What do you usually do first when starting a project where the previous developer was responsible for the backend?

First, I study the existing code and backend architecture to understand how the application's logic is structured, what technologies and patterns are used. It's important to review the documentation, if available, and set up a local environment to run the project. Then, I perform a dependency and configuration audit to ensure the project builds and runs correctly. It's also helpful to write some tests or review existing ones to understand coverage and code quality. If possible, I communicate with the previous developer or team to clarify details and implementation specifics.