Code Search

Name: code-search
Rating: 92
Author: 1ambda

Explores codebases efficiently using MCP tools before falling back to file reads.

When to Use

•Finding functions, classes, or patterns
•Understanding feature implementation
•Tracing dependencies and call chains
•Architecture boundary verification
•Gathering context for documentation

MCP Workflow

code

# 1. Check past context
claude-mem.search(query="<keyword>", project="<project>")

# 2. Get file overview
serena.get_symbols_overview(relative_path="target/directory")

# 3. Find symbol (signature only first)
serena.find_symbol(name_path="ClassName", depth=1, include_body=False)

# 4. Get body only when needed
serena.find_symbol(name_path="ClassName/method", include_body=True)

# 5. Trace dependencies
serena.find_referencing_symbols(name_path="ClassName/method")

# 6. Framework patterns
context7.get-library-docs("<framework>", topic="<topic>")

Search Patterns

By Name

code

serena.find_symbol("*Service", include_kinds=[5])      # Classes
serena.find_symbol("UserService/create", include_body=True)  # Method

By Pattern (TOKEN CRITICAL - Always Scope!)

python

# WRONG - Will return 20k+ tokens:
serena.search_for_pattern("@Cacheable|@cached")

# CORRECT - Scoped and limited:
serena.search_for_pattern(
    substring_pattern="@Cacheable",
    relative_path="module-core-domain/",
    context_lines_after=1,
    max_answer_chars=3000
)

Dependencies

code

serena.find_referencing_symbols("UserService/create")  # Who calls this?

Architecture

code

serena.search_for_pattern("import.*infra", relative_path="src/domain/")

For Documentation

code

# Public APIs (classes, methods)
serena.get_symbols_overview(depth=1)                    # Module structure
serena.find_symbol("*Service", depth=1, include_body=False)  # Signatures

# Find existing docs
serena.find_file(file_mask="*.md", relative_path=".")
serena.find_file(file_mask="README*", relative_path=".")

Output Format

markdown

## Search: [Target]

| File | Symbol | Line | Type |
|------|--------|------|------|
| path/file | Class.method | 45 | function |

### Key Code
[Relevant snippet - max 20 lines]

### Dependencies
- Calls: [list]
- Called By: [list]

Symbol Kinds

Kind	Number	Description
Class	5	Class definition
Method	6	Class method
Function	12	Standalone function
Interface	11	Interface

Efficiency Rules

Do:

•Start with get_symbols_overview before reading files
•Use include_body=False first
•Limit searches with relative_path

Avoid:

•Reading entire files before symbol search
•Fetching bodies for signature checks
•Broad searches without scope restriction