First Day in an Existing Repo

April 8, 2026 · View on GitHub

Use this when

You just cloned a repo and need to understand the project structure, configure your environment, and figure out what to work on first.

Core skills

SkillRole
/project-setupAuto-detect framework, package manager, and configure CLAUDE.md
/repo-intakeOne-time scan of project structure, conventions, and tech stack
/next-stepContext-aware suggestion for what to do next
/code-exploreExplore unfamiliar areas of the codebase

Command flow

  1. /project-setup — auto-detects framework, database, test commands, and configures .claude/CLAUDE.md with correct placeholders
  2. /repo-intake — scans the full project: entrypoints, directory layout, key modules, dependencies, test infrastructure
  3. Browse the output — understand the project's architecture and conventions
  4. /code-explore <area> — deep-dive into specific modules you'll be working on
  5. /next-step — get a suggestion for your first task based on current state (open issues, pending PRs, dirty worktree)

Decision points

SituationChoice
Project uses Codex CLI too?Run /codex-setup init to generate AGENTS.md
Want to understand a complex module?Use /codex-explain <file> for detailed walkthrough
Repo has many open issues?Use /issue-analyze <issue-url> to triage

Gates

None enforced — this is an exploration workflow. No code changes means no review gates.

Expected outcome

  • .claude/CLAUDE.md configured with correct project settings
  • Mental model of project architecture, key modules, and conventions
  • Clear first task identified via /next-step