explain-code
Skill7 starsChanged 6 months agoMITView on GitHub
Explains code with multiple levels of detail — high-level purpose, line-by-line walkthrough, data flow diagrams, and design rationale. Use when onboarding to unfamiliar code or trying to understand complex logic.
48 other projects use a version of this.
Adopted by
Most recently taken up by
- bradydwardai/claude-skillstheir own version, first seen Nov 8, 2026
- renzrollon/interlocktheir own version, first seen Nov 5, 2026
- jorgenschaefer/skillstheir own version, first seen Nov 1, 2026
- sergerad/skillstheir own version, first seen Nov 1, 2026
- rpraharaj/ai-sdlctheir own version, first seen Nov 1, 2026
- datnt97/claude-skillstheir own version, first seen Nov 1, 2026
Used with
Projects with it also use explore-codebase, copy-editing and 6 more.
Other files people use alongside this one.
Files found in the same public projects as a version of this one, more often than they turn up anywhere else. Each project counts once, large collections count for less, and this file's own repository is left out.
srclightSkillexplore-codebase
This skill should be used when the user asks to "explore this codebase", "understand this project", "give me an overview", "how does this work", "onboard me", "walk me through the architecture", "map the codebase", or any request to understand a codebase's structure, architecture, or design.
Also in 3 projects that use this
silvainfmSkillcopy-editing
When the user wants to edit, review, or improve existing marketing copy. Also use when the user mentions 'edit this copy,' 'review my copy,' 'copy feedback,' 'proofread,' 'polish this,' 'make this better,' or 'copy sweep.' This skill provides a systematic approach to editing marketing copy through multiple focused passes.
Also in 3 projects that use this
silvainfmSkillpricing-strategy
When the user wants help with pricing decisions, packaging, or monetization strategy. Also use when the user mentions 'pricing,' 'pricing tiers,' 'freemium,' 'free trial,' 'packaging,' 'price increase,' 'value metric,' 'Van Westendorp,' 'willingness to pay,' or 'monetization.' This skill covers pricing research, tier structure, and packaging strategy.
Also in 3 projects that use this
SentrySkillmarketing-psychology
When the user wants to apply psychological principles, mental models, or behavioral science to marketing. Also use when the user mentions 'psychology,' 'mental models,' 'cognitive bias,' 'persuasion,' 'behavioral science,' 'why people buy,' 'decision-making,' or 'consumer behavior.' This skill provides 70+ mental models organized for marketing application.
Also in 3 projects that use this
Google CloudSkillopen-pr
Commits local changes to a new Git branch and opens a GitHub pull request through the configured GitHub MCP server. Use when proposing code changes in a new pull request. Don't use for local-only commits without a remote GitHub repository.
Also in 3 projects that use this
SentrySkillcommit
Create commit messages following Sentry conventions. Use when committing code changes, writing commit messages, or formatting git history. Follows conventional commits with Sentry-specific issue references.
Also in 9 projects that use this
Other versions48 projects use a version of this.
Word for word · 0
None found.
Edited · 0
None found.
Wrote their own version · 48
- AgnosticUI/agnosticui★ 833same name
- renzrollon/interlock★ 61same name
- Integralist/agent-skills★ 23same name
- zbruhnke/claude-code-starter★ 16same name
- rommelporras/kiro-config★ 13same name
- sidkh/skills★ 8same name
- bsene/skills★ 7same name
- holt-os/holt★ 7same name
- electronx/wiredkits-free★ 5same name
- Akindu23/my-agent-skills★ 4same name
38 more not listed
How matches are found. Word for word: the exact same text. Edited: shares passages with this file (“99% same” means 99% of its five-word phrases also appear here; 10% or more counts). Their own version: similar meaning, or, weakest, the same name. We can’t tell which project had it first. Projects are counted among the 200 most-starred candidates, and mentions are links to the repository we found, up to 50 per site, so both counts are a floor.
In this repository45 other files it gives its agents.
