# Codemap

> Analyze codebase structure, dependencies, changes, and multi-agent handoffs using codemap. Use this skill as the primary entry point when a task requires understanding project architecture, mapping dependencies, tracing logic, or generating cross-agent handoff artifacts. Always trigger this first when exploring unfamiliar code or when codemap output indicates noisy configurations.

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

---


# Codemap

Gives instant architectural context: project tree, dependency flow, hub detection, diff, intent classification, and multi-agent handoff.

## Commands

```bash
codemap .                       # Project tree with file counts and top files
codemap --deps .                # Dependency flow + hub files (requires ast-grep)
codemap --diff                  # Changes vs main branch
codemap --diff --ref <branch>   # Changes vs specific branch
codemap --importers <file>      # Who imports this file? Is it a hub?
codemap handoff .               # Build + save cross-agent handoff artifact
codemap handoff --latest .      # Read latest saved handoff
codemap skill list              # Show available skills
codemap skill show <name>       # Load full skill instructions
codemap config show             # Show current project config
codemap context --compact       # Minimal JSON context envelope
```

## First-Use Setup

Before deeper analysis in a new repo:
1. Run `codemap .` — if output is noisy or config is missing, run `codemap skill show config-setup` first
2. Run `codemap --deps .` — dependency graph and hub files
3. Config is repo memory: once tuned, all future calls benefit automatically

## When to use

| Situation | Command |
|---|---|
| Starting any task | `codemap .` |
| "Where is X?" / "What uses Y?" | `codemap --deps .` |
| About to edit a file | `codemap --importers <file>` |
| "What changed?" / before committing | `codemap --diff` |
| Switching agents / resuming work | `codemap handoff .` |
| Config missing or output noisy | `codemap skill show config-setup` |
| Risk warning in hook output | `codemap skill show <matched-skill>` |

## Hook output

The `prompt-submit` hook fires on every message and emits:

```
<!-- codemap:intent {"category":"refactor","risk":"high",...} -->
<!-- codemap:skills [{"name":"hub-safety","score":5},...] -->
Skills matched: hub-safety, explore — run `codemap skill show <name>` for guidance
```

Skills are pull-based — names are surfaced automatically, full body loaded only when needed.

## Builtin skills

| Skill | When to load |
|---|---|
| `config-setup` | Config missing, boilerplate, or output noisy |
| `hub-safety` | Editing a file with 3+ importers |
| `explore` | Understanding how code works |
| `handoff` | Switching between agents |

## Reference

For MCP tools and HTTP API endpoints, load `references/codemap-api.md`.