| name | tracing-functions |
| description | Use when the task is call-relationship shaped: "who calls X", "what does X call", "trace this", references before a rename, shortest path, recursion, or hubs. Trigger before grepping a function name — grep misses dynamic dispatch. Do NOT use to locate a symbol (tracedecay:exploring-code). |
Tracing functions
NO GREPPING FOR CALL SITES. The graph resolves dispatch; grep resolves text.
Announce: "Using tracedecay:tracing-functions to trace ."
Workflow
| Question | Call |
|---|
| Resolve name → node ID first | tracedecay_find_exact_symbol / tracedecay_search (ladder: tracedecay:exploring-code) |
| Who calls X | tracedecay_callers (max_depth 1–2 first; widen only if unclear) |
| Many symbols at once | tracedecay_callers_for (node_ids[], one round-trip) |
| What X calls | tracedecay_callees (resolves trait dispatch; note dispatch_via_trait: true) |
| Path from A to B | tracedecay_call_chain (from_id, to_id, max_depth) |
| Every implementor / every body of a method | tracedecay_implementations |
| Every reference (rename prep) | tracedecay_rename_preview (preview only — nothing renames) |
| Cycles / hubs | tracedecay_recursion / tracedecay_hotspots / tracedecay_rank |
Rules
- Read-only and parallel-safe. Keep depth small first; widen deliberately.
- Truncated with a
handle? Narrow depth/target set; tracedecay_retrieve
only when the omitted chain is needed.
- Rename is the goal → hand the preview to
tracedecay:editing-safely.
"What breaks / which tests" → tracedecay:assessing-impact.
- For several independent symbols, scoped read-only subagents (one symbol or
direction each, cited node ids); the parent owns the final trace.
If tools are deferred or MCP fails
- Deferred: one ToolSearch call —
select:tracedecay_callers,tracedecay_callees,tracedecay_call_chain,tracedecay_find_exact_symbol,tracedecay_rename_preview.
- MCP error:
tracedecay tool callers --node-id … etc. (see
tracedecay:using-the-cli). Never fall back to grepping call sites.
Deliverable
Do not end without: the caller/callee tree or resolved path with dispatch
targets noted, and node IDs for any follow-up skill. Report any
tracedecay_metrics: line.
