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wshobson/agents/plugins/ship-mate/skills/scan/SKILL.md

scan

Scans the codebase to generate project-doc.md and AGENTS.md. Use when bootstrapping a new agent-driven repo, refreshing project documentation after architectural changes, or running a delta scan to detect drift. Runs a full scan on first use and a smart delta scan on subsequent runs. Uses understand-anything + context-mode when available, falls back to native tools otherwise. Only updates AGENTS.md on detected architectural changes with human confirmation.

Source repository stars
38,313
Declared platforms
0
Static risk flags
2
Last source update
2026-07-22
Source checked
2026-07-28

Decision brief

What it does—and where it fits

You are a technical analyst. Your job is to scan the project codebase and produce accurate, project-specific documentation used by all downstream agents.

Best for

  • Use when bootstrapping a new agent-driven repo, refreshing project documentation after architectural changes, or running a delta scan to detect drift.

Not for

  • Tasks that require unconfirmed production actions or broad system permissions.
  • Environments where the pinned source and install steps cannot be inspected.

Compatibility matrix

Platform support, with evidence labels

PlatformStatusEvidenceWhat to check
CodexNot declaredNo explicit evidencePortability before use
Claude CodeNot declaredNo explicit evidencePortability before use
CursorNot declaredNo explicit evidencePortability before use
Gemini CLINot declaredNo explicit evidencePortability before use
Open the compatibility checker

Installation

Inspect first. Install second.

The source command is displayed only when detected. A safe inspection prompt is always available so your agent can explain every action before execution.

Source-detected install commandSource
npx skills add https://github.com/wshobson/agents --skill "plugins/ship-mate/skills/scan"
Safe inspection promptEditorial

Inspect the Agent Skill "scan" from https://github.com/wshobson/agents/blob/c4b82b0ad771190355eb8e204b1329732a18449a/plugins/ship-mate/skills/scan/SKILL.md at commit c4b82b0ad771190355eb8e204b1329732a18449a. List every install step, command, network request, credential, file read/write, external action, and rollback step. Explain whether it fits my task. Do not install or execute anything until I approve.

Workflow

What the source asks the agent to do

  1. 01

    Step 1: Check Optional Plugin Dependencies

    Check whether the two optional enhancement plugins are available:

    understand-anything (Lum1104/Understand-Anything) — provides deeper semantic code analysiscontext-mode (mksglu/context-mode) — routes large outputs through a sandbox to protect the context windowCheck whether the two optional enhancement plugins are available:
  2. 02

    Step 2: Determine Scan Mode

    Check if .claude/pipeline/project-doc.md exists.

    Does not exist → FULL SCAN (first run)Exists → DELTA SCANCheck if .claude/pipeline/project-doc.md exists.
  3. 03

    Step 3A: Full Scan

    Use understand-anything to analyse the entire codebase. If context-mode is available (verified in Step 1), route ALL output through its tools (ctxbatchexecute / ctxexecutefile) — never dump raw file contents into the main context window. If context-mode is not available, summari…

    Use understand-anything to analyse the entire codebase. If context-mode is available (verified in Step 1), route ALL output through its tools (ctxbatchexecute / ctxexecutefile) — never dump raw file contents into the ma…Produce .claude/pipeline/project-doc.md using the following structure (based on the architecture-blueprint-generator pattern):
  4. 04

    Step 3B: Delta Scan

    1. Run git diff HEAD1 --name-only to get changed files 2. If no changed files, report "No changes detected — project-doc.md is current" and exit 3. Use understand-anything to re-analyse only the changed files; route output through ctxexecutefile if context-mode is available, oth…

    Run git diff HEAD1 --name-only to get changed filesIf no changed files, report "No changes detected — project-doc.md is current" and exitUse understand-anything to re-analyse only the changed files; route output through ctxexecutefile if context-mode is available, otherwise summarise inline
  5. 05

    Step 4A: Generate AGENTS.md (First Run Only)

    Write AGENTS.md to the repo root. This is NOT a copy of project-doc.md — it is rewritten as agent instructions, tailored to this specific project. Every agent reads this file first.

    Write AGENTS.md to the repo root. This is NOT a copy of project-doc.md — it is rewritten as agent instructions, tailored to this specific project. Every agent reads this file first.

Permission review

Static risk signals and limitations

Reads files

low · line 3

The documentation asks the agent to read local files, directories, or repositories.

You are a technical analyst. Your job is to scan the project codebase and produce accurate, project-specific documentation used by all downstream agents.

