{"name":"explain-code-prompt","description":"A prompt that explains a piece of code, a script, a config file or tool output in plain English - what it does, a walk through of how it flows step by step, what the settings mean, any risks it carries - and answers your specific question about it. Use when you are handed code you do not understand, inherit a project, or want a walkthrough of what something does.","category":"coding-prompts","tags":["docs","debugging","quality"],"models":["any"],"proven":false,"passing_families":0,"model_testing":"Not yet model-tested; testing Jan 2027","url":"https://theskillvault.ai/skills/explain-code-prompt","api_url":"https://theskillvault.ai/api/skills/explain-code-prompt","raw_url":"https://theskillvault.ai/api/skills/explain-code-prompt/raw","body":"# Explain code (prompt)\n\nPaste code, a config file or a tool's output and get a plain-English explanation pitched at your level.\n\n## When to use\n- You found code online or in a project and do not know what it does.\n- You inherited a codebase or a config file nobody documented.\n- A security scanner or build tool printed output you cannot read.\n\n## Steps\n1. Copy the code, config or output. Keep it to one file or function if you can.\n2. Fill in {{LEVEL}} (for example \"new to coding\" or \"experienced, new to Rust\") and an optional {{QUESTION}}.\n3. Paste it into the prompt below.\n4. Ask follow-ups on any part that is still unclear.\n\n## Prompt\n```text\nExplain the content below for a reader who is {{LEVEL}}.\n\nFirst, say what kind of content it is (code, configuration, or tool output) in one line.\n\n- If it is code: give a one-sentence summary of what it does, then walk through how it works step by step, naming the key functions and data.\n- If it is configuration: explain what each important setting does and what would change if it were different.\n- If it is tool or security output: explain what it means and what, if anything, needs action.\n\nThen add:\n- Risks: bugs, security issues or surprising behaviour you notice, each in one line. Say \"none spotted\" if none.\n- Answer: if I asked a question, answer it directly.\n\nKeep it plain. Define any jargon the first time you use it. Do not rewrite the code unless I ask.\n\nQUESTION (optional): {{QUESTION}}\n\nCONTENT:\n{{CODE, CONFIG OR OUTPUT}}\n```\n\n## How to adapt\n- Teaching someone? Add \"end with three questions to check understanding\".\n- Long file? Ask for \"a map of the file first, then explain only the part I choose\".\n\n## Gotchas\n- Remove API keys, passwords and private data before pasting code or config into an AI tool.\n- An explanation can sound confident and still be wrong. Run the code or check the docs for anything important.\n\n## Portability\nWorks with any language and any chat AI or coding agent. No tool lock-in.\n\n## Done when\n- You can say in one sentence what the code does.\n- Your question is answered and any risks are listed.\n\n## Example prompt\n\"Explain this bash script for someone new to coding, and tell me if it is safe to run.\"\n\n---\nConverted from the \"explain_code\" pattern in danielmiessler/Fabric (MIT, Copyright (c) 2012-2024 Scott Chacon and others). See LICENSE.txt.","files":["LICENSE.txt"],"license":"MIT","license_name":"MIT License","license_url":"https://opensource.org/license/mit","attribution":"Based on work by Daniel Miessler and Fabric contributors (explain_code pattern) (Copyright (c) 2012-2024 Scott Chacon and others, MIT License), https://github.com/danielmiessler/Fabric/blob/8ce0909d8622a61b6aaf539d467ba31bb7e0b6dd/data/patterns/explain_code/system.md; adapted by TheSkillVault, https://theskillvault.ai","install":{"claude_code":"curl -fsSL --create-dirs 'https://theskillvault.ai/api/skills/explain-code-prompt/raw' -o ~/'.claude/skills/explain-code-prompt/SKILL.md' && curl -fsSL --create-dirs 'https://theskillvault.ai/api/skills/explain-code-prompt/files/LICENSE.txt' -o ~/'.claude/skills/explain-code-prompt/LICENSE.txt'","cursor":"curl -fsSL --create-dirs 'https://theskillvault.ai/api/skills/explain-code-prompt/raw' -o '.cursor/skills/explain-code-prompt/SKILL.md' && curl -fsSL --create-dirs 'https://theskillvault.ai/api/skills/explain-code-prompt/files/LICENSE.txt' -o '.cursor/skills/explain-code-prompt/LICENSE.txt'","agents":"curl -fsSL --create-dirs 'https://theskillvault.ai/api/skills/explain-code-prompt/raw' -o '.agents/skills/explain-code-prompt/SKILL.md' && curl -fsSL --create-dirs 'https://theskillvault.ai/api/skills/explain-code-prompt/files/LICENSE.txt' -o '.agents/skills/explain-code-prompt/LICENSE.txt'","mcp_url":"https://theskillvault.ai/mcp","cursor_mcp_deeplink":"cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=theskillvault&config=eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3RoZXNraWxsdmF1bHQuYWkvbWNwIn0%3D","mcp_config":{"mcpServers":{"theskillvault":{"url":"https://theskillvault.ai/mcp"}}}},"bundles":[],"tested_on":[{"family":"chatgpt","name":"ChatGPT","outcome":null,"date":null,"source":null,"counts":false,"stale":false},{"family":"claude","name":"Claude","outcome":null,"date":null,"source":null,"counts":false,"stale":false},{"family":"gemini","name":"Gemini","outcome":null,"date":null,"source":null,"counts":false,"stale":false},{"family":"grok","name":"Grok","outcome":null,"date":null,"source":null,"counts":false,"stale":false},{"family":"llama","name":"Llama","outcome":null,"date":null,"source":null,"counts":false,"stale":false},{"family":"deepseek","name":"DeepSeek","outcome":null,"date":null,"source":null,"counts":false,"stale":false},{"family":"mistral","name":"Mistral","outcome":null,"date":null,"source":null,"counts":false,"stale":false},{"family":"qwen","name":"Qwen","outcome":null,"date":null,"source":null,"counts":false,"stale":false},{"family":"kimi","name":"Kimi K","outcome":null,"date":null,"source":null,"counts":false,"stale":false}],"proven_rule":{"threshold":5,"window_days":365,"computed_at":"2026-11-02T03:20:33.817Z"}}