dev-explore

name	dev-explore
description	Explore and understand codebases with interconnected documentation. Use when onboarding to a new project, creating living documentation (MOC), or generating portfolio artifacts.

dev-explore

Systematic codebase exploration and documentation generation.

Scope

This skill covers codebase understanding—exploring unfamiliar code, generating analysis, and creating interconnected documentation. Part of the dev-* family alongside dev-inquiry, dev-reports, and dev-context.

Routing

Based on what you need, I'll reference the appropriate mode:

Analyze Mode

When: Understanding a new codebase, onboarding Template: templates/analyze-base.md + tech-specific templates Output: codebase_analysis.md

Generates:

• Tech stack breakdown
• Directory structure analysis
• File-by-file breakdown
• Architecture patterns
• Mermaid diagrams

MOC Mode (Map of Content)

When: Creating living documentation with decision history Template: templates/moc.md Output: docs/moc/ directory

Generates interconnected docs:

docs/moc/
├── README.md        # Entry point
├── features.md      # Feature catalog
├── architecture.md  # Design decisions
├── components.md    # Component maps
└── decisions.md     # ADRs from devlog

Portfolio Mode

When: Resume/interview preparation, showcasing work Template: templates/portfolio.md Output: PROJECT.md

Generates:

• Elevator pitch
• Problem/solution narrative
• Technical implementation
• Resume bullet points
• Interview talking points

How to Use

1. Identify the mode from the request
2. Load the appropriate template from templates/
3. Detect technology stack and load tech templates from templates/tech/
4. Reference examples in examples/ for output quality

Default to analyze mode if unclear.

Technology Detection

Auto-detect and load specialized templates:

Indicator	Technology	Template
Package.swift, *.xcodeproj	iOS/Swift	templates/tech/ios-swift.md
build.gradle.kts with android	Android/Kotlin	templates/tech/android-kotlin.md
wrangler.toml	Cloudflare Worker	templates/tech/cloudflare-worker.md
@modelcontextprotocol/sdk	MCP Server	templates/tech/mcp-server.md
tsconfig.json	TypeScript	templates/tech/typescript.md
jest.config.js	Jest	templates/tech/jest-testing.md

Best Practices

1. Run Analyze first when joining a project
2. Use MOC for team projects with ongoing development
3. Use Portfolio after milestones while context is fresh
4. Maintain devlog (docs/devlog/) for better MOC decision synthesis
5. Regenerate periodically to keep docs in sync

Related Skills

• dev-inquiry - Investigation and technical decisions
• dev-reports - Journals and status reports
• dev-context - ADR/Design/Spec/Plan scaffolding