Code prompts
Code prompt

Get oriented in a new codebase

First day on a repo. You want a map, not a tour.

Works best in: Claude

Give me an overview of this codebase. I'm trying to build a working mental model, not read every file.

Cover:
1. **Architecture** — what kind of system is this, what are the main pieces, how do they talk to each other
2. **Key directories** — what lives where and why (top 5–10 only)
3. **Entry points** — where execution actually starts (server boot, CLI, background workers)
4. **Critical paths** — the 2–3 user-visible flows that touch the most code
5. **What's load-bearing** — files I should be careful about because half the codebase depends on them
6. **What's vestigial** — anything that looks abandoned, deprecated, or only kept for one weird customer

Format as a structured doc. Use file paths, not vague descriptions. If something is unclear from the code, say so instead of inventing.
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