Explore & Understand Unknown Code
Claude Code can recursively read files by following imports, making it perfect for codebase exploration. The flow map provides a visual reference you can keep. Asking for the '3 most important things before modifying' surfaces the non-obvious gotchas that cause bugs.
I need to understand how {{featureOrSystem}} works in this codebase. I am not familiar with this part of the code. **Starting point:** {{entryPoint}} Trace the code flow and explain: 1. **Entry point:** What triggers this feature? (route, event, user action) 2. **Data flow:** Follow the data from input to output — which files and functions does it pass through? 3. **Dependencies:** What services, APIs, or database tables does it interact with? 4. **State management:** Where is state stored and how does it change? 5. **Edge cases:** What error handling exists? What happens when things fail? Create a concise map: \`\`\` {{entryPoint}} -> [file1:function] -> [file2:function] -> [output] \`\`\` Then explain the 3 most important things I need to know before modifying this code. Read as many files as needed to give a complete picture. Do not guess — trace the actual imports and function calls.
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Why this prompt works
Claude Code can recursively read files by following imports, making it perfect for codebase exploration. The flow map provides a visual reference you can keep. Asking for the '3 most important things before modifying' surfaces the non-obvious gotchas that cause bugs.
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