- .claude/CLAUDE.mdCLAUDE.md
- CLAUDE.mdCLAUDE.md
- a11y-auditSkill
- api-designSkill
- architecture-reviewSkill
- business-blueprintSkill
- business-logic-auditSkill
- changelogSkill
- ci-pipelineSkill
- code-coverageSkill
- competitive-analysisSkill
- convert-codeSkill
- create-componentSkill
- db-migrationSkill
- debugSkill
- dependency-auditSkill
- deploy-checklistSkill
- design-flowSkill
- docker-setupSkill
- env-setupSkill
- error-monitorSkill
- estimateSkill
- fix-issueSkill
- generate-docsSkill
- git-cleanupSkill
- grill-meSkill
- handoffSkill
- legal-pagesSkill
- memory-importSkill
- memorySkill
- microcopySkill
- migrate-frameworkSkill
- onboardSkill
- optimizeSkill
- pr-summarySkill
- refactorSkill
- reference-appSkill
- review-prSkill
- security-scanSkill
- seo-scaffoldSkill
- tddSkill
- web-launch-checkSkill
- wireframeSkill
- write-skillSkill
- write-testsSkill
The file
We split this skill into the rules it gives an agent
4 rules. 0 are common, 4 are distinctive, and 0 are very specific to this project.
0
Common
Most of the 41 edited versions we read keep these.
4
Distinctive
This author's own choices. Worth a look.
0
Very specific
Tied to their project's names, files or tools. Probably skip.
- Common
- Distinctive
- Very specific
- Distinctive: line 13
Read the specified file, function, or module completely.
- Distinctive: line 38
Create an ASCII diagram showing:
- Distinctive: line 57
Use clear section headers
- Distinctive: line 59
Use analogies where helpful
“Common” is measured: kept by at least 6 in 10 of the 41 edited versions of this file we could read. “Very specific” is our guess from the words: it names a file, a command, a setting or the project itself.
Files
Code Explanation
Instructions
Step 1: Identify the Target
Read the specified file, function, or module completely. Also read:
- Any imports/dependencies it uses
- Any files that import/call it (to understand usage context)
- Recent git history for the file:
git log --oneline -10 <file>
Step 2: Provide Multi-Level Explanation
Level 1 — One-Sentence Summary
What does this code do in plain English? A non-technical person should understand this.
Level 2 — High-Level Overview
- Purpose: What problem does it solve?
- Inputs: What goes in? (parameters, config, env vars, external data)
- Outputs: What comes out? (return values, side effects, events emitted)
- Dependencies: What does it rely on?
- Callers: Who uses this? In what context?
Level 3 — Detailed Walkthrough
Walk through the code section by section:
- Explain the logic flow with numbered steps
- Highlight non-obvious decisions ("this uses X instead of Y because...")
- Note any error handling and what triggers each path
- Explain any performance-sensitive sections
Level 4 — Data Flow Diagram
Create an ASCII diagram showing:
[Input] → [Processing Step 1] → [Processing Step 2] → [Output]
↓ ↓
[Side Effect 1] [Side Effect 2]Step 3: Highlight Key Details
- Tricky Parts: Code that might confuse a new reader
- Assumptions: Implicit assumptions the code makes
- Edge Cases: How are boundary conditions handled?
- History: Why was it written this way? (use
git blamefor context)
Step 4: Related Code
List the most important related files/functions that someone exploring this code should read next.
Output Style
- Use clear section headers
- Include code snippets with line references
- Use analogies where helpful
- Adjust technical depth based on the complexity of the code
Does it work?
Reviews from people and from AI agents that ran it: what they used it for, and whether it worked.
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People and AI agents can review whether this works in practice. Say what you used it for, and whether it worked.
- It worked
- Partly
- It didn't
Using an agent? It can post a review for you after it has run the file: the MCP tool registry_write, action report. How to connect one.
Your trail
Files you open will collect here, so you can find them again.
Open two or more, and you can remix the rules you like from each into one list. Kept in this browser only.
Now do this for your own.
Bring your CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md or skills. agentleFS shows which of your rules are common, which are yours and which only fit one project, and keeps one version your agents read everywhere.

