Codebase onboarding
Analyze a codebase and generate onboarding documentation for engineers, tech leads, and contractors.
How to use it
Claude Code
- Run the line below. It pulls the whole folder into
~/.claude/skills/codebase-onboarding. - Describe your job in plain words. Claude Code follows the skill from there.
Claude Code — installs the whole folder, not just SKILL.md
npx degit alirezarezvani/claude-skills/engineering/skills/codebase-onboarding#main ~/.claude/skills/codebase-onboardingFor one project only, change the path to .claude/skills/codebase-onboarding.
Claude (web or desktop app)
- On this page open ⋯ → Download .md.
- Save it as SKILL.md in a folder, zip the folder, then Customize → Skills → + → Create skill → Upload a skill.
- Pick the file and Save. Claude shows the name and description and runs a security scan.
- Check the skill is switched on.
- Start a new chat and describe your job in plain words. The AI follows the skill from there.
ChatGPT or another app
- ChatGPT: make a Project and paste it into Instructions.
- Neither? Paste it at the top of a new chat — it works for that chat.
Not working?
- Check which app you pasted it into — the steps above name the right one.
- Some skills need the paid tier of Claude or ChatGPT.
Paste into Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor.
Source of Codebase onboarding
Show the full text85 lines
| name | description |
|---|---|
| codebase-onboarding | Analyze a codebase and generate onboarding documentation for engineers, tech leads, and contractors. Fast fact-gathering and repeatable onboarding outputs. Use when onboarding a new engineer, writing architecture-overview docs for a new project, or producing tech-lead briefings for unfamiliar repos. |
Codebase Onboarding
Tier: POWERFUL
Category: Engineering
Domain: Documentation / Developer Experience
Overview
Analyze a codebase and generate onboarding documentation for engineers, tech leads, and contractors. This skill is optimized for fast fact-gathering and repeatable onboarding outputs.
Core Capabilities
- Architecture and stack discovery from repository signals
- Key file and config inventory for new contributors
- Local setup and common-task guidance generation
- Audience-aware documentation framing
- Debugging and contribution checklist scaffolding
When to Use
- Onboarding a new team member or contractor
- Rebuilding stale project docs after large refactors
- Preparing internal handoff documentation
- Creating a standardized onboarding packet for services
Quick Start
# 1) Gather codebase facts
python3 scripts/codebase_analyzer.py /path/to/repo
# 2) Export machine-readable output
python3 scripts/codebase_analyzer.py /path/to/repo --json
# 3) Use the template to draft onboarding docs
# See references/onboarding-template.md
Recommended Workflow
- Run
scripts/codebase_analyzer.pyagainst the target repository. - Capture key signals: file counts, detected languages, config files, top-level structure.
- Fill the onboarding template in
references/onboarding-template.md. - Tailor output depth by audience:
- Junior: setup + guardrails
- Senior: architecture + operational concerns
- Contractor: scoped ownership + integration boundaries
Onboarding Document Template
Detailed template and section examples live in:
references/onboarding-template.mdreferences/output-format-templates.md
Common Pitfalls
- Writing docs without validating setup commands on a clean environment
- Mixing architecture deep-dives into contractor-oriented docs
- Omitting troubleshooting and verification steps
- Letting onboarding docs drift from current repo state
Best Practices
- Keep setup instructions executable and time-bounded.
- Document the "why" for key architectural decisions.
- Update docs in the same PR as behavior changes.
- Treat onboarding docs as living operational assets, not one-time deliverables.
| 1 | |
| 2 | name "codebase-onboarding" |
| 3 | description "Analyze a codebase and generate onboarding documentation for engineers, tech leads, and contractors. Fast fact-gathering and repeatable onboarding outputs. Use when onboarding a new engineer, writing architecture-overview docs for a new project, or producing tech-lead briefings for unfamiliar repos." |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | # Codebase Onboarding |
| 7 | |
| 8 | **Tier:** POWERFUL |
| 9 | **Category:** Engineering |
| 10 | **Domain:** Documentation / Developer Experience |
| 11 | |
| 12 | |
| 13 | |
| 14 | ## Overview |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Analyze a codebase and generate onboarding documentation for engineers, tech leads, and contractors. This skill is optimized for fast fact-gathering and repeatable onboarding outputs. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | ## Core Capabilities |
| 19 | |
| 20 | Architecture and stack discovery from repository signals |
| 21 | Key file and config inventory for new contributors |
| 22 | Local setup and common-task guidance generation |
| 23 | Audience-aware documentation framing |
| 24 | Debugging and contribution checklist scaffolding |
| 25 | |
| 26 | |
| 27 | |
| 28 | ## When to Use |
| 29 | |
| 30 | Onboarding a new team member or contractor |
| 31 | Rebuilding stale project docs after large refactors |
| 32 | Preparing internal handoff documentation |
| 33 | Creating a standardized onboarding packet for services |
| 34 | |
| 35 | |
| 36 | |
| 37 | ## Quick Start |
| 38 | |
| 39 | |
| 40 | # 1) Gather codebase facts |
| 41 | python3 scripts/codebase_analyzer.py /path/to/repo |
| 42 | |
| 43 | # 2) Export machine-readable output |
| 44 | python3 scripts/codebase_analyzer.py /path/to/repo --json |
| 45 | |
| 46 | # 3) Use the template to draft onboarding docs |
| 47 | # See references/onboarding-template.md |
| 48 | |
| 49 | |
| 50 | |
| 51 | |
| 52 | ## Recommended Workflow |
| 53 | |
| 54 | Run `scripts/codebase_analyzer.py` against the target repository. |
| 55 | Capture key signals: file counts, detected languages, config files, top-level structure. |
| 56 | Fill the onboarding template in `references/onboarding-template.md`. |
| 57 | Tailor output depth by audience: |
| 58 | Junior: setup + guardrails |
| 59 | Senior: architecture + operational concerns |
| 60 | Contractor: scoped ownership + integration boundaries |
| 61 | |
| 62 | |
| 63 | |
| 64 | ## Onboarding Document Template |
| 65 | |
| 66 | Detailed template and section examples live in: |
| 67 | `references/onboarding-template.md` |
| 68 | `references/output-format-templates.md` |
| 69 | |
| 70 | |
| 71 | |
| 72 | ## Common Pitfalls |
| 73 | |
| 74 | Writing docs without validating setup commands on a clean environment |
| 75 | Mixing architecture deep-dives into contractor-oriented docs |
| 76 | Omitting troubleshooting and verification steps |
| 77 | Letting onboarding docs drift from current repo state |
| 78 | |
| 79 | ## Best Practices |
| 80 | |
| 81 | Keep setup instructions executable and time-bounded. |
| 82 | Document the "why" for key architectural decisions. |
| 83 | Update docs in the same PR as behavior changes. |
| 84 | Treat onboarding docs as living operational assets, not one-time deliverables. |
| 85 |
Discussion
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