{"id":83851,"title":"Fern Docs: Developer-friendly API Docs","tagline":"Build a \"Stripe-level\" docs website powered by OpenAPI","body":"**_TL;DR_** [Fern Docs](https://buildwithfern.com/) is a static site generator for developer-focused companies to build and host their docs site. It’s the answer to the question:\n\n\u003e **How do we make it easy to build a documentation website that looks as good as Stripe’s?**\n\nCheck out [Cohere’s Docs](https://docs.cohere.com/) built with Fern:\n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post\u0026id=83851\u0026key=user_uploads/1214945/1012ebb6-ebf7-4c68-a355-c0e48fb3de4e)\n\n![uploaded image](/media/?type=post\u0026id=83851\u0026key=user_uploads/1214945/2af9415a-59a0-4f97-bfa9-7ff954ecf162)\n\n# The Problem\n\n[Stripe.com](http://Stripe.com) is known for having the best documentation in the world. How do you make it easy for anyone to build a Stripe-level API documentation website?\n\n# The Solution\n\nFirst, we broke down Stripe’s Docs to determine why everyone loves them so much. Then, we studied popular documentation tools, including ReadMe, Docusaurus, Redocly, GitBook, Mintlify, and MkDocs. \\\n**We took the best parts of each.**\n\n### Key features\n\n* **Docs-as-code**: version your documentation like you version code. We support Markdown or MDX, so you can use GitHub, VS Code, and all the workflows you’re already familiar with.\n* **Powered by OpenAPI**: upload your OpenAPI Specification (fka Swagger) and get your API Reference auto-generated.\n* **API Playground:** let users try your API without leaving your docs. They can even sign in to auto-populate their API credentials. Time to {200} has never been faster.\n* **SDK Snippets:** demonstrate how to call an API using an SDK. The code snippets are auto-updated as your SDKs evolve.\n* **Professional design:** your docs represent your engineering quality. Match your brand identity, including colors, logos, fonts, and (of course) light \u0026 dark modes.\n* **Component library:** UI components that make your docs polished. If you’d prefer, bring your own React components.\n\n# Get a Preview of Your Docs\n\nWant to see what your docs look like in Fern? [**Request a tailored demo**](https://buildwithfern.com/contact?utm_medium=web\u0026utm_source=launch-yc\u0026utm_campaign=fern-docs) and mention “Launch YC.”\n\n# Start Building Self-Service\n\nReady to get started building your docs? Follow the [quickstart guide](https://buildwithfern.com/learn/docs/getting-started/quickstart) to spin up a docs site in under 15 minutes.","slug":"LoR-fern-docs-developer-friendly-api-docs","created_at":"2024-09-08T21:33:56.082Z","updated_at":"2026-05-08T08:57:30.536Z","total_vote_count":1266,"url":"https://www.ycombinator.com/launches/LoR-fern-docs-developer-friendly-api-docs","share_image_url":"https://www.ycombinator.com/media/?type=post\u0026id=83851\u0026key=user_uploads/1214945/1012ebb6-ebf7-4c68-a355-c0e48fb3de4e","company":{"id":28103,"name":"Fern","slug":"fern","url":"https://www.buildwithfern.com","logo":"https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/4f48c426b67826bae7fd3fded6bfc3e891fd72d2.png","batch":"Winter 2023","industry":"B2B","tags":["Developer Tools","SaaS","B2B","Open Source","API"],"search_path":"https://bookface.ycombinator.com/company/28103"}}