Explain - Deep Code Explanation

/explain <target> [--depth] [--focus]
    |
    +-> Step 1: Detect & Classify Target
    |     +- File exists? -> Read it
    |     +- Function/class? -> ast-grep to find definition
    |     +- Directory? -> tokei for overview
    |     +- Concept? -> rg search codebase
    |
    +-> Step 2: Gather Context (parallel)
    |     +- structural-search skill -> find usages
    |     +- code-stats skill -> assess scope
    |     +- Find related: tests, types, docs
    |     +- Load: AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md conventions
    |
    +-> Step 3: Route to Expert Agent
    |     +- .ts/.tsx -> typescript-expert or react-expert
    |     +- .py -> python-expert
    |     +- .vue -> vue-expert
    |     +- .sql/migrations -> postgres-expert
    |     +- agents/skills/commands -> claude-architect
    |     +- Default -> general-purpose
    |
    +-> Step 4: Generate Explanation
    |     +- Structured markdown with sections
    |     +- Mermaid diagrams (flowchart/sequence/class)
    |     +- Related code paths as file:line refs
    |     +- Design decisions and rationale
    |
    +-> Step 5: Integrate
          +- Offer to save to ARCHITECTURE.md (if significant)
          +- Link to /save if working on related task

# Check if target is a file
test -f "$TARGET" && echo "FILE" && exit

# Check if target is a directory
test -d "$TARGET" && echo "DIRECTORY" && exit

# Otherwise, search for it as a symbol

command -v tokei >/dev/null 2>&1 && tokei "$TARGET" --compact || echo "tokei unavailable"

# Try ast-grep first (structural)
command -v ast-grep >/dev/null 2>&1 && ast-grep -p "function $TARGET" -p "class $TARGET" -p "def $TARGET"

# Fallback to ripgrep
rg "(?:function|class|def|const|let|var)\s+$TARGET" --type-add 'code:*.{ts,tsx,js,jsx,py,vue}' -t code

# With ast-grep
ast-grep -p "$TARGET($_)" --json 2>/dev/null | head -20

# Fallback
rg "$TARGET" --type-add 'code:*.{ts,tsx,js,jsx,py,vue}' -t code -l

# Tests
fd -e test.ts -e spec.ts -e test.py -e spec.py | xargs rg -l "$TARGET" 2>/dev/null

# Types/interfaces
fd -e d.ts -e types.ts | xargs rg -l "$TARGET" 2>/dev/null

Task tool with subagent_type: "[detected]-expert"
Prompt includes:
  - File content
  - Related files found
  - Project conventions
  - Requested depth and focus

# Explanation: [target]

## Overview
[1-2 sentence summary of purpose and role in the system]

## Architecture

[Mermaid diagram - choose appropriate type]

### Flowchart (for control flow)
` ` `mermaid
flowchart TD
    A[Input] --> B{Validate}
    B -->|Valid| C[Process]
    B -->|Invalid| D[Error]
    C --> E[Output]
` ` `

### Sequence (for interactions)
` ` `mermaid
sequenceDiagram
    participant Client
    participant Server
    participant Database
    Client->>Server: Request
    Server->>Database: Query
    Database-->>Server: Result
    Server-->>Client: Response
` ` `

### Class (for structures)
` ` `mermaid
classDiagram
    class Component {
        +props: Props
        +state: State
        +render(): JSX
    }
` ` `

## How It Works

### Step 1: [Phase Name]
[Explanation with code references]

See: `src/module.ts:42`

### Step 2: [Phase Name]
[Explanation]

## Key Concepts

### [Concept 1]
[Explanation]

### [Concept 2]
[Explanation]

## Dependencies

| Import | Purpose |
|--------|---------|
| `package` | [why it's used] |

## Design Decisions

### Why [decision]?
[Rationale and tradeoffs considered]

## Related Code

| File | Relationship |
|------|--------------|
| `path/to/file.ts:123` | [how it relates] |

## See Also

- `/explain path/to/related` - [description]
- [External docs link] - [description]

/explain src/auth/token.ts --shallow

/explain src/core/engine.ts --deep

/explain handleLogin --trace

command -v tokei >/dev/null 2>&1 || echo "tokei not installed - skipping stats"

# Explain a file
/explain src/auth/oauth.ts

# Explain a function (finds it automatically)
/explain validateToken

# Explain a directory
/explain src/services/

# Deep dive with architecture focus
/explain src/core/engine.ts --deep --focus arch

# Trace data flow
/explain handleUserLogin --trace

# Quick overview
/explain src/utils/helpers.ts --shallow

# Focus on dependencies
/explain package.json --focus deps

Would you like to save this explanation?
  1. Append to ARCHITECTURE.md
  2. Append to AGENTS.md (if conventions-related)
  3. Don't save (output only)