Fern live link check after publish before docs rot
Run a live docs link check after publishing before assuming local validation caught the broken routes and dead outbound references that buyers actually hit.
Why this can grow a startup
Docs drift is often visible first in links, not prose. A local build can still leave live 404s, blocked outbound URLs, or preview-only references behind. Fern's CLI link checker matters because it tests the published site rather than the source tree alone. That changes the standard from build-time correctness to reader-time correctness, which is the metric that actually affects trust.
Company example
Fern's CLI includes `fern docs link check` for scraping a live docs site and reporting broken or blocked internal and external links with source pages.
Source and metric
Source: Fern Docs: Commands
Fern exposes a dedicated `fern docs link check` command for live documentation sites in addition to local validation commands.
When to use it
Use this when Documentation, Brand Trust, SEO is relevant to link checker, publish verification, 404 prevention and you can run a bounded test with a free budget.
When not to use it
Do not use it as a substitute for customer evidence, a clear owner, or a measurable stop condition. Local platform rules and market behavior still need checking.
Founder checklist
- Read Fern Docs: Commands and identify what is directly supported.
- Choose one channel context: Documentation, Brand Trust, SEO.
- Define the test around Fern exposes a dedicated `fern docs link check` command for live documentation sites in addition to local validation commands..
- Set an owner, evidence window, and stop condition before launch.
Explore the context
Apply this with an operator
Turn isolated search tactics into a crawlable visibility system tied to demand and proof.