...
~/tmp> mc
pie REPL • type /help for commands, Ctrl-D or 'exit' to quit.
≫ hi
π The user is just saying "hi" - this is a simple greeting. I should respond in a friendly way and offer to help them with something.
Hello! How can I help you today?
≫ how many files in current dir?
π The user wants to know how many files are in the current directory. I can use the Ls function to list the directory contents and count the files.
Ls
Looking at the directory listing, I can see:
- LICENSE (file)
- README.md (file)
- cache/ (directory)
- log.json (file)
- mlx_code/ (directory)
- mlx_code.egg-info/ (directory)
- setup.py (file)
So there are 4 files and 3 directories in the current directory.
There are **4 files** in the current directory:
- LICENSE
- README.md
- log.json
- setup.py
And **3 directories**:
- cache/
- mlx_code/
- mlx_code.egg-info/
≫
Bye!
~/tmp> gg **/*.py
staging: mlx_code/__init__.py
exists
staging: mlx_code/log.py
exists
staging: mlx_code/main.py
exists
staging: mlx_code/pie.py
exists
staging: mlx_code/symgraph.py
exists
staging: setup.py
exists
Diff preview:
mlx_code/__init__.py | 4 +
mlx_code/log.py | 771 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
mlx_code/main.py | 1597 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
mlx_code/pie.py | 1994 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
mlx_code/symgraph.py | 483 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
setup.py | 18 ++
6 files changed, 4867 insertions(+)
Show per-file diffs? [s=skip]: y
--- mlx_code/__init__.py ---
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+from .main import serve, run
+from .pie import harness
+
+__all__ = ["serve", "run", "harness"]
--- mlx_code/log.py ---
... ( 772 lines total, truncated)
+ if args.out:
+ with open(args.out, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+ for idx in sorted(marked):
+ f.write(json.dumps(logs[idx]) + "\n")
+ else:
+ for idx in sorted(marked):
+ print(json.dumps(logs[idx]))
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+ main()
--- mlx_code/main.py ---
... ( 1598 lines total, truncated)
+ model=args.model,
+ system=system,
+ tools=args.tools,
+ skill=args.skill,
+ leash_args=leash_args,
+ )
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+ main()
+# }}}ser
--- mlx_code/pie.py ---
... ( 1995 lines total, truncated)
+ cwd=args.cwd,
+ model=model,
+ base_url=url,
+ tools=tools,
+ sdir=args.skill,
+ api_key=api_key
+ )
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+ main()
--- mlx_code/symgraph.py ---
... ( 485 lines total, truncated)
+ B,H=search_symbols(A.symbols,C,lang_ext=E,include_references=not A.no_references,include_context=A.context,warn_skipped=A.warn_skipped);G=_C
+ for(I,J)in H.items():
+ if J is Capability.NONE:_warn(f"'{I}': no matching identifiers found (grammar may be unsupported for this file type)");G=_E
+ if A.kinds:B=[B for B in B if B.kind in A.kinds]
+ if A.json:print(json.dumps([A.as_dict()for A in B],indent=2))
+ else:print_usages(B,F)
+ if G and not B:return 2
+ return 0
+if __name__=='__main__':sys.exit(main())
\ No newline at end of file
--- setup.py ---
... ( 19 lines total, truncated)
+ version="0.0.7",
+ readme="README.md",
+ description="Coding Agent for Mac",
+ long_description=open("README.md").read(),
+ long_description_content_type="text/markdown",
+ python_requires=">=3.12.8",
+ install_requires=["mlx-lm>=0.31.3", "numpy", "httpx", "pydantic"],
+ packages=find_packages(),
+ entry_points={"console_scripts": ["mc=mlx_code.main:main", "md=mlx_code.log:main", "me=mlx_code.pie:main"]},
+)
read> v0.0.7
Saved snapshot d2ab186ee5c02f0589552ffac658c4f4a284b36c
~/tmp> mc
pie REPL • type /help for commands, Ctrl-D or 'exit' to quit.
≫ explain sittree.py
π The user is asking me to explain a file called "sittree.py". I should first read this file to understand what it does. Let me use the Read function to read the file.
Read {"path": "sittree.py"}
This is a comprehensive file. Let me provide a clear explanation of what this file does.
# sittree.py — Symbol Usage Finder & Codebase Outliner
This is a **tree-sitter-based code analysis tool** for coding agents. It provides two main capabilities:
## 🎯 Core Features
### 1. **Codebase Outlining**
Shows all top-level symbols (functions, classes, variables, types, etc.) in a file or directory.
