codebase-research
Codebase Research
Overview
Before writing new code in an existing project, understand what already exists inside it. The codebase itself is the most authoritative reference for how things should be built. Every project accumulates conventions, patterns, and implicit standards that new code must respect.
Core principle: Search the current codebase before coding. Find similar files, functions, and patterns. Match existing conventions exactly. Never introduce a second way of doing something when a first way already exists.
No exceptions. No workarounds. No shortcuts.
The Prime Directive
NO NEW CODE WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE EXISTING CODE FIRST
If you have not searched the current codebase for prior implementations of the same pattern, you are risking inconsistency. Found nothing similar? Document what you searched. Then build, establishing the convention deliberately.
No excuses:
More from noobygains/godmode
fault-diagnosis
Use when encountering any bug, test failure, or unexpected behavior, before proposing fixes
15task-planning
Use when you have a spec or requirements for a multi-step task, before touching code
15agent-messaging
Use when dispatching subagents, composing prompts for teammates, structuring handoff reports, or managing context boundaries between agents. Covers both subagent prompts and team-level messaging.
15intent-discovery
Use when starting any creative work - creating features, building components, adding functionality, or modifying behavior. Explores user intent, requirements, and design before implementation.
15quality-enforcement
Use when preparing code for commit, PR, or merge - covers linting, type safety, bundle budgets, coverage thresholds, complexity limits, dependency audit, and dead code detection
14pattern-matching
Use when contributing code to an existing project - guarantees that every new line mirrors the established conventions, naming schemes, architectural layering, directory layout, and stylistic choices already present in the codebase rather than drifting toward generic AI defaults
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