# Charliek Codelens Codelens Source Lookup

> Source Lookup

- Skill: `tomevault-io/charliek-codelens-codelens-source-lookup` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/charliek-codelens-codelens-source-lookup`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/charliek-codelens-codelens-source-lookup/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/charliek-codelens-codelens-source-lookup

---


# Source Lookup

This skill enables viewing source code for any JVM class accessible to the project.

## When to Use

- View the implementation of a class or method
- Read javadoc documentation for a library class
- Generate interface stubs for understanding API contracts
- Inspect JDK source code
- View decompiled bytecode when source is unavailable

## Prerequisites

Ensure the CodeLens server is running for your project:

```bash
codelens start --project /path/to/project
```

**To look up *project* class source, the project must be compiled** — CodeLens
discovers project classes by scanning compiled bytecode (`build/classes`), so
build it first (`./gradlew build -x test`). Library and JDK source lookups work
regardless. If project classes aren't found, check `codelens classes stats --json`
(a `projectClassCount` of `0`, also flagged by a `warning:` from `start`, means
rebuild then `codelens refresh`).

**Output:** in a terminal these commands print the source code directly. Pass
`--json` for the structured envelope documented in
[FORMATS.md](references/FORMATS.md) (`source.content`, `filePath`, `language`,
…) — that JSON shape is also auto-selected when output is piped or captured.

## Commands

### View Full Source

```bash
codelens source show <fully-qualified-class-name>
```

**Examples:**
```bash
# Project class
codelens source show com.example.MyHandler

# Library class (auto-downloads source JAR if available)
codelens source show com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList

# JDK class
codelens source show java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture
```

### View Method Source

Extract a specific method from a class:

```bash
codelens source method <class-fqn> <method-name>
```

**Options:**
- `--param-types <types>` - Disambiguate overloaded methods (comma-separated parameter types)
- `--context <n>` - Include n lines before/after the method

**Examples:**
```bash
# Simple method
codelens source method com.example.UserService getUser

# Overloaded method - specify parameter types
codelens source method com.example.UserService findUsers --param-types "String,int"

# With surrounding context
codelens source method com.example.MyHandler handle --context 5
```

## Output Today

`codelens source show <fqn>` returns the full resolved source for the class
(default behavior). Richer output modes — stub generation, signatures-only,
javadoc extraction, visibility filtering, and Java/Kotlin language
switching — exist on the server endpoint but are not yet exposed on the CLI.
They are queued as a follow-up Go-CLI enhancement; once landed, this section
will be expanded with `--format`, `--visibility`, and `--lang` examples.

## Source Resolution

CodeLens resolves source in this order:

1. **Project source** - Your local source files
2. **Library source JARs** - Downloaded from Maven Central
3. **JDK source** - From `src.zip` or JDK modules
4. **Decompilation** - Fallback when source unavailable

The server endpoint accepts query parameters to disable decompilation
fallback or force a fresh source-JAR download, but those toggles are not
yet exposed on the CLI. They are queued alongside the format/visibility
flags in the follow-up Go-CLI enhancement noted above.

## Tips

- Combine with `codelens-jvm-analysis` skill to find classes first, then view their source
- When viewing library code, source JARs are cached locally after first download
- Decompiled code may not perfectly match original source but preserves logic

## Related Skills

- `codelens-jvm-analysis` - Find classes and methods to view
- `codelens-ratpack-analysis` - Analyze Ratpack-specific handler source

---
> Source: [charliek/codelens](https://github.com/charliek/codelens) — distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io).
<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-06-15 -->