timsonner Asking Questions with OpenCode
Learn how to effectively ask OpenCode questions about your codebase to get accurate, helpful explanations and insights.
Effective Questioning Techniques
1. Be Specific and Detailed
Instead of asking vague questions, provide specific details about what you want to know:
Less Effective: "How does this work?" More Effective: "How does the authentication middleware validate JWT tokens in @src/middleware/auth.js?"
2. Use File and Code References
Leverage the @ syntax to reference specific files, functions, or code sections:
How is data validation handled in @src/models/User.js?
You can also reference specific lines or functions:
Explain the calculateTotal function in @src/utils/math.js:lines 15-30
3. Provide Context
Give OpenCode background information to help it give better answers:
I'm trying to understand how user sessions work in this Express app.
Looking at @src/server.js, I see session middleware is configured,
but I'm not sure how the session data is stored and retrieved.
4. Ask About Relationships and Patterns
Don't just ask about isolated code - ask how things connect:
How does the user authentication flow work from login middleware
to protected routes in @src/routes/auth.js?
5. Request Explanations at Different Levels
You can ask for high-level overviews or deep dives:
High-level: "Give me an overview of how data flows through this application" Specific: "Explain exactly how this Redux reducer handles state updates" Implementation-focused: "Show me how this API endpoint connects to the database layer"
Common Question Patterns
Explaining Code
What does this function do? @src/services/payment.js:processPayment
Understanding Architecture
How is this project structured? Where are the controllers, models, and views located?
Debugging Assistance
Why might this be causing a null reference error? @src/components/Form.js:handleSubmit
Learning Patterns
How are promises handled in this codebase? Show me examples of async/await usage.
Best Practices Inquiry
Is this following React best practices for state management? @src/components/Dashboard.jsx
Using Context Effectively
File References
The @ symbol triggers fuzzy file search:
@src/components/Button.js
This will find Button.js even if you don't know the exact path.
Multiple References
You can reference multiple files in one question:
How do @src/api/users.js and @src/components/UserProfile.js interact?
Code Snippets
You can paste code snippets directly in your questions:
I'm seeing this error: "Cannot read property 'map' of undefined"
Here's the code: [paste code snippet]
What might be causing this?
Question Refinement
If OpenCode's answer isn't quite what you expected:
- Add More Details: Provide additional context or constraints
- Reference Different Files: Try referencing related files
- Rephrase: Ask the question in a different way
- Break It Down: Split complex questions into simpler parts
- Ask for Examples: Request concrete examples to illustrate concepts
Example Questions
For Onboarding to a New Codebase
What are the main components of this application and how do they interact?
For Understanding Specific Functionality
How does file upload work in this app? Look at @src/routes/upload.js and @src/services/storage.js.
For Learning Coding Patterns
Show me how dependency injection is used in this codebase.
For Debugging
This function keeps returning null: @src/utils/formatDate.js
What could be causing this issue?
For Code Review
Does this implementation properly handle error cases? @src/api/payments.js:processRefund
By mastering these questioning techniques, you'll get more accurate and useful responses from OpenCode, making your development process more efficient and effective.