Javadoc AlternativesDocumentation Generators and other similar apps like Javadoc

Javadoc is described as 'Tool from Sun Microsystems for generating API documentation in HTML format from doc comments in source code' and is a documentation generator in the development category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Javadoc for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Self-Hosted and BSD apps. The best Javadoc alternative is Doxygen, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Javadoc are MkDocs, VitePress, Slate API Docs Generator and Sandcastle.

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Alternatives list

  1. Doxygen icon
     51 likes

    Doxygen is a tool for generating documentation from annotated C++ sources, as well as other popular programming languages like C, Objective-C, C#, PHP, Java, Python, IDL (CORBA, Microsoft, and UNO/OpenOffice flavors), Fortran, VHDL, Tcl, and to some extent D.

    36 Doxygen alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Haiku
     
    • Doxygen is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Javadoc.

    • Doxygen is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Javadoc.

    • Doxygen is Free and Open SourceJavadoc is Free and Proprietary
  2. MkDocs icon
     20 likes

    MkDocs is static site generator that's geared towards building project documentation. Documentation source files are written in Markdown, and configured with a single YAML configuration file.

    69 MkDocs alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Python
     
    |
    1
    Comments about MkDocs as an Alternative to Javadoc
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Doesn't even read Java sources

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    MkDocs icon
    • MkDocs is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Javadoc.

    • MkDocs is Free and Open SourceJavadoc is Free and Proprietary
    • MkDocs is LightweightJavadoc is not according to our users
  3. Sandcastle icon
     6 likes

    Sandcastle produces accurate, MSDN style, comprehensive documentation by reflecting over the source assemblies and optionally integrating XML Documentation Comments. Sandcastle has the following key features:

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • .NET Framework
     
  4.  5 likes

    NDoc generates class library documentation from .NET assemblies and the XML documentation files generated by the C# compiler (or with an add-on tool for VB.NET).

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • .NET Framework
     
  5. DocFX icon
     5 likes

    DocFX generates Documentation directly from source code (.NET, RESTful API, JavaScript, Java, etc...) and Markdown files.

    36 DocFX alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  6. Document! X icon
     2 likes

    Document! X is a combination of an automated documentation tool and a full authoring environment which can be used to create, publish and maintain accurate, professional quality documentation for .NET, Web Services, Databases, XSDs, Java ,Javascript.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • .NET Framework
    • Microsoft Visual Studio
     
    • Document! X is the most popular commercial alternative to Javadoc.

    • Document! X is Paid and ProprietaryJavadoc is Free and Proprietary
  7. PHP documentation generator based on docblock parsing.

    phpDocumentor 2, result of the merge between the old phpDocumentor and DocBlox , sometimes referred to as phpdoc or phpdocu, is the current standard auto-documentation tool for the php la.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  8. DoxyS icon
     2 likes

    DoxyS is a code documentation tool for C++/C. DoxyS strives to yield a very professional looking output, presenting the the code in a structured easy to navigate set of HTML pages. Easy to use: Just navigate to the root of your code directory and type doxys.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  9. CppDoc icon
     1 like

    CppDoc generates HTML documentation for C++ classes, based on your source code and special comments embedded within it. It can produce output that is very similar to the output of Javadoc, and it supports Javadoc tags such as @see, @return , etc.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  10. Natural Docs icon
     1 like

    Natural Docs is an open-source documentation generator for multiple programming languages. You document your code in a natural syntax that reads like plain English. Natural Docs then scans your code and builds high-quality HTML documentation from it.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Perl
     
12 of 18 Javadoc alternatives