codebase-mapping

vneseyoungster's avatarfrom vneseyoungster

Generate structured codebase maps with dependency graphs, file relationships, and architectural patterns. Use when exploring unfamiliar codebases or documenting project structure.

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[Architecture Design]

When & Why to Use This Skill

The Codebase Mapping skill is a powerful developer tool designed to automate the visualization and documentation of complex software projects. It generates structured codebase maps, including dependency graphs, file relationships, and architectural patterns, allowing developers to quickly comprehend unfamiliar systems and maintain high-quality technical documentation.

Use Cases

  • Onboarding: Rapidly orient new team members by providing a clear visual map of the project's structure and core modules.
  • Architectural Auditing: Visualizing dependency graphs to identify tight coupling, circular dependencies, or architectural drift before major refactoring.
  • Legacy System Documentation: Automatically generating a source of truth for the organization of older codebases where documentation may be outdated or missing.
  • Project Exploration: Accelerating the analysis of open-source repositories or third-party libraries by identifying entry points and key configuration files instantly.
namecodebase-mapping
descriptionGenerate structured codebase maps with dependency graphs, file

Codebase Mapping Skill

Purpose

Produce consistent, structured documentation of codebase organization.

When to Use

  • Starting work on unfamiliar project
  • Onboarding new team members
  • Documenting architecture decisions
  • Before major refactoring

Output Template

Use the template in templates/structure-report.md

Mapping Process

Step 1: Project Identification

Identify project type from configuration files:

  • package.json → Node.js
  • pyproject.toml / setup.py → Python
  • go.mod → Go
  • Cargo.toml → Rust
  • pom.xml / build.gradle → Java

Step 2: Structure Analysis

Map directories to their purposes:

  • src/ or lib/ → Source code
  • tests/ or __tests__/ → Test files
  • docs/ → Documentation
  • scripts/ → Build/utility scripts
  • config/ → Configuration files

Step 3: Dependency Graph

Create simplified dependency visualization:

Entry Point
├── Core Module A
│   ├── Utility 1
│   └── Utility 2
├── Core Module B
│   └── External Lib
└── Shared Components

Step 4: Key Files

Identify and document:

  • Entry points (main.ts, index.js, app.py)
  • Configuration (tsconfig, eslint, etc.)
  • Environment handling
  • Build configuration

Storage Location

Save output to: docs/research/codebase-map-{date}.md