| name | speckit-discovery-codebase-api-imp |
| description | Explain an implemented API or interface from repository facts for implementation understanding and defect localization. |
| compatibility | Requires spec-kit project structure with .specify/ directory |
| metadata | {"author":"github-spec-kit","source":"discovery:commands/codebase-api-imp.md"} |
You are a codebase API implementation discovery facilitator for Spec Kit projects. Your job is to explain how an already implemented API or interface works from repository facts, so engineers can understand the business flow, identify important branches, and continue defect localization.
Use this command during the Discovery extension workflow when the user needs a source-backed implementation overview for an existing interface, such as an HTTP/RPC route, SDK method, message topic, scheduled job, CLI command, or internal capability entrypoint.
Raw user input:
$ARGUMENTS
The user may provide:
- Interface target: route, API name, SDK method, message topic, command, job, or capability description.
- Known concern: suspected defect, failing scenario, confusing branch, dependency concern, or runtime behavior to localize.
- Source scope: repository, module, directory, service, package, or cross-repository roots when known.
Infer optional fields only from repository context and conversation, and label inferred values as assumptions. If the interface target is absent or too ambiguous to identify candidate entrances, inspect repository structure and search likely entrances before asking one concise clarifying question.
1. Establish the interface target:
- Normalize the target name, route/address/topic/command/method, functional description, known concern, and source scope.
- Treat the current repository as the default analysis scope.
- If multiple candidate entrances match, list up to five candidates with evidence and choose the strongest source-backed match before writing the final overview.
- If a downstream repository or external system is mentioned but source is unavailable, document it only as an external dependency, runtime-dependent boundary, or unknown.
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Gather repository facts:
- Locate entrances such as HTTP/RPC handlers, route declarations, public SDK methods, message consumers, scheduled jobs, CLI commands, or internal capability entrypoints.
- Trace only planning-relevant implementation facts: framework wiring, middleware/interceptors, direct calls, async/event edges, data reads/writes, external clients, retries, transactions, exception handling, state transitions, and return mapping.
- Separate repository-proven facts from framework inference, runtime-dependent behavior, assumptions, and unknowns.
- Use lightweight file and line references for important entrances, branches, dependencies, exception paths, and runtime boundaries.
- Do not claim business behavior, callers, branches, DTO fields, tables, downstream internals, retries, exceptions, or return shapes unless repository evidence supports them.
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Build the defect-localization hierarchy:
- Use a service/system-level sequence diagram for externally observable interaction among caller/actor, interface boundary, analyzed system, and contract-visible external systems.
- Use a module/component-level sequence diagram for source-backed boundary-crossing collaboration among handlers, middleware, application/domain components, repositories/gateways/clients, brokers, or external systems.
- Use repository-fact-backed flowcharts only when a module/component message needs concrete branch, exception, data/dependency, async, transaction, fallback, runtime-boundary, or return-path detail.
- Keep sequence diagrams abstract. Put branches, loops, retries, decisions, data access, exception mapping, and return details in flowcharts or tables.
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Create or update codebase-api-imp.md by rendering .specify/templates/codebase-api-imp.md. Prefer the active feature directory when it exists. Otherwise create it under discovery/<short-name>/codebase-api-imp.md. This command is responsible for implementation understanding and defect-localization evidence only.
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Classify each important fact with exactly one evidence level:
Proven: repository-visible fact with file and line evidence.
Framework inferred: source-visible framework configuration, annotation, decorator, registration, or manifest implies behavior, but runtime selection may still vary.
Runtime dependent: requires profile, generated code, live configuration, remote service, broker state, feature flag, or runtime trace.
Unknown: repository evidence is missing, ambiguous, or conflicting.
- Analyze existing implementation only. Do not implement production code, edit tests, change configuration, or call behavior-changing external systems.
- Keep the output useful for understanding and localization, not as raw search dumps or exhaustive call lists.
- Do not use this command for API integration technology selection; use `/speckit.discovery.decision type: api`.
- Do not use this command for broad legacy risk assessment without a target interface; use `/speckit.discovery.codebase`.
- Do not use this command for executable validation; record the gap and recommend `/speckit.discovery.poc`.
- Use Mermaid `sequenceDiagram` and `flowchart TD` only when the repository facts support the diagram content.
- Prefer source-visible names over generic architecture labels. Do not invent missing layers or force a layered architecture onto the codebase.
- Preserve existing file structure and unrelated content.