refresh-architecture

name	refresh-architecture
description	Refresh architecture analysis artifacts (docs/architecture-analysis/) from the codebase
category	Architecture
tags	["architecture","analysis","graph","validation","views"]
triggers	["refresh architecture","update architecture","regenerate architecture","architecture analysis","run architecture"]

Refresh Architecture

Regenerate, validate, or inspect the docs/architecture-analysis/ artifacts that describe the codebase structure. These artifacts power planning, parallel-zone identification, and cross-layer flow tracing.

Arguments

$ARGUMENTS - Optional mode selector and flags:

Argument	Description
(empty)	Full pipeline: analyze + compile + validate + views + report
--validate	Validate the existing graph (no regeneration)
--views	Regenerate views and parallel zones from existing graph
--report	Generate Markdown report from existing Layer 2 artifacts
--diff <sha>	Compare current graph to a baseline commit
--feature <files>	Extract a feature-slice subgraph for the given files
--clean	Remove all generated artifacts

Prerequisites

• Python 3.12+ available as python3
• For TypeScript analysis: npm with ts-morph, typescript, and ts-node
• A consumer project root. Defaults are src/, web/, and database/migrations/; override them with --python-src-dir, --ts-src-dir, and --migrations-dir for other layouts.

Resolve <skill-base-dir> to the directory containing this loaded SKILL.md. Every command below invokes shipped tools from that directory and does not require a repo-root Makefile, agent-coordinator/, or skills/.venv.

Local CLI Mutation Boundary

Modes that regenerate, rewrite, or clean docs/architecture-analysis/ artifacts MUST run in a managed worktree in local CLI execution:

CHANGE_ID="refresh-architecture-<short-slug>"
eval "$(python3 "<skill-base-dir>/../worktree/scripts/worktree.py" setup "$CHANGE_ID")"
cd "$WORKTREE_PATH"
python3 "<skill-base-dir>/../shared/checkout_policy.py" require-mutation

Pure read-only inspection modes may run from the shared checkout when they do not write files.

Architecture Overview

The analysis pipeline has 3 layers:

Layer 1: Code Analysis (per-language)
  analyze_python.py    -> python_analysis.json
  analyze_postgres.py  -> postgres_analysis.json
  analyze_typescript.ts -> ts_analysis.json

Layer 2: Insight Synthesis (from Layer 1 outputs)
  graph_builder        -> architecture.graph.json
  cross_layer_linker   -> (updates graph with api_call edges)
  db_linker            -> (updates graph with db_access edges)
  flow_tracer          -> cross_layer_flows.json
  impact_ranker        -> high_impact_nodes.json
  summary_builder      -> architecture.summary.json
  validate_flows       -> architecture.diagnostics.json
  parallel_zones       -> parallel_zones.json

Layer 3: Report Aggregation
  generate_views       -> views/*.mmd (Mermaid diagrams)
  architecture_report  -> architecture.report.md

Steps

1. Parse Arguments

ARGS="$ARGUMENTS"

Determine which mode to run based on the arguments.

2. Execute the Appropriate Mode

Full Pipeline (no args or explicit --full)

Run the complete 3-layer pipeline:

python3 "<skill-base-dir>/scripts/run_architecture.py" \
  --target-dir . \
  --python-src-dir "${PYTHON_SRC_DIR:-src}" \
  --ts-src-dir "${TS_SRC_DIR:-web}" \
  --migrations-dir "${MIGRATIONS_DIR:-database/migrations}"

The wrapper resolves refresh_architecture.sh from this installed skill and runs all layers in the consumer project working directory. Expect output showing each stage completing.

When to use: After significant code changes, before planning a new feature, or when artifacts are stale/missing.

Validate Only (--validate)

python3 "<skill-base-dir>/../validate-flows/scripts/validate_flows.py" \
  --graph docs/architecture-analysis/architecture.graph.json \
  --output docs/architecture-analysis/architecture.diagnostics.json

Runs schema validation and flow validation on the existing graph. Does NOT regenerate — just checks what's there.

When to use: After implementing changes to verify no cross-layer flows were broken. Good for CI checks.

