Document legacy code before you clean it up, hand it off, or ask AI to change it.
Legacy projects are hard to change because nobody remembers the architecture. LegacyDoc AI generates JSDoc, Markdown docs, Mermaid diagrams, module summaries, and AI-ready context from your local VS Code workspace.
Runs inside VS Code · BYOK · No code storage by RomantiCode
If you searched
document legacy code
You probably have a working project that lacks comments, docs, and architecture context.
If you need
a codebase documentation generator
Turn an inherited project into docs, diagrams, and AI-ready context before any cleanup or handoff.
If you need
legacy code documentation
Generate readable docs before onboarding a developer or starting a cleanup sprint.
If you use AI
AI documentation for legacy code
Give Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex a project context pack before asking for changes.
What to generate before touching legacy code
A useful legacy documentation pass should create facts first, not a rewrite plan.
JSDoc and inline comments
Explain functions, parameters, return values, and non-obvious behavior without changing logic.
Markdown module docs
Create folder and file summaries that a new developer can read before opening the code.
Mermaid architecture map
Show how routes, modules, services, and data flows connect across the project.
Setup and environment notes
Capture commands, environment variables, entry points, and configuration assumptions.
Areas to inspect
Flag large files, duplicated logic, missing docs, brittle config, and unclear boundaries.
AI-ready context pack
Package the important facts so AI coding tools can work with project context.
A safer legacy code documentation workflow
The goal is to make the codebase understandable before cleanup, not to let AI rewrite it blind.
-
01
Open locally
Open the project in VS Code and choose the file or folder to document.
-
02
Generate docs
Create JSDoc, Markdown summaries, and Mermaid architecture diagrams.
-
03
Review output
Check the generated notes against the real code before sharing them.
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04
Build context
Turn the docs into a project context pack for humans or AI tools.
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05
Plan cleanup
Only then create small refactor tasks or hand off to a developer.
Documentation before refactoring
For inherited or old projects, documentation is the first cleanup layer.
| Task | Best first output | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Onboard a developer | Module summaries and setup notes | Reduces the first week of guessing. |
| Use AI to explain code | AI-ready context pack | Lets the AI reason from project facts instead of isolated snippets. |
| Plan cleanup | Architecture map and areas to inspect | Shows where cleanup can start safely. |
| Refactor later | Small reviewable task list | Avoids one large rewrite with unclear risk. |
What LegacyDoc AI does
- — Generates documentation from local code in VS Code.
- — Creates architecture maps and project context packs.
- — Helps humans and AI tools understand inherited codebases.
- — Keeps RomantiCode out of your code storage path.
What it does not do
- — It does not automatically refactor or modernize code.
- — It does not replace senior engineering judgment.
- — It does not perform formal security audits.
- — It does not store your code on RomantiCode servers.
Related resources
Product
LegacyDoc AI
The VS Code extension that generates docs, diagrams, and context packs.
Tool
AI Code Audit Report
Use documentation as the base layer for audit-ready project context.
Use case
AI Codebase Context
Create a compact project brief before asking Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex to change code.
Use case
Vibe Code Cleanup
Prepare AI-generated apps for cleanup with context and priorities.
FAQ
How do I document legacy code with AI?
Start by generating module summaries, JSDoc, Markdown documentation, and an architecture map from the existing codebase. Then review the output before using it for onboarding, cleanup, or refactoring.
Is this a codebase documentation generator?
Yes. LegacyDoc AI turns a local codebase into docs, architecture maps, and AI-ready context inside VS Code before you clean it up or hand it off.
Can LegacyDoc AI generate documentation for an existing codebase?
Yes. LegacyDoc AI runs inside VS Code and can generate JSDoc, Markdown docs, Mermaid architecture diagrams, and AI-ready context packs from local files and folders.
Does it rewrite or modernize legacy code?
No. LegacyDoc AI generates documentation and context. It does not automatically refactor, rewrite, or modernize your code logic.
Is this only for old legacy systems?
No. It also works for inherited projects, undocumented internal tools, AI-generated apps, and vibe-coded prototypes that need documentation before cleanup.
Can I use the generated documentation with Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex?
Yes. The generated context pack is designed to help AI coding tools understand the project before you ask them to review, refactor, or explain code.
Does RomantiCode store my code?
No. LegacyDoc AI runs inside VS Code. Your code is sent directly to the AI provider you configure with your own API key, not to RomantiCode servers.
Generate documentation before the next cleanup pass
Install LegacyDoc AI in VS Code and create docs, diagrams, and context from your local codebase.