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wtf is js-code-structure?

timqian/js-code-structure — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-08-04 · repo last pushed 2019-10-21

166HTMLAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5DormantSetup · easy

TL;DR

A command-line tool that scans your JavaScript project and generates an interactive visual map showing how all your files depend on each other, helping you understand codebase architecture at a glance.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Scans JS files
      Maps dependencies
      Opens in browser
    How to use
      Install globally
      Run 3-letter command
      Interactive graph
    Use cases
      Onboarding to codebase
      Spotting tangled deps
      Finding central files
    Tech stack
      JavaScript
      HTML
      sigma.js
      Node.js
    Audience
      Developers
      Technical managers

Code map

Detail Auto

An interactive map of this repo's files and how they connect — its source is parsed live in your browser. Click Visualize to build it.

filefunction / class

Why would anyone build with this?

REASON 1

Get a visual overview of an unfamiliar JavaScript codebase you just inherited.

REASON 2

Spot tangled or circular dependencies between files in your project.

REASON 3

Identify the most central files in your codebase that everything else depends on.

REASON 4

Orient yourself before making changes by seeing exactly how files are wired together.

What's in the stack?

JavaScriptHTMLsigma.jsNode.js

How it stacks up

timqian/js-code-structuregaearon/react-elmish-examplex4gking/amnezia-vpn-config
Stars166169170
LanguageHTMLHTMLHTML
Last pushed2019-10-212015-10-04
MaintenanceDormantDormant
Setup difficultyeasyeasyeasy
Complexity2/52/51/5
Audiencedeveloperdevelopergeneral

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you spin it up?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Install globally via npm and run a single command from your project folder, no API keys or extra infrastructure needed.

Wtf does this do

js-code-structure is a tool that helps you visualize how all the JavaScript files in your project connect to each other. When your codebase grows beyond a handful of files, it gets hard to keep track of which file depends on which. This tool scans your project and generates a visual map showing exactly those relationships, so you can see the whole structure at a glance. You install it globally on your computer, navigate to your project folder in the terminal, and type a simple three-letter command. The tool then reads through your JavaScript files, looking for the lines where one file pulls in another using require() or import statements. Once it finishes scanning, it automatically creates an HTML file and opens it in your web browser, displaying an interactive network graph of your codebase. You can hover over any file in the graph to see what it depends on, and click it to see which other files depend on it. This is useful for anyone working on a medium-to-large JavaScript project who needs to understand its architecture. If you are a developer or technical manager inheriting an unfamiliar codebase, this tool gives you an immediate visual overview of how things are wired together. It helps you spot tangled dependencies, find the most central files in your project, or just orient yourself before making changes. By default, it skips common folders like node_modules, test, and build so the graph stays focused on your actual source code, and you can tell it to ignore other directories if needed. The project uses a library called sigma.js to render the interactive graph in the browser. The README is fairly sparse and does not go into detail about performance characteristics or how it handles extremely large codebases, but the core concept is straightforward and delivers a clear visual benefit.

Yoink these prompts

Prompt 1
I have a medium-sized JavaScript project with lots of files. How do I use js-code-structure to generate a visual dependency map so I can understand which files depend on which?
Prompt 2
I just inherited a large JavaScript codebase and need to understand its architecture quickly. Walk me through installing and running js-code-structure to see an interactive graph of all file dependencies.
Prompt 3
I want to use js-code-structure but need to exclude certain directories like dist and vendor from the dependency graph. How do I customize which folders it scans?

Frequently asked questions

wtf is js-code-structure?

A command-line tool that scans your JavaScript project and generates an interactive visual map showing how all your files depend on each other, helping you understand codebase architecture at a glance.

What language is js-code-structure written in?

Mainly HTML. The stack also includes JavaScript, HTML, sigma.js.

Is js-code-structure actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2019-10-21).

How hard is js-code-structure to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is js-code-structure for?

Mainly developer.

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