Skip to content
Get packs

Smart Explore

Lets an agent map and search code structure cheaply before reading full files

Source Download skill
Repository
thedotmack/claude-mem
Stars
110,174
Licence
Apache-2.0
Files
1 file

What it does

This skill tells an AI coding agent to explore codebases by first building a structural map (functions, classes, methods) using tree-sitter syntax parsing, then loading only the specific functions it needs instead of reading whole files. It works through separate MCP tools (smart_search, smart_outline, smart_unfold) that the agent must call itself; the skill file is only instructions. The skill claims this uses far fewer tokens than reading full files or running a broad exploration agent.

Great for

  • Developers working in large codebases who want an agent to find functions and understand structure quickly
  • Users on JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, Ruby or Java projects who want lower token usage
  • Anyone who needs to trace where a specific function or class is defined

Skip it if

  • Open-ended questions needing synthesis across many files or architecture narratives, which the skill itself says standard or Explore tools handle better
  • Languages or file types outside its bundled list, such as JSON or markdown, where the skill recommends plain text search instead
  • Projects where the required MCP tools are not installed, since the skill only gives instructions and cannot search on its own

Try asking

  • “Find where the shutdown logic lives in ./src and show me the core function”
  • “Give me an outline of services/worker-service.ts and then the startSessionProcessor method”
  • “Explain how session handling is structured across this codebase without reading every file”
  • “Write documentation for the authentication feature by locating its key functions first”
Step-by-step guide: how to use Smart ExploreInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 1 original files, the Apache-2.0 licence and an attribution note.

    smart-explore.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip smart-explore.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip smart-explore.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Start with a narrow query and a specific path such as ./src to keep results small
  • Ask the agent to unfold only the symbols it needs rather than whole files
  • For non-code files or unsupported languages, explicitly request plain text search instead

What's inside

  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from thedotmack/claude-mem under the Apache-2.0 licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.