Stop Writing Docs: Auto-Generate PHP API Documentation with AI

Let's play a game. What is the one thing every developer hates doing, but every team lead demands?

Documentation.

Writing standard PHPDoc blocks (/** ... */) for every single function in your controller is boring, repetitive, and kills your coding momentum. But without it, your API is a black box.

Here is the secret: You should never write documentation manually again. Let AI do the grunt work.

Hate writing documentation? Discover how to use AI to automatically generate standard PHPDoc blocks and Swagger/OpenAPI specs from your raw code

The "Code-to-Docs" Method

Whether you need simple comments for your functions or full API specs for Swagger, AI is surprisingly accurate at reading code intent.

Example: documenting a PHP Function

You have a messy function like this:

function calc($a, $b, $type = 'add') {
    if($type == 'add') return $a + $b;
    if($type == 'sub') return $a - $b;
    return 0;
}

The Prompt:

Prompt:
"Generate a standard PHPDoc block for this function. Include parameter types, return types, and a brief description."

The AI Output:

/**
 * Calculates the result of an arithmetic operation.
 *
 * @param int|float $a The first number.
 * @param int|float $b The second number.
 * @param string $type The operation type ('add' or 'sub'). Default is 'add'.
 * @return int|float The calculated result, or 0 if type is invalid.
 */
function calc($a, $b, $type = 'add') { ... }

Level Up: Generating Swagger/OpenAPI Specs

If you are building a REST API (like for a React or Flutter app), you need an OpenAPI JSON/YAML file.

Just paste your entire PHP Controller into the AI and ask:

"Generate an OpenAPI (Swagger) YAML definition for these API endpoints."

It will instantly output the correct YAML structure describing your GET/POST requests, required fields, and response codes. You just saved 30 minutes of work!

Conclusion

Documentation is crucial for long-term maintenance, but it doesn't have to be a chore. Use AI to keep your docs up-to-date with your code changes instantly.

Pro Tip: Always review the AI-generated docs to make sure the business logic description is accurate.

Author: Marg | Daily Innovate Tech