# module RDoc::Generator

`RDoc` uses generators to turn parsed source code in the form of an `RDoc::CodeObject` tree into some form of output. `RDoc` comes with the HTML generator RDoc::Generator::Darkfish and an ri data generator RDoc::Generator::RI.

## Registering a `Generator`¶ ↑

Generators are registered by calling `RDoc::RDoc.add_generator` with the class of the generator:

    class My::Awesome::Generator
      RDoc::RDoc.add_generator self
    end

## Adding `Options` to `rdoc`¶ ↑

Before option processing in `rdoc`, `RDoc::Options` will call ::setup_options on the generator class with an `RDoc::Options` instance. The generator can use `RDoc::Options#option_parser` to add command-line options to the `rdoc` tool. See Custom Options at `RDoc::Options` for an example and see `OptionParser` for details on how to add options.

You can extend the `RDoc::Options` instance with additional accessors for your generator.

## `Generator` Instantiation¶ ↑

After parsing, `RDoc::RDoc` will instantiate a generator by calling initialize with an `RDoc::Store` instance and an `RDoc::Options` instance.

The `RDoc::Store` instance holds documentation for parsed source code. In `RDoc` 3 and earlier the RDoc::TopLevel class held this data. When upgrading a generator from `RDoc` 3 and earlier you should only need to replace RDoc::TopLevel with the store instance.

`RDoc` will then call generate on the generator instance. You can use the various methods on `RDoc::Store` and in the `RDoc::CodeObject` tree to create your desired output format.