# Using Unwind

> Use when starting any reverse engineering task - establishes how to find and use Unwind skills for codebase analysis, service mapping, and documentation

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

---


# Using Unwind

## Overview

Unwind provides structured skills for reverse engineering codebases. Produces complete, machine-readable documentation with source links.

## Principles

See `analysis-principles.md`:
- **Completeness**: Document ALL items (30 tables = 30 documented)
- **Machine-readable**: Use actual code, SQL, mermaid - not markdown recreation
- **Link to source**: GitHub links with line numbers where possible
- **No commentary**: Facts only, no speculation or recommendations

## Workflow

```
start     → architecture.md (+ repo info for linking)
        │
unwinding-codebase          → dispatches layer specialists
        │
        ├── analyzing-database-layer     → database/
        ├── analyzing-domain-model       → domain-model/
        ├── analyzing-service-layer      → service-layer/
        ├── analyzing-api-layer          → api/
        ├── analyzing-messaging-layer    → messaging/ (if present)
        ├── analyzing-frontend-layer     → frontend/ (if present)
        ├── analyzing-unit-tests         → unit-tests/
        ├── analyzing-integration-tests  → integration-tests/
        └── analyzing-e2e-tests          → e2e-tests/
        │
verifying-layer-documentation → gap detection (parallel per layer)
        │
        └── Outputs gaps.md per layer (missing items only)
        │
completing-layer-documentation → gap completion (parallel per layer)
        │
        ├── Reads gaps.md work list
        ├── Adds missing documentation
        └── Deletes gaps.md when done
        │
synthesizing-findings       → REBUILD-PLAN.md (strategic rebuild approach)
```

## Skills

### Core Flow

| Skill | Output |
|-------|--------|
| `start` | `architecture.md` |
| `unwinding-codebase` | Orchestrates layer analysis |
| `verifying-layer-documentation` | `gaps.md` per layer (work list) |
| `completing-layer-documentation` | Fills gaps, deletes gaps.md |
| `synthesizing-findings` | `REBUILD-PLAN.md` |

### Layer Specialists

| Skill | Output |
|-------|--------|
| `analyzing-database-layer` | `database.md` |
| `analyzing-domain-model` | `domain-model.md` |
| `analyzing-service-layer` | `service-layer.md` |
| `analyzing-api-layer` | `api.md` |
| `analyzing-messaging-layer` | `messaging.md` |
| `analyzing-frontend-layer` | `frontend.md` |

### Testing Specialists

| Skill | Output |
|-------|--------|
| `analyzing-unit-tests` | `unit-tests.md` |
| `analyzing-integration-tests` | `integration-tests.md` |
| `analyzing-e2e-tests` | `e2e-tests.md` |

## Output Structure

```
docs/unwind/
├── architecture.md
├── layers/
│   ├── database/
│   │   ├── index.md
│   │   ├── schema.md
│   │   ├── repositories.md
│   │   └── verification.md
│   ├── domain-model/
│   │   ├── index.md
│   │   ├── entities.md
│   │   └── verification.md
│   ├── service-layer/
│   │   ├── index.md
│   │   ├── services.md
│   │   ├── formulas.md
│   │   └── verification.md
│   ├── api/
│   │   ├── index.md
│   │   ├── endpoints.md
│   │   └── verification.md
│   └── [other layers...]
└── REBUILD-PLAN.md
```

Each layer is a folder with `index.md` + section files for incremental writes.

## Quick Start

1. `Use unwind:start`
2. Review `docs/unwind/architecture.md`
3. `Use unwind:unwinding-codebase`
4. `Use unwind:verifying-layer-documentation` (runs parallel verification)
5. `Use unwind:synthesizing-findings`

**Note:** Step 4 (verification) is integrated into `unwinding-codebase` but can also be run independently to re-verify existing documentation.

## Refresh Mode

Re-run any skill to update documentation. Changes highlighted in `## Changes Since Last Review` section.

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-11 -->