Agent Skills: Search Before Edit

Search Before Edit

MANDATORY: Always search/grep before modifying ANY file. This prevents breaking existing patterns and ensures changes fit the codebase.

The Rule

Before editing ANY file, you MUST:

1. Search for existing usage patterns
2. Understand the file's context
3. Check for related code that may need updates

Required Searches

Before Creating New Code

DO:

• Search for similar existing implementations
• Check if the functionality already exists
• Look for established patterns in the codebase
• Find related files that might be affected

# Example: Before creating a new button component
grep -r "Button" src/components/
grep -r "btn-" src/styles/
grep -r "button" src/  # case variations

Before Modifying Existing Code

DO:

• Search for all usages of what you're changing
• Find imports/exports of the modified code
• Identify dependent files
• Check for tests that might need updates

# Example: Before renaming a function
grep -r "oldFunctionName" .
grep -r "from.*module-with-function" .
grep -r "oldFunctionName" **/*.test.*

Before Deleting Code

DO:

• Search for ALL references to the deleted code
• Check for dynamic imports or string references
• Verify nothing will break
• Look for documentation references

# Example: Before deleting a component
grep -r "ComponentName" .
grep -r "component-name" .  # kebab-case
grep -r "componentName" .   # camelCase

Search Strategies

Multiple Query Wording

Run multiple searches with different terms. First-pass results often miss key details.

# Don't just search once
grep -r "authentication"

# Also try variations
grep -r "auth"
grep -r "login"
grep -r "session"
grep -r "signin"
grep -r "sign-in"

Semantic First, Then Specific

Start with broad, high-level queries, then narrow down:

1. Broad: "authentication flow"
2. Medium: "verifyToken"
3. Exact: function signature or unique string

Check Related Files

When modifying a file, check its neighbors:

• Same directory siblings
• Import sources
• Test files (*.test.*, *.spec.*)
• Type definition files (*.d.ts, types.ts)
• Story files (*.stories.*)
• Documentation

Use File Type Filters

# Only TypeScript files
grep -r "pattern" --include="*.ts" --include="*.tsx"

# Exclude node_modules and build
grep -r "pattern" --exclude-dir=node_modules --exclude-dir=dist

Anti-Patterns

DON'T:

• Edit files without understanding their context
• Assume you know all usages of a function
• Skip searching because "it's a simple change"
• Rely on memory of the codebase structure
• Modify exported functions without checking importers

Common Mistakes

// MISTAKE: Renaming without searching
Rename: getUserById -> fetchUserById
Result: 12 files still call getUserById, app breaks

// CORRECT: Search first
Search: grep -r "getUserById"
Found: 12 files use this function
Action: Update all 12 files, then rename

Verification After Edit

After making changes, verify:

1. Run the search again - did you miss anything?
2. Check that all usages still work
3. Run relevant tests
4. Verify no TypeScript/linter errors

# Post-edit verification
grep -r "oldPattern"  # Should return nothing
npm run typecheck     # Should pass
npm run lint          # Should pass
npm run test          # Should pass

Minimum Search Requirements

Thresholds by Operation Type

New file creation: 2 searches minimum

• Existing similar patterns
• Similar file names

Modifying existing file: 3 searches minimum

• All usages of modified exports
• Import statements referencing file
• Related test files

Deleting code: 5 searches minimum

• All references to deleted item
• Dynamic/string references
• Test files
• Documentation
• Configuration files

Renaming: 4 searches minimum

• Exact name matches
• Case variations
• Partial matches
• Import paths

Examples

Good Pattern

User: "Add a logout button to the header"

Agent thinking:
1. Search for existing header: grep -r "Header" src/
2. Search for existing auth UI: grep -r "logout" . && grep -r "signOut"
3. Search for auth patterns: grep -r "useAuth" .
4. Search for button patterns: grep -r "Button" src/components/
5. Now I understand the patterns, implement the change

Bad Pattern

User: "Add a logout button to the header"

Agent: *immediately creates new component without searching*
Result: Duplicates existing LogoutButton, uses wrong auth pattern,
        doesn't match existing button styles

Integration with Other Skills

This skill works with:

• debugging-first: Search for error sources before fixing
• cursor-code-style: Search for existing style patterns
• lovable-pitfalls: Searching prevents "writing without reading"