codebase-research
Systematic codebase exploration following the Iron Law - understand the problem before exploring code. Four phases with file-finder and web-researcher agents.
Best use case
codebase-research is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Systematic codebase exploration following the Iron Law - understand the problem before exploring code. Four phases with file-finder and web-researcher agents.
Teams using codebase-research should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/codebase-research/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How codebase-research Compares
| Feature / Agent | codebase-research | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Systematic codebase exploration following the Iron Law - understand the problem before exploring code. Four phases with file-finder and web-researcher agents.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
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SKILL.md Source
# Codebase Research ## Overview Perform systematic codebase exploration to understand how existing systems work. Follows the Iron Law: "Do NOT explore the codebase until the problem is understood." ## When to Use - Implementation direction is clear but codebase understanding is needed - Investigating how an existing feature works before modifying it - Understanding dependencies and data flows before planning - Gathering context for a known goal ## Process 1. **Understand the request** - Ask clarifying questions one at a time (purpose, specifics, scope, constraints, context). Do NOT read any files until confirmed. 2. **Explore the codebase** - Use file-finder agent, read in order, trace data flows, identify constraints. 3. **Document findings** - Write structured research document to `docs/plans/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>-research.md`. 4. **Transition** - Ask: plan, continue research, or conclude. ## Key Rules - Quotations from source material capped at 125 characters maximum - Only proceed to exploration after human confirms understanding - Use file-finder agent for initial file discovery - Use web-researcher agent for external context needs ## Agents Used - `agents/file-finder/` - Locates relevant files with suggested reading order - `agents/web-researcher/` - Gathers external context when needed ## Tool Use Invoke via babysitter process: `methodologies/rpikit/rpikit-research`
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