Views Only (--views)

python3 "<skill-base-dir>/scripts/generate_views.py" \
  --graph docs/architecture-analysis/architecture.graph.json \
  --output-dir docs/architecture-analysis/views
python3 "<skill-base-dir>/scripts/parallel_zones.py" \
  --graph docs/architecture-analysis/architecture.graph.json \
  --output docs/architecture-analysis/parallel_zones.json

Regenerates Mermaid diagrams and parallel zones from the existing graph.

When to use: When you need updated diagrams but the graph itself hasn't changed.

Report Only (--report)

python3 "<skill-base-dir>/scripts/reports/architecture_report.py" \
  --input-dir docs/architecture-analysis \
  --output docs/architecture-analysis/architecture.report.md

Generates architecture.report.md from all Layer 2 JSON artifacts.

When to use: When you need a human-readable summary of the current architecture state.

Diff (--diff <sha>)

BASE_SHA=<sha>
mkdir -p docs/architecture-analysis/tmp
git show "${BASE_SHA}:docs/architecture-analysis/architecture.graph.json" \
  > docs/architecture-analysis/tmp/baseline_graph.json
python3 "<skill-base-dir>/scripts/diff_architecture.py" \
  --baseline docs/architecture-analysis/tmp/baseline_graph.json \
  --current docs/architecture-analysis/architecture.graph.json \
  --output docs/architecture-analysis/architecture.diff.json

Compares the current architecture graph to a baseline from the given commit SHA. Reports new cycles, new high-impact modules, untested routes, and structural changes.

When to use: Before merging a PR, to understand the architectural impact of the changes.

Feature Slice (--feature <files>)

python3 "<skill-base-dir>/scripts/generate_views.py" \
  --graph docs/architecture-analysis/architecture.graph.json \
  --output-dir docs/architecture-analysis/views \
  --feature-files "<comma-separated files or glob>"

Extracts a subgraph containing only the nodes and edges relevant to the specified files. Produces a Mermaid diagram and JSON in docs/architecture-analysis/views/.

When to use: To understand the blast radius of changing specific files, or to visualize a feature's dependency footprint.

Clean (--clean)

ARCH_DIR="docs/architecture-analysis"  # consumer-project-relative output
rm -f "$ARCH_DIR"/{python_analysis,ts_analysis,postgres_analysis,architecture.graph,architecture.summary,architecture.diagnostics,architecture.diff,cross_layer_flows,high_impact_nodes,parallel_zones}.json
rm -f "$ARCH_DIR/architecture.report.md"
rm -rf "$ARCH_DIR/views" "$ARCH_DIR/tmp"

Removes all generated artifacts. The committed README and schema files are preserved.

When to use: When artifacts are corrupted or you want a fresh start.

3. Report Results

After running, report to the user:

1. Which artifacts were generated/updated (list the files)
2. Key stats from architecture.summary.json:
   • Total nodes/edges by language
   • Number of cross-layer flows
   • Number of disconnected endpoints (potential issues)
   • Number of high-impact nodes
3. Any validation findings from architecture.diagnostics.json:
   • Errors (must fix)
   • Warnings (should investigate)
   • Info (awareness)
4. Parallel zones from parallel_zones.json:
   • Number of independent groups
   • Largest group size

4. Commit Artifacts (if requested)

If the user asks to commit, stage the docs/architecture-analysis/ directory:

git add docs/architecture-analysis/

Architecture artifacts are designed to be committed to the repo so agents can consult them during planning.

Key Files Reference

File	Purpose
docs/architecture-analysis/architecture.graph.json	Canonical graph (nodes, edges, entrypoints)
docs/architecture-analysis/architecture.summary.json	Compact summary with stats and flows
docs/architecture-analysis/architecture.diagnostics.json	Validation findings
docs/architecture-analysis/parallel_zones.json	Independent module groups for safe parallel work
docs/architecture-analysis/cross_layer_flows.json	Frontend-to-database flow traces
docs/architecture-analysis/high_impact_nodes.json	Nodes with many transitive dependents
docs/architecture-analysis/architecture.report.md	Human-readable Markdown report
docs/architecture-analysis/views/*.mmd	Mermaid diagrams at multiple zoom levels

Integration with Workflow

• Before /plan-feature: Run full pipeline to ensure agents have current architecture context
• During /implement-feature: Run --validate after code changes to check for broken flows
• Before /validate-feature: Run --diff against the base branch to understand architectural impact
• In CI: Run make architecture-validate to catch regressions