| name | holistic |
| description | Zoom out to see how code, features, or plans fit into the bigger picture. Maps bounded contexts, traces cross-cutting concerns, surfaces hidden dependencies, and identifies systemic risks. Use when you're lost in details, unfamiliar with an area, or need to understand the full impact of a change. |
| user-invocable | true |
| argument-hint | [area, feature, or file to contextualize] |
Holistic View
Provide a comprehensive, multi-layered view of how a piece of code, feature, or plan fits into the broader system. This skill operates at the system level, not the implementation level.
Process
1. Discover project context
Read existing domain documentation to ground the analysis:
docs/CONTEXT_MAP.md — bounded contexts and relationshipsdocs/UBIQUITOUS_LANGUAGE.md — canonical terminologydocs/contexts/*/CONTEXT.md — per-context ownership and contractsCLAUDE.md — project-level context
If these don't exist, explore the codebase organically to build the picture.
2. Identify the focal point
Determine what the user wants to understand. This could be:
- A specific file, module, or package
- A feature or capability
- A planned change or new feature
- A bug or unexpected behavior
- A concept or term they're uncertain about
3. Map the context
For the focal point, produce a multi-layer map:
Layer 1: Domain Position
- Which bounded context does this belong to?
- What domain concepts does it implement?
- What is its role within that context? (core logic, infrastructure, surface/UI, contract/boundary)
Layer 2: Data Flow
- What data flows INTO this component? (upstream dependencies)
- What data flows OUT? (downstream consumers)
- What shared kernels or contracts does it participate in?
- Trace the full request/data path from origin to destination
Layer 3: Cross-Context Impact
- Which other bounded contexts does this touch?
- What are the coupling points? (shared tables, events, APIs, window globals)
- If this breaks, what else breaks? (blast radius)
- If this changes, what else needs to change? (change propagation)
Layer 4: Temporal View
- How does this relate to recent changes? (check git log)
- Are there planned changes that will affect this? (check specs, open issues)
- Is this area stable or actively evolving?
- Are there known technical debt or open questions? (check CONTEXT.md open questions)
4. Surface insights
After mapping, highlight:
- Hidden dependencies — coupling that isn't obvious from imports alone (e.g., shared ClickHouse tables, window globals, convention-based contracts)
- Systemic risks — single points of failure, untested boundaries, stale assumptions
- Opportunities — places where the current structure creates unnecessary friction or where a small change would have outsized positive impact
- Missing documentation — if this exploration revealed gaps in CONTEXT.md, UBIQUITOUS_LANGUAGE.md, or CONTEXT_MAP.md, note what should be added
5. Present the map
Structure the output as:
## [Focal Point Name]
### Domain Position
[Which context, what role, what concepts]
### Data Flow
[Upstream → This → Downstream, with specific contracts]
### Cross-Context Impact
[What it touches beyond its own context, blast radius]
### Key Insights
[Hidden dependencies, risks, opportunities]
### Recommended Reading
[Specific files or docs to read for deeper understanding]
Keep it concise. The goal is orientation, not exhaustive documentation.
When to use this skill
- "I don't know this area of code well" → map the modules and callers
- "What would break if I change X?" → trace the blast radius
- "How does feature Y actually work end-to-end?" → trace the data flow
- "Where does this concept live in the codebase?" → map to bounded context + ownership
- "I'm about to start a big change — what should I be aware of?" → full holistic view
Related skills
/domain — stress-test a plan against the domain model (deeper, interactive)/architect — surface friction and design better interfaces (prescriptive)/spec — after understanding the picture, formalize a plan
