blame

Trace git line history to commits, pull requests, and requirement GUIDs.

Updated Mar 2, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/alexmensch/claude-sdlc-plugins --skill blame
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: blame
Source: https://github.com/alexmensch/claude-sdlc-plugins/tree/main/plugins/debugging/skills/blame
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/alexmensch/claude-sdlc-plugins --skill blame

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps developers and maintainers trace lines of code back through git history to the original requirements that motivated the changes, reducing time spent investigating why code exists and enabling accountability.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Line-level traceability using git blame or full line history to identify commit authors, messages, and timestamps.
  • Resolve commits to pull requests via the GitHub API and extract the referenced requirements GUID from PR bodies, then locate the matching spec file in the product directory.
  • Use cases include answering "which requirement does this implement", auditing historical design decisions, performing incident forensics, and preparing traceability reports for compliance.

Quick Start

Trace the origin of src/app/main.py lines 40–70 back through git and GitHub to its requirements GUID and spec file.

Frequently Asked Questions about blame

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I trace git blame back to original product requirements?

To trace git blame back to product requirements, this Skill maps file lines through git history to originating commits, resolves them to pull requests via the GitHub API, and extracts referenced requirement GUIDs to locate matching spec files for audit or compliance workflows.

What is code archaeology for tracing pull requests to spec files?

Code archaeology for tracing pull requests to spec files involves analyzing a file's full line history to identify originating commits, resolving those commits to pull requests, and extracting requirement GUIDs from PR bodies to map code changes directly to product spec files.

Do I need GitHub API access to map git commits to requirement GUIDs?

Yes, you need GitHub API access or a GitHub remote to map git commits to requirement GUIDs, because the Skill resolves local git history commits to pull requests and extracts the referenced requirement GUIDs directly from the PR body text.

How do I prepare a product directory for requirement traceability analysis?

To prepare a product directory for requirement traceability analysis, populate it with spec files containing unique GUIDs so the Skill can match extracted pull request references against them and return the exact requirement content motivating the code change.

Can I use git blame for incident forensics and compliance auditing?

Yes, you can use git blame for incident forensics and compliance auditing, as the Skill traces specific file lines through git history to identify originating commits, pull requests, and matched requirement spec files to establish historical design accountability.

What are the limitations of tracing code history without spec file GUIDs?

Without spec file GUIDs in the product directory, tracing code history is limited to identifying commit authors, messages, and timestamps, because the Skill cannot resolve pull request references to matching requirement content without unique GUID identifiers.