Onboarding Compass

The problem

New developers waste days context-switching while trying to navigate unfamiliar repositories. Hand-off documentation is often outdated or missing, leaving engineers to guess which modules matter most for their first PR.

What it does

• Scans configuration files and entry points to generate immediate bootstrap commands.
• Identifies the "critical path" modules that handle the majority of application logic.
• Traces a single feature from entry point to data layer to explain system architecture.
• Curates a list of low-risk first tasks with specific learning outcomes for each.
• Decodes project-specific jargon and team conventions into a concise glossary.

Why this beats prompting it yourself

Generic prompts result in shallow overviews. This skill actively investigates your unique service topology and git history to prioritize high-traffic files, ensuring the roadmap is based on actual codebase usage rather than just directory structure.

Use cases

• Ramping up a new hire on a complex microservice architecture.
• Taking over a legacy repository with zero active maintainers.
• Preparing structured hand-off documentation for a departing team member.
• Onboarding a specialized contractor to a specific slice of the codebase.

Known limitations

Focuses on learning paths rather than creating comprehensive API documentation. It does not perform architectural redesigns or code refactoring.