Document Automation
AI Contract Review
Resources
Case Studies
Pricing
Contract Review
Case Studies
Pricing
Get Started
Log InGet a Demo
Get Started
No Credit Card Required

Please complete the form below
to access this exclusive content

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Documate is now Gavel! Read more about why we’re excited about this rebrand.
Getting Started: Docassemble Developers

Getting Started: Docassemble Developers

Docassemble is an open-source expert system that requires technical knowledge. If you're looking to build document automation interviews, use Gavel instead, which will deploy your server for you and doesn't require you to learn to code.

By the team at Gavel
April 7, 2025
Cut drafting time by 90%

Easy intake and document automation to auto-populate your templates.

Docassemble For Developers And Non-Developers: Getting Started

Docassemble is a platform for creating mobile-friendly web applications --- called “interviews” --- that ask one question at a time in order to reach an “end point” --- the creation of a document, an agreement, a presentation, or something similar.  One of the proven ways to increase productivity while avoiding the cost of new hires is document automation.  Through automation, documents and workflows can be handled at great cost savings. This article provides a brief overview of the Docassemble platform, which requires coding and technical skills, and the Gavel platform, which is user-friendly and does not require any coding or developer experience.

Read Gavel's Legal Document Automation Guide here.

What Is Docassemble?

Docassemble is a free, open-source expert system developed by Jonathan Pyle for creating guided interviews—the foundation of document automation, document assembly, and workflow productivity.

Built on Python, YAML, and Markdown, Docassemble is primarily used by legal professionals to generate client-facing documents. However, its flexibility makes it suitable for anyone looking to automate template-based documents or process-oriented tasks. The platform is highly customizable using code, CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. While it can be run locally on a desktop or laptop, Docassemble is most effective when deployed on a cloud hosting service such as AWS.

Overall, using Docassemble requires programming and technical skills, including the ability to configure a web server for cloud deployment.

How does Gavel help you build Docassemble interviews without learning AWS or Python?

Gavel is a no-code document automation platform designed for non-developers and non-coders. It offers a simple and intuitive way to create document automation interviews and streamline workflows—no programming required. Gavel supports automation by allowing users to format Word (.docx) documents using two no-code syntaxes: Jinja and Mako. This makes it easy to customize and automate legal documents and processes.

Beyond document creation and assembly, Gavel allows for a tailored level of personal oversight throughout the automation process. It also takes care of technical setup by configuring your AWS instance and subdomain for you.

To support users every step of the way, Gavel offers customer support seven days a week to help you get started and stay on track.

Get Started on Gavel

How Can Gavel Help?

First, Gavel helps make it easy to create document automation interviews and create automated documents and workflows, without needing to use any code.  Second, Gavel handles the technical aspects of setting up your instance and subdomain in AWS.  Gavel’s no-code document automation platform and its absence of technical requirements for set up is appealing to many lawyers and professionals.

How Can Gavel Help?

Because Docassemble is a web-based application, one of the most challenging aspects for many lawyers and professionals is the technical setup—specifically, configuring and deploying their own server to run Docassemble online.

Gavel eliminates this hurdle. It automatically provisions an AWS server for you, so there’s no need to understand Docker, server configuration, or web hosting.

With just a click, Gavel deploys a dedicated AWS instance and database on your behalf. The setup takes about 10 minutes, and no technical expertise is required.

Get Started on Gavel

A Word About Coding And Formatting

Gavel has no-code resources for non-developers who don’t want to touch a line of code. For example, our interview builder allows you to generate dynamic questionnaires without code, and our Word (.docx) add-in allows you to set up and choose complex logic functions, calculations, and loops --- all without any code.

If you prefer using code, we have the following resources below for Docassemble developers.

Coding Resources For Docassemble Developers

Jinja Guide Part I: Simple variables and conditional phrases

Jinja Guide Part II: Conditional paragraphs

Jinja Guide Part III: Performing calculations

Jinja Guide Part IV: Numerical calculations

Jinja Guide Part V: Formatting words

Other References Resources

Website

Documentation

Join the Docassemble Slack

NonProfitTechy’s Blog

Lorem ipsume torid noris

Lorem ipusme candorn idume noris cantor dolor canrium shaw eta elium aloy. Lorem ipusme candorn idume noris.

Start a free trial
7 day trial • No credit card required

AI Contract Review for Government Contracting and Public Sector Procurement

Government and public sector contracts require strict compliance with FAR and agency-specific regulations. This guide explains how AI contract review supports government contracting and why Gavel Exec is the leading specialized tool for FAR clauses, indemnity limitations, and mandatory flow-down requirements.

Read More

AI Contract Review for Energy, Infrastructure, and Construction Contracting

Energy, infrastructure, and construction projects rely on highly complex agreements where off-market terms create significant risk. This guide explains how AI contract review supports these projects and why Gavel Exec is the top choice for accurate, market-aware contract analysis in the energy and construction sectors.

Read More

Best AI Contract Review for Healthcare and Life Sciences Contracting

Healthcare and life sciences contracts involve PHI, HIPAA compliance, data licensing, clinical trials, and intellectual property rights. This guide explains how AI contract review supports these complex agreements and why Gavel Exec is the leading tool for high accuracy and strong privacy in healthcare contracting.

Read More

Supercharge your practice with bi-weekly tips.

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive legal tech trends, automation guides, customer interviews, and more.

By clicking “Accept”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.