Static Sites

MkDocs is a powerful static site generator designed for creating modern technical documentation. While alternatives like Sphinx and Jekyll exist, MkDocs stands out for DevOps documentation due to:

1. Markdown-Native: Works seamlessly with existing markdown documentation

2. Python-Based: Familiar ecosystem for DevOps engineers

3. Modern Features: Built-in search, dark mode, and responsive design

4. CI/CD Friendly: Easy integration with automation pipelines

5. Extensible: Rich plugin ecosystem for advanced features

Quick Setup Guide

1. Install MkDocs and Material theme:

pip install mkdocs mkdocs-material
mkdocs new my-docs
cd my-docs

1. Configure mkdocs.yml:

site_name: Your Documentation
theme:
  name: material
  features:
    - navigation.tabs
    - navigation.sections
    - navigation.top
    - search.suggest
    - search.highlight
    - content.code.copy
  palette:
    - scheme: default
      primary: indigo
      accent: indigo
      toggle:
        icon: material/brightness-7
        name: Switch to dark mode
    - scheme: slate
      primary: indigo
      accent: indigo
      toggle:
        icon: material/brightness-4
        name: Switch to light mode

plugins:
  - search
  - git-revision-date
  - mkdocstrings
  - social

markdown_extensions:
  - pymdownx.highlight:
      anchor_linenums: true
  - pymdownx.inlinehilite
  - pymdownx.snippets
  - pymdownx.superfences
  - admonition
  - pymdownx.details
  - pymdownx.tabbed:
      alternate_style: true

Essential Plugins

1. Documentation Enhancement:

   • mkdocs-material: Modern Material design theme
   • pymdown-extensions: Advanced markdown features
   • mkdocs-git-revision-date-plugin: Shows last update dates
2. Code Documentation:

   • mkdocstrings: Auto-generates API documentation
   • mkdocs-jupyter: Renders Jupyter notebooks
3. Navigation & Search:

   • mkdocs-section-index: Better section navigation
   • mkdocs-awesome-pages-plugin: Custom navigation

Automated Deployment

GitHub Actions Workflow

name: Deploy Documentation
on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main
permissions:
  contents: write
jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
        with:
          fetch-depth: 0
      - uses: actions/setup-python@v4
        with:
          python-version: 3.x
      - run: |
          pip install -r requirements-docs.txt
      - name: Deploy Documentation
        run: mkdocs gh-deploy --force

Azure Static Web Apps

name: Deploy to Azure
on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main
jobs:
  build_and_deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: Build Documentation
        run: |
          pip install -r requirements-docs.txt
          mkdocs build
      - name: Deploy
        uses: Azure/static-web-apps-deploy@v1
        with:
          azure_static_web_apps_api_token: ${{ secrets.AZURE_STATIC_WEB_APPS_API_TOKEN }}
          repo_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
          action: "upload"
          app_location: "site"
          skip_app_build: true

GitLab CI/CD Pipeline

pages:
  image: python:3.11-alpine
  stage: deploy
  script:
    - pip install -r requirements-docs.txt
    - mkdocs build --site-dir public
  artifacts:
    paths:
      - public
  rules:
    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH

Best Practices

1. Organize Content:

   • Use clear directory structure

   • Implement consistent naming conventions

   • Create topic-based documentation

2. Navigation:

   • Keep navigation depth <= 3 levels

   • Use descriptive section names

   • Implement breadcrumbs for deep content

3. Performance:

   • Optimize images

   • Use lazy loading for heavy content

   • Implement proper caching headers

4. Search Optimization:

   • Add proper meta descriptions

   • Use meaningful headings

   • Include search-friendly titles

Local Development

1. Start development server:

mkdocs serve

1. Build static site:

mkdocs build

1. Deploy to GitHub Pages:

mkdocs gh-deploy

Advanced Formatting Examples

MkDocs Material supports rich formatting through admonitions:

!!! note "Note" This is a note admonition - use it for general information

!!! tip "Pro Tip" Tips provide best practices and shortcuts

!!! warning "Warning" Highlight potential pitfalls or important warnings

!!! danger "Critical" Use for critical security or deployment warnings

??? example "Collapsible Example (click to expand)"yaml deployment: stage: deploy environment: production script: - mkdocs build - aws s3 sync site/ s3://my-docs-bucket/

Common Patterns

1. API Documentation:

   plugins:
     - mkdocstrings:
         handlers:
           python:
             paths: [src]  # Path to Python source files
             options:
               show_source: false
               show_root_heading: true

2. Version Selector:

   extra:
     version:
       provider: mike

3. Custom Domain: Create a CNAME file in docs/ with your domain:

   docs.yourdomain.com

Additional Resources

• Official MkDocs Documentation
• Material for MkDocs Reference
• MkDocs Plugins