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codebase-documenter

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Generates comprehensive documentation explaining how a codebase works, including architecture, key components, data flow, and development guidelines. Use when user wants to understand unfamiliar code, create onboarding docs, document architecture, or explain how the system works.

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Marketplace

mhattingpete-claude-skills

mhattingpete/claude-skills-marketplace

Plugin

productivity-skills

Repository

mhattingpete/claude-skills-marketplace
264stars

productivity-skills-plugin/skills/codebase-documenter/SKILL.md

Last Verified

January 23, 2026

Install Skill

Select agents to install to:

Scope:
npx add-skill https://github.com/mhattingpete/claude-skills-marketplace/blob/main/productivity-skills-plugin/skills/codebase-documenter/SKILL.md -a claude-code --skill codebase-documenter

Installation paths:

Claude
.claude/skills/codebase-documenter/
Powered by add-skill CLI

Instructions

# Codebase Documenter

Generates comprehensive documentation for codebases - architecture, components, data flow, development guidelines.

## When to Use

- "explain this codebase"
- "document the architecture"
- "how does this code work"
- "create developer documentation"
- "generate codebase overview"
- "create onboarding docs"

## What It Documents

### 1. Project Overview
- Purpose & vision
- Target users
- Key features
- Technology stack
- Project status

### 2. Architecture
- High-level structure
- Design patterns
- Data flow
- Control flow
- Diagrams (Mermaid)
- Architectural decisions

### 3. Directory Structure
- Organization purpose
- Naming conventions
- Entry points
- Core modules
- Configuration locations

### 4. Key Components
- Major modules
- Classes & functions
- Responsibilities
- Interactions
- Extension points
- Code examples

### 5. External Integrations
- APIs consumed
- Databases & schemas
- Authentication
- Caching
- Message queues
- File storage

### 6. Data Models
- Database schema
- Data structures
- Validation
- Migrations
- Data transformations

### 7. Development Setup
- Prerequisites
- Installation steps
- Configuration
- Running the app
- Testing
- Debugging
- Troubleshooting

### 8. Development Guidelines
- Coding conventions
- Testing approach
- Error handling
- Logging
- Security practices
- Performance patterns

### 9. Deployment
- Build process
- Deployment steps
- Environments
- Monitoring
- Rollback procedures

### 10. Contributing
- Development workflow
- Code review guidelines
- Testing requirements
- Documentation updates

## Approach

1. **Explore** using Explore agent (thorough)
2. **Map structure** with Glob
3. **Read critical files** (README, entry points, core modules)
4. **Identify patterns** with Grep (imports, exports)
5. **Trace execution** paths
6. **Extract knowledge** from docs, comments, tests
7. **Synthesize** into cohesive documentation

## Output

Creates markdown documentation:
```
docs/
├── README.md       

Validation Details

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Instruction Length:
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