OpenAPI generation for REST endpoints

API docs shouldn’t be a wiki page that drifts from reality. I generate an OpenAPI spec from code-adjacent definitions so changes get reviewed alongside implementation. The frontend benefits too: typed clients, mock servers, and even contract tests become possible. The biggest lesson is to keep schemas small and reusable and to version changes intentionally. I also include standardized error responses so consumers know what to expect. Even without going all-in on codegen, a reliable OpenAPI spec makes integrations and support work easier. When someone asks ‘what does this endpoint return?’, the answer should be a link, not tribal knowledge.