# Discover Project

> Discovers how an unfamiliar repository is built before planning or implementing. Use when entering a new project, after clone, when stack or scripts are unclear, or when the user asks how this repo works.

- Skill: `axidify/discover-project` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add axidify/discover-project`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/axidify/discover-project/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: Axidify (https://skillmd.com/u/axidify)
- Updated: 2026-09-21
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/axidify/discover-project

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# Discover project

Run this before substantial work if you have not already grounded in the repo.
For **first-time runnable setup** (install deps, `.env`, DB), use
**onboard** after this pass.

## Inspect (in order)

1. **Root manifests** — `package.json`, `pyproject.toml`, `Cargo.toml`, `go.mod`, etc.
2. **Monorepo** — `pnpm-workspace.yaml`, `turbo.json`, `nx.json`, `lerna.json`, `go.work`
3. **README / AGENTS.md / CLAUDE.md / CONTRIBUTING** — conventions and gotchas
4. **Cursor / agent config** — `.cursor/rules/`, `.cursor/mcp.json`, project `AGENTS.md`; user skills in `~/.cursor/skills/` (or `%USERPROFILE%\.cursor\skills\` on Windows)
5. **CI** — `.github/workflows/`, or equivalent
6. **Source layout** — where apps, libs, tests, and configs live
7. **Env** — `.env.example`, required secrets (never commit values)

## Report briefly

- **Stack** — language, framework, package manager
- **Run** — dev server, build, lint, typecheck, test commands (from scripts or docs)
- **Test** — unit / integration / e2e locations and how to run them
- **Data** — DB, APIs, external services (client vs server boundaries)
- **Rules** — project-specific agent rules, skills, or command folders
- **Blockers** — anything that prevents `dev` or `test` locally (missing env, Docker, native tools)

## Do not

- Assume framework version from training data — read the repo
- Invent scripts that are not in `package.json` or docs
- Skip reading agent instruction files if they exist

## Related skills

- **onboard** — make the project runnable locally
- **plan** — design after discovery
- **plan-driven-implementation** — execute approved `docs/plans/*.md` with living progress/issues logs
- **audit** — deep feature completeness vs spec