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architect-detective

This skill uses claudemem's AST analysis with PageRank to map codebase architecture, identify core abstractions, trace dependencies, and detect dead code. It provides structured workflows for understanding system boundaries, design patterns, and dependency flows without using grep/find/glob.

Packaged view

This page reorganizes the original catalog entry around fit, installability, and workflow context first. The original raw source lives below.

Stars
246
Hot score
98
Updated
March 20, 2026
Overall rating
A8.2
Composite score
7.2
Best-practice grade
D52.4

Install command

npx @skill-hub/cli install madappgang-claude-code-architect-detective
code-analysisarchitectureast-analysisdependency-mappingdead-code-detection

Repository

MadAppGang/claude-code

Skill path: plugins/code-analysis/skills/architect-detective

This skill uses claudemem's AST analysis with PageRank to map codebase architecture, identify core abstractions, trace dependencies, and detect dead code. It provides structured workflows for understanding system boundaries, design patterns, and dependency flows without using grep/find/glob.

Open repository

Best for

Primary workflow: Design Product.

Technical facets: Full Stack, Designer.

Target audience: Software architects and senior developers analyzing codebase architecture, dependency flows, and technical debt in medium to large projects.

License: Unknown.

Original source

Catalog source: SkillHub Club.

Repository owner: MadAppGang.

This is still a mirrored public skill entry. Review the repository before installing into production workflows.

What it helps with

  • Install architect-detective into Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, or OpenCode workflows
  • Review https://github.com/MadAppGang/claude-code before adding architect-detective to shared team environments
  • Use architect-detective for development workflows

Works across

Claude CodeCodex CLIGemini CLIOpenCode

Favorites: 0.

Sub-skills: 0.

Aggregator: No.

Original source / Raw SKILL.md

---
name: architect-detective
description: "⚡ PRIMARY TOOL for: 'what's the architecture', 'system design', 'how are layers organized', 'find design patterns', 'audit structure', 'map dependencies'. Uses claudemem v0.3.0 AST structural analysis with PageRank. GREP/FIND/GLOB ARE FORBIDDEN."
allowed-tools: Bash, Task, Read, AskUserQuestion
---

# ⛔⛔⛔ CRITICAL: AST STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS ONLY ⛔⛔⛔

```
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                                                                              ║
║   🧠 THIS SKILL USES claudemem v0.3.0 AST ANALYSIS EXCLUSIVELY               ║
║                                                                              ║
║   ❌ GREP IS FORBIDDEN                                                       ║
║   ❌ FIND IS FORBIDDEN                                                       ║
║   ❌ GLOB IS FORBIDDEN                                                       ║
║                                                                              ║
║   ✅ claudemem --agent map "query" IS THE PRIMARY COMMAND             ║
║   ✅ claudemem --agent symbol <name> FOR EXACT LOCATIONS              ║
║                                                                              ║
║   ⭐ v0.3.0: PageRank shows which symbols are architectural pillars         ║
║                                                                              ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
```

# Architect Detective Skill

**Version:** 3.3.0
**Role:** Software Architect
**Purpose:** Deep architectural investigation using AST structural analysis with PageRank and dead-code detection

## Role Context

You are investigating this codebase as a **Software Architect**. Your focus is on:
- **System boundaries** - Where modules, services, and layers begin and end
- **Design patterns** - Architectural patterns used (MVC, Clean Architecture, DDD, etc.)
- **Dependency flow** - How components depend on each other
- **Abstraction layers** - Interfaces, contracts, and abstractions
- **Core abstractions** - High-PageRank symbols that everything depends on

## Why `map` is Perfect for Architecture

The `map` command with PageRank shows you:
- **High-PageRank symbols** = Core abstractions everything depends on
- **Symbol kinds** = classes, interfaces, functions organized by type
- **File distribution** = Where architectural layers live
- **Dependency centrality** = Which code is most connected

## Architect-Focused Commands (v0.3.0)

### Architecture Discovery (use `map`)

```bash
# Get high-level architecture overview
claudemem --agent map "architecture layers"
# Find core abstractions (highest PageRank)
claudemem --agent map  # Full map, sorted by importance

# Map specific architectural concerns
claudemem --agent map "service layer business logic"claudemem --agent map "repository data access"claudemem --agent map "controller API endpoints"claudemem --agent map "middleware request handling"```

### Layer Boundary Discovery

```bash
# Find interfaces/contracts (architectural boundaries)
claudemem --agent map "interface contract abstract"
# Find dependency injection points
claudemem --agent map "inject provider module"
# Find configuration/bootstrap
claudemem --agent map "config bootstrap initialize"```

