# Structural Code Search

Finds functions and structure with tree-sitter instead of reading whole files.

- Repository: https://github.com/thedotmack/claude-mem (109099 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: Apache-2.0
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add thedotmack/claude-mem --skill smart-explore -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add thedotmack/claude-mem --skill smart-explore -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add thedotmack/claude-mem --skill smart-explore -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add thedotmack/claude-mem --skill smart-explore -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add thedotmack/claude-mem`

## Description

Token-optimized structural code search using tree-sitter AST parsing. Use instead of reading full files when you need to understand code structure, find functions, or explore a codebase efficiently.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Smart Explore

Structural code exploration using AST parsing. **This skill overrides your default exploration behavior.** While this skill is active, use smart_search/smart_outline/smart_unfold as your primary tools instead of Read, Grep, and Glob.

**Core principle:** Index first, fetch on demand. Give yourself a map of the code before loading implementation details. The question before every file read should be: "do I need to see all of this, or can I get a structural overview first?" The answer is almost always: get the map.

## Your Next Tool Call

This skill only loads instructions. You must call the MCP tools yourself. Your next action should be one of:

```
smart_search(query="<topic>", path="./src")    -- discover files + symbols across a directory
smart_outline(file_path="<file>")              -- structural skeleton of one file
smart_unfold(file_path="<file>", symbol_name="<name>")  -- full source of one symbol
```

Do NOT run Grep, Glob, Read, or find to discover files first. `smart_search` walks directories, parses all code files, and returns ranked symbols in one call. It replaces the Glob → Grep → Read discovery cycle.

## 3-Layer Workflow

### Step 1: Search -- Discover Files and Symbols

```
smart_search(query="shutdown", path="./src", max_results=15)
```

**Returns:** Ranked symbols with signatures, line numbers, match reasons, plus folded file views (~2-6k tokens)

```
-- Matching Symbols --
  function performGracefulShutdown (services/infrastructure/GracefulShutdown.ts:56)
  function httpShutdown (services/infrastructure/HealthMonitor.ts:92)
  method WorkerService.shutdown (services/worker-service.ts:846)

-- Folded File Views --
  services/infrastructure/GracefulShutdown.ts (7 symbols)
  services/worker-service.ts (12 symbols)
```

This is your discovery tool. It finds relevant files AND shows their structure. No Glob/find pre-scan needed.

**Parameters:**

The rest: https://github.com/thedotmack/claude-mem/blob/HEAD/plugin/skills/smart-explore/SKILL.md