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Content gap analysis: Learn Hub vs developer docs #187

@marc0olo

Description

@marc0olo

Summary

This issue tracks content that exists on learn.internetcomputer.org but is missing or only shallowly covered in developer docs. The Learn Hub was analyzed by section across all three categories: What is ICP?, How can I use ICP?, and How does ICP work?


Well-covered (no action needed)

The following Learn Hub topics are already addressed in developer docs:

Learn Hub article Our page
Canister Smart Contracts docs/concepts/canisters.md
Computational Model docs/concepts/canisters.md
Cycles docs/concepts/cycles.md
Canister Control docs/guides/canister-management/lifecycle.mdx
What is a Principal? docs/concepts/canisters.md
Chain-Key Cryptography docs/concepts/chain-key-cryptography.md
Chain-Key Signatures docs/concepts/chain-key-cryptography.md
Certified Communication docs/guides/backends/certified-variables.md
How does ICP work? docs/concepts/network-overview.md
HTTP Gateway Protocol docs/reference/http-gateway-spec.md
Asset Certification docs/guides/frontends/certification.md
HTTPS Outcalls docs/guides/backends/https-outcalls.mdx + docs/concepts/https-outcalls.md
Chain Fusion (overview) docs/concepts/chain-fusion.md
Bitcoin Integration + ckBTC docs/guides/chain-fusion/bitcoin.mdx
Ethereum Integration + EVM RPC docs/guides/chain-fusion/ethereum.mdx
SOL RPC Canister docs/guides/chain-fusion/solana.mdx
Dogecoin Integration docs/guides/chain-fusion/dogecoin.md
Chain-Key Tokens docs/guides/digital-assets/chain-key-tokens.mdx
How Token Ledgers Work docs/guides/digital-assets/ledgers.mdx
SNS (Launch, Neurons, Proposals, Rewards, Tokenomics, DAO Settings) docs/guides/governance/
NNS Governance overview docs/concepts/governance.md

Developer-relevant gaps

Protocol concepts with no dedicated page

Learn Hub article Current state Why it matters for devs
Trusted Execution Environments One sentence in docs/concepts/https-outcalls.md Devs need to know when/why to deploy to TEE subnets (sensitive credentials, API keys)
Execution Layer Not covered Understanding how messages are executed affects canister design
State Synchronization Not covered Useful context for understanding upgrade guarantees
ICP Edge Infrastructure Not covered Explains how HTTP requests reach canisters; boundary nodes affect latency and caching
Exchange Rate Canister Passing mention in docs/reference/system-canisters.md DeFi/token devs need to know how to call it
Bitcoin Checker Canister Likely mentioned in docs/guides/chain-fusion/bitcoin.mdx but no dedicated coverage Useful for devs building Bitcoin apps who want to verify transactions
Performance Not covered Capacity planning guidance for devs

NNS governance (partial coverage)

Learn Hub article Current state Why it matters
NNS Neuron Attributes Spread across docs/concepts/governance.md Needed by devs building governance tooling
NNS Proposal Topics and Types Not covered Needed for programmatic NNS proposal submission
Neurons' Fund (NF) Mentioned briefly in docs/guides/governance/launching.md Relevant for SNS launch devs

SNS

Learn Hub article Current state Why it matters
How to Inspect an SNS and Its Dapp Canisters Not covered Practical guide for SNS operators and devs

Node infrastructure (lower priority)

Learn Hub article Current state Why it matters
Node Infrastructure Overview Not covered Context for devs curious about the hardware layer

Priority order

  1. Trusted Execution Environments — most pressing: already linked from docs/concepts/https-outcalls.md but has no dedicated page
  2. Exchange Rate Canister — DeFi developers actively need this
  3. ICP Edge Infrastructure — helps devs understand routing, caching, custom domains in context
  4. NNS Proposal Topics and Types — needed for governance integration work
  5. Performance (developer-relevant aspects, not chain benchmark marketing) — capacity planning guidance
  6. Everything else: Execution Layer, State Synchronization, NNS Neuron Attributes, Neurons' Fund, How to Inspect SNS

Out of scope

The following Learn Hub articles are intentionally out of scope for developer docs (end-user or marketing content):

  • All 12 NNS dapp how-tos (log in, stake neurons, send tokens, disburse maturity, etc.)
  • ICP Custody Options + quill wallet how-tos
  • Network stats pages (Cycle burn, tx/s, Network topology)
  • Dashboard links (IC dashboard, Community dashboards)
  • Vision/history articles ("What is the Vision?", "What Has Happened So Far?")
  • Decentralization (general audience)
  • Performance Comparison (chain benchmarks vs other chains)

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