code-graph-llm

CODE-GRAPH (v4.12.1)

Inspired by Andrej Karpathy skills, juliusbrussee/caveman, and the community's work building better agent workflows.

A language-agnostic, ultra-compact codebase mapper and agent memory system for LLM agents. Code-Graph gives agents a compact file, symbol, and dependency index, then pairs it with persistent project learnings so agents can avoid repeating mistakes across sessions.

New in v4.12.1

• Fix (Windows junction paths): Global npm installs on Windows silently exited with no output. process.argv[1] resolves to the junction path while import.meta.url resolves the real path; path.resolve doesn't dereference junctions so main() was never called. Fixed with realpathSync on both sides.
• Fix (Self-referential dependency): Removed code-graph-llm from its own dependencies. npm resolved the self-reference from the registry (stale 4.11.0) instead of local source, making global installs permanently stale.

See RELEASE_NOTES.md for full history.

Installation

# Global installation (recommended for CLI usage)
npm install -g code-graph-llm

# Project-level installation
npm install --save-dev code-graph-llm

Quick Start

# 0. Check version and help
code-graph --version
code-graph --help

# 1. Initialize rules and memory
code-graph init

# 2. Build the graph
code-graph generate

# 3. Install all bundled skills for one agent
code-graph install-skills claude

# 4. Or install globally for all projects
code-graph install-skills -g claude

Every install prints each target it writes:

[Code-Graph v4.12.1] Installed/updated: /absolute/path/to/AGENTS.md
[Code-Graph v4.12.1] Installed/updated: /absolute/path/to/.codex/hooks.json

Core Concepts

Code-Graph operates in two modes: Passive Skills and Active Agents.

Mode	Paradigm	Benefit	Command
Unified	Both	Installs skills and the active agent together.	code-graph install <platform>
Skills	Passive Context	Injects the graph and memory rules into the agent's normal workflow.	code-graph install-skills <platform>
Agents	Active Delegation	Registers code-graph as a specialized sub-agent.	code-graph install-agent <platform>

Unified Installation

Get the full Code-Graph experience by installing both skills and the active sub-agent in one command.

code-graph install gemini

Uninstall with:

code-graph uninstall <platform>

Passive Skills

Skills are always-on configurations that tell your agent how to use the project map and memory files. code-graph install-skills <platform> installs all bundled skills by default for every supported platform.

• ProjectMap: Reads llm-code-graph.md, the canonical file, symbol, and dependency index, before raw file searches.
• Reflections: Reads and updates llm-agent-project-learnings.md so agents retain project-specific lessons.
• ThinkBeforeCoding: Surfaces assumptions, ambiguity, tradeoffs, and simpler options before non-trivial work.
• Simplicity: Keeps changes limited to what the task actually requires.
• SurgicalChanges: Prevents unrelated refactors, style churn, and scope creep while allowing cleanup caused by your own diff.
• GoalDriven: Forces explicit success criteria and verification before completion.
• FreshDeps: Forces latest stable compatible dependencies and current, non-deprecated APIs.
• ContextBudget: Periodically condenses working context to reduce token load and stale detail.

# Install all bundled skills
code-graph install-skills gemini

# Install one skill
code-graph install-skills cursor projectmap

# Install only dependency freshness rules
code-graph install-skills codex freshdeps

# Install surgical diff rules (CLI alias remains changelimit-compatible)
code-graph install-skills claude surgicalchanges

# Uninstall one skill
code-graph uninstall-skills claude reflections

# Uninstall all skills for a platform
code-graph uninstall-skills claude

Active Agents

Agents are specialized personas. Instead of only reading project files, a main orchestrator such as Gemini CLI or Claude Code can delegate mapping and analysis work to the Code-Graph agent.

# Register code-graph as a sub-agent
code-graph install-agent claude

# Example delegation:
# "Hey code-graph, analyze the dependency chain of the auth module."

Uninstall with:

code-graph uninstall-agent <platform>

Claude Code receives focused sub-agents when available:

• code-graph: General project-map and reflection specialist.
• code-graph-locator: Finds the smallest relevant file and symbol set before raw source reads.
• code-graph-tracer: Traces dependency and inheritance paths from ## EDGES.
• code-graph-reviewer: Checks map freshness, reflection coverage, scope creep, and dependency freshness.

Supported Platforms

Use -g before the platform to install skills globally. Without -g, skills are installed for the current project when the platform supports project-level instructions.

