Explore Codebase

explore-codebase

Quickly explore and understand a codebase by reading multiple key files in sequence.

Explore Codebase

This skill helps you rapidly understand a project structure by reading multiple important files in succession.

What it does

Reads three key files from your codebase sequentially to give you a comprehensive overview of the project. This is useful when:

• Onboarding to a new project
• Understanding project architecture
• Getting context before making changes
• Reviewing code organization

Steps

1. Identify key files - Determine which three files would provide the most useful overview:

   • Configuration files (package.json, README.md, etc.)
   • Entry points or main files
   • Critical module files
   • Architecture documentation

2. Read files in order - Read each file path sequentially, starting with high-level docs and moving to specific modules

3. Synthesize understanding - After reading, ask Claude to summarize the project structure and relationships between components

Tips

• Start with README.md or similar documentation as your first file
• Follow with configuration files to understand dependencies and setup
• End with a main entry point or core module
• Ask Claude to explain connections between the files after reading
• Adjust the file selection based on your specific questions about the codebase