**Usage:**
```bash
python sittree.py # Outline symbols
python sittree.py --depth 2 # Include nested symbols
python sittree.py --context # Show source context
```
### 2. **Symbol Search**
Finds all usages of specific symbols across a codebase.
**Usage:**
```bash
python sittree.py myFunc myClass # Search for symbols
python sittree.py myFunc --kinds definition # Filter by kind
```
## 📋 Supported Languages
| Extension | Language |
|-----------|----------|
| `.py` | Python |
| `.js`, `.jsx`, `.ts`, `.tsx` | JavaScript/TypeScript |
| `.go` | Go |
| `.rs` | Rust |
| `.java` | Java |
| `.c`, `.cpp`, `.cc`, `.cs` | C/C++/C# |
| `.rb` | Ruby |
| `.php` | PHP |
| `.swift`, `.kt` | Swift/Kotlin |
| `.lua`, `.hs`, `.ex`, `.exs` | Lua/Haskell/Elixir |
| `.r`, `.sh` | R/Bash |
| `.toml`, `.yaml`, `.yml` | Config files |
## 🔍 Key Capabilities
### Symbol Kinds Detected
- **definition** — Function/class/type definitions
- **assignment** — Variable declarations
- **call** — Function/method calls
- **import** — Import statements
- **reference** — Bare identifier references
### Language-Specific Features
- **Python**: Handles `__main__` entry points, decorated functions, augmented assignments
- **JavaScript/TypeScript**: Handles ES6+ features (arrow functions, destructuring, type aliases)
- **Go**: Handles methods, type specs, package-level declarations
- **Rust**: Handles traits, structs, enums, visibility modifiers
- **Java**: Handles classes, interfaces, enums, method invocations
## 🛠️ Technical Details
### Tree-Sitter Integration
- Uses **bespoke queries** for languages with rich grammar support
- Falls back to **generic identifier scanning** for simpler languages
- Caches parsers and queries for performance
### Output Formats
- **Human-readable**: Color-coded with line numbers and context
- **JSON**: Machine-parseable output via `--json` flag
- **Raw**: Paste-safe source bodies for editing
### Advanced Features
- **Context snippets**: Show surrounding source lines
- **Entry point detection**: Identify `main()`, `__main__`, etc.
- **Export detection**: Find public/exported symbols
- **Destructuring binding extraction**: Handle complex patterns like `[a, b]` or `{x, y}`
## 💡 Use Cases
1. **Codebase exploration**: Get an overview of a project's structure
2. **Symbol search**: Find all usages of a function/class
3. **Refactoring support**: Locate all references before renaming
4. **Documentation generation**: Extract API surface information
5. **Agent assistance**: Provide context for code review/editing tasks
## ⚙️ Configuration Options
| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `--lang` | Override language detection |
| `--depth` | Max nesting depth for outline |
| `--context` | Include source context |
| `--no-references` | Skip bare identifier hits |
| `--kinds` | Filter by symbol kind |
| `--warn-skipped` | Show grammar load errors |
---
This tool is designed to work seamlessly with coding agents, providing structured code analysis that's both human-readable and machine-parseable.
≫
Bye!
~/tmp> mc --tools ReadTree
pie REPL • type /help for commands, Ctrl-D or 'exit' to quit.
≫ explain sittree.py
π The user is asking me to explain sittree.py. I should first read this file to understand what it does. Let me use the ReadTree function to inspect this file.
ReadTree {"path": "sittree.py"}
This is a Python file that appears to be a tool for inspecting source code using tree-sitter. It has various functions for handling different programming languages (Python, JS, Go, Rust, Java), extracting bindings, finding symbols, and printing outlines. Let me read the full file to provide a comprehensive explanation.
ReadTree {"path": "sittree.py", "depth": "2"}
I need to read the actual file content to understand what it does. Let me read the file directly.
ReadTree {"path": "sittree.py", "symbols": "[\"main\", \"SymbolFinder\", \"Capability\", \"outline_path\", \"search_symbols\", \"print_outline\"]"}
Now I have a good understanding of the file. Let me provide a comprehensive explanation of what sittree.py does.
# sittree.py - Source Code Tree Inspector
This is a **tree-sitter-based source code analysis tool** that can inspect, search, and outline code across multiple programming languages. It's designed to work with the tree-sitter parser library for accurate AST (Abstract Syntax Tree) parsing.
