ExplainThisRepo

This folder contains a high-performance, lightweight port of the ExplainThisRepo CLI tool.
While the original Python implementation is the primary version of this tool, this Node.js port was created to provide a "zero-compilation" experience for users where Python C-extensions (like Pillow) can be difficult to build.

Features

- Automated Repository Analysis: Seamlessly fetches repository data and documentation via the GitHub REST API.
- AI-Driven Contextualization: Uses Google Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite to extract technical value and purpose from codebases.
- Senior Engineer Perspective: Generates explanations tailored for developers, focusing on architecture, target audience, and execution.
- Markdown Generation: Automatically outputs a clean, structured EXPLAIN.md file for immediate reading.
- TypeScript Core: Built with type safety and modern asynchronous patterns for reliable performance.

Installation

Follow these steps to set up the project locally on your machine:

1. Clone the Repository
``bash
git clone https://github.com/calchiwo/ExplainThisRepo.git
cd ExplainThisRepo/node_version
`

2. Install Dependencies
`bash
npm install
`

3. Set Up Environment Variables
Create a .env file in the root directory or export the variable directly in your terminal:
`bash
export GEMINI_API_KEY=your_actual_api_key_here
`

4. Build the Project
Compile the TypeScript source code into executable JavaScript:
`bash
npm run build
`
5 Link the command globally:
`bash
npm link
`

Usage

Once the project is built, you can use the CLI tool to analyze any public GitHub repository.

$3

Execute the tool by passing the owner/repo string as an argument:

`bash
node dist/cli.js facebook/react
`

$3

1. The tool fetches the repository description and README from GitHub.
2. It processes the information and sends a structured prompt to the Gemini AI.
3. An EXPLAIN.md file is generated in your current working directory containing:
- Project Overview
- Functional Breakdown
- Target User Identification
- Setup/Execution Instructions

$3

- npm run build: Compiles TypeScript to the dist folder.
- npm run format: Formats the codebase using Prettier.
- npm start`: Runs the tool (requires the repository argument).

Contributing

Contributions are what make the open-source community an amazing place to learn, inspire, and create. Any contributions you make are greatly appreciated.

-️ Report Bugs: Open an issue if you find any unexpected behavior.
- Feature Requests: Proposals for new features are always welcome.
- Pull Requests: Ensure your code follows the existing style and all linting passes.

> Note: Please run npm run format before submitting a Pull Request to ensure code consistency.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License as specified in the package configuration.

Author Info

Caleb Wodi

Node version contibuted by @Spectra010s