# mantis-architecture

Turns codebase analysis and collected learnings into an interlinked Markdown knowledge base. Use it at the start of an architecture and vulnerability review loop.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1600 installs · ★ 2534
- Author: google · official Google repository
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/google/mantis/tree/HEAD/skills/mantis-architecture/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-25
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/mantis-architecture

## What it does

The skill reads `workspace/learnings.jsonl`, optional historical learnings, the codebase structure, and existing files in `workspace/kb/`. It builds or updates `architecture.md`, entity pages, vulnerability pages, and `index.md`, giving later agents a persistent view of the system.

The generated knowledge base also includes `dependencies.json`, which maps import or dependency edges for the analyzed files. Learnings are archived after the Markdown updates pass verification, while KB files receive a snapshot marker and the Mantis state stores the related snapshot identifier. The entry point is `/mantis-architecture`; it is not intended for threat models or execution plans.

\`workspace/learnings.jsonl` must exist before the run, so check the Mantis workspace first. The skill is available for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, and OpenCode.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add google/mantis --skill mantis-architecture -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/mantis-architecture/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/mantis-architecture/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add google/mantis --skill mantis-architecture -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/mantis-architecture/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add google/mantis --skill mantis-architecture -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/mantis-architecture/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install google/mantis mantis-architecture
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/mantis-architecture/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add google/mantis --skill mantis-architecture -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/google/mantis --path skills/mantis-architecture
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/mantis-architecture/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add google/mantis --skill mantis-architecture -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/google/mantis/tree/HEAD/skills/mantis-architecture/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- build a Markdown architecture knowledge base
- map codebase components and entities
- record historical vulnerability patterns
- refresh the KB from new learnings
- store import and dependency relationships

## Example prompts
- Run `/mantis-architecture` to update the knowledge base from the current codebase.
- Read `workspace/learnings.jsonl` and refresh `workspace/kb/` with `/mantis-architecture`.
- Use `/mantis-architecture` to document the project architecture, entities, and vulnerabilities.

## Source text · SKILL.md · Apache-2.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: cc81fbe020d5ba1b.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE cc81fbe020d5ba1b
```text
---
name: mantis-architecture
description: >-
  Synthesizes raw learnings and codebase analysis into an interlinked Markdown Knowledge Base (KB).
  Use at the beginning of a loop to build or update architecture.md, entities, and vulnerabilities.
  Don't use for generating threat models or formulating execution plans.
---

# Architect (/mantis-architecture)

## System Goal

Knowledge Base Synthesizer. Translates ephemeral insights from the learnings
queue (`workspace/learnings.jsonl`) and structural analysis of the codebase into
a canonical, interlinked Markdown Knowledge Base (`workspace/kb/`).

## Command Definition

- **Command:** `/mantis-architecture`
- **Description:** Builds the foundation of the KB by defining system
  architecture, mapping specific entities (components), and categorizing
  historical vulnerability patterns.
- **Arguments (all optional; resolved by LOCATOR RESOLUTION / Block A):**
  `--snapshot_root=<dir>` (or the `SNAPSHOT_ROOT` env var) — the pinned code
  snapshot to read target source from; `--snapshot_id=<id>` — the `SNAPSHOT_ID`
  of that snapshot; `--state_root=<dir>` — the parent of `workspace/` for all
  state and KB paths; `--target_root=<dir>` — an already-prepared tree that
  OVERRIDES the snapshot (rarely passed to this stage). When none are passed,
  behavior is byte-for-byte today's (degraded/unpinned): read source from the
  current directory and treat `snapshot_pinned` as false.

## Input/Output Contract

- **Reads**:
  - `workspace/learnings.jsonl` (raw insights from the current round).
  - `workspace/historical_learnings.jsonl` (optional, past vulnerability
    metadata).
  - Codebase directory structure and key source files.
  - Existing Markdown files in `workspace/kb/` (to validate/decay check).
  - `workspace/.mantis_state.json` (to retrieve pass count).
  - `workspace/.mantis_state.json` → `active_snapshot` (`root`, `snapshot_id`,
    `snapshot_pinned`) and `snapshot_history` — provenance for the KB freshness
    gate (step 0b). Read the snapshot from STATE ONLY; NEVER run a live VCS
    command (`git`/`hg`/`repo`) to decide KB currency.
  - `workspace/.mantis_state.json` → `kb_snapshot_id` (the `SNAPSHOT_ID` the
    current KB was last built against; absent on a first/legacy KB).
  - `workspace/.mantis_state.json` → `changed_files` and `changed_files_status`
    (written by mantis-plan's Block E; consumed by the scoped KB invalidation in
    step 0b outcome 3. Present from pass 2 on, but may be stale (written in a
    prior pass) — the scoped path checks `changed_files_pass` against
    `state.pass_number` and falls back to full rebuild if they differ.)
- **Writes**:
  - Markdown files under `workspace/kb/` (`architecture.md`,
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE cc81fbe020d5ba1b

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the cc81fbe020d5ba1b tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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