jsdoc vs typedoc vs esdoc
JavaScript Documentation Generators Comparison
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jsdoctypedocesdocSimilar Packages:
What's JavaScript Documentation Generators?

JavaScript documentation generators are tools that automate the process of creating documentation for JavaScript codebases. They parse source code comments and structure them into user-friendly documentation formats, making it easier for developers to understand and use libraries and APIs. These tools enhance code maintainability, facilitate onboarding for new developers, and improve collaboration by providing clear and accessible documentation. Each tool has its unique features and strengths, catering to different needs in the documentation process.

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jsdoc1,940,95815,1371.53 MB4444 months agoApache-2.0
typedoc1,630,9817,9221.95 MB129 days agoApache-2.0
esdoc47,0512,739-1667 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: jsdoc vs typedoc vs esdoc

Language Support

  • jsdoc:

    JSDoc supports a wide range of JavaScript versions, including both ES5 and ES6. It allows developers to document their code using JSDoc comments, which can be parsed to generate documentation. This flexibility makes JSDoc suitable for legacy projects as well as new ones that use modern syntax.

  • typedoc:

    TypeDoc is specifically built for TypeScript, leveraging TypeScript's type system to generate documentation. It provides detailed type information, making it the best choice for TypeScript projects where type safety and clarity are paramount.

  • esdoc:

    ESDoc is designed primarily for modern JavaScript (ES6+) and provides excellent support for features like modules, classes, and arrow functions. It focuses on generating documentation that reflects the latest JavaScript standards, making it ideal for projects using contemporary JavaScript syntax.

Output Format

  • jsdoc:

    JSDoc can produce documentation in various formats, including HTML, Markdown, and JSON. This versatility allows developers to choose the output format that best suits their needs, whether for web documentation or integration into other tools.

  • typedoc:

    TypeDoc generates documentation in a structured HTML format, similar to ESDoc, but with a focus on TypeScript's type information. It provides a clear representation of classes, interfaces, and types, making it easy for developers to understand the API.

  • esdoc:

    ESDoc generates documentation in a clean and modern HTML format that is easy to navigate. It includes features like search functionality and a responsive design, making it user-friendly for developers looking to explore the documentation.

Customization

  • jsdoc:

    JSDoc is highly customizable, allowing developers to create their own templates and plugins. This flexibility enables teams to tailor the documentation output to match their branding and style guidelines, making it a preferred choice for many projects.

  • typedoc:

    TypeDoc allows for some customization, but it is primarily focused on generating accurate type-based documentation. It provides options for configuring the output and includes themes, but the customization is not as extensive as JSDoc.

  • esdoc:

    ESDoc offers limited customization options compared to JSDoc, but it allows for some theming and configuration through its settings. It is designed to provide a straightforward experience without overwhelming users with too many options.

Ease of Use

  • jsdoc:

    JSDoc has a moderate learning curve, especially for those unfamiliar with its comment syntax. However, once understood, it provides a powerful way to document code. The extensive community and resources available can help ease the learning process.

  • typedoc:

    TypeDoc is easy to use for TypeScript developers, as it integrates seamlessly with TypeScript projects. Developers familiar with TypeScript will find it straightforward to document their code, leveraging the type information directly.

  • esdoc:

    ESDoc is relatively easy to set up and use, especially for projects that follow modern JavaScript practices. Its straightforward configuration and focus on ES6+ features make it accessible for developers familiar with contemporary JavaScript.

Community and Ecosystem

  • jsdoc:

    JSDoc has a large and active community, with extensive documentation, plugins, and templates available. This rich ecosystem makes it a reliable choice for many developers, ensuring support and resources are readily available.

  • typedoc:

    TypeDoc benefits from the growing TypeScript community, which is increasingly adopting TypeScript for modern web development. While its community is smaller than JSDoc's, it is dedicated and focused on TypeScript documentation needs.

  • esdoc:

    ESDoc has a smaller community compared to JSDoc and TypeDoc, but it is growing, especially among modern JavaScript developers. Its focus on ES6+ features attracts a niche audience looking for contemporary documentation solutions.

How to Choose: jsdoc vs typedoc vs esdoc
  • jsdoc:

    Choose JSDoc if you are looking for a widely adopted and versatile documentation tool that supports a variety of JavaScript styles, including ES5 and ES6. JSDoc is highly customizable and has a large ecosystem of plugins and templates, making it suitable for both small and large projects that require extensive documentation capabilities.

  • typedoc:

    Choose TypeDoc if you are working with TypeScript and want a documentation generator that fully understands TypeScript's type system. TypeDoc generates documentation based on TypeScript's type information, providing detailed and accurate API documentation that reflects the structure and types of your code.

  • esdoc:

    Choose ESDoc if you need a documentation generator that emphasizes modern JavaScript features, supports ES6+ syntax, and provides a clean, visually appealing output. ESDoc is particularly useful for projects that leverage ES6 modules and want to take advantage of advanced features like test coverage reports.

README for jsdoc

JSDoc

Build Status

An API documentation generator for JavaScript.

Want to contribute to JSDoc? Please read CONTRIBUTING.md.

Installation and Usage

JSDoc supports stable versions of Node.js 12.0.0 and later. You can install JSDoc globally or in your project's node_modules folder.

To install the latest version on npm globally (might require sudo; learn how to fix this):

npm install -g jsdoc

To install the latest version on npm locally and save it in your package's package.json file:

npm install --save-dev jsdoc

To install the latest development version locally, without updating your project's package.json file:

npm install git+https://github.com/jsdoc/jsdoc.git

If you installed JSDoc locally, the JSDoc command-line tool is available in ./node_modules/.bin. To generate documentation for the file yourJavaScriptFile.js:

./node_modules/.bin/jsdoc yourJavaScriptFile.js

If you installed JSDoc globally, run the jsdoc command:

jsdoc yourJavaScriptFile.js

By default, the generated documentation is saved in a directory named out. You can use the --destination (-d) option to specify another directory.

Run jsdoc --help for a complete list of command-line options.

Templates and tools

The JSDoc community has created templates and other tools to help you generate and customize your documentation. Here are a few of them:

Templates

Build tools

Other tools

For more information

License

JSDoc is copyright (c) 2011-present Michael Mathews micmath@gmail.com and the contributors to JSDoc.

JSDoc is free software, licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See the file LICENSE.md in this distribution for more details.