Boost Adoption: Lead With VirtualPath In Your Docs

Introduction: Prioritizing User Experience and Discoverability

Hey guys! This article dives into how we can optimize our documentation and marketing for strict-path to boost adoption. The core idea? Lead with VirtualPath, the user-friendly layer, while still emphasizing the underlying security guarantees provided by StrictPath. We'll revamp our README, examples, and API references to make it easier for developers to understand and use our crate. Let's make our crate more accessible and appealing to a wider audience. The goal is to strike a balance between user-friendliness and the technical integrity of our project. This approach will cater to both newcomers and experienced developers.

Understanding the Foundation: StrictPath and VirtualPath

Before we jump in, let's quickly recap the core concepts. StrictPath is the unwavering foundation, the mathematical guarantee that ensures path boundaries are never breached. Think of it as the bedrock of security. On top of that, we have VirtualPath, a user-friendly layer designed for ease of use. It provides a clean /-rooted display and automatic clamping, making it perfect for common use cases. Remember, VirtualPath relies on StrictPath – it wouldn't exist without it. This hierarchical structure is key to understanding the proposed changes. This structure allows the creation of secure and user-friendly path management solutions.

Current Challenges: Addressing the Documentation Gap

Currently, our documentation treats both StrictPath and VirtualPath somewhat equally, which, honestly, can be a bit confusing. While StrictPath is crucial, **most users will benefit from starting with VirtualPath**. It's simpler to grasp and offers a better initial experience. Additionally, the term "virtual-path" is more marketable and discoverable than "strict-path." People search for "virtual file systems," "sandboxed paths," etc., not necessarily "strict boundaries" at first glance. This is where the problem lies and we can solve it by improving our documentation.

The Current Documentation Focus

The primary issue stems from our current documentation's emphasis on StrictPath or an equal presentation of both. This can make it difficult for new users to understand the practical benefits of strict-path immediately. Many developers are searching for solutions that offer virtual roots, sandboxing, and easy-to-use path manipulation. Presenting VirtualPath first addresses these needs head-on, making it more intuitive and appealing. We are working to solve the current documentation gap to create the best experience for developers.

Proposed Changes: A User-Centric Approach

We're going to revamp our documentation, examples, and marketing materials to lead with VirtualPath. This means showcasing the friendly API first and highlighting its benefits. For advanced users, we'll still provide in-depth information on StrictPath. This approach is designed to create a more intuitive and user-friendly experience.

README.md Structure: A Clear Path for Users

Here's how we'll restructure our README.md:

• Quick Start: VirtualPath (Recommended for Most Users)
  • Demonstrate VirtualPath examples first with simple, approachable code. This will show the real-world functionality for the users.
  • Showcase virtual_join, virtualpath_display, and I/O operations. This way users will quickly understand how VirtualPath works.
  • Emphasize the benefits: user-friendly /-rooted display, automatic clamping, perfect for multi-user systems, web apps, and sandboxes. Focus on why VirtualPath is perfect for beginners and other users.
  • Highlight that it's built on strict boundary enforcement (security is built-in).
• Advanced: StrictPath (Direct Control)
  • Showcase StrictPath examples for users with complex requirements or special use cases.
  • Explain when to use StrictPath directly: system paths, low-level path utilities, maximum performance, and those who understand boundary enforcement.
• Binary Size Optimization
  • Show how to opt-out of VirtualPath if not needed, using a feature flag.

Examples Structure: Prioritizing User Experience

We'll prioritize the order of examples and documentation:

1. Lead with VirtualPath: Show the friendly API first.
2. Demonstrate common use cases: Web servers, file uploads, and multi-user systems.
3. Show StrictPath as "advanced/raw": For those needing direct control.
4. Emphasize the guarantee: Both provide security, but VirtualPath is nicer for UX.

LLM_API_REFERENCE.md: Clarifying Usage

We'll update the introductory section of LLM_API_REFERENCE.md to clarify when to use each type:

• Start with VirtualPath (most use cases):
  • Multi-user systems (each user gets a virtual / root).
  • Web apps serving user files.
  • Sandboxed environments.
  • Any time you want a clean /-rooted path display.
• Use StrictPath directly (advanced):
  • Building path utilities that work with system paths.
  • Need maximum performance (no virtual display).
  • Integrating with APIs that expect system paths.
  • You prefer working with raw filesystem paths.

Both provide the same security guarantee – VirtualPath just adds UX sugar on top.

lib.rs Docs: Leading with VirtualPath

We will update the module-level documentation to lead with VirtualPath in the examples and quick-start guides.

Marketing Insight: Enhancing Discoverability

"Virtual-path" is a more discoverable term. Developers search for terms like "virtual filesystem," "virtual root," and "sandboxed paths." By leading with this concept, we're more likely to attract the right audience. Security-conscious developers will still find us via "path traversal prevention." However, the crate name will stay "strict-path" because it's the foundational guarantee, VirtualPath is optional (via feature flag), and security-first naming attracts the right users. This approach should increase the adoption.

The Importance of "Virtual-Path" Marketing

It is very important that we focus on the term "virtual-path" when we are marketing our crate. Most developers don't immediately search for