How do you tackle understanding new code repositories? Is AI making it easier or unnecessary?

When I'm diving into a new repo, I usually start by checking out the main files like main.py or package.json. Then, I open it in my IDE and navigate through the code using shortcuts like Ctrl+Click to track down the underlying objects. That's my go-to method!

AI isn't really much help when it comes to coding in more niche languages like Zig. I've found it often provides outdated information or simply doesn't understand the limitations of certain languages. Instead, I prefer going through documentation and figuring things out myself. AI can sometimes just create confusion or provide generic answers that aren't applicable to my specific situation.

I haven’t thought much about using AI for this, but it could actually help quickly identify common design patterns and features. Typically, I examine how different modules depend on each other, look into what solutions they implement for specific problems, and check the main flows of the application. I like to jump right in and see how easy it is to modify or add a feature.

1) If possible, ask the original developer for insights. They're usually super helpful. 2) Look for READMEs. 3) Tackle smaller parts at a time and test to see if your assumptions about them are correct. 4) I wouldn’t rely on AI too much; it often provides misleading info. If you're working with proprietary or less popular code, you can forget about accurate AI-generated assistance. Reading the code yourself is still the best method for reliable understanding!