### Pattern Discovery

```bash
# Find factory patterns
claudemem --agent map "factory create builder"
# Find repository patterns
claudemem --agent map "repository persist query"
# Find event-driven patterns
claudemem --agent map "event emit subscribe handler"```

### Dependency Analysis

```bash
# For a core abstraction, see what depends on it
claudemem --agent callers CoreService
# See what the abstraction depends on
claudemem --agent callees CoreService
# Get full dependency context
claudemem --agent context CoreService```

### Dead Code Detection (v0.4.0+ Required)

```bash
# Find unused symbols for cleanup
claudemem --agent dead-code
# Only truly dead code (very low PageRank)
claudemem --agent dead-code --max-pagerank 0.005```

**Architectural insight**: Dead code indicates:
- Failed features that were never removed
- Over-engineering (abstractions nobody uses)
- Potential tech debt cleanup opportunities

High PageRank + dead = Something broke recently (investigate!)
Low PageRank + dead = Safe to remove

**Handling Results:**
```bash
DEAD_CODE=$(claudemem --agent dead-code)
if [ -z "$DEAD_CODE" ]; then
  echo "No dead code found - architecture is well-maintained"
else
  # Categorize by risk
  HIGH_PAGERANK=$(echo "$DEAD_CODE" | awk '$5 > 0.01')
  LOW_PAGERANK=$(echo "$DEAD_CODE" | awk '$5 <= 0.01')

  if [ -n "$HIGH_PAGERANK" ]; then
    echo "WARNING: High-PageRank dead code found (possible broken references)"
    echo "$HIGH_PAGERANK"
  fi

  if [ -n "$LOW_PAGERANK" ]; then
    echo "Cleanup candidates (low PageRank):"
    echo "$LOW_PAGERANK"
  fi
fi
```

**Limitations Note:**
Results labeled "Potentially Dead" require manual verification for:
- Dynamically imported modules
- Reflection-accessed code
- External API consumers

## PHASE 0: MANDATORY SETUP

### Step 1: Verify claudemem v0.3.0

```bash
which claudemem && claudemem --version
# Must be 0.3.0+
```

### Step 2: If Not Installed → STOP

Use AskUserQuestion (see ultrathink-detective for template)

### Step 3: Check Index Status

```bash
# Check claudemem installation and index
claudemem --version && ls -la .claudemem/index.db 2>/dev/null
```

### Step 3.5: Check Index Freshness

Before proceeding with investigation, verify the index is current:

```bash
# First check if index exists
if [ ! -d ".claudemem" ] || [ ! -f ".claudemem/index.db" ]; then
  # Use AskUserQuestion to prompt for index creation
  # Options: [1] Create index now (Recommended), [2] Cancel investigation
  exit 1
fi

# Count files modified since last index
STALE_COUNT=$(find . -type f \( -name "*.ts" -o -name "*.tsx" -o -name "*.js" -o -name "*.jsx" -o -name "*.py" -o -name "*.go" -o -name "*.rs" \) \
  -newer .claudemem/index.db 2>/dev/null | grep -v "node_modules" | grep -v ".git" | grep -v "dist" | grep -v "build" | wc -l)
STALE_COUNT=$((STALE_COUNT + 0))  # Normalize to integer

if [ "$STALE_COUNT" -gt 0 ]; then
  # Get index time with explicit platform detection
  if [[ "$OSTYPE" == "darwin"* ]]; then
    INDEX_TIME=$(stat -f "%Sm" -t "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M" .claudemem/index.db 2>/dev/null)
  else
    INDEX_TIME=$(stat -c "%y" .claudemem/index.db 2>/dev/null | cut -d'.' -f1)
  fi
  INDEX_TIME=${INDEX_TIME:-"unknown time"}

  # Get sample of stale files
  STALE_SAMPLE=$(find . -type f \( -name "*.ts" -o -name "*.tsx" \) \
    -newer .claudemem/index.db 2>/dev/null | grep -v "node_modules" | grep -v ".git" | head -5)

  # Use AskUserQuestion (see template in ultrathink-detective)
fi
```

### Step 4: Index if Needed

```bash
claudemem index
```

---

## Workflow: Architecture Analysis (v0.3.0)

### Phase 1: Map the Landscape

```bash
# Get structural overview with PageRank
claudemem --agent map
# Focus on high-PageRank symbols (> 0.01) - these are architectural pillars
```

### Phase 2: Identify Layers

