I often feel a bit lost when I have to work with a new codebase. I'm curious about how others approach this challenge. Do you start by checking the entire structure, or do you jump right into the specific sections you need to work on? I'm looking to improve my strategy but I'm unsure of the best path forward.
2 Answers
My go-to method is to start with the README and then check out the package.json file. If there are any unfamiliar libraries, I Google them. From there, I figure out the entry point by following the function calls, gradually building an understanding of how the system layers interact. And don't forget, AI tools can help explain things you don't get!
You can certainly focus on the part you need to work on initially, but I find that looking at different workflows can really help. Don't expect to absorb everything at once, especially with larger projects. It’s best to learn a small segment well first before moving onto the next area.
True! Ctrl-clicking through functions is a game changer for tracking down how things connect.