explaingit

mojeebdev/stackbrief

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

2TypeScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5Setup · easy

TLDR

A local command-line tool that maps how a file connects to the rest of a codebase before you change it, with file and line evidence.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((StackBrief))
    What it does
      Maps file dependencies
      Cites file and line evidence
      Flags static unknowns
    Tech stack
      TypeScript
      Node.js CLI
      Local-first scanner
    Use cases
      Pre-change architecture briefs
      AI agent skill install
      Staged change review
    Audience
      Developers
      AI coding agent users
      Codebase maintainers

Code map

Detail Auto

An interactive map of this repo's files and how they connect — its source is parsed live in your browser. Click Visualize to build it.

filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Check how a file you're about to edit connects to routes, services, and databases before changing it.

USE CASE 2

Install StackBrief as a skill so an AI coding agent gets evidence-based context before planning a change.

USE CASE 3

Review the architecture around a staged Git change before committing it.

What is it built with?

TypeScriptNode.jsCLI

How does it compare?

mojeebdev/stackbriefadun-denton/chinvatagbara286/saint-cms
Stars222
LanguageTypeScriptTypeScriptTypeScript
Setup difficultyeasymoderateeasy
Complexity2/54/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Requires Node.js 16.7 or newer, no account, API key, or network connection needed.

No license information was found in the README.

In plain English

StackBrief is a command-line tool that helps a developer, or an AI coding agent, understand a codebase before making a change to it, rather than after. Instead of reading through an entire repository or relying on a README that may be out of date, you point it at the specific file you are about to edit, and it produces a short report showing how that file connects to the rest of the system. That report covers things like which routes or services the file is part of, which other files import or depend on it, which databases or outside APIs are touched along the way, and any related tests it can find. Wherever possible, it backs up its claims with the actual file paths and line numbers where it found the evidence, rather than just describing things in general terms. When it cannot confirm something for certain, such as behavior that only shows up while the program is actually running, it plainly marks that as unknown instead of guessing. Everything runs locally on your own machine. It does not need an internet connection, an account, an API key, or any AI service to produce its analysis, and it never uploads your code anywhere. The tool first scans a repository to build a structured snapshot of it, saved as a file, which every other feature then reads from rather than each one re-analyzing the code separately. It can also be installed as a skill for AI coding agents like Claude, giving them the same pre-change context a human developer would use, so the agent can plan a code change with real evidence rather than guessing at how the system fits together. This is aimed at developers and teams using AI coding agents who want a fast, repeatable way to understand the blast radius of a planned change in an unfamiliar or complex codebase before touching any code. It requires Node.js version 16.7 or newer to run.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Explain what a StackBrief pre-change brief actually shows me about a file I'm about to edit.
Prompt 2
Walk me through running stackbrief scan and brief for the first time in my repository.
Prompt 3
How does StackBrief decide when something is unknown instead of guessing at the answer?
Prompt 4
Show me how to install StackBrief as a skill for Claude to use before making code changes.

Frequently asked questions

What is stackbrief?

A local command-line tool that maps how a file connects to the rest of a codebase before you change it, with file and line evidence.

What language is stackbrief written in?

Mainly TypeScript. The stack also includes TypeScript, Node.js, CLI.

What license does stackbrief use?

No license information was found in the README.

How hard is stackbrief to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is stackbrief for?

Mainly developer.

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