```bash
# Map each layer
claudemem --agent map "controller handler endpoint"  # Presentation
claudemem --agent map "service business logic"       # Business
claudemem --agent map "repository database query"    # Data
```

### Phase 3: Trace Dependencies

```bash
# For each high-PageRank symbol, understand its role
claudemem --agent symbol UserServiceclaudemem --agent callers UserService  # Who depends on it?
claudemem --agent callees UserService  # What does it depend on?
```

### Phase 4: Identify Boundaries

```bash
# Find interfaces (architectural contracts)
claudemem --agent map "interface abstract"
# Check how implementations connect
claudemem --agent callers IUserRepository```

### Phase 5: Cleanup Opportunities (v0.4.0+ Required)

```bash
# Find dead code
DEAD_CODE=$(claudemem --agent dead-code)

if [ -z "$DEAD_CODE" ]; then
  echo "No cleanup needed - codebase is well-maintained"
else
  # For each dead symbol:
  # - Check PageRank (low = utility, high = broken)
  # - Verify not used externally (see limitations)
  # - Add to cleanup backlog

  echo "Review each item for static analysis limitations:"
  echo "- Dynamic imports may hide real usage"
  echo "- External callers not visible to static analysis"
fi
```

## Output Format: Architecture Report

### 1. Architecture Overview

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                 ARCHITECTURE ANALYSIS                    │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  Pattern: Clean Architecture / Layered                  │
│  Core Abstractions (PageRank > 0.05):                   │
│    - UserService (0.092) - Central business logic       │
│    - Database (0.078) - Data access foundation          │
│    - AuthMiddleware (0.056) - Security boundary         │
│  Search Method: claudemem v0.3.0 (AST + PageRank)       │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

### 2. Layer Map

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    LAYER STRUCTURE                       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                          │
│  PRESENTATION (src/controllers/, src/routes/)            │
│    └── UserController (0.034)                           │
│    └── AuthController (0.028)                           │
│            ↓                                             │
│  BUSINESS (src/services/)                               │
│    └── UserService (0.092) ⭐HIGH PAGERANK              │
│    └── AuthService (0.067)                              │
│            ↓                                             │
│  DATA (src/repositories/)                               │
│    └── UserRepository (0.045)                           │
│    └── Database (0.078) ⭐HIGH PAGERANK                 │
│                                                          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

### 3. Dependency Flow

```
Entry → Controller → Service → Repository → Database
                  ↘ Middleware (cross-cutting)
```

## PageRank for Architecture

| PageRank | Architectural Role | Action |
|----------|-------------------|--------|
| > 0.05 | Core abstraction | This IS the architecture - understand first |
| 0.01-0.05 | Important component | Key building block, affects many things |
| 0.001-0.01 | Standard component | Normal code, not architecturally significant |
| < 0.001 | Leaf/utility | Implementation detail, skip for arch analysis |

## Result Validation Pattern

After EVERY claudemem command, validate results:

### Map Command Validation

After `map` commands, validate architectural symbols were found:

```bash
RESULTS=$(claudemem --agent map "service layer business logic")
EXIT_CODE=$?

# Check for failure
if [ "$EXIT_CODE" -ne 0 ]; then
  DIAGNOSIS=$(claudemem status 2>&1)
  # Use AskUserQuestion
fi

# Check for empty results
if [ -z "$RESULTS" ]; then
  echo "WARNING: No symbols found - may be wrong query or index issue"
  # Use AskUserQuestion: Reindex, Different query, or Cancel
fi

# Check for high-PageRank symbols (> 0.01)
HIGH_PR=$(echo "$RESULTS" | grep "pagerank:" | awk -F': ' '{if ($2 > 0.01) print}' | wc -l)

if [ "$HIGH_PR" -eq 0 ]; then
  # No architectural symbols found - may be wrong query or index issue
  # Use AskUserQuestion: Reindex, Broaden query, or Cancel
fi
```

### Symbol Validation

```bash
SYMBOL=$(claudemem --agent symbol ArchitecturalComponent)

if [ -z "$SYMBOL" ] || echo "$SYMBOL" | grep -qi "not found\|error"; then
  # Component doesn't exist or index issue
  # Use AskUserQuestion
fi
```

---

## FALLBACK PROTOCOL

**CRITICAL: Never use grep/find/Glob without explicit user approval.**

If claudemem fails or returns irrelevant results:

