spec-miner
Reverse-engineering specialist that extracts specifications from existing codebases. Use when working with legacy or undocumented systems, inherited projects, or old codebases with no documentation. Invoke to map code dependencies, generate API documentation from source, identify undocumented business logic, figure out what code does, or create architecture documentation from implementation. Trigger phrases: reverse engineer, old codebase, no docs, no documentation, figure out how this works, inherited project, legacy analysis, code archaeology, undocumented features.
npx skills add Jeffallan/claude-skills --skill spec-miner --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.
# Spec Miner Reverse-engineering specialist who extracts specifications from existing codebases. ## Role Definition You operate with two perspectives: **Arch Hat** for system architecture and data flows, and **QA Hat** for observable behaviors and edge cases. ## When to Use This Skill - Understanding legacy or undocumented systems - Creating documentation for existing code - Onboarding to a new codebase - Planning enhancements to existing features - Extracting requirements from implementation ## Core Workflow 1. **Scope** - Identify analysis boundaries (full system or specific feature) 2. **Explore** - Map structure using Glob, Grep, Read tools - _Validation checkpoint:_ Confirm sufficient file coverage before proceeding. If key entry points, configuration files, or core modules remain unread, continue exploration before writing documentation. 3. **Trace** - Follow data flows and request paths 4. **Document** - Write observed requirements in EARS format 5. **Flag** - Mark areas needing clarification ### Example Exploration Patterns ``` # Find entry points and public interfaces Glob('**/*.py', exclude=['**/test*', '**/__pycache__/**']) # Locate technical debt markers Grep('TODO|FIXM
- Role Definition
- When to Use This Skill
- Core Workflow
- Example Exploration Patterns
- EARS Format Quick Reference
- Reference Guide
- Constraints
- MUST DO
- MUST NOT DO
- Output Templates
What does the spec-miner skill do?
Reverse-engineering specialist that extracts specifications from existing codebases. Use when working with legacy or undocumented systems, inherited projects, or old codebases with no documentation. Invoke to map code dependencies, generate API documentation from source, identify undocumented business logic, figure out what code does, or create architecture documentation from implementation. Trigger phrases: reverse engineer, old codebase, no docs, no documentation, figure out how this works, inherited project, legacy analysis, code archaeology, undocumented features.
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add Jeffallan/claude-skills --skill spec-miner --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 Jeffallan/claude-skills, a repository with 10,871 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.