Understanding The Codebase

Understanding a large codebase can feel overwhelming at first, but you don’t need to master everything to make an impact. Here are the core points from the lesson:

• Use the Pareto principle to focus on the small portion of code that matters most for your project rather than trying to understand everything
• Avoid getting stuck reading docs and aim to quickly build the code, add logs, and view those logs to gain hands-on comprehension
• Identify key parts of the codebase by asking your manager or teammates for pointers and using exploratory techniques like print logging
• Treat code understanding as a “multiplayer” activity by asking questions, pair programming, reviewing commit history, and engaging with teammates
• Operating in multiplayer mode not only accelerates your learning but also strengthens relationships and increases your chances of getting a return offer