| 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
- Identify the mode from the request
- Load the appropriate template from
templates/ - Detect technology stack and load tech templates from
templates/tech/ - 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
- Run Analyze first when joining a project
- Use MOC for team projects with ongoing development
- Use Portfolio after milestones while context is fresh
- Maintain devlog (
docs/devlog/) for better MOC decision synthesis - 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