Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

DevDocs VS zgen

Compare DevDocs VS zgen and see what are their differences

DevDocs logo DevDocs

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

zgen logo zgen

A lightweight plugin manager for Zsh inspired by Antigen. Keep your .zshrc clean and simple.
  • DevDocs Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-12
  • zgen Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-31

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.

zgen features and specs

  • Speed
    Zgen is known for its fast startup times compared to many other Zsh plugin managers, which is achieved by caching the result of sourcing scripts.
  • Simplicity
    It offers a simple interface for managing plugins. Users can easily declare plugins in a script and let Zgen handle the setup, making it user-friendly.
  • Minimalist
    Zgen is minimalist and does not include unnecessary features or bloat, appealing to users who prefer lightweight solutions.
  • Easy to Use
    The setup and management of plugins with Zgen is straightforward and doesn’t require deep technical knowledge, making it accessible for beginners.

Possible disadvantages of zgen

  • Maintenance
    Zgen has not received updates in quite some time, which might lead to issues with newer Zsh versions or other plugins if compatibility changes.
  • Community Support
    The community around Zgen is smaller compared to more popular plugin managers, possibly leading to fewer third-party resources like tutorials or forums.
  • Feature Set
    Zgen lacks some advanced features found in other more actively developed plugin managers, such as dependency management or built-in theme management.
  • Caching Complexity
    While caching improves speed, it might lead to complexities in updating or debugging plugins, as users need to clear the cache manually to ensure changes take effect.

DevDocs videos

DevDocs - An API Documentation Browser

zgen videos

No zgen videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DevDocs and zgen)
Cryptocurrencies
89 89%
11% 11
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Blockchain
90 90%
10% 10
Programming
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, DevDocs seems to be a lot more popular than zgen. While we know about 129 links to DevDocs, we've tracked only 2 mentions of zgen. 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 / about 1 month ago
  • 11 Must-Know Websites Every Developer Should Bookmark
    Search API documentation effortlessly with DevDocs. - Source: dev.to / 4 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 / 8 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 / 9 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 / 9 months ago
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zgen mentions (2)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing DevDocs and zgen, you can also consider the following products

Zeal - Zeal is an API Documentation Browser.

Oh My Zsh - A delightful community-driven framework for managing your zsh configuration.

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.

Prezto - Prezto is the configuration framework for Zsh; it enriches the command line interface environment...

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

Antigen - The plugin manager for zsh.