---
name: Ask Codebase
slug: ask-codebase
category: AI Engineering
description: Ask Codebase answers read-only questions about a codebase, such as where something lives, whether a feature exists, or how a part works. It maps relevant files and explains the code without creating tasks or changing files.
github: "https://github.com/enmanuelmag/agent-harness-kit/tree/main/src/core/materializer/skills/ahk-ask"
language: TypeScript
stars: 180
forks: 9
install: "npx degit https://github.com/enmanuelmag/agent-harness-kit/tree/main/src/core/materializer/skills/ahk-ask ~/.claude/skills/ahk-ask"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/ahk-ask
source_path: src/core/materializer/skills/ahk-ask/SKILL.md
collection_size: 14
category_size: 3475
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/enmanuelmag/agent-harness-kit"
added: 2026-09-07T05:20:27.619Z
last_synced: 2026-09-07T05:20:27.619Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/ask-codebase"
---

# Ask Codebase

Ask Codebase answers read-only questions about a codebase, such as where something lives, whether a feature exists, or how a part works. It maps relevant files and explains the code without creating tasks or changing files.

**Install:**

```bash
npx degit https://github.com/enmanuelmag/agent-harness-kit/tree/main/src/core/materializer/skills/ahk-ask ~/.claude/skills/ahk-ask
```

## README

You are in **lightweight ask mode**.

> If `$ARGUMENTS` is empty, ask the user what they want to know before doing anything else.

The user's question: $ARGUMENTS

## Rules
- NO MCP calls — no tasks.*, no actions.*
- NO health.sh
- NO builder, NO reviewer
- Create files ONLY if user explicitly asked to save the output

## Process

1. Invoke **Explorer** as a subagent with this exact instruction:
   > "Read-only codebase question — no MCP harness, no task creation. Map only what is needed to answer: `$ARGUMENTS`. Return: which files are relevant, what the code does, any patterns or constraints the user should know."

2. Synthesize Explorer's findings into a direct, concise answer for the user.
   Do not relay the raw output — distill it.

## Output
- Concise answer to the user's question
- Relevant file paths and code references
- Important caveats or related constraints