The success of any tech company depends not just on innovation, but also on seamless communication, says computer science student Ashley Newton.

“That extends not just between you and your team, but between your company and your users as well,” she says. “Good documentation is key to transferring crucial knowledge to make sure no one gets left behind.”

Newton, a technical writer for the software company SaltStack, will share some of her successes and challenges in scaling software documentation in a presentation entitled “Open-minded collaboration at scale” at the Great North DevFest on Saturday, Oct. 17. Hosted by the Google Developer Groups of Windsor, Detroit, and Ann Arbor, the conference for software developers will feature a full day of online talks on technology.

“I feel passionately that open-sourcing knowledge, tools, and best practices is the best way to work smarter and get results,” says Newton.

That passion has led her to start a local chapter of Write the Docs, a global community working together to improve the art and science of documentation: programmers, tech writers, developer advocates, customer support, marketers, and anyone else who wants people to have great experiences with software.

To learn more, contact Newton at newto115@uwindsor.ca.