how

Explains codebase architecture and subsystem flow through parallel explorer agents.

Updated Mar 27, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/gmackie/agent-skills --skill how-gmackie
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: how
Source: https://github.com/gmackie/agent-skills/tree/main/skills/how
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/gmackie/agent-skills --skill how-gmackie

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve? Understanding how an unfamiliar subsystem works requires hours of manual code reading, and architectural questions like "where should this live" or "how does the rate limiter work" often go unanswered. This Skill automates codebase exploration and produces senior-engineer-level architectural explanations. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Explain Mode: Decomposes complex questions into parallel explorer agents that trace code paths, then synthesizes findings into a structured explanation with overview, key concepts, flow, file map, and gotchas. - Critique Mode: After explaining, spawns multiple independent model critics that evaluate the architecture against a rubric covering abstraction fit, data model, boundaries, and evolution readiness. - Use Case: Before modifying the billing flow, ask how on-demand usage billing works and receive a walkthrough of the trigger, call chain, data flow, and the files you need to touch. ## Quick Start Ask the agent to explain how the authentication service works in this repository.

Frequently Asked Questions about how

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I understand how a codebase subsystem works?▼

Ask a "how does X work" question and the skill explores the code, traces the call chain from entry point to output, and returns a structured explanation covering key concepts, flow, file locations, and gotchas.

How to get an architectural critique of existing code?▼

Request a critique of a subsystem and the skill first explains the architecture, then spawns multiple independent model critics that evaluate it against a rubric covering abstraction fit, data model, boundaries, and evolution readiness.

Does the code exploration modify my repository files?▼

No. All explorer, explainer, and critic subagents run in read-only mode, using Glob, Grep, and Read to inspect code without writing or changing any files.

When should I use explain mode versus critique mode?▼

Use explain mode for understanding questions like how a feature flows or where code lives. Use critique mode only when you explicitly want architectural problems, risks, or improvement opportunities identified.

What are the limitations of automated codebase exploration?▼

Explorers may fail to trace dynamic or indirect connections, and the skill instructs them to report open questions honestly rather than guess. Very broad questions are decomposed into at most four exploration angles.