How to get productive on a new codebase fast

For once, I feel like I’m actually benefitting materially from my Twitter following. I use it mainly to hang out with my indie peers but recently it’s been helpful in finding freelance web dev work and now, on how to get better at software dev as a freelancer! I asked this question yesterday, and got loads of helpful advice:

New adventure: Starting as a web dev freelancer this week. Seeking help - What’s some tricks you use to familiarise yourself to a new codebase quickly? How do you get productive fast?

Summing up the tips and tricks here, for myself at least:

• Top tip: Download Cursor, use Claude Sonnet to talk to your entire codebase! It can even code the new component entirely!
• Ask upfront for existing documentation or video resources if any.
• Start from something in the UI, something you can see and edit, and then trace up the components hierarchy.
• Learn by doing instead of simply visually reading the codebase.
• Tackle something super small and simple, ala Atomic Habits. Make a small commit within a few days. This helps you familiarize with the codebase and gain confidence fast, and also demonstrate progress to client.
• Get someone familiar with the codebase to walk you through the top level architecture, and point out the important bits. Pair programme initially, if possible.
• Git history shows which files change often. Zoom in on those files to familiarize.
• Set right expectations with client, always aim to over-communicate (unless not preferred).

Anything else I can do?