Read Codebase
Explore and understand code structure efficiently using semantic navigation. Use when exploring unfamiliar code, understanding architecture, finding symbol relationships, or investigating how something works.
Install
$ agentstack add skill-devitools-skills-read-codebase ✓ scanned · ✓ verified, works with Claude Code, Cursor, and more.
Security review
✓ PassedNo issues found. Passed automated security review. · v0.1.0 How review works →
- ✓ Prompt-injection patterns
- ✓ Secret / credential exfiltration
- ✓ Dangerous shell & filesystem operations
- ✓ Untrusted network calls
- ✓ Known-malicious package signatures
What it can access
- ✓ Network access No
- ✓ Filesystem access No
- ✓ Shell / process execution No
- ✓ Environment & secrets No
- ✓ Dynamic code execution No
From automated source analysis of v0.1.0. “Used” means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it’s unsafe.
Verified badge
Passed review? Show it. Paste this badge into your README, it links to the public security report.
Links to your public security report.[](https://agentstack.voostack.com/security/report/skill-devitools-skills-read-codebase) Reliability & compatibility
Declared compatibility
Compatibility is declared by the source manifest. End-to-end runtime verification is coming, see below.
We're building live execution health for every listing: tool-call success rate, median latency, uptime, and last-checked timestamps, measured, not self-reported. It isn't live yet, so we don't show numbers we can't stand behind.
How agent discovery & health will work →About
Semantic Code Exploration
This skill guides efficient code exploration using Serena MCP for semantic navigation.
Prerequisite Check
Before proceeding, verify Serena is available by checking for mcp__serena__* tools.
If Serena is NOT configured: Tell the user: "This exploration would benefit from Serena MCP for semantic code navigation, but it's not configured. See .claude/skills/read-codebase/setup.md for installation instructions. Proceeding with standard tools (Grep/Read/Glob)."
Then use standard tools as fallback.
Tool Priority (when Serena is available)
- getsymbolsoverview - First step for any file
- find_symbol - Locate specific classes/methods
- findreferencingsymbols - Find all usages
- searchforpattern - When symbol name is unknown
- read_memory - Check project knowledge (architecture, patterns)
Quick Reference
Understanding a File
get_symbols_overview(relative_path="path/to/file.php")→ see structurefind_symbol(name_path_pattern="ClassName", depth=1)→ see methods- Only use
include_body=truefor specific methods you need
Finding Where Code Is Used
find_symbolto locate the symbolfind_referencing_symbolsto find all call sites
Exploring Unknown Code
- Check memories:
list_memories→read_memory("architecture") - Use
search_for_patternwith keywords - Follow up with symbolic tools
Anti-Patterns
- Reading entire files when you only need one method
- Using Grep/Read when Serena tools would be more precise
- Skipping symbol overview and going straight to file read
- Not checking project memories for existing documentation
When to Use Standard Tools Instead
- Simple text search across many files → Grep
- Config files, markdown, non-code → Read
- Known file needing full content → Read
- Serena not configured → Fallback to Grep/Read/Glob
Additional Resources
- Detailed workflows: [workflows.md](workflows.md)
- Setup instructions: [setup.md](setup.md)
Source & license
This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.
- Author: devitools
- Source: devitools/skills
- License: MIT
- Homepage: https://agentskills.io
Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.
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Versions
- v0.1.0 Imported from the upstream source.