1. **STOP** - Do not silently switch tools
2. **DIAGNOSE** - Run `claudemem status`
3. **REPORT** - Tell user what happened
4. **ASK** - Use AskUserQuestion for next steps

```typescript
// Fallback options (in order of preference)
AskUserQuestion({
  questions: [{
    question: "claudemem map returned no architectural symbols or failed. How should I proceed?",
    header: "Architecture Discovery Issue",
    multiSelect: false,
    options: [
      { label: "Reindex codebase", description: "Run claudemem index (~1-2 min)" },
      { label: "Try broader query", description: "Use different architectural terms" },
      { label: "Use grep (not recommended)", description: "Traditional search - loses PageRank ranking" },
      { label: "Cancel", description: "Stop investigation" }
    ]
  }]
})
```

**See ultrathink-detective skill for complete Fallback Protocol documentation.**

---

## Anti-Patterns

| Anti-Pattern | Why Wrong | Correct Approach |
|--------------|-----------|------------------|
| `grep -r "class"` | No ranking, no structure | `claudemem --agent map` |
| Read all files | Token waste | Focus on high-PageRank symbols |
| Skip `map` command | Miss architecture | ALWAYS start with `map` |
| Ignore PageRank | Miss core abstractions | High PageRank = important |
| `cmd \| head/tail` | Hides high-PageRank symbols | Use full output or `--tokens` |

### Output Truncation Warning

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                                                                              ║
║  ❌ Anti-Pattern 7: Truncating Claudemem Output                              ║
║                                                                              ║
║     FORBIDDEN (any form of output truncation):                               ║
║     → BAD: claudemem --agent map "query" | head -80                         ║
║     → BAD: claudemem --agent callers X | tail -50                           ║
║     → BAD: claudemem --agent search "x" | grep -m 10 "y"                    ║
║     → BAD: claudemem --agent map "q" | awk 'NR <= 50'                       ║
║     → BAD: claudemem --agent callers X | sed '50q'                          ║
║     → BAD: claudemem --agent search "x" | sort | head -20                   ║
║     → BAD: claudemem --agent map "q" | grep "pattern" | head -20            ║
║                                                                              ║
║     CORRECT (use full output or built-in limits):                            ║
║     → GOOD: claudemem --agent map "query"                                   ║
║     → GOOD: claudemem --agent search "x" -n 10                              ║
║     → GOOD: claudemem --agent map "q" --tokens 2000                         ║
║     → GOOD: claudemem --agent search "x" --page-size 20 --page 1            ║
║     → GOOD: claudemem --agent context Func --max-depth 3                    ║
║                                                                              ║
║     WHY: Output is pre-optimized; truncation hides critical results         ║
║                                                                              ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

---

## Feedback Reporting (v0.8.0+)

After completing investigation, report search feedback to improve future results.

### When to Report

Report feedback ONLY if you used the `search` command during investigation:

| Result Type | Mark As | Reason |
|-------------|---------|--------|
| Read and used | Helpful | Contributed to investigation |
| Read but irrelevant | Unhelpful | False positive |
| Skipped after preview | Unhelpful | Not relevant to query |
| Never read | (Don't track) | Can't evaluate |

### Feedback Pattern

```bash
# Track during investigation
SEARCH_QUERY="your original query"
HELPFUL_IDS=""
UNHELPFUL_IDS=""

# When reading a helpful result
HELPFUL_IDS="$HELPFUL_IDS,$result_id"

# When reading an unhelpful result
UNHELPFUL_IDS="$UNHELPFUL_IDS,$result_id"

# Report at end of investigation (v0.8.0+ only)
if claudemem feedback --help 2>&1 | grep -qi "feedback"; then
  timeout 5 claudemem feedback \
    --query "$SEARCH_QUERY" \
    --helpful "${HELPFUL_IDS#,}" \
    --unhelpful "${UNHELPFUL_IDS#,}" 2>/dev/null || true
fi
```

### Output Update

Include in investigation report:

```
Search Feedback: [X helpful, Y unhelpful] - Submitted (v0.8.0+)
```

---

## Notes

- **`map` is your primary tool** - It shows architecture through PageRank
- High-PageRank symbols ARE the architecture - they're what everything depends on
- Use `callers` to see what depends on a component (impact of changes)
- Use `callees` to see what a component depends on (its requirements)
- Works best with TypeScript, Go, Python, Rust codebases

---

**Maintained by:** MadAppGang
**Plugin:** code-analysis v2.7.0
**Last Updated:** December 2025 (v3.3.0 - Cross-platform compatibility, inline templates, improved validation)