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StrictDoc

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What StrictDoc is

StrictDoc is open-source software for technical documentation and requirements management. It stores requirements and documentation as plain-text files that can be versioned with Git, using its native SDoc format or a Markdown dialect with traceability features. It links requirements to source code, tests, and test reports, and lets users navigate those connections through a traceability graph. Teams can edit and review documents in a browser or work directly from an IDE or command line. Custom document grammars let projects define their own requirement fields and mark fields as mandatory. StrictDoc can report source-code coverage by requirement and produce diffs and changelogs between document-tree versions. It exports to HTML and reStructuredText, which can feed a Sphinx documentation pipeline; PDF export is described as experimental. ReqIF import and export are also experimental, and may require workflow adjustments because tools structure and name fields differently. The project provides a Python API for extensions and engineering workflow integrations. StrictDoc is written in Python and requires Python 3.10 or newer. It can run as a local web server, with installation options including pip and Docker. The software is licensed under Apache License 2.0 and offers on-premises deployment.

Who it suits

StrictDoc suits agile software teams, technical documentation groups, university and research projects, and safety- or security-critical projects that need requirements traceability. It is a fit for teams that can work with plain-text files and Git and have Python 3.10 or newer available.

What it does well

Stores documentation and requirements as Git-versionable plain text.
Links requirements with code, tests, and test reports.
Supports custom grammars and mandatory project-specific fields.
Provides HTML and reStructuredText exports.
Offers a Python API and Docker installation path.
Apache License 2.0 open-source software.

What to know first

Python 3.10 or newer is required.
PDF export is experimental.
ReqIF import and export are experimental.

Limits

PDF export and ReqIF import and export are experimental. ReqIF workflows may need adjustment because tools differ in how they structure and name fields.

Getting started

Install Python 3.10 or newer on macOS, Linux, or Windows.
Install StrictDoc with pip, or use the Docker installation path.
Create or open documentation in SDoc or its Markdown dialect.
Run StrictDoc as a local web server or use the browser, IDE, or command-line workflow.
Connect requirements to source code, tests, or test reports as needed.

Verdict

Choose StrictDoc if your team needs requirements traceability alongside technical documentation stored in Git-versioned plain-text files. Its custom grammars, traceability graph, and Python API support engineering workflows; look elsewhere if your workflow depends on mature PDF or ReqIF support, since those features are experimental.

Questions

Does StrictDoc cost anything?

StrictDoc is free and open source under the Apache License 2.0.

Which platforms does it support?

The installation guide lists macOS, Linux, and Windows. StrictDoc can also run a local web server and has a Docker installation path.

What formats can it import or export?

It supports SDoc and a Markdown dialect, and lists ReqIF, Excel XLS/XLSX, HTML, RST, PDF, and JSON among its import and export formats. PDF and ReqIF support are experimental.

Can I use it with Git and Sphinx?

Yes. It stores documentation as plain-text files that can be versioned with Git, and its reStructuredText export can feed a Sphinx pipeline.

What does StrictDoc require?

It requires Python 3.10 or newer. The user guide recommends installing it with pip, and a Docker installation path is available.

Who develops StrictDoc?

The project says it started in 2019 and is developed in Python.

Facts from StrictDoc's own pages

Coverage and change tracking: StrictDoc can report source-code coverage by requirements and generate diffs and changelogs between document-tree versions. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
Custom fields: Custom document grammars let users define project-specific requirement fields and mark them as mandatory. · strictdoc.readthedocs.io, 8 Oct 2026
Editing: Users can edit and review documentation in a browser or directly in an IDE or command-line workflow. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
Exports: StrictDoc can publish static HTML and export documents to PDF, ReqIF, Excel, and JSON. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
Input formats: StrictDoc supports its native SDoc format and a Markdown dialect with traceability features. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
Installation: The user guide recommends installing StrictDoc with pip and lists Python 3.10 or newer on macOS, Linux, or Windows as requirements. · strictdoc.readthedocs.io, 8 Oct 2026
Integrations: Its reStructuredText export can feed a Sphinx documentation pipeline, and it offers a Python API for extending and integrating it into engineering workflows. · strictdoc.readthedocs.io, 8 Oct 2026
Intended users: The project identifies agile software teams, safety- and security-critical projects, technical documentation teams, and university or research projects as users. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
License: StrictDoc is open source under the Apache 2.0 license. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
Plain-text workflow: StrictDoc stores documentation and requirements as plain-text files in Git. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
Platforms: The user guide lists macOS, Linux, and Windows as supported operating systems and describes StrictDoc as a command-line terminal program. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Project history: The project says it started in 2019 and is developed in Python. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
Purpose: StrictDoc is open-source software for technical documentation and requirements management. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
ReqIF limitation: ReqIF import and export are marked experimental, and workflows may need adjustment because tools structure and name fields differently. · strictdoc.readthedocs.io, 8 Oct 2026
Runtime requirement: StrictDoc requires Python 3.10 or newer. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Security and compliance use: StrictDoc is described for safety- and security-critical projects that need traceability under standards such as DO-178C, ECSS, and IEC 62443. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
Self-hosting: StrictDoc can run a local web server, and the project provides a Docker installation path. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Storage: It stores documentation and requirements as plain text files that can be versioned with Git. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
Support: The project lists GitHub issues and discussions, a mailing list, Discord, email, and weekly open office hours as ways to get help or provide feedback. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
Target users: StrictDoc identifies agile software teams, safety- and security-critical projects, technical documentation teams, and university and research projects as use cases. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026
Traceability: It links requirements to source code, tests, and test reports, with navigation through the traceability graph. · strictdoc-project.github.io, 8 Oct 2026

Where StrictDoc stands on Freedom251

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