Writes files

medium · line 107

The documentation asks the agent to create, modify, or delete local files.

Write `AGENTS.md` to the repo root. This is NOT a copy of `project-doc.md` — it is rewritten as agent instructions, tailored to this specific project. Every agent reads this file first.

Writes files

medium · line 115

The documentation asks the agent to create, modify, or delete local files.

⚠️ To update this file, architectural changes must be detected by the scanner and confirmed by a human.

Reads files

low · line 117

The documentation asks the agent to read local files, directories, or repositories.

## How to Read This File

Evidence record

Why each signal appears

EvidenceSourceComputedTestedEditorial
SignalValueEvidence typeMeaning
Quality score82/100ComputedDocumentation, specificity, maintenance, and trust rules
Repository stars38,313SourceRepository attention, not individual Skill quality
Compatibility0 platformsSourceDeclared in the catalog source record
Usage guideautomated source guideEditorialGenerated or reviewed according to the visible evidence level

Pinned source

Provenance and original SKILL.md

Repository
wshobson/agents
Skill path
plugins/ship-mate/skills/scan/SKILL.md
Commit
c4b82b0ad771190355eb8e204b1329732a18449a
License
MIT
Collected
2026-07-28
Default branch
main
View the original SKILL.md

Codebase Scanner

You are a technical analyst. Your job is to scan the project codebase and produce accurate, project-specific documentation used by all downstream agents.

Step 1: Check Optional Plugin Dependencies

Check whether the two optional enhancement plugins are available:

understand-anything  →  /plugin list | grep understand-anything
context-mode         →  /plugin list | grep context-mode

These plugins are optional. They improve scan quality but are not required:

  • understand-anything (Lum1104/Understand-Anything) — provides deeper semantic code analysis
  • context-mode (mksglu/context-mode) — routes large outputs through a sandbox to protect the context window

If both are present, use them in Steps 3–4 as described below. If either or both are missing, proceed with the native fallback approach: use find, grep, cat, and git commands directly, routing large outputs through ctx_execute / ctx_execute_file if context-mode is available, otherwise summarise inline.

Note: To install the optional plugins manually:

/plugin marketplace add Lum1104/Understand-Anything && /plugin install understand-anything
/plugin marketplace add mksglu/context-mode && /plugin install context-mode@context-mode

Step 2: Determine Scan Mode

Check if .claude/pipeline/project-doc.md exists.

  • Does not exist → FULL SCAN (first run)
  • Exists → DELTA SCAN

Step 3A: Full Scan

Use understand-anything to analyse the entire codebase. If context-mode is available (verified in Step 1), route ALL output through its tools (ctx_batch_execute / ctx_execute_file) — never dump raw file contents into the main context window. If context-mode is not available, summarise each file's findings inline and avoid printing raw file contents.

Produce .claude/pipeline/project-doc.md using the following structure (based on the architecture-blueprint-generator pattern):

# Project Documentation
> Generated: [timestamp] | Mode: FULL

## Tech Stack
- Runtime: [e.g. Node.js 20, Python 3.11]
- Language: [e.g. TypeScript, Python]
- Framework: [e.g. Next.js 14 App Router, FastAPI]
- Database: [e.g. PostgreSQL via Prisma]
- Styling: [e.g. Tailwind CSS]
- State Management: [e.g. Zustand, Redux]

## Dependencies
[Key libraries with versions, grouped by: core / dev / testing]

## Architecture Pattern
[e.g. Feature-based, Layered MVC, Clean Architecture]
[Describe how the project is structured and why]

## Folder Structure
[Top-level directory map with purpose of each folder]

## Code Style Conventions
[Naming patterns, file naming, import ordering, export patterns]
[Inferred from actual code — not guessed]

## Modularity Practices
[How concerns are separated, shared module locations, service patterns]

## Data Architecture
[Entity relationships, data access patterns, ORM usage]

## Cross-Cutting Concerns
[Auth/authz approach, error handling patterns, logging, validation]

## Service Communication
[REST / GraphQL / event-driven — document what actually exists]

## Test Coverage
- Overall coverage: [X%]
- Testing framework: [e.g. Jest, Vitest, Pytest]
- Key untested areas: [list]
- Test patterns used: [unit / integration / e2e]

## Entry Points
[Main files, key config files, environment setup]

## Changed Files
[Only present in delta scans — list of files re-scanned]

## Last Scanned
[ISO timestamp]

After writing project-doc.md, proceed to Step 4 to generate AGENTS.md.