## 🎯 Main Features
### 1. **Symbol Search**
- Find specific symbols (functions, classes, variables, etc.) in source files
- Supports multiple programming languages: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Go, Rust, Java
- Can search directories recursively
- Includes reference tracking and context lines
### 2. **Code Outlining**
- Generate hierarchical outlines of files/directories
- Shows entry points, exported symbols, and line ranges
- Supports depth limiting for large projects
### 3. **Multi-Language Support**
- Uses bespoke queries for Python, JS, Go, Rust, Java
- Falls back to generic identifier scanning when no bespoke query exists
- Handles UTF-8 encoding issues with proper character decoding
## 📦 Key Components
### **Capability Enum**
```python
class Capability(str, Enum):
FULL = "full" # Bespoke queries with correct semantics
PARTIAL = "partial" # Generic identifier scan (kind is always 'reference')
NONE = "none" # Grammar has no identifier-like nodes
```
### **SymbolFinder Class**
- Core class for searching symbols in files
- Handles symbol matching with proper UTF-8 decoding
- Groups results by original symbol name
- Supports references and context inclusion
### **Main Functions**
- `outline_path()`: Recursively outline files/directories
- `search_symbols()`: Search for multiple symbols in a file/directory
- `print_outline()`: Display formatted code outlines
- `print_usages()`: Display symbol usage information
## 🚀 Command-Line Usage
```bash
# Outline mode - show code structure
python sittree.py /path/to/file --lang py
# Search mode - find symbols
python sittree.py /path/to/file --symbols "my_function" --lang py
# Search in directory
python sittree.py /path/to/dir --symbols "class" --lang py
# JSON output
python sittree.py /path/to/file --symbols "my_function" --json
```
## 🔧 Technical Details
### **Query System**
- Uses tree-sitter queries for precise symbol matching
- Supports `definition`, `assignment`, `call`, and `import` kinds
- Has priority ordering for different node kinds
### **Language Extensions**
- Maps file extensions to language packages
- Supports both extension-based and explicit language specification
- Handles files with unexpected extensions when `--lang` is specified
### **Error Handling**
- Returns exit code 2 for grammar failures (distinct from path errors)
- Warns when grammars are unavailable for certain file types
- Handles non-UTF-8 source files gracefully
## 💡 Use Cases
1. **IDE Integration**: Provides the foundation for a code search/outline feature
2. **Static Analysis**: Find symbols across large codebases
3. **Documentation Generation**: Create code structure maps
4. **Refactoring Support**: Locate all usages of a symbol before renaming
The tool is particularly useful for developers who need precise, language-aware code navigation and search capabilities without relying on IDE-specific features.
~/tmp> python log.py -o test
┌─ logs ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐┌─ detail ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TIME LVL FILE FUNC MESSAGE …││ time : 2026-05-09T17:35:17.021887+00:00 │
│ 17:35:01 DEBUG main.py main args=Namespace(model='mlx-community/Qwen3.5-4B-OptiQ-4bit', leash='…││ level : DEBUG │
│ 17:35:03 DEBUG main.py serve Server bound to http://127.0.0.1:8000 ││ logger : root │
│ 17:35:03 WARNING pie.py __init__ No api-key ││ file : tmp/main.py │
│ 17:35:15 DEBUG pie.py repl explain sittree.py ││ function : encode │
│ 17:35:15 DEBUG pie.py stream { "model": "jj", "max_tokens": 8192, "messages": [ { "role": "syste…││ line : 684 │
│ 17:35:15 DEBUG main.py do_POST self.path='/v1/chat/completions' { "model": "jj", "max_tokens": 819…││ id : f8e15ee6-aaa5-4532-8735-172d6a7b9707 │
│ 17:35:15 DEBUG main.py translate messages=[Message(role='system', content='Available skills (use Get…││ │
│ 17:35:15 DEBUG main.py encode ckpts=[1898] <|im_start|>system # Tools You have access to the foll…││ ── message ── │
│ 17:35:15 DEBUG main.py __call__ ckpts=[1898] len(prompt)=1909 len(self.hx)=0 cl=0 ││ ckpts=[1898] │
