Menu
Compare MCP code-intelligence layers — CLI wrappers, ast-grep, symbol/graph tools, Zoekt, embeddings. Use when choosing search/dispatch vs heavyweight indexes. Backend domain MCP is image-scoring-mcp (is-be-mcp).
Install with Codex or Claude Copy this prompt, paste it into Codex, Claude, or another assistant, and let it review the skill page and install it for you.
| name | mcp-code-intelligence |
| description | Compare MCP code-intelligence layers — CLI wrappers, ast-grep, symbol/graph tools, Zoekt, embeddings. Use when choosing search/dispatch vs heavyweight indexes. Backend domain MCP is image-scoring-mcp (is-be-mcp). |
Compare approaches for giving coding agents repository awareness.
Choose the lightest effective layer: CLI tools first, compact domain MCP second, graph/embedding indexes last.
rg/fdimage-scoring-mcpDepends on tier — baseline CLI from agent-cli-hub.
rg + fd + read_file + git diff + patch_file
Lowest memory, transparent, deterministic. Best default for most tasks.
fff-be MCP (grep, find_files, multi_grep) + rg + fd + ast-grep + is-be-mcp search/dispatch + WSL pytest/doctor
Adds indexed file search for long agent sessions and compact pipeline triage via is-be-mcp. Keep rg/fd for one-off shell probes.
Graphify (graphify query/path/explain or optional graphify-be MCP) + optional Serena / Zoekt / embeddings
Higher setup cost. Prefer Graphify for local AST knowledge graphs (no vector store) before heavier symbol/embedding indexes. Use when cross-module “why / how connected” questions outgrow rg/fff.
Warning: Embedding-first indexing is often heavier and less exact than text/structural search — keep it secondary. Do not use Graphify for pipeline/DB triage — that stays on is-be-mcp.
| Layer | Examples | Strengths | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indexed file search | fff MCP (grep, find_files, multi_grep) — project fff-be | Warm index, frecency, git-aware | Project MCP install |
| CLI wrappers | rg, fd, bat, git diff | Fast, bounded, no index | Agent orchestrates |
| Domain compact MCP | is-be-mcp search/dispatch | Pipeline, DB, diagnostics registry | Build mcp-server/ |
| Structural | ast-grep, semgrep | Syntax shapes | Medium |
| Knowledge graph | Graphify (graphifyy CLI; optional graphify-be MCP) | AST edges, path/query/explain; local, no vectors | uv tool install; build graphify-out/ |
| Graph / embeddings | Serena, Zoekt, claude-context | Symbols, fuzzy discovery | Heavy |
For Vexlum Scoring pipeline, DB, and diagnostics — use compact search + dispatch on is-be-mcp (stdio) and optional is-be-live (SSE when WebUI runs).
See image-scoring-mcp and AGENTS.md.
Gallery triage: sibling workspace is-ui-mcp.
dispatch requires confirmed=True per MCP contract.limit parameters.See commands-requiring-confirmation.md.
cd mcp-server && npm install && npm run buildis-be-mcp local actions or start WebUI for SSE.test -f mcp-server/dist/compactIndex.js && echo ok
rg --version && fd --version
Tools not verified in this pass: Graphify MCP (graphifyy[mcp]), Serena, codebase-memory-mcp, Zoekt server, claude-context — treat as optional third-party. See AGENTS.md § Graphify.
Bump semver + promote CHANGELOG Unreleased via compiled harness. Use for /release, version bumps, or tagging. Runs scripts/agent_skills/release_bump.py; LLM only when Unreleased is ambiguous. Never commit/push unless the user asks.
Vexlum Scoring MCP — compact search+dispatch on is-be-mcp / is-be-live and gallery is-ui-mcp / is-ui-live.
Choose CLI tools and safe patterns before repo work. Install checklist, bounded search/read commands, and confirmation gates. Use when navigating the codebase, running shell commands, or setting up agent tooling on Windows, WSL2, or macOS.
Inspect JSON, YAML, and API responses with jq, yq, dasel, curl, and httpie. Use for package.json, config.json, and backend health checks. Never output secrets or full credential-bearing config.
Backend build, test, lint, and verify workflows via WSL pytest, ruff, doctor, and docker compose. Use before claiming work complete or opening a PR. Do not invent ad hoc Python commands outside documented venvs.
Choose and run the right search tool: rg vs grep vs ast-grep vs fd vs fzf. Bounded repo navigation with ripgrep, fd, tree, bat, and structural search. Use when finding symbols, files, syntax patterns, or deciding which CLI search to use before reading or editing code.