name: gitnexus-impact-analysis description: "Use when the user wants to know what will break if they change something, or needs safety analysis before editing code. Examples: "Is it safe to change X?", "What depends on this?", "What will break?""
Impact Analysis with GitNexus
When to Use
- "Is it safe to change this function?"
- "What will break if I modify X?"
- "Show me the blast radius"
- "Who uses this code?"
- Before making non-trivial code changes
- Before committing — to understand what your changes affect
Workflow
1. gitnexus_impact({target: "X", direction: "upstream"}) → What depends on this
2. READ gitnexus://repo/{name}/processes → Check affected execution flows
3. gitnexus_detect_changes() → Map current git changes to affected flows
4. Assess risk and report to user
If "Index is stale" → run
npx gitnexus analyzein terminal.
Checklist
- [ ] gitnexus_impact({target, direction: "upstream"}) to find dependents
- [ ] Review d=1 items first (these WILL BREAK)
- [ ] Check high-confidence (>0.8) dependencies
- [ ] READ processes to check affected execution flows
- [ ] gitnexus_detect_changes() for pre-commit check
- [ ] Assess risk level and report to user
Understanding Output
| Depth | Risk Level | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| d=1 | WILL BREAK | Direct callers/importers |
| d=2 | LIKELY AFFECTED | Indirect dependencies |
| d=3 | MAY NEED TESTING | Transitive effects |
Risk Assessment
| Affected | Risk |
|---|---|
| <5 symbols, few processes | LOW |
| 5-15 symbols, 2-5 processes | MEDIUM |
| >15 symbols or many processes | HIGH |
| Critical path (auth, payments) | CRITICAL |
Tools
gitnexus_impact — the primary tool for symbol blast radius:
gitnexus_impact({
target: "validateUser",
direction: "upstream",
minConfidence: 0.8,
maxDepth: 3
})
→ d=1 (WILL BREAK):
- loginHandler (src/auth/login.ts:42) [CALLS, 100%]
- apiMiddleware (src/api/middleware.ts:15) [CALLS, 100%]
→ d=2 (LIKELY AFFECTED):
- authRouter (src/routes/auth.ts:22) [CALLS, 95%]
gitnexus_detect_changes — git-diff based impact analysis:
gitnexus_detect_changes({scope: "staged"})
→ Changed: 5 symbols in 3 files
→ Affected: LoginFlow, TokenRefresh, APIMiddlewarePipeline
→ Risk: MEDIUM
Example: "What breaks if I change validateUser?"
1. gitnexus_impact({target: "validateUser", direction: "upstream"})
→ d=1: loginHandler, apiMiddleware (WILL BREAK)
→ d=2: authRouter, sessionManager (LIKELY AFFECTED)
2. READ gitnexus://repo/my-app/processes
→ LoginFlow and TokenRefresh touch validateUser
3. Risk: 2 direct callers, 2 processes = MEDIUM
Overview
gitnexus-impact-analysis: a free, copy-ready skill on OpenRuna. Use when the user wants to know what will break if they change something, or needs safety analysis before editing code. Examples: "Is it safe to change X?", "What depends
What this skill does
"gitnexus-impact-analysis" packages a proven skill so you can skip the trial-and-error of writing one from scratch. Use when the user wants to know what will break if they change something, or needs safety analysis before editing code. Examples: "Is it safe to change X?", "What depends on this?", "What will break?" It is catalogued next to similar resources on OpenRuna, so the rest of the toolkit you need is close by. Copy it into your assistant of choice and sharpen the result with a couple of follow-up turns.
Use cases
- Reach for it during planning or review sessions when you want consistent, AI-assisted structure.
- Combine it with related tools and prompts in the same OpenRuna category to build an end-to-end workflow.
- Hand "gitnexus-impact-analysis" to a new teammate so their skill output matches your team's quality bar from day one.
- Use "gitnexus-impact-analysis" when you need a repeatable skill for professional work without rewriting instructions every time.
Example output
Running this skill produces output shaped like the source material below:
# Impact Analysis with GitNexus
## When to Use
- "Is it safe to change this function?"
- "What will break if I modify X?"
- "Show me the blast radius"
- "Who uses this code?"
- Before making non-trivial code changes
- Before committing — to understand what your changes affect
## Workflow
```
1. gitnexus_impact({target: "X", direction: "upstream"}) → What depends on this
2. READ gitnexus://repo/{name}/processes → Check affected execution flows
3. gitnexus_detect_changes() → Map current git changes to affected flows
4. Assess risk and report t…
Results vary by model and temperature; treat the first response as a draft and refine it with follow-up prompts.Tips by platform
Claude
In Claude, paste the full skill as your first message or add it to Project instructions, then ask Claude to confirm assumptions before it executes. For longer skills, iterate inside the artifact panel.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT responds well when you paste this skill and immediately give one concrete example of your input. Use a reasoning-capable model for multi-step work.
Cursor
Add this skill to your Cursor rules and invoke it from Agent mode for repeatable results. Link back to its OpenRuna page in the rule so the source stays discoverable.
Frequently asked questions
- What is "gitnexus-impact-analysis"?
- It is a skill listed on OpenRuna — Use when the user wants to know what will break if they change something, or needs safety analysis before editing code. Examples: "Is it safe to change X?", "What depends on this?", "What will break?" You can copy and adapt it for ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, or any other AI assistant.
- Is "gitnexus-impact-analysis" free to use?
- Most OpenRuna resources are open or CC0-licensed. Check the license shown on this page before commercial use; premium collections are clearly marked as such.
- How do I get the best results from this skill?
- Replace any placeholders, add your project context, and ask the model to confirm its assumptions first. Iterate over 2–3 follow-up turns rather than expecting a perfect first response.
- Does "gitnexus-impact-analysis" work with both Claude and ChatGPT?
- Yes — it is model-agnostic text, so it runs on Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Cursor. The tips on this page cover each of those assistants specifically.
- Where can I find resources related to "gitnexus-impact-analysis"?
- Scroll to the Related resources section on this page, or open the matching category hub on OpenRuna to find connected prompts, tools, agents, and datasets in the same topic area.
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