│ 17:35:15 DEBUG main.py load cache/mlxcommunityQwen354BOptiQ4bit_1898_21d53f79d6f145d5.safetenso…││ <|im_start|>system │
│ 17:35:15 DEBUG main.py generate Processed 1909 input tokens in 0 seconds (11222 tokens per second) ││ # Tools │
│ 17:35:16 INFO main.py generate The user is asking me to explain a file called "sittree.py". I shou…││ │
│ 17:35:16 DEBUG pie.py _loop AssistantMessage(content=[ThinkingContent(thinking='The user is ask…││ You have access to the following functions: │
│ 17:35:16 INFO pie.py _execute_one # sittree.py (lines 1–1266 of 1266) """ sittree.py — Symbol usage f…││ │
│ 17:35:16 DEBUG pie.py stream { "model": "jj", "max_tokens": 8192, "messages": [ { "role": "syste…││ │
│ 17:35:16 DEBUG main.py do_POST self.path='/v1/chat/completions' { "model": "jj", "max_tokens": 819…││ {"type": "function", "function": {"name": "Read", "description": "Read a file. Us │
│ 17:35:16 DEBUG main.py translate messages=[Message(role='system', content='Available skills (use Get…││ e offset/limit for large files instead of reading the whole thing.", "parameters" │
│>17:35:17 DEBUG main.py encode ckpts=[1898] <|im_start|>system # Tools You have access to the foll…││ : {"type": "object", "properties": {"path": {"description": "File path to read (r │
│ 17:35:17 DEBUG main.py __call__ ckpts=[1898] len(prompt)=14602 len(self.hx)=1979 cl=1979 ││ elative to cwd)", "title": "Path", "type": "string"}, "offset": {"anyOf": [{"type │
│ 17:35:17 DEBUG main.py __call__ cont ││ ": "integer"}, {"type": "null"}], "default": null, "description": "Start line (1- │
│ 17:35:47 DEBUG main.py generate Processed 14602 input tokens in 31 seconds (476 tokens per second) ││ based)", "title": "Offset"}, "limit": {"anyOf": [{"type": "integer"}, {"type": "n │
│ 17:36:02 INFO main.py generate This is a comprehensive file. Let me provide a clear explanation of…││ ull"}], "default": null, "description": "Max lines to read", "title": "Limit"}}, │
│ 17:36:02 DEBUG pie.py _loop AssistantMessage(content=[ThinkingContent(thinking='This is a compr…││ "required": ["path"]}}} │
│ ││ {"type": "function", "function": {"name": "Write", "description": "Create or over │
│ ││ write a file. Prefer 'edit' for small changes to existing files.", "parameters": │
│ ││ {"type": "object", "properties": {"path": {"description": "File path to create or │
│ ││ overwrite (relative to cwd)", "title": "Path", "type": "string"}, "content": {"d │
│ ││ escription": "Full file content", "title": "Content", "type": "string"}}, "requir │
│ ││ ed": ["path", "content"]}}} │
│ ││ {"type": "function", "function": {"name": "Edit", "description": "Replace an exac │
│ ││ t unique string in a file. Read the file first if unsure of exact text.", "parame │
│ ││ ters": {"type": "object", "properties": {"path": {"description": "File path to ed │
│ ││ it (relative to cwd)", "title": "Path", "type": "string"}, "old_text": {"descript │
│ ││ ion": "Exact text to replace (must appear exactly once)", "title": "Old Text", "t │
│ ││ ype": "string"}, "new_text": {"description": "Replacement text", "title": "New Te │
│ ││ xt", "type": "string"}}, "required": ["path", "old_text", "new_text"]}}} │
│ ││ {"type": "function", "function": {"name": "Bash", "description": "Run a shell com │
│ ││ mand, get stdout+stderr. Prefer read/grep/find/ls for file exploration.", "parame │
│ ││ ters": {"type": "object", "properties": {"command": {"description": "Shell comman │
│ ││ d to execute", "title": "Command", "type": "string"}, "timeout": {"default": 120, │
│ ││ "description": "Timeout in seconds", "title": "Timeout", "type": "integer"}}, "r │
│ ││ equired": ["command"]}}} │
│ ││ {"type": "function", "function": {"name": "Grep", "description": "Search files fo │
│ ││ r a pattern. Respects .gitignore.", "parameters": {"type": "object", "properties" │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
All cef534bf-5 50e0af6d-1 b578ec4d-f f8e15ee6-a d25f55fd-2 9a03247f-e 5160a1d3-1
