localnest_search_code

Search text across project files to find exact matches or patterns, returning lines with optional surrounding context for code analysis.

Instructions

Search text across files under a project/root and return matching lines. Best for exact symbol names, imports, or known identifiers. Use use_regex=true for patterns (e.g. "async\s+function\s+get\w+"). Use context_lines to include surrounding lines with each match.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Default
`query`	Yes
`project_path`	No
`all_roots`	No
`glob`	No	*
`max_results`	No
`case_sensitive`	No
`context_lines`	No
`use_regex`	No
`response_format`	No	json

Implementation Reference

src/mcp/tools/retrieval.js:263-319 (registration)

The tool 'localnest_search_code' is registered in 'src/mcp/tools/retrieval.js'. It wraps the 'search.searchCode' method, passing the input parameters to it, and provides a fallback response if no results are found.

registerJsonTool(
  'localnest_search_code',
  {
    title: 'Search Code',
    description: 'Search text across files under a project/root and return matching lines. Best for exact symbol names, imports, or known identifiers. Use use_regex=true for patterns (e.g. "async\\s+function\\s+get\\w+"). Use context_lines to include surrounding lines with each match.',
    inputSchema: {
      query: z.string().min(1),
      project_path: z.string().optional(),
      all_roots: z.boolean().default(false),
      glob: z.string().default('*'),
      max_results: z.number().int().min(1).max(1000).default(defaultMaxResults),
      case_sensitive: z.boolean().default(false),
      context_lines: z.number().int().min(0).max(10).default(0),
      use_regex: z.boolean().default(false)
    },
    annotations: {
      readOnlyHint: true,
      destructiveHint: false,
      idempotentHint: true,
      openWorldHint: false
    }
  },
  async ({ query, project_path, all_roots, glob, max_results, case_sensitive, context_lines, use_regex }) => {
    const results = search.searchCode({
      query,
      projectPath: project_path,
      allRoots: all_roots,
      glob,
      maxResults: max_results,
      caseSensitive: case_sensitive,
      contextLines: context_lines,
      useRegex: use_regex
    });
    if (results.length > 0) return results;

    return withSearchMissResponse(
      results,
      buildSearchMeta({
        tool: 'localnest_search_code',
        query,
        project_path,
        all_roots,
        glob,
        max_results,
        case_sensitive,
        context_lines,
        use_regex
      }),
      'No code matches found in the current scope.',
      [
        'Verify the scope and try a broader query or synonyms.',
        'If you need pattern matching, retry with use_regex=true.'
      ],
      'Retry localnest_search_code with a broader query or use_regex=true, or switch to localnest_search_hybrid for concept lookup.'
    );
  }
);

LocalNest MCP