qi command reference

qi searches a SourceMinder index: identifiers and symbol metadata, not arbitrary text. General shape: qi PATTERN [PATTERN...] [OPTIONS]. Type these into the terminal on the home page — the browser demo picks its database with the Project menu, so --db-file is never needed there.

Quick start

`qi user`	find symbol (exact match, case-insensitive)
`qi user% -i func var`	only functions/variables, names starting with `user`
`qi 'user' -x noise -C 3`	contains `user`; skip comments/strings; 3 lines of context
`qi getUserById --def -e`	show the full definition
`qi % -f query-index.c --toc`	show a file's structure

Patterns

Patterns are case-insensitive and exact by default. Wildcards: % or * match any characters, _ or . match one character (* needs shell quoting outside the browser). Prefer prefix patterns like get* for speed. To search for something that starts with a dash, escape it: qi '\--help'.

Match

`-i, --include-context TYPE...`	only these context types
`-x, --exclude-context TYPE...`	exclude context types
`-x noise`	shorthand: exclude comments and strings
`--and [RANGE]`	require all patterns on the same or nearby lines

Filter

`-f, --file PATTERN...`	filter files: `database.c`, `.py`, `shared/`, `shared/*.c`
`-p, --parent PATTERN`	filter by parent symbol (finds member access)
`-s, --scope PATTERN`	filter by scope (`public`, `private`, `protected`; Rust: `pub`, `pub(crate)`)
`-ns, --namespace PATTERN`	filter by namespace
`-m, --modifier PATTERN`	filter by modifier (`static`, `const`, `inline`, …)
`-c, --clue PATTERN`	show clue column (context hints)
`-t, --type PATTERN`	filter by type annotation
`-d, --definition [0\|1]`	show D column; `-d 0` usages, `-d 1` definitions
`--parent-type PATTERN...`	filter by parent's declared type (resolves parent to its definition)
`--def`	definitions only
`--usage`	usages only
`--lines LINE\|START-END`	filter by line or range
`-w, --within SYMBOL...`	search inside definitions
`-l, --limit NUM`	limit matches
`-lpf, --limit-per-file NUM`	limit matches per file

Display

`-e, --expand`	show full definitions
`-C, --context NUM`	lines before and after
`-A, --after-context NUM`	lines after
`-B, --before-context NUM`	lines before
`--files`	list matching files only
`--toc`	file table of contents; use with `-f`
`--columns COL...`	choose columns: `line sym ctx par scope ns mod clue type d`
`-v, --verbose`	all columns
`--full`	full column names
`--raw`	source only; useful with `-e`/`-A`/`-B`
`-q, --quiet`	drop banner/footer chrome; keep header + rows
`--debug`	show the generated SQL

Context types

Use full or abbreviated forms with -i/-x, case-insensitive (-i func, -i function, and -i FUNC are the same).

Full	Short	Meaning
`argument`	`arg`	function parameters
`call`		function/method calls
`case`		enum values/cases
`class`		class definitions
`comment`	`com`	words from comments
`enum`		enum type definitions
`exception`	`exc`	exception classes
`export`	`exp`	export statements
`filename`	`file`	filename without extension
`function`	`func`	function/method definitions
`goto`		goto statements (C)
`import`	`imp`	import/include statements
`interface`	`iface`	interface definitions
`label`		labels (for goto in C)
`lambda`	`lam`	lambda/arrow functions
`macro`		preprocessor macros
`namespace`	`ns`	namespace/package declarations
`property`	`prop`	class/struct fields
`string`	`str`	words from string literals
`trait`		trait definitions (PHP)
`type`		type definitions (struct, enum, …)
`variable`	`var`	variables and constants

CLI-only options

These apply when running qi locally, not in the browser demo:

`--db-file PATH`	database path (the demo's Project menu does this)
`~/.smconfig`	config file, `[qi]` section; CLI flags override it

Tip for AI coding agents: --def -e --raw prints a definition as plain source, ready to use as an edit anchor.

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