log.json │ 18/23 (of 592) filter: lvl:10;file:main,pie │ ↑/k ↓/j · PgUp/PgDn · g/G · n/N · * highlight · o open · ; filter · h/l tabs · v mark · q quit
┌─ logs ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐┌─ detail ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TIME LVL FILE FUNC MESSAGE …││ time : 2026-05-09T17:51:22.117961+00:00 │
│ 17:50:55 DEBUG main.py main args=Namespace(model='mlx-community/Qwen3.5-4B-OptiQ-4bit', leash='…││ level : DEBUG │
│ 17:50:57 DEBUG main.py serve Server bound to http://127.0.0.1:8000 ││ logger : root │
│ 17:50:57 WARNING pie.py __init__ No api-key ││ file : tmp/main.py │
│ 17:51:13 DEBUG pie.py repl explain sittree.py ││ function : encode │
│ 17:51:13 DEBUG pie.py stream { "model": "jj", "max_tokens": 8192, "messages": [ { "role": "syste…││ line : 684 │
│ 17:51:13 DEBUG main.py do_POST self.path='/v1/chat/completions' { "model": "jj", "max_tokens": 819…││ id : 5160a1d3-1552-40a7-a82e-ebaf3d0995f8 │
│ 17:51:13 DEBUG main.py translate messages=[Message(role='system', content='Available skills (use Get…││ │
│ 17:51:13 DEBUG main.py encode ckpts=[698] <|im_start|>system # Tools You have access to the follo…││ ── message ── │
│ 17:51:13 DEBUG main.py __call__ ckpts=[698] len(prompt)=709 len(self.hx)=0 cl=0 ││ ckpts=[698] │
│ 17:51:13 DEBUG main.py __call__ anew ││ <|im_start|>system │
│ 17:51:13 DEBUG main.py generate save_fn 698 ││ # Tools │
│ 17:51:15 DEBUG main.py save cache/mlxcommunityQwen354BOptiQ4bit_698_6f0ceeb516faea93.safetensor…││ │
│ 17:51:15 DEBUG main.py generate Processed 709 input tokens in 2 seconds (394 tokens per second) ││ You have access to the following functions: │
│ 17:51:16 INFO main.py generate The user is asking me to explain a file called "sittree.py". I shou…││ │
│ 17:51:16 DEBUG pie.py _loop AssistantMessage(content=[ThinkingContent(thinking='The user is ask…││ │
│ 17:51:16 INFO pie.py _execute_one /private/var/folders/_5/vz_p3mls23l5rtlhj3nzvwjw0000gn/T/tmp8sx8z7…││ {"type": "function", "function": {"name": "ReadTree", "description": "Inspect sou │
│ 17:51:16 DEBUG pie.py stream { "model": "jj", "max_tokens": 8192, "messages": [ { "role": "syste…││ rce code using tree-sitter. Works for any supported language (Python, JS/TS, Go, │
│ 17:51:16 DEBUG main.py do_POST self.path='/v1/chat/completions' { "model": "jj", "max_tokens": 819…││ Rust, Java, C/C++, Ruby, and more). Two modes:\n OUTLINE (no symbols): returns t │
│ 17:51:16 DEBUG main.py translate messages=[Message(role='system', content='Available skills (use Get…││ he symbol tree of a file or directory — class/function/method/var names with line │
│ 17:51:16 DEBUG main.py encode ckpts=[698] <|im_start|>system # Tools You have access to the follo…││ ranges. Use this first to orient yourself before reading or editing code.\n SYM │
│ 17:51:16 DEBUG main.py __call__ ckpts=[698] len(prompt)=2211 len(self.hx)=792 cl=792 ││ BOL LOOKUP (symbols=[...]): returns the full source body of every definition of t │
│ 17:51:16 DEBUG main.py __call__ cont ││ hose names, plus every call/assignment site with context. Output is paste-safe fo │
│ 17:51:19 DEBUG main.py generate Processed 2211 input tokens in 3 seconds (660 tokens per second) ││ r use as old_str in an Edit call. Accepts dotted names like 'ClassName.method' to │
│ 17:51:22 INFO main.py generate This is a Python file that appears to be a tool for inspecting sour…││ narrow results.", "parameters": {"type": "object", "properties": {"path": {"desc │
│ 17:51:22 DEBUG pie.py _loop AssistantMessage(content=[ThinkingContent(thinking='This is a Pytho…││ ription": "File or directory to inspect (relative to cwd)", "title": "Path", "typ │
│ 17:51:22 INFO pie.py _execute_one # DEF outline_path /private/var/folders/_5/vz_p3mls23l5rtlhj3nzvwjw…││ e": "string"}, "symbols": {"description": "Symbol names to look up, e.g. [\"MyCla │
│ 17:51:22 DEBUG pie.py stream { "model": "jj", "max_tokens": 8192, "messages": [ { "role": "syste…││ ss\", \"my_fn\", \"ClassName.method\"]. Omit (or pass []) for outline mode. Dotte │
