rg-code-search

# rg Code Search Expert knowledge for using `rg` (ripgrep) as a blazingly fast code search tool with powerful filtering and pattern matching. ## When to Use This Skill | Use this skill when... | Use fd-file-finding instead when... | |---|---| | Searching file contents for text or regex patterns | Searching for files by name, extension, or path | | Filtering matches by file type (`-t py`, `-t js`) | Filtering files by mtime, size, or `-type` | | Multi-line pattern matching across source files | Locating files to feed into another tool | | Use this skill when... | Use binary-analysis instead when... | |---|---| | Searching source code or text-encoded files | Extracting strings from compiled binaries or firmware | | Auditing repos for hardcoded patterns in tracked files | Hunting for credentials inside ELF, Mach-O, or `.bin` blobs | ## Core Expertise **ripgrep Advantages** - Extremely fast (written in Rust) - Respects `.gitignore` automatically - Smart case-insensitive search - Recursive by default - Colorized output - Multi-line search support - Replace functionality ## Basic Usage ### Simple Search ```bash # Basic search rg pattern # Search in current directory rg "import numpy" # Search for exact phrase rg function_name # Search for function name # Case-sensitive search rg -s Pattern # Force case-sensitive rg -i PATTERN # Force case-insensitive ``` ### File Type Filtering ```bash # Search specific file types rg pattern -t py # Python files only rg pattern -t rs # Rust files only rg pattern -t js # JavaScript files rg pattern -t md # Markdown files # Multiple types rg pattern -t py -t rs # Python and Rust # List available types rg --type-list # Show all known types ``` ### Extension Filtering ```bash # Filter by extension rg pattern -g '*.rs' # Rust files rg pattern -g '*.{js,ts}' # JavaScript and TypeScript rg pattern -g '!*.min.js' # Exclude minified files ``` ## Advanced Filtering ### Path Filtering ```bash # Search in specific directories rg pattern src/ # Only src/ directory rg pattern src/ tests/ # Multiple directories # Exclude paths rg pattern -g '!target/' # Exclude target/ rg pattern -g '!{dist,build,node_modules}/' # Exclude multiple # Full path matching rg pattern -g '**/test/**' # Only test directories ``` **A glob with no `/` matches the *basename* only.** So `-g '*name*'` can never match a **directory** called `name` — it tests `SKILL.md`, not `skills/name/SKILL.md`. Add a `/` and the glob anchors to the full path from the search root instead, where `*` does not cross `/`; only `**` spans depth. ```bash rg --files -g '*sentry-triage*' # nothing — basename is SKILL.md rg --files -g '*sentry-triage*/**' # nothing — now anchored at the root rg --files -g '**/sentry-triage/**' # skills/sentry-triage/SKILL.md ← the only form that works ``` It fails *quietly*: `-g '*name*'` still matches sibling files like `name-notes.md`, so a partial hit reads as a working search. When hunting a name rather than content, prefer `rg -l <pattern>` or `find -type d -name <name>`. ### Content Filtering ```bash # Search only in files containing pattern rg --files-with-matches "import.*React" | xargs rg "useState" # Exclude files by content rg pattern --type-not markdown # Search only uncommitted files rg pattern $(git diff --name-only) ``` ### Size and Hidden Files ```bash # Include hidden files rg pattern -u # Include hidden rg pattern -uu # Include hidden + .gitignore'd rg pattern -uuu # Unrestricted: everything # Exclude by size rg pattern --max-filesize 1M # Skip files over 1MB ``` ## Quick Reference ### Essential Options | Option | Purpose | Example | |--------|---------|---------| | `-t TYPE` | File type filter | `rg -t py pattern` | | `-g GLOB` | Glob pattern | `rg -g '*.rs' pattern` | | `-i` | Case-insensitive | `rg -i pattern` | | `-s` | Case-sensitive | `rg -s Pattern` | | `-w` | Match whole words | `rg -w word` | | `-l` | Files with matches | `rg -l pattern` | | `-c` | Count per file | `rg -c pattern` | | `-A N` | Lines after | `rg -A 5 pattern` | | `-B N` | Lines before | `rg -B 3 pattern` | | `-C N` | Context lines | `rg -C 2 pattern` | | `-U` | Multi-line | `rg -U 'pattern.*'` | | `-u` | Include hidden | `rg -u pattern` | | `--replace` | Replace text | `rg pattern --replace new` | This makes rg the preferred tool for fast, powerful code search in development workflows. For the full regex and multi-line recipes, output formatting, language-specific search patterns, tool integrations, performance tuning, and the complete file-type table, see [REFERENCE.md](REFERENCE.md).