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CodeBoarding: Finally, Local Code Visualization That Doesn’t Limit You

Okay, so I stumbled across something really cool the other day, and I had to share it. I’ve been messing around with this tool called CodeBoarding, and it’s seriously impressive. It takes your codebase – whether it’s TypeScript or Python – and turns it into interactive diagrams. Think of it like a super-detailed, clickable roadmap of your code.

I’m going to be honest, I’ve been frustrated with a bunch of the existing tools for visualizing code. I’ve tried a few, and they just weren’t cutting it, especially with larger projects. They’d hit limits, give inaccurate diagrams, or just plain slow down. It felt like they were being held back by their reliance on external services.

The Problem I Was Facing

I spend a *lot* of time understanding complex codebases. It’s not just about reading lines of code; it’s about seeing the relationships between different parts, understanding the flow of data, and figuring out how everything fits together. I needed a way to do this visually, and quickly.

I’ve personally experienced the weirdness of AI tools struggling with context. You’d give it a huge codebase, and suddenly it would miss critical connections or provide misleading insights. It’s like the AI just couldn’t fully grasp the scale of the project.

Enter CodeBoarding

That’s where CodeBoarding comes in. The creator, a user named Alex, built this tool to solve exactly this problem. It’s open-source, which is awesome, and it runs locally. That means it doesn’t rely on external services or context limits. It can handle even the biggest projects without a hiccup.

Here’s the breakdown: CodeBoarding uses static analysis to understand your code. Then, it leverages LLMs (Large Language Models) – things like Ollama or custom OpenAI base URLs – to label and stitch together the different parts of the diagram. It’s like having a super-smart assistant that automatically builds a visual representation of your code.

How it Works (Simplified!)

Essentially, you feed CodeBoarding your codebase, and it generates a dynamic diagram. You can click through the diagram to explore the code, see how functions are called, and understand the flow of data. It’s incredibly helpful for onboarding new developers, understanding legacy code, or just getting a better overview of a complex project.

Why Local Hosting Matters

This is a big deal, though. The fact that CodeBoarding runs locally is what really sets it apart. When you host the model locally, you’re in control. There are no context limits, no reliance on external services, and no concerns about privacy. This is *crucial* when dealing with proprietary codebases.

Where to Get It

You can find CodeBoarding on GitHub. And there’s also a collection of examples available here: GitHub. I highly recommend checking them out!

Give it a Try!

I’m really excited about this project, and I’d love for you to try it out. If you do, please let Alex (the creator) know – you can reach him through the GitHub repository or just let me know! I’m always looking for feedback and feature suggestions. It’s a fantastic example of what’s possible when you combine open-source tools with the power of AI.

Seriously, give it a shot. You might be surprised at how helpful it is.