grepai-search-advanced▌
yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills · updated Apr 8, 2026
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Structured code search with JSON, TOON, and compact output formats optimized for AI agents.
- ›Supports three output formats: standard JSON, compact JSON (80% fewer tokens), and TOON notation (50% more compact than JSON)
- ›Includes --limit , --json , --toon , and --compact command-line options for controlling result volume and token usage
- ›Integrates with MCP servers and AI agents (Claude, GPT) through format selection parameters
- ›Works with scripting tools (jq, Python, Node.js) and supp
GrepAI Advanced Search Options
This skill covers advanced search options including JSON output, compact mode, and integration with AI agents.
When to Use This Skill
- Integrating GrepAI with scripts or tools
- Using GrepAI with AI agents (Claude, GPT)
- Processing search results programmatically
- Reducing token usage in AI contexts
Command-Line Options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
--limit N |
Number of results (default: 10) |
--json / -j |
JSON output format |
--toon / -t |
TOON output format (~50% fewer tokens than JSON) |
--compact / -c |
Compact output (no content, works with --json or --toon) |
Note:
--jsonand--toonare mutually exclusive.
JSON Output
Standard JSON
grepai search "authentication" --json
Output:
{
"query": "authentication",
"results": [
{
"score": 0.89,
"file": "src/auth/middleware.go",
"start_line": 15,
"end_line": 45,
"content": "func AuthMiddleware() gin.HandlerFunc {\n return func(c *gin.Context) {\n token := c.GetHeader(\"Authorization\")\n if token == \"\" {\n c.AbortWithStatus(401)\n return\n }\n claims, err := ValidateToken(token)\n ...\n }\n}"
},
{
"score": 0.82,
"file": "src/auth/jwt.go",
"start_line": 23,
"end_line": 55,
"content": "func ValidateToken(tokenString string) (*Claims, error) {\n ..."
}
],
"total": 2
}
Compact JSON (AI Optimized)
grepai search "authentication" --json --compact
Output:
{
"q": "authentication",
"r": [
{
"s": 0.89,
"f": "src/auth/middleware.go",
"l": "15-45"
},
{
"s": 0.82,
"f": "src/auth/jwt.go",
"l": "23-55"
}
],
"t": 2
}
Key differences:
- Abbreviated keys (
svsscore,fvsfile) - No content (just file locations)
- ~80% fewer tokens for AI agents
TOON Output (v0.26.0+)
TOON (Token-Oriented Object Notation) is an even more compact format, optimized for AI agents.
Standard TOON
grepai search "authentication" --toon
Output:
[2]{content,end_line,file_path,score,start_line}:
"func AuthMiddleware()...",45,src/auth/middleware.go,0.89,15
"func ValidateToken()...",55,src/auth/jwt.go,0.82,23
Compact TOON (Best for AI)
grepai search "authentication" --toon --compact
Output:
[2]{end_line,file_path,score,start_line}:
45,src/auth/middleware.go,0.89,15
55,src/auth/jwt.go,0.82,23
TOON vs JSON Comparison
| Format | Tokens (5 results) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| JSON | ~1,500 | Scripts, parsing |
| JSON compact | ~300 | AI agents |
| TOON | ~250 | AI agents |
| TOON compact | ~150 | Token-constrained AI |
When to Use TOON
- Use TOON when integrating with AI agents that support it
- Use TOON compact for maximum token efficiency (~50% smaller than JSON compact)
- Stick with JSON for traditional scripting (jq, programming languages)
Compact Format Reference
| Full Key | Compact Key | Description |
|---|---|---|
query |
q |
Search query |
results |
r |
Results array |
score |
s |
Similarity score |
file |
f |
File path |
start_line/end_line |
l |
Line range ("15-45") |
total |
t |
Total results |
Combining Options
# 5 results in compact JSON
grepai search "error handling" --limit 5 --json --compact
# 20 results in full JSON
grepai search "database" --limit 20 --json
AI Agent Integration
For Claude/GPT Prompts
Use compact mode to minimize tokens:
# Agent asks for context
grepai search "payment processing" --json --compact --limit 5
Then provide results to the AI with file read tool for details.
Workflow Example
- Search for relevant code:
grepai search "authentication middleware" --json --compact --limit 3
- Get response:
{
"q": "authentication middleware",
"r": [
{"s": 0.92, "f": "src/auth/middleware.go", "l": "15-45"},
{"s": 0.85, "f": "src/auth/jwt.go", "l": "23-55"},
{"s": 0.78, "f": "src/handlers/auth.go", "l": "10-40"}
],
"t": 3
}
- Read specific files:
AI reads
src/auth/middleware.go:15-45for full context.
Scripting with JSON
Bash + jq
# Get just file paths
grepai search "config" --json | jq -r '.results[].file'
# Filter by score
grepai search "config" --json | jq '.results[] | select(.score > 0.8)'
# Count results
grepai search "config" --json | jq '.total'
Python
import subprocess
import json
result = subprocess.run(
['grepai', 'search', 'authentication', '--json'],
capture_output=True,
text=True
)
data = json.loads(result.stdout)
for r in data['results']:
print(f"{r['score']:.2f} | {r['file']}:{r['start_line']}")
Node.js
const { execSync } = require('child_process');
const output = execSync('grepai search "authentication" --json');
const data = JSON.parse(output);
data.results.forEach(r => {
console.log(`${r.score.toFixed(2)} | ${r.file}:${r.start_line}`);
});
MCP Integration
GrepAI provides MCP tools with format selection (v0.26.0+):
# Start MCP server
grepai mcp-serve
MCP tools support JSON (default) or TOON format:
| MCP Tool | Parameters |
|---|---|
grepai_search |
query, limit, compact, format |
grepai_trace_callers |
symbol, compact, format |
grepai_trace_callees |
symbol, compact, format |
grepai_trace_graph |
symbol, depth, fo |