Why take notes when reading a codebase?
Because a personal map of the codebase helps you navigate on future visits and solidifies your understanding. Writing down what you learn forces you to process it, and the notes become a reference for next time.
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More FAQs in How to Read Large Open-Source Codebases as a Developer
Start with the README and architecture docs, follow the entry point, pick one feature to trace through the code, read tests for behavior, use search and grep to navigate, and take notes to build a personal map of the codebase.
No. Large codebases are too big to read linearly. Pick one feature, like how require works, and trace it through the codebase. One feature at a time builds real understanding without overwhelming you.
Because tests show how a feature is expected to behave, often more clearly than the implementation. They reveal intent and edge cases, so reading tests alongside the code accelerates your understanding.
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