The author highlights the importance of user documentation while acknowledging that people often struggle with writing it effectively. They introduce the four document model, known as Diátaxis, which categorizes user-facing documentation into tutorials, how-tos, explanations, and references. The author expresses frustration that some people use this model inappropriately and without considering other forms of documentation that may not fit neatly into these categories. They argue that the 4doc model is not universal or comprehensive, as it was designed for documenting tools and does not fully address the needs of frameworks or programming languages. They suggest that conceptual overviews and snippets/examples are additional types of documentation that should be considered. The author emphasizes that while the 4doc model is helpful, it should not be treated as the only way to approach documentation, as other formats can provide valuable information.
https://www.hillelwayne.com/post/problems-with-the-4doc-model/