---
name: speq-code-tools
description: Semantic code navigation and editing via Serena MCP — symbol-level tools required over grep/find/manual edits. Used by speq agents during a speq plan, implement, or record run. Not for general coding.
---

# Code Tools

Semantic code navigation and editing via Serena MCP, if available. The user installs Serena globally, so the tool prefix varies (for example `mcp__serena__find_symbol`). This skill refers to the tools by short name below.

## Before First Use Each Session

1. These tools are deferred in this harness — a bare tool name has no loaded schema yet. Call `ToolSearch` with the query `serena` to find them, then load the ones you need (`select:<full tool name>`, comma-separated for several) before calling them.
2. If `ToolSearch` finds no Serena tools, carry on with the generic tools (`Read`, `Grep`, `Edit`). Do not warn and do not stop.

## Tool Preference

When Serena is available, use these instead of the generic alternative for anything this table covers. Symbol-level tools return exact definitions and references and edit whole symbols, where text search and line edits miss or break them.

| Task | Use |
|------|-----|
| List directory | `list_dir` |
| Find files | `find_file` |
| File symbols | `get_symbols_overview` |
| Symbol definition | `find_symbol` |
| Symbol declaration | `find_declaration` |
| Symbol references | `find_referencing_symbols` |
| Interface/method implementations | `find_implementations` |
| LSP diagnostics for a file | `get_diagnostics_for_file` |
| Update function | `replace_symbol_body` |
| Insert after or before a symbol | `insert_after_symbol`, `insert_before_symbol` |
| Rename symbol | `rename_symbol` |
| Delete symbol | `safe_delete_symbol` |
| In-file text/regex replace | `replace_content` |
| Multi-file pattern replace | `replace_in_files` |

Memory tools (`write_memory`, `read_memory`, `list_memories`, `delete_memory`, `edit_memory`, `rename_memory`) exist and are available, but this project's specs (`specs/`, `specs/_plans/.../notes/`) are the source of truth — they are not part of this workflow.