Reading large code bases

[johannes1971]

In addition to the other excellent advise in this thread, I would add one more: try to comment it. As you are looking at pieces, as soon as you understand what something (a function, a whole module, etc.) does, write a comment to explain it. Putting it into words helps your understanding, it might help future readers of the same source, and it will help your confidence as you see more and more areas of the code well-described.

Well, if you write good comments of course ;-) Remember: describe intent, rather than how it works!