file-search

File Search

Fast file-name and content search using fd and ripgrep (rg).

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Purpose

This skill provides efficient file system search capabilities using two modern CLI tools:

Tool	Purpose
fd	Fast file-name search (alternative to find)
rg	Fast content search (alternative to grep)

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Installation

Fedora/RHEL (dnf)

sudo dnf install fd-find ripgrep

Ubuntu/Debian (apt)

sudo apt install fd-find ripgrep

macOS (brew)

brew install fd ripgrep

Arch Linux (pacman)

sudo pacman -S fd ripgrep

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fd — File Name Search

Basic Usage

# Search for files by name pattern
fd "pattern"

# Search in specific directory
fd "pattern" /path/to/search

# Case-insensitive search
fd -i "pattern"

# Search for exact file name
fd -x "exact_name"

File Type Filters

# Files only
fd -t f "pattern"

# Directories only
fd -t d "pattern"

# Executable files
fd -t x "pattern"

# Symlinks
fd -t l "pattern"

Extension Filters

# Search for specific extension
fd -e py "pattern"

# Multiple extensions
fd -e py -e js "pattern"

# All Python files
fd -t f -e py ""

Hidden and Ignored Files

# Include hidden files
fd -H "pattern"

# Include ignored files (gitignore, etc.)
fd -I "pattern"

# Include both hidden and ignored
fd -HI "pattern"

Size and Time Filters

# Files larger than 100MB
fd -S +100M

# Files smaller than 1KB
fd -S -1k

# Modified in last 7 days
fd --changed-within 7d

# Modified more than 30 days ago
fd --changed-before 30d

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ripgrep (rg) — Content Search

Basic Usage

# Search for pattern in files
rg "pattern"

# Search in specific directory
rg "pattern" /path/to/search

# Case-insensitive search
rg -i "pattern"

# Search for exact word
rg -w "pattern"

File Type Filters

# Search only Python files
rg -t py "pattern"

# Search only JavaScript files
rg -t js "pattern"

# Search all except Python
rg -T py "pattern"

# List available types
rg --type-list

Output Control

# Show only file names
rg -l "pattern"

# Show only count of matches
rg -c "pattern"

# Show line numbers (default)
rg -n "pattern"

# No line numbers
rg -N "pattern"

# Show context (2 lines before and after)
rg -C 2 "pattern"

# Show only matching part
rg -o "pattern"

Hidden and Ignored Files

# Include hidden files
rg --hidden "pattern"

# Include ignored files
rg --no-ignore "pattern"

# Include both
rg --hidden --no-ignore "pattern"

Regex Features

# Use PCRE2 regex
rg -P "pattern"

# Fixed string (no regex)
rg -F "literal.string"

# Multi-line search
rg -U "line1.*\n.*line2"

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Common Patterns

Find All Python Files

fd -t f -e py ""

Search for TODO in Code

rg -i "TODO|FIXME|XXX" -t py

Find Large Files

fd -S +100M -t f

Find Recently Modified Files

fd --changed-within 1d

Search for Specific Function

rg "def function_name" -t py

Find Empty Directories

fd -t d -e ""

Search and Replace Preview

rg "old_pattern" -r "new_pattern"

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When to Use This Skill

• User asks to find files by name
• User needs to search file contents
• Fast file system navigation needed
• Code search in projects
• Finding large or old files
• Searching with regex patterns

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Security Notes

• These tools will read files you point them at
• Be careful when searching sensitive directories
• Use --max-depth to limit search scope
• Review results before acting on them

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Comparison with Traditional Tools

Feature	fd vs find	rg vs grep
Speed	fd is faster (parallel)	rg is faster (parallel)
Defaults	fd ignores hidden/gitignore by default	rg ignores hidden/gitignore by default
Output	fd has colored output	rg has colored output
Regex	fd uses regex by default	rg uses regex by default
Typing	fd is shorter to type	rg is shorter to type