│ 17:51:22 DEBUG main.py do_POST self.path='/v1/chat/completions' { "model": "jj", "max_tokens": 819…││ d names are accepted — the last component is matched and results are labelled wit │
│ 17:51:22 DEBUG main.py translate messages=[Message(role='system', content='Available skills (use Get…││ h the full qualified name.", "items": {"type": "string"}, "title": "Symbols", "ty │
│>17:51:22 DEBUG main.py encode ckpts=[698] <|im_start|>system # Tools You have access to the follo…││ pe": "array"}, "depth": {"default": 1, "description": "Outline mode: nesting dept │
│ 17:51:22 DEBUG main.py __call__ ckpts=[698] len(prompt)=6534 len(self.hx)=2354 cl=2354 ││ h (1=top-level only, 2=classes+methods).", "title": "Depth", "type": "integer"}, │
│ 17:51:22 DEBUG main.py __call__ cont ││ "kinds": {"description": "Filter symbol-lookup results by kind. Valid values: def │
│ 17:51:32 DEBUG main.py generate Processed 6534 input tokens in 10 seconds (660 tokens per second) ││ inition, assignment, call, import, reference. Default: definition + assignment + │
│ 17:51:43 INFO main.py generate Now I have a good understanding of the sittree.py file. Let me prov…││ call + import (no bare references).", "items": {"type": "string"}, "title": "Kind │
│ 17:51:43 DEBUG pie.py _loop AssistantMessage(content=[ThinkingContent(thinking='Now I have a go…││ s", "type": "array"}, "lang": {"anyOf": [{"type": "string"}, {"type": "null"}], " │
│ ││ default": null, "description": "Override language detection, e.g. 'py', 'ts', 'go │
│ ││ '.", "title": "Lang"}}, "required": ["path"]}}} │
│ ││ │
│ ││ │
│ ││ If you choose to call a function ONLY reply in the following format with NO suffi │
│ ││ x: │
│ ││ │
│ ││ │
│ ││ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
All cef534bf-5 50e0af6d-1 b578ec4d-f f8e15ee6-a d25f55fd-2 9a03247f-e 5160a1d3-1
log.json │ 30/35 (of 592) filter: lvl:10;file:main,pie │ ↑/k ↓/j · PgUp/PgDn · g/G · n/N · * highlight · o open · ; filter · h/l tabs · v mark · q quit
~/tmp[1 jobs]> cat prompt test | me -a deepseek
Yes, it did — and by a **substantial margin**. Here’s the comparison from the logs you provided:
| | `Read` session (full file) | `ReadTree` session (outline + symbols) |
|----------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Tool calls | 1 (Read whole file) | 3 (outline, depth 2, symbol bodies) |
| Token count up to
final assistant response | **14,602** tokens | **7,827** tokens |
| **Savings** | — | **6,775 tokens fewer (≈46% reduction)** |
(That token count comes from the `---14602` and `---7827` markers at the end of the two conversation excerpts; both are measured at the same point — after the tool responses and assistant `think`, just before the final explanations are written.)
## What made the difference
- **`Read`** dumped the entire 1,266‑line file into the context (≈35 KB of text, including all comments, blank lines, and internal helper logic).
- **`ReadTree`** only supplied:
1. A one‑line‑per‑symbol outline (≈70 lines).
2. The full source for *only* the 5 requested symbols (`Capability`, `outline_path`, `SymbolFinder`, `search_symbols`, `print_outline`, `main`) plus their call sites — a fraction of the file.
Everything the agent actually needed for a high‑level explanation was in that reduced set, so the rest of the file was just noise.
## But was it “as good”?
As we covered earlier, the `ReadTree`‑based explanation was slightly less detailed — it missed some configuration flags, language lists, and advanced features that only appeared in the comments and constants of the full file. But for **understanding the tool’s structure and main capabilities**, it was perfectly sufficient. So you saved nearly half the context window while still getting a perfectly usable answer.
**Bottom line:** `ReadTree` is a sharp tool for context efficiency — it can slash input size dramatically for tasks like code explanation, and the smaller context window often allows the model to think faster and more focused.
~/tmp[1 jobs]> hx --capture