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09-reference-manuals

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Reference Manuals

Consumer Layer — Comprehensive, authoritative technical reference

Definition

Reference manuals are comprehensive documents that provide complete, detailed information about a system. Unlike tutorials (which teach) or guides (which advise), reference manuals are designed to be consulted—developers look up specific information when they need it.

Relationship to the Specification

Reference manuals are the most direct consumer-facing translation of the specification. They organize specification content for practical lookup while adding implementation details and usage examples.

Specification ProvidesReference Manual Adds
Abstract requirementsConcrete parameter values
Formal definitionsUsage examples
Normative language (SHALL, MUST)Practical implications
Complete coverageOrganized navigation

Core Components

  • API Reference: Every endpoint, method, parameter, and return value
  • Configuration Options: All settings and their effects
  • Error Codes: Complete enumeration with descriptions and resolutions
  • Data Types: All structures, fields, and constraints
  • Constants and Enums: All defined values
  • Glossary: Precise definitions of terms
  • Index: Multiple paths to find information

Dependency Chain

Specification
    ↓
Protocol Docs ← communication details
Data Schemas ← data structure definitions
    ↓
Reference Manuals ← comprehensive lookup resource
    ↓
Developer Guides ← curated recommendations from reference content
Tutorials ← worked examples using reference information

Why Spec-Grounding Matters

Reference manuals must be precise—they’re consulted when developers need definitive answers. Ungrounded reference content causes:

  • Implementation errors: Wrong parameters, missing validations
  • Integration failures: Incompatible interpretations between systems
  • Debugging dead ends: Actual behavior doesn’t match documented behavior
  • Trust erosion: Developers stop consulting unreliable references

Structure of Specification-Grounded Reference Entries

Each reference entry should trace to specification:

## client.sendMessage(message, options)
 
Sends a message to the specified recipient.
 
**Specification Reference**: SPEC-4.2.1 (Message Transmission)
 
### Parameters
 
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | Spec |
|-----------|------|----------|-------------|------|
| message | `Message` | Yes | The message to send | SPEC-3.2.1 |
| options.timeout | `number` | No | Timeout in ms (default: 30000) | SPEC-4.2.3 |
| options.priority | `"normal" \| "high"` | No | Delivery priority | SPEC-4.2.4 |
 
### Returns
 
`Promise<MessageReceipt>` - Resolves when message is accepted by the network.
 
**Note**: Acceptance does not guarantee delivery. See SPEC-4.2.7 for 
delivery confirmation patterns.
 
### Errors
 
| Code | Specification | Description |
|------|--------------|-------------|
| `MESSAGE_TOO_LARGE` | SPEC-3.4.1 | Payload exceeds 64KB |
| `RECIPIENT_UNKNOWN` | SPEC-4.2.2 | Recipient not found in network |
| `RATE_LIMITED` | SPEC-4.5.1 | Exceeded 100 messages/minute |
 
### Example
 
    const receipt = await client.sendMessage({
        recipient: recipientId,
        content: "Hello, world!",
        contentType: "text/plain"
    });
    
    console.log(`Sent: ${receipt.messageId}`);

Completeness Requirements

Reference manuals should cover:

  • Every public API surface—no undocumented methods
  • Every error condition—with specification-defined codes
  • Every configuration option—with defaults and valid ranges
  • Every data type—with all fields and constraints
  • Every constant—with values and meanings

Gaps in reference coverage often indicate gaps in specification coverage.

Best Practices

  • Generate reference content from specification and code where possible
  • Include specification section references for every behavior
  • Keep reference content synchronized with specification versions
  • Provide search functionality—developers need to find things quickly
  • Include “See Also” links to related reference content
  • Distinguish between stable API (per spec) and experimental features
  • Use consistent formatting throughout for scannability
  • Include both signature-level and behavioral documentation

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