In this paper, we review software development as a document-based process, with the capture of a full but ideal development history as the assumed purpose of the documents concerned. We identify generic requirements for perusal, editing and verification of such documents, and illustrate how these requirements could be met in a software development environment based on current interaction technology. Finally, we propose a generic environment architecture for implementation of the facilities concerned, and outline how our own research work has addressed some of the requirements of this architecture.