How can I learn a large codebase fast as an intern?

Question

I try to learn by breaking stuff, but I think that stops working for larger and more complex systems. I also do a lot of grep-ing (e.g. figuring out where a function is called).

I've been able to steadily build my understanding of the Samsara codebase, but I would like to move faster as I have high goals for my internship.

Alex Chiou · Accepted Answer

The 2 core pieces of understanding a codebase   Envisioning the collection of components and their flow   Actually understanding how the components you care about line-by-line, so you can make the proper changes Most powerful technique: Get someone to explain it to you at a high-level. For interns, book 30-45 minutes with your mentor; that's what they're there for and you have a very limited time window to deliver as an intern. Use a ton print statements and the debugger to understand the overall component map. After you identify the few pieces you care about, then you can use the break stuff technique to deeply understand them line-by-line.  Related resources:  Don't Learn Code In This Way - How Software Engineers Waste Time How To Learn A New Codebase Fast

How can I learn a large codebase fast as an intern?

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