Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

API Extractor VS Docma

Compare API Extractor VS Docma and see what are their differences

API Extractor logo API Extractor

API Extractor helps you write better TypeScript libraries: It analyzes your exported type signatures and (1) produces an API documentation website, (2) generates a .d.ts "rollup" file, and (3) creates an API report to facilitate PR reviews.

Docma logo Docma

Docma is a powerful tool to easily generate beautiful HTML documentation from Javascript (JSDoc)...
  • API Extractor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-28
  • Docma Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-11-05

API Extractor features and specs

  • Comprehensive API Report
    API Extractor generates detailed reports of the API surface, which helps developers understand the changes and current state of the API, ensuring all team members are on the same page.
  • API Stability
    By using API Extractor, developers can enforce consistent API patterns and prevent breaking changes, contributing to a more stable and reliable API over time.
  • TypeScript Support
    API Extractor is specifically designed for TypeScript, making it highly effective for projects that rely on TypeScript's typing and interfaces.
  • Markdown Documentation
    The tool supports generation of markdown files for documentation, which can be easily integrated with existing documentation sites, enhancing accessibility and ease of use.
  • Version Tracking
    It allows developers to track API changes across versions, helping to manage deprecation and communicate updates effectively to users.

Possible disadvantages of API Extractor

  • Learning Curve
    API Extractor has a steep learning curve for new users, which can be challenging for teams without prior experience or knowledge of TypeScript toolchains.
  • TypeScript-Only
    Since API Extractor is designed for TypeScript, it cannot be used directly with JavaScript projects, limiting its applicability to TypeScript-based projects only.
  • Configuration Complexity
    Setting up API Extractor can be complex due to its configuration options, requiring time and effort to properly integrate it into a build process.
  • Performance Overhead
    Running API Extractor can add significant overhead to the build process, impacting the overall build time, particularly in large projects.
  • Maintenance
    Regular updates and maintenance of the API Extractor configuration are required to keep in synchronization with updates to the TypeScript language and changes in the codebase.

Docma features and specs

  • Customizability
    Docma allows customization of the documentation layout and theme, enabling users to tailor the output to fit their brand or desired appearance.
  • Easy Setup
    Docma provides a straightforward setup process with minimal configuration, making it accessible for users without extensive technical knowledge.
  • Markdown Support
    Docma supports markdown files, allowing users to write documentation using simple and widely-adopted syntax.
  • Client-Side Performance
    Docma generates static documentation, which can be hosted on any web server, leading to faster client-side performance compared to dynamic document servers.
  • Search Functionality
    Built-in search functionality allows users to quickly find information within the generated documentation.

Possible disadvantages of Docma

  • Limited Flexibility
    While Docma offers customization options, the overall flexibility might be limited compared to more robust documentation generators, particularly for very specific or complex requirements.
  • Dependency on JavaScript
    Docma is based on Node.js, which means users need to have a Node.js environment set up, potentially complicating the process for those unfamiliar with JavaScript frameworks.
  • Learning Curve
    For users not familiar with JavaScript documentation generation tools, there might be a learning curve associated with understanding and effectively using Docma.
  • Limited Plugins
    Docma may have fewer plugins and third-party integrations compared to larger documentation platforms, limiting its extensibility.
  • Community Size
    As a less popular tool, Docma may have a smaller community for support, reducing the availability of community-made extensions or troubleshooting help.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to API Extractor and Docma)
Documentation As A Service & Tools
Documentation
44 44%
56% 56
Knowledge Base
54 54%
46% 46
Search Engine
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, API Extractor seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

API Extractor mentions (5)

  • Deploying TypeScript Type Definitions for Umbraco v14 Packages
    Thankfully we can achieve this using third party tool, API Extractor. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • In-Depth guide for TypeScript Library
    There are many more tools than those listed above. You can check out discussion and comparison of bundling tools. Unfortunately, choosing the right tool among them is a process that you'll have to experiment with and decide for your own project needs. For example, dts-bundle-generator, API Extractor, and rollup-plugin-dts do not support .d.ts.map files. Also, API Extractor and dts-bundle-generator do not have... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • I created a game engine using TypeScript. Please roast it.
    I use https://api-extractor.com/ at work and really like it. The problem with it is that the spec it follows doesn’t 100% match VSCode’s behavior. This causes pain when using {@link} fields in descriptions. Typedoc looks fine too, I’ve never used it. Source: about 2 years ago
  • [AskJS] Managing private packages and published types in a monorepo
    I've tried using https://api-extractor.com/ to rollup types but it has some edge cases where it fails. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Do you use JSdocs with TypeScript?
    I use TSDoc extensively at work, along with API Extractor to generate externally-facing documentation from the TSDoc comments. It’s great. Since I’ve gotten used to good intellisense in VSCode I don’t really like working in code that doesn’t have TSDoc comments anymore. Source: over 3 years ago

Docma mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Docma yet. Tracking of Docma recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing API Extractor and Docma, you can also consider the following products

TypeDoc - A documentation generator for TypeScript projects

Documentation Agency - We write your product or library documentation.

ng-docx - Ng-docx is a library that automatically generates a documentation page to easily and beautifully view your markdowns.

Compodoc - The missing documentation tool for your Angular application

swagger.io - Swagger is an open source RESTapi Documentation Tool.

ESDoc - Documentation generator for JavaScript