Agent	Command	Install Target
AdaL	code-graph install-skills adal	~/.adal/skills/
AiderDesk	code-graph install-skills aider-desk	~/.aider-desk/skills/
Aider	code-graph install-skills aider	~/.aider/skills/
Amp	code-graph install-skills amp	~/.config/agents/skills/
Antigravity	code-graph install-skills antigravity	~/.gemini/antigravity/skills/
Augment	code-graph install-skills augment	~/.augment/skills/
Claude Code	code-graph install-skills claude	~/.claude/skills/
Cline / Warp	code-graph install-skills cline or code-graph install-skills warp	~/.agents/skills/
Codex	code-graph install-skills codex	~/.codex/skills/
CodeArts Agent	code-graph install-skills codearts-agent	~/.codeartsdoer/skills/
CodeBuddy	code-graph install-skills codebuddy	~/.codebuddy/skills/
Codemaker	code-graph install-skills codemaker	~/.codemaker/skills/
Code Studio	code-graph install-skills codestudio	~/.codestudio/skills/
Command Code	code-graph install-skills command-code	~/.commandcode/skills/
Continue	code-graph install-skills continue	~/.continue/skills/
Cortex Code	code-graph install-skills cortex	~/.snowflake/cortex/skills/
Crush	code-graph install-skills crush	~/.config/crush/skills/
Cursor	code-graph install-skills cursor	~/.cursor/skills/
Deep Agents	code-graph install-skills deepagents	~/.deepagents/agent/skills/
Devin for Terminal	code-graph install-skills devin	~/.config/devin/skills/
Droid	code-graph install-skills droid	~/.factory/skills/
Firebender	code-graph install-skills firebender	~/.firebender/skills/
ForgeCode	code-graph install-skills forgecode	~/.forge/skills/
Gemini CLI	code-graph install-skills gemini or code-graph install-skills gemini-cli	~/.gemini/skills/
Generic Agent	code-graph install-skills generic	~/.generic/skills/
GitHub Copilot	code-graph install-skills copilot or code-graph install-skills github-copilot	~/.copilot/skills/
Goose	code-graph install-skills goose	~/.config/goose/skills/
Hermes	code-graph install-skills hermes	~/.hermes/skills/
IBM Bob	code-graph install-skills bob	~/.bob/skills/
IntelliJ / JetBrains	code-graph install-skills intellij	AGENTS.md or ~/.intellij/skills/ with -g
iFlow CLI	code-graph install-skills iflow-cli	~/.iflow/skills/
Junie	code-graph install-skills junie	~/.junie/skills/
Kilo Code	code-graph install-skills kilo	~/.kilocode/skills/
Kimi Code CLI	code-graph install-skills kimi-cli	~/.config/agents/skills/
Kiro IDE/CLI	code-graph install-skills kiro or code-graph install-skills kiro-cli	~/.kiro/skills/
Kode	code-graph install-skills kode	~/.kode/skills/
MCPJam	code-graph install-skills mcpjam	~/.mcpjam/skills/
Mistral Vibe	code-graph install-skills mistral-vibe	~/.vibe/skills/
Mux	code-graph install-skills mux	~/.mux/skills/
Neovate	code-graph install-skills neovate	~/.neovate/skills/
OpenClaw	code-graph install-skills openclaw	~/.openclaw/skills/
OpenCode	code-graph install-skills opencode	~/.config/opencode/skills/
OpenHands	code-graph install-skills openhands	~/.openhands/skills/
Pi	code-graph install-skills pi	~/.pi/agent/skills/
Pochi	code-graph install-skills pochi	~/.pochi/skills/
Qoder	code-graph install-skills qoder	~/.qoder/skills/
Qwen Code	code-graph install-skills qwen-code	~/.qwen/skills/
Replit	code-graph install-skills replit	~/.config/agents/skills/
Roo Code	code-graph install-skills roocode or code-graph install-skills roo	~/.roo/skills/
Rovo Dev	code-graph install-skills rovodev	~/.rovodev/skills/
Tabnine CLI	code-graph install-skills tabnine-cli	~/.tabnine/agent/skills/
Trae	code-graph install-skills trae	~/.trae/skills/
Trae CN	code-graph install-skills trae-cn	~/.trae-cn/skills/
Universal	code-graph install-skills universal	~/.config/agents/skills/
VS Code Copilot Chat	code-graph install-skills vscode	.github/copilot-instructions.md or ~/.vscode/skills/ with -g
Windsurf	code-graph install-skills windsurf	~/.codeium/windsurf/skills/
Zencoder	code-graph install-skills zencoder	~/.zencoder/skills/

Platform Integration Details

Every supported platform receives all bundled skills when installing all skills. Platforms with native skill or rule formats get native artifacts; the rest receive the same mandatory instructions through their project instruction file, usually AGENTS.md.

