acquire-codebase-knowledge

name	acquire-codebase-knowledge
description	Map an unfamiliar repository into a usable working model by documenting stack, structure, architecture, integrations, testing, and known concerns.
category	Task
pinned	true
trigger_hints	onboarding, codebase map, architecture, structure, testing, discovery

Acquire codebase knowledge

Map an unfamiliar repository into a usable working model by documenting stack, structure, architecture, integrations, testing, and known concerns.

When to Use This Skill

Use this when onboarding into an existing codebase, recovering context after a long gap, or building a durable architecture map before major changes.

Workflow Overview

1. Scan the repo and read the intent documents before making architecture claims.
2. Capture the real stack, directory layout, entry points, integrations, and testing setup from source evidence.
3. Separate verified facts from unknowns instead of guessing through ambiguous areas.
4. Produce a concise codebase map that future work can reuse for implementation, review, and onboarding.

Examples

• Map this repo before we start a risky refactor.
• Create a usable architecture and testing overview for a new engineer.
• Recover the real structure of a repo whose README has drifted.