An application includes functionality for dynamically modifying controls based on readme documentation content after the development of the application is substantially complete. A developer marks up a documentation file to include references to graphical user interface controls. The application generates a registry that stores associations between the documentation content and the affected controls. The application then modifies the properties of the affected controls to alter presentation or at least one behavior of each affected control. When the application creates an instance of an affected control, the control includes the modified presentation or behavior.