Map codebase with parallel agents

VerifiedSafe

Analyze codebase with parallel mapper agents to produce structured documents in .planning/codebase/. Supports fast mode and intelligence queries.

Sby Skills Guide Bot
DevelopmentIntermediate
108/29/2026
Claude Code
#codebase-analysis#planning#architecture#project-onboarding#agent-orchestration

Recommended for

Our review

Analyzes an existing codebase with parallel mapper agents to produce seven structured planning documents under .planning/codebase/.

Strengths

  • Uses parallel agents and only collects confirmations, keeping context use low
  • Generates a complete set of seven documents covering tech stack, architecture, quality, and concerns
  • Supports a fast scan mode and query commands for targeted or lightweight intel
  • Works for brownfield onboarding and for refreshing an outdated codebase map

Limitations

  • Not suited to greenfield or tiny codebases (under five files)
  • Depends on the get-shit-done workflow and its document templates
  • Query mode requires intel to be enabled in the configuration
When to use it

Use it when starting on an unfamiliar or brownfield codebase, before major refactoring, or when the existing codebase map is stale.

When not to use it

Avoid it for greenfield projects with little or no code and for trivial codebases with fewer than five files.

Security analysis

Safe
Quality score90/100

The skill orchestrates parallel mapper agents to write codebase documentation files. It uses Read, Bash, Glob, Grep, Write, and Agent tools for legitimate codebase analysis. No destructive, exfiltrating, or obfuscated actions are present, and no unsafe shell commands are specified.

No concerns found

Examples

Full parallel map
/gsd-map-codebase
Fast scan focused on architecture
/gsd-map-codebase --fast --focus arch
Query for a specific term
/gsd-map-codebase --query auth

name: gsd-map-codebase description: "Analyze codebase with parallel mapper agents to produce .planning/codebase/ documents" argument-hint: "[--fast [--focus tech|arch|quality|concerns]] [--query <term>|status|diff|refresh] [area]" allowed-tools: Read, Bash, Glob, Grep, Write, Agent

<objective> Analyze existing codebase using parallel gsd-codebase-mapper agents to produce structured codebase documents.

Each mapper agent explores a focus area and writes documents directly to .planning/codebase/. The orchestrator only receives confirmations, keeping context usage minimal.

Output: .planning/codebase/ folder with 7 structured documents about the codebase state. </objective>

<execution_context> @.github/get-shit-done/workflows/map-codebase.md </execution_context>

<flags> - **--fast**: Lightweight scan mode — spawns one mapper agent instead of four. Accepts an optional `--focus` value: `tech`, `arch`, `quality`, `concerns`, or `tech+arch` (default). Faster and lower-context than the full map. - **--query**: Codebase intelligence query mode. Sub-commands: `query <term>`, `status`, `diff`, `refresh`. Requires intel to be enabled in config (`intel.enabled: true`). Runs inline for query/status/diff; spawns an agent for refresh. - **(no flag)**: Full parallel map — spawns 4 mapper agents to produce all 7 codebase documents. </flags> <context> Arguments: $ARGUMENTS

Parse the first token of $ARGUMENTS:

  • If it is --fast: strip the flag, run the scan workflow (passing remaining args including optional --focus).
  • If it is --query: strip the flag, run the intel workflow (passing remaining args as the subcommand).
  • Otherwise: pass all of $ARGUMENTS as focus area to the map-codebase workflow.

Load project state if exists: Check for .planning/STATE.md - loads context if project already initialized

This command can run:

  • Before /gsd-new-project (brownfield codebases) - creates codebase map first
  • After /gsd-new-project (greenfield codebases) - updates codebase map as code evolves
  • Anytime to refresh codebase understanding </context>

<when_to_use> Use map-codebase for:

  • Brownfield projects before initialization (understand existing code first)
  • Refreshing codebase map after significant changes
  • Onboarding to an unfamiliar codebase
  • Before major refactoring (understand current state)
  • When STATE.md references outdated codebase info

Skip map-codebase for:

  • Greenfield projects with no code yet (nothing to map)
  • Trivial codebases (<5 files) </when_to_use>
<process> 1. Check if .planning/codebase/ already exists (offer to refresh or skip) 2. Create .planning/codebase/ directory structure 3. Spawn 4 parallel gsd-codebase-mapper agents: - Agent 1: tech focus → writes STACK.md, INTEGRATIONS.md - Agent 2: arch focus → writes ARCHITECTURE.md, STRUCTURE.md - Agent 3: quality focus → writes CONVENTIONS.md, TESTING.md - Agent 4: concerns focus → writes CONCERNS.md 4. Wait for agents to complete, collect confirmations (NOT document contents) 5. Verify all 7 documents exist with line counts 6. Commit codebase map 7. Offer next steps (typically: /gsd-new-project or /gsd-plan-phase) </process>

<success_criteria>

  • [ ] .planning/codebase/ directory created
  • [ ] All 7 codebase documents written by mapper agents
  • [ ] Documents follow template structure
  • [ ] Parallel agents completed without errors
  • [ ] User knows next steps </success_criteria>
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