Step 3B: Delta Scan

  1. Run git diff HEAD~1 --name-only to get changed files
  2. If no changed files, report "No changes detected — project-doc.md is current" and exit
  3. Use understand-anything to re-analyse only the changed files; route output through ctx_execute_file if context-mode is available, otherwise summarise inline
  4. Patch only the affected sections of .claude/pipeline/project-doc.md
  5. Update the Last Scanned and Changed Files fields
  6. Proceed to Step 4B (architectural change detection)

Step 4A: Generate AGENTS.md (First Run Only)

Write AGENTS.md to the repo root. This is NOT a copy of project-doc.md — it is rewritten as agent instructions, tailored to this specific project. Every agent reads this file first.

Structure:

# AGENTS.md — [Project Name]
> Auto-generated by the dev pipeline scanner. Do not edit manually.
> Last updated: [timestamp]
> ⚠️  To update this file, architectural changes must be detected by the scanner and confirmed by a human.

## How to Read This File
Every agent in this pipeline reads this file before doing any work.
It defines the rules, patterns, and guardrails specific to this project.

## Stack Context
[One-line summary: e.g. "Next.js 14 App Router + Prisma + PostgreSQL + Tailwind + Vitest"]

## Code Style Rules
[Written as DO/DON'T instructions inferred from actual codebase patterns]
Example:
- DO use named exports. Default exports are not used in this project.
- DON'T add business logic to API route handlers — delegate to /lib/services/
- DO use [naming convention] for [file type]

## Architecture Guardrails
[Rules derived from the actual architecture — not generic advice]
Example:
- This project uses the Repository pattern. Never query the DB directly from components.
- All API responses must go through the [ResponseWrapper] utility.

## Testing Requirements
[Coverage stat + specific rules for this project]
Example:
- Current coverage: 67%. All new code must include unit tests.
- QA agent: flag any feature with <80% coverage on new code.
- Integration tests use [real DB / mock DB] — do not change this.

## Modularity Conventions
[Specific rules about where code goes]
Example:
- Shared UI components → /components/ui
- Business logic → /lib/services/[domain]/
- Types → /types/[domain].ts

## Security Rules (All Agents)
- Never hardcode secrets, tokens, or credentials
- Use environment variables for all sensitive config
- Flag any auth-adjacent code changes immediately

## Agent-Specific Instructions

### Orchestrator
[Project-specific questions to always ask — e.g. "Does this touch the payment flow?"]

### Architect
[Known complexity areas, performance constraints, patterns to prefer]
[e.g. "This project has a known N+1 issue in /lib/services/orders — avoid adding more eager loading"]

### Developer
[Specific libraries to use, anti-patterns banned in this codebase]
[e.g. "Use dayjs — moment is banned", "Use React Query for all data fetching — no raw fetch()"]

### PR Reviewer
[What counts as 🔴 Critical vs 🟡 Should Fix in this project]
[e.g. "Any change to /lib/auth/ is automatically 🔴 Critical — requires human approval"]

### QA Agent
[Known edge cases for this domain, critical user paths to always test]
[e.g. "Always test empty state, loading state, and error state for every UI feature"]

If the project is MERN stack (MongoDB + Express + React + Node.js — detected from package.json / requirements), append a ### MERN Stack Notes section to AGENTS.md covering: use Mongoose middleware over raw queries, handle async errors in Express with a central error handler, avoid storing JWT tokens in localStorage (use httpOnly cookies), and never expose Mongoose error objects directly in API responses.

Step 4B: Architectural Change Detection (Delta Runs Only)

After patching project-doc.md, compare the new version against the previous. Check for:

  • New framework or major library added
  • New architectural directory pattern created (e.g. new /lib/hooks/, /services/)
  • Major dependency swap (e.g. axios → fetch, moment → dayjs)
  • New auth or session handling pattern

If any detected, show:

⚠️  Architectural change detected in delta scan:
    [List specific changes found]

AGENTS.md may need updating. Review and confirm:
  [y] Update AGENTS.md — patch affected sections only
  [n] Skip — this is not an architectural change

Only on [y] confirmation: patch the relevant sections of AGENTS.md. Never rewrite the full file.

Step 5: Report

Print a summary:

✅ Scan complete ([FULL/DELTA])
   project-doc.md → updated
   AGENTS.md      → [generated / patched / unchanged]
   Changed files  → [N files re-scanned / N/A for full scan]
   Coverage       → [X%]

Update state.json field checkpoints.scan = "completed".

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