codebase-summarizer

Codebase Summarizer

Generate comprehensive architecture documentation from repository analysis.

Core Workflow

1. Scan structure: Recursively analyze folder tree and file organization
2. Identify patterns: Detect framework, architecture style, key directories
3. Map entry points: Find main files, routes, APIs, CLI commands
4. Trace data flow: Follow requests through layers (controllers → services → models)
5. Document modules: Explain purpose and responsibilities of each directory
6. Create navigation: Build "how to" guides for common tasks
7. Generate diagrams: Add Mermaid diagrams for visual architecture

Documentation Structure

ARCHITECTURE.md Template

# Architecture Overview
 
## System Summary
 
[Project Name] is a [type] application built with [stack]. It follows [architecture pattern] and handles [primary use cases].
 
**Tech Stack:**
 
- Frontend: [framework + key libraries]
- Backend: [framework + key libraries]
- Database: [database + ORM]
- Infrastructure: [hosting + CI/CD]
 
## High-Level Architecture
 
```mermaid
graph TB
    Client[Client/Browser] --> API[API Layer]
    API --> Services[Business Logic]
    Services --> DB[(Database)]
    Services --> Cache[(Redis Cache)]
    API --> Queue[Message Queue]
```

Project Structure

src/
├── app/              # Application entry point and routing
├── components/       # Reusable UI components
├── lib/              # Utility functions and helpers
├── services/         # Business logic layer
├── models/           # Data models and schemas
└── types/            # TypeScript type definitions

Key Components

Entry Points

Main Application: src/app/page.tsx

• Application entry point
• Initializes providers and routing
• Handles global error boundaries

API Routes: src/app/api/

• RESTful API endpoints
• Authentication middleware
• Request validation

Core Modules

Authentication (src/services/auth/)

• User login and registration
• JWT token management
• OAuth2 integration
• Dependencies: bcrypt, jsonwebtoken

User Management (src/services/users/)

• CRUD operations for users
• Profile management
• Role-based access control
• Dependencies: Prisma, validation libraries

Data Layer (src/models/)

• Database schemas
• Prisma models
• Query builders
• Dependencies: Prisma Client

Data Flow

User Registration Flow

sequenceDiagram
    Client->>API: POST /api/auth/register
    API->>Validation: Validate input
    Validation->>Services: UserService.create()
    Services->>Database: Insert user
    Database-->>Services: User created
    Services->>Email: Send welcome email
    Services-->>API: Return JWT
    API-->>Client: 201 Created

Request Lifecycle

1. Request arrives → API route handler (src/app/api/[endpoint]/route.ts)
2. Middleware → Auth, validation, rate limiting
3. Service layer → Business logic (src/services/)
4. Data layer → Database queries (src/models/)
5. Response → Format and return data

Common Patterns

Service Pattern

// src/services/users/user.service.ts
export class UserService {
  async findById(id: string) {
    return prisma.user.findUnique({ where: { id } });
  }
 
  async create(data: CreateUserDto) {
    // Validation, business logic, database operations
  }
}

Repository Pattern

// src/repositories/user.repository.ts
export class UserRepository {
  async findAll() {
    /* DB queries only */
  }
  async findById(id: string) {
    /* DB queries only */
  }
}

How To Guides

Add a New API Endpoint

1. Create route file: src/app/api/[name]/route.ts

   export async function GET(req: Request) {
     // Implementation
   }

2. Add service logic: src/services/[name].service.ts

3. Define types: src/types/[name].ts

4. Add tests: src/app/api/[name]/route.test.ts

5. Update API docs: Document in OpenAPI/Swagger

Add a New Database Model

1. Update schema: prisma/schema.prisma

   model NewModel {
     id String @id @default(cuid())
     // fields
   }

2. Run migration: npx prisma migrate dev --name add-new-model

3. Generate types: npx prisma generate

4. Create service: src/services/new-model.service.ts

5. Add CRUD routes: src/app/api/new-model/

Add a New React Component

1. Create component: src/components/NewComponent/NewComponent.tsx
2. Add styles: NewComponent.module.css or inline Tailwind
3. Write tests: NewComponent.test.tsx
4. Add stories: NewComponent.stories.tsx (if using Storybook)
5. Export: Update src/components/index.ts

Modify Authentication

1. Service layer: src/services/auth/auth.service.ts
2. Middleware: src/middleware/auth.middleware.ts
3. Routes: src/app/api/auth/
4. Update tests: Ensure auth flows still work

Key Files Reference

Dependencies

Critical Dependencies

• next - React framework
• prisma - ORM and database toolkit
• react - UI library
• typescript - Type safety

Key Libraries

• zod - Schema validation
• bcrypt - Password hashing
• jsonwebtoken - JWT handling
• date-fns - Date utilities

Development Workflow

1. Local setup: See DEVELOPMENT.md
2. Making changes: Branch → Implement → Test → PR
3. Running tests: pnpm test
4. Database changes: Prisma migrate workflow
5. Deployment: Vercel automatic deployment

Troubleshooting

Database connection errors

• Check DATABASE_URL in .env
• Ensure database is running
• Run npx prisma generate

Type errors after schema changes

• Run npx prisma generate
• Restart TypeScript server

Build fails

• Clear .next folder: rm -rf .next
• Clear node_modules: rm -rf node_modules && pnpm install

Additional Resources

• API Documentation - Endpoint reference
• Development Guide - Setup and workflow
• Contributing Guide - Code standards
• Database Schema - Data model details

 
## Analysis Techniques
 
### Identify Framework
Look for telltale files:
- `next.config.js` → Next.js
- `vite.config.ts` → Vite
- `nest-cli.json` → NestJS
- `manage.py` → Django
- `Cargo.toml` → Rust
 
### Map Entry Points
- Frontend: `index.html`, `main.tsx`, `app.tsx`, `_app.tsx`
- Backend: `main.ts`, `server.ts`, `app.py`, `index.js`
- CLI: `cli.ts`, `__main__.py`, `main.go`
 
### Trace Request Flow
Follow typical paths:
1. Route/endpoint definition
2. Middleware/guards
3. Controller/handler
4. Service/business logic
5. Repository/model
6. Database query
 
### Module Categories
- **Core**: Essential business logic
- **Infrastructure**: Database, cache, queue
- **Utilities**: Helpers, formatters, validators
- **Features**: User-facing functionality
- **Config**: Environment, settings
 
## Mermaid Diagrams
 
### Architecture Diagram
```mermaid
graph LR
    Client --> NextJS
    NextJS --> API
    API --> Services
    Services --> Prisma
    Prisma --> PostgreSQL

Data Flow

Module Relationships

Best Practices

1. Start high-level: Overview before details
2. Visual first: Use diagrams for complex flows
3. Be specific: Reference actual file paths
4. Show examples: Include code snippets
5. Link related docs: Reference other documentation
6. Keep updated: Update as architecture evolves
7. Developer-focused: Write for onboarding and daily use

Output Checklist

Every codebase summary should include:

• System overview and tech stack
• High-level architecture diagram
• Project structure explanation
• Entry points identification
• Module/directory purposes
• Data flow diagrams
• Common patterns documented
• "How to" guides for common tasks
• Key files reference table
• Dependencies explanation
• Troubleshooting section