---
name: codebase-navigation-eef0a7e9b425
description: Use this skill when exploring an unfamiliar codebase, tracing code paths, or answering questions about how the system works. Read before writing, and build a mental model of the architecture before making changes.
category: coding
---

# Codebase Navigation

Before modifying unfamiliar code, build a mental model.

**Exploration strategy:**
1. Start with entry points: `main.py`, `__init__.py`, `index.ts`, `App.tsx`.
2. Follow imports to understand dependency structure.
3. Find the data model first — it shapes everything else.
4. Read tests: they document expected behavior better than comments.
5. Check git log: recent commits explain *why* things are the way they are.

**Efficient search:**
- Use file pattern search (glob) to find files by name/extension.
- Use content search (grep) to find where a function/class is defined vs. called.
- Search for the error message text to find the source location directly.

**Anti-patterns:**
- Modifying code without reading it first.
- Assuming file structure from another codebase.
- Grepping without a clear hypothesis of what you are looking for.


---
Source attribution: aiming-lab
Original project: https://github.com/aiming-lab/MetaClaw
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Dave AI.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 Gabriel Moreira

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Dave AI resource metadata

Creator / publisher: aiming-lab
Original project: https://github.com/aiming-lab/MetaClaw
Attribution basis: Upstream repository explicitly recorded in package mirror path

Fields of work: Development & Engineering
Roles: Backend Developer, Data Engineer, DevOps / SRE, Full-Stack Developer, QA / Test Engineer
Specialties: Backend, Cross Platform, Frontend, Testing
Tools: Tool not specified
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: 9e8d1a77c603d2b44bac8166f91265d665d1a51d844e3c77712ad255748f06c1