Codebase Search Skill

When to Use What

Scenario Tool Why

Just need file locations codebase_peek

Metadata only, saves ~90% tokens

Need to see actual code codebase_search

Returns full code content

Find duplicates/patterns find_similar

Given code snippet → similar code

Understand code flow call_graph

Find callers/callees of any function

Don't know function/class names codebase_peek or codebase_search

Natural language → code

Know exact identifier names grep

Faster, more precise

Need ALL occurrences grep

Semantic returns top N only

Recommended Workflow

• Locate with peek: codebase_peek("authentication flow") → get file locations

• Read what matters: Read the specific files you need

• Drill down with grep: grep "validateToken" for exact matches

Tools

codebase_peek

Find WHERE code is. Returns metadata only (file, line, name, type).

codebase_peek(query="validation logic", chunkType="function", directory="src/utils")

codebase_search

Find code with full content. Use when you need to see implementation.

codebase_search(query="error handling middleware", fileType="ts", contextLines=2)

find_similar

Find code similar to a given snippet. Use for duplicate detection, pattern discovery, refactoring.

find_similar(code="function validate(input) { return input.length > 0; }", excludeFile="src/current.ts")

call_graph

Query callers or callees of a function/method. Built automatically during indexing for TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, Go, and Rust.

call_graph(name="validateToken", direction="callers") call_graph(name="validateToken", direction="callees", symbolId="src/auth.ts::validateToken")

• direction="callers" : Who calls this function?

• direction="callees" : What does this function call? (requires symbolId from a prior callers query)

index_codebase

Manually trigger indexing. Required before first search. Incremental (~50ms when unchanged).

index_status

Check if indexed and ready.

Query Tips

Describe behavior, not syntax:

• Good: "function that hashes passwords securely"

• Bad: "hashPassword" (use grep for exact names)

Filters

Filter Example

chunkType

function , class , interface , type , method

directory

"src/api" , "tests"

fileType

"ts" , "py" , "rs"