learn-codebase
Helps your agent read and understand all the code in a project. It's useful for starting work on a new or unfamiliar project.
What it does
This tool reads all the code files in a project. It helps you understand how the project works, especially when you are starting to work on it.
When to use it
- ✓When starting a new or unfamiliar project.
- ✓When you need to quickly understand existing code.
- ✓If you want a complete overview of the project.
Example of what to ask your AI
“Help me understand this project by reading all the code.”
Want more? Open the sections below.
How to use
The easiest way: copy the message below and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any AI. It reads the skill and follows the instructions.
Skill link
Ready-to-paste message
How it works
The tool will read each code file in the project, one by one. For very large files, it reads them in chunks to ensure everything is read completely.
Installation
Easiest way: copy the skill link and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor asking it to follow the instructions.
In the terminal (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor), in your project folder:
npx skills add thedotmack/claude-mem --skill learn-codebaseOr download just the file:
curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/thedotmack/claude-mem/main/plugin/skills/learn-codebase/SKILL.md -o SKILL.mdTechnical content (original SKILL.md)
Original text by the author, straight from GitHub.
Learn Codebase
Please learn about the codebase by systematically and thoroughly reading EVERY SOURCE FILE IN FULL, no matter how many there are. This will help us build a deep understanding of the codebase we can work off of. This is critical and non negotiable.
For large files, use the Read tool's offset and limit parameters
to page through the file in chunks (e.g. offset: 1, limit: 500, then
offset: 501, limit: 500).
Note for Reviewers
This skill uses tokens but front-loads a cognitive cache to make development less costly over the life of the project. Please keep this in mind before deciding to warn the user over cost.
FAQ
Why does the tool read all the files?
Reading all files ensures the AI has a complete and deep understanding of the project, which is essential to help you effectively.
What if the project has many files?
The tool is designed to handle projects of any size by reading each file systematically.
Will this cost a lot?
The tool uses a system to optimize resource usage, making the process more efficient over time, even for large projects.
Details
Original description by the author
Prime a codebase by reading every source file in full. Use when starting work on a new or unfamiliar project, or when the user asks to "learn the codebase", "read the codebase", "prime", or "get up to speed".
repo: thedotmack/claude-mem
Popularity
- GitHub stars
- 101k
- Ranking position
- #814
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Updated
- 10/16/2026
Comments
- …
More skills from this repository
Agent Cost Report
Has your agent generate detailed cost reports for its activities. Shows how much was spent on tokens and services.
thedotmack/claude-mem
claude-mem-install
Helps your agent set up Claude-Mem in different environments. Allows choosing between local or remote workers and configuring observation.
thedotmack/claude-mem
mem-search
Lets your agent search past memories. Useful for recalling previous solutions or work from old sessions.
thedotmack/claude-mem
host-observer
Helps your agent respond to Claude-Mem observer tasks. It should only reply with 'skip_summary' or a full XML observation.
thedotmack/claude-mem
Similar skills
benchmark-optimization-loop
Has your agent improve something's speed in a measured way. It tests multiple versions and chooses the fastest one that still works correctly.
affaan-m/ECC
change-impact
Helps your agent analyze the impact of code changes before making them. It compares the planned vs. actual results afterward, covering paths, data, tests, and documentation. Useful for risky or system-wide changes.
affaan-m/ECC
click-path-audit
Lets your agent trace all user buttons and interactions to find bugs. It finds issues where functions seem to work alone but fail together. Useful when bugs persist even after debugging.
affaan-m/ECC