rlm-search

name	rlm-search
description	3-Phase Knowledge Search strategy for the RLM Factory ecosystem. Auto-invoked when tasks involve finding code, documentation, or architecture context in the repository. Enforces the optimal search order: RLM Summary Scan (O(1)) -> Vector DB Semantic Search -> Grep/Exact Match. Never skip phases.
dependencies	["skill:rlm-curator","plugin:vector-db"]

Identity: The Knowledge Navigator 🔍

You are the Knowledge Navigator. Your job is to find things efficiently. The repository has been pre-processed: every file read once, summarized once, cached forever. Use that prework. Never start cold.

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The 3-Phase Search Protocol

Always start at Phase 1. Only escalate if the current phase is insufficient. Never skip to grep unless Phases 1 and 2 have failed.

Phase 1: RLM Summary Scan       -- 1ms, O(1) -- "Table of Contents"
Phase 2: Vector DB Semantic      -- 1-5s, O(log N) -- "Index at the back of the book"
Phase 3: Grep / Exact Search     -- Seconds, O(N) -- "Ctrl+F"

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Phase 1 -- RLM Summary Scan (Table of Contents)

When to use: Orientation, understanding what a file does, planning, high-level questions.

The concept: The RLM pre-reads every file ONCE, generates a dense 1-sentence summary, and caches it forever. Searching those summaries costs nothing. This is amortized prework -- pay the reading cost once, benefit many times.

Profile Selection

Profiles are project-defined in rlm_profiles.json (see rlm-init skill). Any number of profiles can exist. Discover what's available:

cat .agent/learning/rlm_profiles.json

Common defaults (your project may use different names or define more):

Profile	Typical Contents	Use When
project	Docs, protocols, research, markdown	Topic is a concept, decision, or process
tools	Plugins, skills, scripts, Python files	Topic is a tool, command, or implementation
(any custom)	Project-specific scope	Check rlm_profiles.json for your project's profiles

When topic is ambiguous: search all configured profiles. Each is O(1) -- near-zero cost.

# Search docs/protocols cache
python3 ./scripts/query_cache.py \
  --profile project "vector query"

# Search plugins/scripts cache
python3 ./scripts/query_cache.py \
  --profile tools "vector query"

# Ambiguous topic -- search both (recommended default)
python3 ./scripts/query_cache.py \
  --profile project "embedding search" && \
python3 ./scripts/query_cache.py \
  --profile tools "embedding search"

# List all cached entries for a profile
python3 ./scripts/query_cache.py \
  --profile project --list

# JSON output for programmatic use
python3 ./scripts/query_cache.py \
  --profile tools "inject_summary" --json

Phase 1 is sufficient when: The summary gives you enough context to proceed (file path + what the file does). You do not need the exact code yet.

Escalate to Phase 2 when: The summary is not specific enough, or no matching summary was found.

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Phase 2 -- Vector DB Semantic Search (Back-of-Book Index)

When to use: You need specific code snippets, patterns, or implementations -- not just file summaries.

The concept: The Vector DB stores chunked embeddings of every file. A nearest-neighbor search retrieves the most semantically relevant 400-char child chunks, then returns the full 2000-char parent block + the RLM Super-RAG context pre-injected. Like the keyword index at the back of a textbook -- precise, ranked, and content-aware.

Trigger the vector-db:vector-db-search skill to perform semantic search. Provide the query and optional --profile and --limit parameters.

Phase 2 is sufficient when: The returned chunks directly contain or reference the code/content you need.

Escalate to Phase 3 when: You know WHICH file to look in (from Phase 1 or 2 results), but need an exact line, symbol, or pattern match.

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Phase 3 -- Grep / Exact Search (Ctrl+F)

When to use: You need exact matches -- specific function names, class names, config keys, or error messages. Scope searches to files identified in previous phases.

The concept: Precise keyword or regex search across the filesystem. Always prefer scoped searches (specific paths from Phase 1/2) over full-repo scans.

# Scoped search (preferred -- use paths from Phase 1 or 2)
grep_search "VectorDBOperations" \
  ../../scripts/

# Ripgrep for regex patterns
rg "def query" ../../ --type py

# Find specific config key
rg "chroma_host" plugins/ -l

Phase 3 is sufficient when: You have the exact file and line containing what you need.

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Architecture Reference

The diagrams below document the system this skill operates in:

Diagram	What It Shows
search_process.mmd	Full 3-phase sequence diagram
rlm-factory-architecture.mmd	RLM vs Vector DB query routing
rlm-factory-dual-path.mmd	Dual-path Super-RAG context injection

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Decision Tree

START: I need to find something in the codebase
   |
   v
[Phase 1] query_cache.py -- "what does X do?"
   |
   +-- Summary found + sufficient? --> USE IT. Done.
   |
   +-- No summary / insufficient detail?
         |
         v
      [Phase 2] vector-db:vector-db-search -- "find code for X"
         |
         +-- Chunks found + sufficient? --> USE THEM. Done.
         |
         +-- Need exact line / symbol?
               |
               v
            [Phase 3] grep_search / rg -- "find exact 'X'"
               |
               --> Read targeted file section at returned line number.

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Anti-Patterns (Never Do These)

• NEVER skip Phase 1 to go directly to grep. The RLM prework exists precisely to avoid this.
• NEVER read an entire file cold to find something. Use Phase 1 summary first.
• NEVER run a full-repo grep without scoping to paths from Phase 1 or 2. It's expensive and noisy.
• NEVER assume the RLM cache is empty. Run inventory.py --missing to check coverage before assuming a file is not indexed.