codebase-research
Systematic codebase exploration following the Iron Law - understand the problem before exploring code. Four phases with file-finder and web-researcher agents.
npx skills add a5c-ai/babysitter --skill codebase-research --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
- 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`
- Process
- Key Rules
- Agents Used
- Tool Use
What does the codebase-research skill do?
Systematic codebase exploration following the Iron Law - understand the problem before exploring code. Four phases with file-finder and web-researcher agents.
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add a5c-ai/babysitter --skill codebase-research --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From a5c-ai/babysitter, a repository with 1,642 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.