Serena MCP Code Exploration Workflow
Core Principle
Follow the order: Structure Overview → Symbol Search → Analysis → Modification
Tool Priority
get_symbols_overview- First understand file structurefind_symbol- Find specific classes, functions, variablesfind_referencing_symbols- Check where symbols are usedsearch_for_pattern- Regex-based code searchread_file- Use only when above tools are insufficient
Work Process
1. Check file structure with get_symbols_overview
↓
2. Search for needed symbols with find_symbol
↓
3. Analyze and understand code
↓
4. Perform modification/creation
Checklist
Before Starting Exploration:
- [ ] Identify target files/directories
- [ ] Run get_symbols_overview first
During Exploration:
- [ ] Navigate by symbols (functions, classes, variables)
- [ ] Use find_referencing_symbols when checking references
After Exploration:
- [ ] Confirm sufficient context has been gathered
- [ ] Document analysis results in docs directory (if needed)
What to Avoid
- Using
read_filedirectly without understanding structure - Skipping Serena MCP tools and reading files directly
- Reading entire files indiscriminately