codebase-recon
AI agent skill that analyzes git history to reveal codebase hotspots, bug magnets, bus factor risks, and development momentum before reading any code. Works with Gemini CLI, Claude Code, Cursor, and 20+ other coding agents.
codebase-recon-skill
A coding agent skill that analyzes git history to understand a codebase before reading any code. Reveals project health, risk areas, team structure, and development momentum.
Inspired by "The Git Commands I Run Before Reading Any Code" by Ally Piechowski.
Installation
Via skills.sh (works with 20+ coding agents)
npx skills add yujiachen-y/codebase-recon-skill
Works with Claude Code, Cline, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, and any agent supporting the Agent Skills Specification.
Via Claude Code plugin system
/plugin marketplace add yujiachen-y/codebase-recon-skill
Then install the plugin from the marketplace browser via /plugin.
Via Codex plugin system
codex plugin marketplace add yujiachen-y/codebase-recon-skill
Then run /plugins in Codex, choose the Codebase Recon marketplace, and install codebase-recon.
Usage
In your coding agent, invoke:
/codebase-recon
The skill will:
- Probe the repo to determine its scale (small / medium / large)
- Analyze 7 dimensions in parallel: code hotspots, bus factor, bug magnets, team momentum, firefighting frequency, recently added files, and active contributors
- Cross-reference hotspots with bug magnets to identify high-risk files
- Report findings with actionable recommendations
What You'll Learn
| Dimension | Question Answered |
|---|---|
| Code Hotspots | Which files change the most? |
| Bug Magnets | Which files attract the most bug fixes? |
| High-Risk Files | Which files are both hot AND buggy? |
| Bus Factor | Who knows what? Is knowledge concentrated? |
| Team Momentum | Is development accelerating, stable, or declining? |
| Firefighting | How often are there emergency fixes and reverts? |
| Recently Added | Where is active development happening? |
Requirements
git(any version)- A git repository with commit history
Attribution
This skill is inspired by "The Git Commands I Run Before Reading Any Code" by Ally Piechowski. The original article describes 5 git commands for codebase reconnaissance. This skill extends the concept with auto-scaling, cross-referencing, and actionable recommendations.