git:20260422.b42794c to git:20260423.0c48c28

---

name: lsp-edit-symbol

description: "Edit a named symbol without knowing its file or position. Use when you want to change a function, type, or variable by name and don't have exact coordinates. Resolves the symbol to its definition, retrieves its full range, and applies the edit."

argument-hint: "[symbol-name] [new-body-or-signature]"

allowed-tools:

- mcp__lsp__get_workspace_symbols

- mcp__lsp__get_document_symbols

- mcp__lsp__apply_edit

license: MIT

compatibility: Requires the agent-lsp MCP server (github.com/blackwell-systems/agent-lsp)

---

# lsp-edit-symbol

Edit a named symbol (function, type, variable) without needing its exact file path

or line/column. Composes `go_to_symbol` → `get_document_symbols` → `apply_edit`.

## Workflow

### Step 1 — Locate the symbol

```json

{ "tool": "get_workspace_symbols", "query": "MyFunc" }

```

Returns a list of matching symbols with file URI and position. Pick the definition

(not a test file, not a stub). If multiple matches, use the container name or file

path to disambiguate.

### Step 2 — Get the full range

```json

{

"tool": "get_document_symbols",

"file_path": "/path/to/file.go",

"language_id": "go"

}

```

Find `MyFunc` in the returned tree. The `range` field covers the entire symbol

including its body; `selectionRange` covers only the name. Use `range` when

replacing the full definition, `selectionRange` when renaming only.

### Step 3 — Apply the edit

**Option A — text-match (recommended when you have the old text):**

```json

{

"tool": "apply_edit",

"file_path": "/path/to/file.go",

"old_text": "func MyFunc() {",

"new_text": "func MyFunc() error {"

}

```

No position needed. Tolerates indentation differences.

**Option B — positional (when you have the exact range from Step 2):**

```json

{

"tool": "apply_edit",

"workspace_edit": {

"changes": {

"file:///path/to/file.go": [{

"range": { "start": {"line": 12, "character": 0}, "end": {"line": 18, "character": 1} },

"newText": "func MyFunc() error {\n\treturn nil\n}"

}]

}

}

}

```

## Decision guide

| Situation | Approach |

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

| Changing signature only | Step 1 → Step 3A with one-line old_text |

| Replacing full body | Step 1 → Step 2 → Step 3B with full range |

| Symbol name ambiguous | Use `get_workspace_symbols` query + container name filter |

| After edit | Run `get_diagnostics` to verify no errors introduced |

## Notes

- `get_workspace_symbols` returns declaration sites, not all references. The

first non-test result is usually the definition.

- Positions in `get_document_symbols` are **1-based** (shifted from LSP convention).

`apply_edit` `workspace_edit` expects **0-based** — subtract 1 when using positional

mode (Option B). Text-match mode (Option A) requires no position math.

- For renames (not edits), use `/lsp-rename` instead — it updates all call sites.