Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

DevDocs VS Dr.Explain

Compare DevDocs VS Dr.Explain and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

DevDocs logo DevDocs

Open source API documentation browser with instant fuzzy search, offline mode, keyboard shortcuts, and more

Dr.Explain logo Dr.Explain

Dr.Explain software is a help file authoring tool.
  • DevDocs Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-12
  • Dr.Explain Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-13

DevDocs features and specs

  • Comprehensive Documentation
    DevDocs offers a wide array of documentation for various programming languages, libraries, and frameworks, making it a one-stop resource for developers.
  • Offline Access
    Users can download documentation for offline use, which is beneficial for work in environments without consistent internet connectivity.
  • Fast Search
    DevDocs features a lightning-fast search functionality, allowing developers to quickly find the information they need.
  • Integrations
    DevDocs can integrate with various editors and tools, enhancing the workflow for developers.
  • Free and Open Source
    DevDocs is free to use and open source, allowing developers to contribute and improve the platform.

Possible disadvantages of DevDocs

  • Limited Customization
    The platform offers limited customization options for user interface preferences compared to some other documentation tools.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a learning curve to get accustomed to the interface and find the documentation they need.
  • Dependency on Contributions
    As an open-source project, DevDocs relies heavily on community contributions to keep documentation up to date, which might lead to inconsistencies.
  • No User Accounts
    DevDocs does not support user accounts, meaning there is no way to save personalized settings or bookmarks across different devices.
  • Limited Mobile Optimization
    While it is accessible on mobile devices, DevDocs is not specifically optimized for mobile use, which might affect the user experience on smaller screens.

Dr.Explain features and specs

  • Interactive Table of Contents
    Dr.Explain automatically creates a structured table of contents, simplifying navigation for both authors and viewers.
  • Easy Screenshot Annotation
    The tool allows users to capture and annotate screenshots efficiently, which is helpful for creating detailed guides and manuals.
  • Multi-Format Export
    Users can export documentation into various formats like HTML, PDF, RTF, and CHM, increasing accessibility and flexibility in distribution.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software features an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it accessible for users with different levels of technical expertise.
  • Automated Interface Analysis
    Dr.Explain can automatically analyze application interfaces, reducing the manual effort required to document UI elements.

Possible disadvantages of Dr.Explain

  • High Initial Cost
    The initial purchase price can be relatively expensive, which might be a barrier for small businesses or individual users.
  • Limited Advanced Customization
    While great for basic needs, it lacks some advanced customization options that power users might require for more specialized documentation.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite an overall user-friendly interface, there can be a learning curve for mastering all its features, especially for non-technical users.
  • Occasional Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues, particularly when handling large projects or complex documentation tasks.
  • Infrequent Updates
    The frequency of software updates and new feature releases is sometimes slower compared to other documentation tools.

Analysis of DevDocs

Overall verdict

  • Yes, DevDocs is generally considered a valuable tool for developers who need quick and easy access to documentation across various programming languages and technologies.

Why this product is good

  • DevDocs is widely regarded as a great resource for developers because it offers an extensive collection of API documentation in a single, searchable interface. It consolidates various languages and frameworks, allowing for quick access and offline availability, which can significantly speed up development workflows.

Recommended for

  • Software developers
  • Web developers
  • Programmers who frequently switch between languages
  • Developers working with multiple frameworks
  • Students learning programming
  • Anyone needing quick access to tech documentation

Analysis of Dr.Explain

Overall verdict

  • Dr.Explain is generally regarded as a good tool for developers and technical writers who need to create comprehensive, professional documentation efficiently. Its automation features and user-friendly interface make the process simpler and quicker compared to manual documentation methods.

Why this product is good

  • Dr.Explain is considered a useful tool for creating help documentation and user manuals due to its ability to automatically capture application screens and generate annotated, navigable, and customized documentation. It supports a wide range of output formats like CHM, HTML, RTF, and PDF, and offers features such as multi-format export, a responsive template engine, and customizable reports.

Recommended for

    Dr.Explain is highly recommended for software developers, technical writers, and small to medium-sized businesses who require a straightforward solution for producing software documentation and user guides without extensive training or complex procedures.

DevDocs videos

DevDocs - An API Documentation Browser

Dr.Explain videos

Dr.Explain 4.5 - A new version of the best help file and manual authoring tool

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to create online help manual (webhelp) with Dr.Explain

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DevDocs and Dr.Explain)
Cryptocurrencies
100 100%
0% 0
Document Management
0 0%
100% 100
Blockchain
100 100%
0% 0
Document Management System

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, DevDocs seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 129 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.

DevDocs mentions (129)

  • 10 more Exciting Resources for Devs
    ID: i26 Tags: Programming, API, Documentation Description: Fast, offline, and free documentation browser for developers. GitHub Link | Website Link. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • 11 Must-Know Websites Every Developer Should Bookmark
    Search API documentation effortlessly with DevDocs. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Review: Boost Your Django DX by Adam Johnson
    The book has twelve chapters. It starts with documentation, the source of truth, and explores how to access documentation offline (DevDocs) or online. It then progresses towards creating your own System Checks. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • intro to web development in the era of genAI
    I use devdocs.io for a one place for many libraries and languages. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • 12 Essential Websites Every Coder Should Know
    DevDocs is a fast, offline-capable documentation browser that covers a wide range of programming languages and tools. No matter what technical documentation you need to look up, DevDocs can quickly find and display it for you. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
View more

Dr.Explain mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing DevDocs and Dr.Explain, you can also consider the following products

Zeal - Zeal is an API Documentation Browser.

HelpNDoc - What is HelpNDoc ? Easy to use yet powerful help authoring environment which can generate various documentation formats from a single source.

Dash for macOS - Dash is an API Documentation Browser and Code Snippet Manager. Dash searches offline documentation of 200+ APIs and stores snippets of code. You can also generate your own documentation sets.

HelpSmith - HelpSmith is a help authoring tool to create CHM HTML help files, manuals, and PDF documents.

DASH - DASH is a secure, blockchain-based global financial network which offers private transactions.

Adobe RoboHelp - Adobe RoboHelp empowers organizations to deliver engaging help and policy content across mobile devices, formats, and platforms.