How to Generate SDLC Documentation from Code in Minutes
Your codebase already contains everything needed to write a Project Charter, SRS, SDD, and Security Plan. Here is how to extract it automatically.
The Problem with Templates
Most teams start with a Word template. They fill in the project name, copy-paste some architecture notes, and spend days trying to make the content specific to their actual system. The result is a document that is 60% boilerplate and 40% stale by the time it is reviewed.
The information needed for an SRS or SDD already exists — in the code. The API routes define the functional requirements. The database schema defines the data model. The middleware defines the security controls. The CI/CD config defines the deployment strategy.
The question is: can you extract it automatically?
What Code Analysis Can Detect
When you point DocGen at a repository, the Forge engine indexes the entire codebase and identifies:
- Languages and frameworks — Next.js, FastAPI, Rails, Spring Boot, etc.
- API surface — REST endpoints, GraphQL schemas, WebSocket handlers
- Data layer — ORM models, migration files, database schemas
- Authentication — OAuth providers, JWT handling, middleware chains
- Infrastructure — Docker configs, Kubernetes manifests, CI/CD pipelines
- Dependencies — third-party services, package dependencies, external integrations
- Testing — test frameworks, coverage tools, test file patterns
This analysis determines which documents are relevant. A project with Prisma models and PostgreSQL needs a Database Schema Reference. A project with OAuth and role-based access needs a Security Plan. A project with no database does not need either.
The Four-Step Process
Connect your repository
Sign in with GitHub and select a repo, paste a public URL, or upload a ZIP file. DocGen supports public repos, private repos (via OAuth), and local codebases.
Forge analyzes the codebase
The Forge engine clones and indexes your repo — file tree, key files, package manifests, config files. It detects your stack and recommends which documents to generate based on what it finds.
Documents are generated individually
Each document — Charter, SRS, SDD, Security Plan, Test Plan — is drafted separately against the full codebase context. A typical scan produces 8–25 documents in under 15 minutes. Each draft references actual file paths, function names, and code patterns.
Review, edit, and export
Every draft is editable in-browser with auto-save. Export individual documents or the full package as branded DOCX (with cover page, TOC, and Mermaid diagrams rendered as images), executive slides, or MS Project-compatible plans.
What You Get vs. a Template
| Aspect | Template | DocGen |
|---|---|---|
| Content source | Manual research + copy-paste | Directly from codebase analysis |
| Architecture diagrams | Drawn manually in Visio/Lucidchart | Auto-generated Mermaid, rendered as images |
| API documentation | Manually list endpoints | Extracted from route definitions |
| Security controls | Generic checklist | Derived from actual auth/middleware code |
| Data models | Hand-drawn ERD | Extracted from ORM models and schemas |
| Time to first draft | 1–4 weeks | Under 15 minutes |
| Accuracy | Depends on writer's code knowledge | References actual file paths and functions |
Documentation Frameworks Supported
DocGen supports three documentation frameworks, each adding domain-specific documents on top of the core SDLC package:
Core SDLC
Charter, SRS, SDD, Architecture, Test Plan, Deployment Guide, User Guide
Government
Core + SSP, PIA, Risk Assessment, Contingency Plan, Incident Response, ATO Support
Enterprise
Core + BRD, Solution Architecture, SLA, DR Plan, Change Management, Capacity Planning
When to Re-Scan
Documentation generated from code has a natural expiration date — when the code changes. Recommended re-scan triggers:
- Major release or version bump
- New API endpoints or database schema changes
- Architecture refactor (new services, changed dependencies)
- Compliance audit or ATO renewal
- Onboarding new team members who need current documentation
Ready to try it?
Generate your first document set free — no credit card required. Point at any public GitHub repo and see the results in minutes.