Platform	Action Taken	Directory / Files
Claude Code	Injects instructions and installs PreToolUse hooks for Read, Grep, and Glob; agent install creates split Code-Graph sub-agents.	CLAUDE.md, .claude/settings.json, .claude/agents/
Cursor	Writes always-on .mdc rule files for each bundled skill with alwaysApply: true.	.cursor/rules/
Gemini CLI	Installs global skills with YAML frontmatter and GEMINI.md memory imports.	~/.gemini/skills/, GEMINI.md
Antigravity	Writes always-on skills and rules locally, plus the specialized Code-Graph agent skill globally.	.agent/skills/, .agent/rules/, ~/.gemini/antigravity/skills/code-graph/
Kiro IDE/CLI	Writes steering files locally; the specialized Code-Graph agent is registered globally.	.kiro/steering/, ~/.kiro/agents/code-graph/
Codex	Updates AGENTS.md and installs enabled nested PreToolUse hooks for Bash.	AGENTS.md, .codex/hooks.json
OpenCode	Registers per-skill plugins and preserves existing plugin entries.	AGENTS.md, .opencode/plugins/, opencode.json
Roo Code	Injects instructions into project rule files.	.clinerules, .roorules
IntelliJ / JetBrains	Adds architectural context to a discoverable file.	AGENTS.md
GitHub Copilot CLI	Copies skills globally for persistence.	~/.copilot/skills/
VS Code Copilot	Writes session-persistent instructions.	.github/copilot-instructions.md
Aider / Trae / Others	Updates project instructions and copies skills globally when supported.	AGENTS.md, ~/.<platform>/skills/

Agent Workflow

Instruct your agent to follow the strict protocol in llm-agent-rules.md:

• Treat every bundled skill as mandatory: ProjectMap, Reflections, ThinkBeforeCoding, Simplicity, SurgicalChanges, GoalDriven, FreshDeps, and ContextBudget.
• Read llm-agent-project-learnings.md before starting any task.
• Read llm-code-graph.md before raw file searches or architecture analysis.
• Surface assumptions and ambiguity before non-trivial work.
• Define success criteria and report verification results or blockers.
• Use latest stable compatible dependencies and current APIs; avoid deprecated packages, methods, functions, flags, and patterns.
• Update reflections after failures, corrections, repeated mistakes, or non-obvious project behavior.
• Regenerate llm-code-graph.md after structural code changes.

Recommended generic prompt:

Before acting, read llm-code-graph.md and follow llm-agent-rules.md. Treat all bundled skills as mandatory. Use latest stable compatible dependencies and current APIs; avoid deprecated choices. If you encounter a bug, environment quirk, or reusable project lesson, record it with code-graph reflect <CAT> <LESSON>.

Reading the Map

llm-code-graph.md is a compact index generated from the project. Each file entry is designed to help an agent decide which files matter before opening raw source:

• * marks a core entry point or high-importance file.
• (↑out ↓in) shows dependency counts. Outgoing dependencies are files or packages this file references; incoming dependencies are files that reference it.
• d: is a short description extracted from file comments or nearby context.
• s: lists important symbols found in the file, such as classes, functions, types, and exported values.
• The ## EDGES section lists dependency relationships in the form [source] -> [targets].

For example:

- *src/auth.js (3↑ 5↓) [TODO:Add JWT rotation] | d: Handles user authentication.
  - s: [login [(username, password)], validateToken [(token: string)]]

## EDGES
[src/auth.js] -> [jwt-lib, db-connector]
[AdminUser] -> [BaseUser]

This means src/auth.js is a core file with 3 outgoing dependencies and 5 incoming references. It contains the login and validateToken symbols, has a TODO about JWT rotation, depends on jwt-lib and db-connector, and includes an inheritance relationship where AdminUser extends or implements BaseUser.

Sub-Agent Registration

Register code-graph as an active sub-agent to enable explicit delegation.

Platform	Command	Action Taken
Gemini CLI	code-graph install-agent gemini	Registers global agent in ~/.gemini/agents/code-graph.md.
Claude Code	code-graph install-agent claude	Registers split sub-agents in .claude/agents/: code-graph, code-graph-locator, code-graph-tracer, and code-graph-reviewer.
Antigravity	code-graph install-agent antigravity	Registers agent skill in ~/.gemini/antigravity/skills/.
Kiro IDE/CLI	code-graph install-agent kiro	Registers agent in ~/.kiro/agents/.
Generic Agent	code-graph install-agent generic	Generates .code-graph-agent.md persona prompt.

Implementation Details

Project Structure

index.js              CLI entry point and public re-exports
lib/
  config.js           Constants, regex patterns, shared utilities
  parser.js           CodeParser: symbol, edge, and tag extraction
  mapper.js           ProjectMapper: file walking and graph generation
  reflections.js      ReflectionManager: lesson persistence
  initializer.js      ProjectInitializer: rule and reflection scaffolding
  install-log.js      Shared versioned install target logging
  skills.js           SkillManager: platform skill installation
  agents.js           AgentManager: sub-agent registration
test/
  index.test.js       Unit tests for parser, mapper, skills, and CLI behavior
  platform-audit.js   Integration checks across supported platforms

Pipeline

• File Scanning: Recursively walks the directory while respecting nested .gitignore patterns.
• Context Extraction: Scans for classes, functions, variables, and comments while stripping literals to reduce false matches.
• Graph Extraction: Identifies imports, requires, extends, and implements edges.
• Tag Extraction: Captures TODO, FIXME, BUG, and DEPRECATED tags from comments.
• Reflection Management: Deduplicates and persists agent learnings into a standardized Markdown file.
• Compilation: Writes a compact llm-code-graph.md file with capped descriptions, symbols, tags, and a dedicated ## EDGES section.