Side by side
Sandcastle Help File Builder vs YARD
Both stand on documentation generators. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Windows
SHFB provides several ways to create and build help for managed class libraries, with multiple input and output formats. Check its .NET requirements and the dependencies for the output format you need.
Visit Sandcastle Help File Builder Free plan Linux
YARD combines Ruby API documentation generation with local browsing and customization options. Its yri limitation is worth noting if your workflow needs to browse standard or core library documentation.
Visit YARDThe facts
| Sandcastle Help File Builder | YARD | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Windows | Linux |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | yardoc.org |
| On documentation generators | #26 of 37 | #30 of 37 |
Sandcastle Help File Builder: what it does well
- Combines API reference and conceptual documentation
- Supports Markdown and MAML topics
- Offers GUI, command-line, Visual Studio, and MSBuild tools
- Supports versioned documentation and CI/CD
- Free software
What to know first
- Desktop tools and MSBuild require .NET Framework 4.8 or later
- dotnet.exe builds require .NET 9.0 or later
- Some help outputs require separate Microsoft tools
YARD: what it does well
- Free tool with the MIT License.
- Generates API references in HTML and YAML.
- Reads Ruby, RDoc and Markdown.
- Local documentation server includes search and live reloading.
- Templates and plugins support customization.
What to know first
- yri does not work with Ruby standard or core libraries.
- Ruby-focused; listed programming language is Ruby.
- No free trial.
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