# Work Explore

> Explore and understand an existing codebase. Use when the user wants to understand the code, explore a project, discover an architecture, or before modifying existing code.

- Skill: `christopherlouet/work-explore` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add christopherlouet/work-explore`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/christopherlouet/work-explore/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: christopherlouet (https://skillmd.com/u/christopherlouet)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/christopherlouet/work-explore

---


# Explore a Codebase

## Goal

Understand a codebase BEFORE modifying it. Never code without having explored.

## Instructions

### 1. Overview (5 min)

```bash
# Project structure
ls -la
tree -L 2 -I 'node_modules|.git|dist|build' | head -40

# Configuration
cat package.json | head -30
cat README.md | head -50
```

**Questions to answer:**
- Project type (frontend, backend, fullstack, lib)?
- Tech stack (languages, frameworks)?
- How to run the project?

### 2. Architecture (10 min)

**Identify the layers:**
- Entry points (main, index, app)
- Routes / Controllers
- Services / Business logic
- Data access / Models
- Utilities

**Patterns to spot:**
- Architecture (MVC, Clean, Hexagonal)
- State management
- Error handling
- Configuration

### 3. Data flow

Trace a complete flow:
```
Request → Validation → Processing → DB → Response
```

### 4. Conventions

- Code style (linter config)
- Naming (camelCase, snake_case)
- Test structure
- Commit format

## Expected output

```markdown
## Project summary

**Type**: [frontend/backend/fullstack]
**Stack**: [languages and frameworks]
**Architecture**: [main pattern]

## Key structure
- `/src/xxx` - [description]
- `/src/yyy` - [description]

## Entry points
- `file.ts:line` - [role]

## Identified conventions
- [Convention 1]
- [Convention 2]

## Sensitive areas
- [Area 1] - [why]
```

## Rules

- ALWAYS explore before modifying
- Do not assume — verify in the code
- Note patterns to reuse them