Comparison
Swimm is manual code documentation. Glue generates docs automatically from code. Compare approaches to keeping documentation current for engineers and PMs.
Swimm is a code documentation platform that helps engineers write and maintain documentation that stays synced with the codebase. Glue generates codebase documentation automatically from the code itself and makes it accessible to non-engineers. Both address "documentation problems" but at different points and for different audiences. Swimm documents code FOR engineers. Glue makes code understandable TO non-engineers.
Swimm helps engineering teams create documentation about how code works. Engineers write "playbooks" and "documents" that reference specific code snippets, flows, and patterns. Documentation stays synced with code through automated checks - if code changes, Swimm alerts the author that documentation needs updating. Swimm's editor integrations let developers access documentation without leaving their IDE.
Swimm solves the "engineers don't understand each other's code" problem. It's powerful when your primary documentation problem is internal: new hires, context transfer between engineers, shared understanding of complex flows. The documentation is written by engineers, for engineers, with the specific goal of explaining how to work in the codebase.
Swimm requires ongoing engineering effort. Developers need to write and maintain documentation. But once written, it's accurate and accessible to anyone on the team.
Glue generates codebase documentation automatically by analyzing the code itself. You ask questions: "what does the checkout flow do?" "what's in the payments module?" "who owns each service?" Glue analyzes your codebase and answers in natural language. You don't write documentation - it's generated from the actual code on demand.
Glue solves the "PMs don't understand the codebase" problem. It's designed for people who don't read code but need to understand it for product decisions. A PM can ask Glue "what changed last sprint?" and get an accurate answer about which modules were touched, not a manually maintained document that's probably out of date.
Glue requires zero ongoing documentation maintenance. The documentation is always current because it's generated from the code.
Swimm is about engineers documenting code FOR other engineers. Glue is about making code understandable TO non-engineers.
| Capability | Swimm | Glue |
|---|---|---|
| Documentation created by | Engineers | Automated analysis |
| Documentation maintenance | Manual | Automatic |
| Primary users | Developers | PMs, engineering managers |
| Explanation of flows | Hand-crafted | Generated from code |
| Editor integration | Yes | No |
| Natural language questions | No | Yes |
| Current by default | Requires discipline | Yes |
| Code review integration | Yes | No |
| Time to value | Weeks | Hours |
Choose Swimm if: your primary problem is engineers not understanding each other's code. You want to formalize knowledge about complex flows that only senior engineers understand. You have the engineering resources to maintain documentation and want that documentation in the IDE. You value hand-crafted explanations and architectural context.
Choose Glue if: your primary problem is PMs not understanding technical constraints. You need codebase documentation without engineers writing and maintaining it. You want non-engineers asking questions about the code. You want documentation that's guaranteed to be current. You want answers in hours, not weeks.
Q: Can we use both Swimm and Glue?
Yes. A team might use Swimm for deep architectural documentation written by senior engineers and Glue for quick, on-demand questions from PMs. Swimm provides context; Glue provides accessibility.
Q: Does Glue require engineers to use it?
No. Glue's primary users are PMs and managers. Engineers can use it too, but it's not designed as an engineer-facing tool.
Q: Can Glue replace Swimm?
Depends on your problem. If you need engineers understanding each other's code, Swimm is better - it provides hand-crafted context that automated analysis misses. If you need PMs understanding the codebase, Glue is the answer.
Q: Which is more current?
Glue is always current because it analyzes the live codebase. Swimm is current only if engineers keep it updated. Both can drift - Swimm through neglect, Glue theoretically never.
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