Search Hierarchy

---
name: search-hierarchy
description: "Search Tool Hierarchy"
category: general-purpose
source_repo: parcadei/Continuous-Claude-v3
source_path: ".claude/skills/search-hierarchy/SKILL.md"
source_url: https://github.com/parcadei/Continuous-Claude-v3/blob/HEAD/.claude/skills/search-hierarchy/SKILL.md
---


# Search Tool Hierarchy

Use the most token-efficient search tool for each query type.

## Decision Tree

```
Query Type?
├── STRUCTURAL (code patterns)
│   → AST-grep (~50 tokens output)
│   Examples: "def foo", "class Bar", "import X", "@decorator"
│
├── SEMANTIC (conceptual questions)
│   → LEANN (~100 tokens if path-only)
│   Examples: "how does auth work", "find error handling patterns"
│
├── LITERAL (exact identifiers)
│   → Grep (variable output)
│   Examples: "TemporalMemory", "check_evocation", regex patterns
│
└── FULL CONTEXT (need complete understanding)
    → Read (1500+ tokens)
    Last resort after finding the right file
```

## Token Efficiency Comparison

| Tool | Output Size | Best For |
|------|-------------|----------|
| AST-grep | ~50 tokens | Function/class definitions, imports, decorators |
| LEANN | ~100 tokens | Conceptual questions, architecture, patterns |
| Grep | ~200-2000 | Exact identifiers, regex, file paths |
| Read | ~1500+ | Full understanding after finding the file |

## Hook Enforcement

The `grep-to-leann.sh` hook automatically:
1. Detects query type (structural/semantic/literal)
2. Blocks and suggests AST-grep for structural queries
3. Blocks and suggests LEANN for semantic queries
4. Allows literal patterns through to Grep

## DO

- Start with AST-grep for code structure questions
- Use LEANN for "how does X work" questions
- Use Grep only for exact identifier matches
- Read files only after finding them via search

## DON'T

- Use Grep for conceptual questions (returns nothing)
- Read files before knowing which ones are relevant
- Use Read when AST-grep would give file:line
- Ignore hook suggestions

## Examples

```bash
# STRUCTURAL → AST-grep
ast-grep --pattern "async def $FUNC($$$):" --lang python

# SEMANTIC → LEANN
leann search opc-dev "how does authentication work" --top-k 3

# LITERAL → Grep
Grep pattern="check_evocation" path=opc/scripts

# FULL CONTEXT → Read (after finding file)
Read file_path=opc/scripts/z3_erotetic.py
```

## Optimal Flow

```
1. AST-grep: "Find async functions" → 3 file:line matches
2. Read: Top match only → Full understanding
3. Skip: 4 irrelevant files → 6000 tokens saved
```

---

**Source:** [`parcadei/Continuous-Claude-v3`](https://github.com/parcadei/Continuous-Claude-v3) → `.claude/skills/search-hierarchy/SKILL.md`

**Also appears in:** `parcadei/Continuous-Claude-v3/.claude/skills/archive/search-hierarchy/SKILL.md`