Fixing Terraform Plugin Docs: Markdown Description Alignment
Hey guys! Ever stumble upon a Terraform project where the documentation looks a bit... off? Specifically, when attributes have multi-line Markdown descriptions, and they're not aligning properly within the list items? Well, you're not alone. This is a common issue that pops up when using terraform-plugin-docs, and it can make your schema attribute lists look a bit messy. Let's dive into this problem, what causes it, and how we can make things a whole lot cleaner. This will help you to easily create and maintain infrastructure using Terraform, ensuring that your documentation is not only accurate but also easy to read and understand. With the right adjustments, your documentation can become a valuable resource for anyone working on your Terraform projects, promoting clarity and ease of use.
The Problem: Misaligned Markdown Descriptions
So, what's the deal? The core issue revolves around how terraform-plugin-docs renders Markdown descriptions, particularly when they span multiple lines. Instead of neatly aligning with the list item, the subsequent lines of the description get left-aligned, creating a visual break in the list. This is particularly noticeable, and a pain in the neck, when you have longer descriptions, or even multiple paragraphs. It's like having a perfectly organized toolbox, but then someone throws all the tools on the floor. It breaks the flow and makes it harder to read and understand the intent behind each attribute. This can be super frustrating for anyone trying to understand what each attribute does, especially when they're using your Terraform modules or resources. A clear and well-formatted documentation ensures everyone can easily understand how to use your infrastructure code, reducing confusion and saving time.
Let's be real, nobody wants to spend extra time deciphering poorly formatted documentation. Well-structured and well-formatted documentation is not just a nice-to-have; it's a must-have for any serious Terraform project. It saves time, reduces errors, and makes collaboration a breeze. Properly aligned descriptions are crucial for a clean and professional look, enhancing the overall user experience.
Code Example
Let's take a look at a snippet of the code that shows the problem. This is from the provider code, and it showcases how the MarkdownDescription is defined within the schema:
func (r *APIDocumentResource) Schema(ctx context.Context, req resource.SchemaRequest, resp *resource.SchemaResponse) {
resp.Schema = schema.Schema{
MarkdownDescription: "APIDocument Resource",
Attributes: map[string]schema.Attribute{
// ...
"parent_document_id": schema.StringAttribute{
Optional: true,
MarkdownDescription: `API Documents may be rendered as a tree of files.` + "\n" +
`` + "\n" +
`Specify the ` + "`" + `id` + "`" + ` of another API Document as the ` + "`" + `parent_document_id` + "`" + ` to add some heirarchy do your documents.`,
},
As you can see, the MarkdownDescription uses multiple lines and newline characters, which is where the misalignment happens.
Expected vs. Actual Behavior
So, what's the desired outcome, and how does it differ from what we actually get? The expected behavior is that when terraform-plugin-docs renders the attribute as a Markdown list item, the multi-line text should automatically align with the list item. This means that each line of the description should line up neatly, making it easy to read. In the actual behavior, the subsequent lines are left-aligned. This misalignment makes the schema attribute list look disjointed and harder to read, especially with longer descriptions. This leads to a less-than-ideal user experience. Let's make our documentation as beautiful and user-friendly as our code!
To really get the point across, imagine this: You're trying to quickly understand a specific attribute's function. The description is spread across several lines, but each line is offset from the bullet point. Your eyes have to work extra hard to follow the entire description. Now, imagine if it was all aligned properly. Much easier, right? This seemingly small detail makes a huge difference in how quickly users can understand and use your Terraform resources.
Why This Matters
Why should you even care about this alignment issue? Well, for starters, it directly impacts the readability and usability of your Terraform documentation. Clear and well-formatted documentation leads to a better user experience and makes it easier for others (and your future self!) to understand and use your code. It's like the difference between a cluttered desk and an organized one - one is much more pleasant and efficient to work with. If the descriptions are hard to read, users are more likely to misunderstand the attributes, which could lead to errors, confusion, and frustration. Clean documentation promotes collaboration, as it makes it easy for team members to understand the infrastructure. It helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that your Terraform projects are well-understood and maintained.
Let's look at a concrete example. Imagine you're documenting an attribute that configures network firewalls. This attribute has several key parameters, each with detailed descriptions. If those descriptions are misaligned, users might miss crucial information. This is where this seemingly minor detail can have a major impact.
Workarounds and Considerations
While we wait for a more elegant solution, are there any workarounds? Yes, but they come with their own set of potential issues. One workaround involves manually injecting space indentation characters into the Markdown description after multiple newline characters. However, this approach can cause problems. It might cause other tools that use that same description to format unexpectedly. It's a tricky balance between fixing the alignment in one place and not breaking it in another. It's not an ideal solution, but it might be a temporary fix. It’s also worth mentioning that these descriptions often originate from OpenAPI Specification documents. This is where the description may be used for other purposes, and it's difficult for API producers to know or understand tool-specific intricacies. You are now going to have to manually adjust your documentation, which can be time-consuming, and prone to error.
Steps to Reproduce the Issue
Reproducing the issue is actually pretty straightforward. All you need to do is create any schema attribute with a MarkdownDescription containing multiple sequential newline characters. This will trigger the misalignment. While it might seem like a simple fix, it involves understanding how the terraform-plugin-docs tool renders Markdown lists. The tool needs to recognize that the description is part of a list and format it accordingly. This means aligning all lines of the description under the first line of the list item.
The Impact of This Issue
This issue has a low impact, as stated in the original report. While the misalignment doesn't break functionality, it does affect readability and the overall user experience. It's a minor annoyance that can, however, be easily fixed to improve the quality of Terraform documentation. This is not a critical bug, but it is an opportunity to improve the readability and professionalism of Terraform documentation, and it is a good idea to deal with it.
Code of Conduct
As always, it's important to follow the project's Code of Conduct. This ensures a respectful and collaborative environment for all contributors.
Wrapping Up
So, there you have it, guys. This is a common issue, and the solution isn't always obvious. By understanding the problem and its potential impact, you can make informed decisions about how to handle your Markdown descriptions in terraform-plugin-docs. Hopefully, the terraform-plugin-docs team will address this issue directly. But for now, you're armed with the knowledge to make your Terraform documentation shine! Remember, clean and well-formatted documentation makes everything better. Thanks for reading and happy coding!