Agent-Skills.md

Agent Skills: Code Search Tool Selection

Use when searching code, refactoring, running codemods, or choosing between search tools. Provides guidance on ast-grep vs ripgrep selection and usage patterns.

UncategorizedID: edmundmiller/dotfiles/code-search

Repository

edmundmiller/dotfiles
edmundmillerLicense: MIT
746

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pnpm dlx add-skill https://github.com/edmundmiller/dotfiles/tree/HEAD/skills/catalog/code-search

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skills/catalog/code-search/SKILL.md

Skill Metadata

Name
code-search
Description
Use when searching code by unknown means or choosing between text and structural search tools. Owns ast-grep vs ripgrep selection and text-search guidance.

Code Search Tool Selection

Use this skill to choose the search or refactoring tool. After selecting ast-grep, load ast-grep; that skill owns pattern syntax, rewrites, repository rule setup, tests, severity, and CI.

ast-grep vs ripgrep

When to Use ast-grep

Use ast-grep when structure matters. It parses code and matches AST nodes, so results ignore comments/strings, understand syntax, and scope rewrites to matched code.

Best for:

  • Refactors/codemods: rename APIs, change import forms, rewrite call sites or variable kinds
  • Policy checks: enforce patterns across a repo (scan with rules + test)
  • Editor diagnostics and automation: LSP mode; structured JSON output
  • Syntax-structured code changes after previewing the matches

When to Use ripgrep

Use ripgrep when text is enough. It's the fastest way to grep literals/regex across files.

Best for:

  • Recon: find strings, TODOs, log lines, config values, or non‑code assets
  • Pre-filter: narrow candidate files before a precise pass
  • Quick searches where you just need to find text

Rule of Thumb

  • Need a syntax-structured code change → start with ast-grep
  • Need raw speed or you're just hunting text → start with rg
  • Often combine: rg to shortlist files, then ast-grep to match/modify with precision

ripgrep examples

Quick textual hunt:

rg -n 'console\.log\(' -t js

Find in specific file types:

rg 'TODO|FIXME' -t py -t js

Context around matches:

rg -C 3 'error' -t log

List files with matches:

rg -l 'import.*React' -t tsx

Mental Model

| Aspect | ast-grep | ripgrep | | ------------------- | -------------------------- | ----------------------- | | Unit of match | AST node | Line | | False positives | Low (understands syntax) | Depends on regex | | Rewrites | Syntax-scoped | Text replacement, risky | | Speed | Slower (parses code) | Fastest (text only) | | Use case | Structural search/refactor | Text search/grep |

Quick Decision Tree

Need to change syntax-structured code?
├─ Yes → ast-grep
└─ No
   ├─ Searching code structure? → ast-grep
   └─ Just finding text? → ripgrep

Selection examples

  • Find function definitions by syntax → use ast-grep, then load ast-grep.
  • Refactor API calls → use ast-grep; do not use text replacement.
  • Find TODOs, log messages, or configuration values → use ripgrep.