the _abstract flag. The flag is recommended but not required.
    🔴 Error: Cannot determine the module type.

$ newdoc --validate modules/con_proper-module.adoc

💾 File: modules/con_proper-module.adoc
    🔷 Information: No issues found in this file.

Options

To generate the file without the explanatory comments, add the --no-comments or -C option when creating documents.
To generate the file without the example, placeholder content, add the --no-examples or -E option when creating documents.
To create the file without the module type prefix in the ID and the file name, add the --no-prefixes or -P option.
To specify the directory where newdoc saves the generated file, add the --target-dir=<directory> or -T <directory> option.
To generate an assembly with include statements for other generated modules, use the --include-in or -i option:
```
$ newdoc --include-in "An assembly for two modules" --concept "First module" --procedure "Second module"
```
This creates the two modules and an assembly that features the include statements for the modules.

For more options, see the output of the following command:

$ newdoc --help

Release notes

You can find a brief change log on the Releases page.

Additional resources

The newdoc --help command
Modular Documentation Reference Guide
AsciiDoc Mark-up Quick Reference for Red Hat Documentation

newdoc 2.9.6