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.
How do I install this agent skill?
npx skills add https://github.com/alirezarezvani/claude-skills --skill codebase-onboardingIs this agent skill safe to install?
- Gen Agent Trust Hubpass
The skill is safe. It provides a local script to scan codebases for directory structure and metadata, alongside documentation templates for onboarding. It uses only standard Python libraries and includes export examples for well-known services.
- Socketpass
No alerts
- Snykpass
Risk: LOW · No issues
- Runlayerpass
2/4 files flagged
What does this agent skill do?
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.
How can the creator link this skill?
Add the canonical catalog link to the repository README so users can inspect current installs and available audits. The publishing guide covers the complete discovery path.
<a href="https://skillzs.dev/skills/alirezarezvani/claude-skills/codebase-onboarding">View codebase-onboarding on skillZs</a>