As an experiment, I recently used Generative AI (Claude) to analyze the Docsify-This ReadMe in relation to the initial set of core design principles for my open-source Markdown-to-webpage publishing tool, seeking any additional principles evident in the latest documentation.

Here’s the original list of Docsify-This core design principles (last updated over a year ago):

✅ Frictionless Markdown publishing

✅ Flexible content display handling

✅ Your content, your control

✅ Support the 5 Rs of OER

✅ Authors helping other authors

Through this AI-assisted analysis, the refined principles now include:

✅ Zero Maintenance Publishing

✅ Separation of Content and Presentation

✅ Platform independence and choice

✅ Your content, your control

✅ Support the 5 Rs of OER

✅ Authors helping other authors

The Generative AI’s contribution identified two possible foundational principles that I had essentially assumed to be self-evident: “Zero Maintenance Publishing” and “Separation of Content and Presentation.” These drive many of the other principles and provide key guideposts for the continued development of the application.

Key insights from this process:

• AI can see content patterns differently than people