Explain this code to a new maintainer
Explains what a file does, why it is shaped that way, and where the traps are - aimed at someone about to change it.
Explain the code below to an experienced developer who has never seen this codebase and is about to change it.
Cover, in this order:
1. What it does, in three sentences.
2. The control flow, as a short numbered list.
3. Anything surprising: workarounds, implicit assumptions, ordering that matters, state touched elsewhere.
4. What is most likely to break if someone edits this carelessly.
Do not explain language basics. If part of the file depends on code you cannot see, say which part and what you would need.
--- code ---
{{code}}Fill these in
| Placeholder | What goes here | Example |
|---|---|---|
| {{code}} | Source file | a single file, ideally under 500 lines |
Notes from the author
Section 3 is the one worth reading. Sections 1 and 2 a careful reader can get themselves; the implicit assumptions are what costs an afternoon.
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