grepai

name	grepai
description	Semantic code search, and call graph analysis with GrepAI. Use when (1) searching code by meaning/intent rather than exact text, (2) finding function callers or callees, or (3) integrating GrepAI with AI agents via JSON/TOON output.

GrepAI

Semantic code search and call graph tracing. Unlike grep/ripgrep (exact text match), GrepAI searches by meaning -- "authenticate user" finds login, auth, signin code.

Setup

grepai init --provider ollama --backend gob --yes   # initialize project (interactive: picks provider + backend)
grepai watch --background                           # start background daemon to build/maintain index
grepai status                                       # check index health

Usage

Use accompanying MCP server tools, not bash. If MCP tools are not available, tell the user to enable them. If you encounter initialization errors, you are free to init and start.

Writing Effective Queries

Describe intent, not implementation. Use 3-7 descriptive English words.

Bad	Good
getUserById	fetch user record from database using ID
auth	user authentication and authorization
handleError	error handling and response to client

Natural questions also work: "how are users authenticated", "where is the database configured".

If you know the exact function name, use regular grep instead.

Configuration

See references/configuration.md for search boosting and trace configuration options.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
No results	Check index: grepai status. Re-index: rm .grepai/index.gob && grepai watch
Irrelevant results	Be more specific, use different words, try synonyms
Function not found (trace)	Check spelling (case-sensitive), verify enabled_languages
Missing callers/callees	Try precise mode, check ignore patterns
Graph too large/timeout	Reduce --depth, trace specific function instead of main