git:20260610.9a8b59f to git:20260610.97b4517

---

name: sgrep

description: Semantic and hybrid code and conversation search for intent-based queries. Use when exploring unfamiliar codebases, finding code by concept instead of exact text, or recalling past agent conversations about similar problems.

license: Apache-2.0

compatibility: Requires the sgrep binary; semantic and conversation indexing use a local llama.cpp-compatible embedding server.

metadata:

homepage: https://github.com/XiaoConstantine/sgrep

---

# sgrep - Smart Code & Conversation Search

Use `sgrep` for semantic and hybrid search across **code** and **agent conversations**. It understands intent, not just exact strings.

## When to Use

### Code Search

- Finding code by **concept**: "error handling", "authentication logic", "rate limiting"

- Searching for **specific terms** with semantic context: use `--hybrid`

- Best code-search accuracy after indexing: use `--hybrid --colbert`

- Exploring unfamiliar codebases

- When ripgrep patterns keep missing relevant code

### Conversation Search

- Finding past discussions with **Claude Code**, **Codex CLI**, or **Cursor**

- Recalling how you solved a similar problem before

- Building context from previous sessions for new tasks

- Searching across all your coding agent interactions

## Commands

```bash

# First time only

sgrep setup

# Index current directory; builds compact TQ-MSE chunk/file vectors by default

sgrep index .

# Legacy compatibility: also persist full SQL vectors

sgrep index . --sql-vectors

# Semantic code search

sgrep "database connection pooling"

sgrep "how are errors handled"

# Hybrid search for specific terms + context

sgrep --hybrid "JWT validation"

sgrep --hybrid "authentication middleware"

# Best code-search accuracy

sgrep --hybrid --colbert "JWT validation"

sgrep --hybrid --colbert "authentication middleware"

# With code context

sgrep -c "authentication middleware"

# JSON output

sgrep --json "rate limiting"

```

## Conversation Search

```bash

# Index conversations

sgrep conv index

# Search conversations

sgrep conv "authentication flow"

sgrep conv "JWT refresh_token" --hybrid

sgrep conv "database migration" --agent claude --since 7d

# View or export a session

sgrep conv view <session_id>

sgrep conv context <session_id>

```

## Semantic vs Hybrid

| Mode | Best For | Example |

|------|----------|---------|

| Semantic (default) | Conceptual queries | "how does auth work" |

| `--hybrid` | Queries with specific terms | "JWT token validation" |

| `--hybrid --colbert` | Highest code-search accuracy | "authentication middleware" |

**Use `--hybrid`** when your query contains function names, API names, or technical terms that should match exactly.

Use `--hybrid --colbert` when accuracy matters more than the fastest possible query.

## Search Hierarchy

1. **sgrep** → Find relevant files/functions by semantic intent

2. **sgrep --hybrid** → Find code matching intent + specific terms

3. **sgrep --hybrid --colbert** → Rerank candidates with late interaction for best code accuracy

4. **ast-grep** → Match structural patterns in those files

5. **ripgrep** → Exact text for specific symbols