---
name: qmd
description: "Search the vault using QMD semantic search. Use PROACTIVELY before reading files. Preference order: (1) MCP tools — mcp__qmd__query, mcp__qmd__get, mcp__qmd__multi_get, mcp__qmd__status — if they appear in your tool menu, use them first; (2) CLI `qmd --index <name> ...` as fallback; (3) Grep/Glob only when QMD is not installed. Trigger proactively for past decisions, incidents, people, meetings, architecture, patterns, or any vault content — and after creating/editing notes to check for duplicates and related content."
---

# QMD — Vault Semantic Search

Before reading vault files directly, search with QMD first. It returns relevant snippets without burning context on full file reads.

## Tool Surfaces — Preference Order

Pick the highest surface available and stop. All three read the same SQLite store (see [Named Index](#named-index-this-vault)), so they return the same results; the choice is about interface ergonomics and context cost.

1. **MCP tools (preferred when registered)** — `mcp__qmd__query`, `mcp__qmd__get`, `mcp__qmd__multi_get`, `mcp__qmd__status`. If these appear in your tool menu, the MCP server is live and pre-scoped to this vault. Call them directly — no `--index` argument needed, no shell involved, typed arguments. This is the intended path during a session.
2. **CLI fallback** — `qmd --index <name> query|search|vsearch|get|multi-get`. Use when the MCP server isn't registered (older vault clones, Windows install drift, disabled in `.mcp.json`), or for one-off shell checks outside a session. Always pass `--index <name>`.
3. **Grep / Glob / Read** — last resort, only when QMD is not installed at all. These burn context on full file reads and don't rank by relevance.

Never fall through surfaces without cause — if MCP is registered, calling the CLI in a Bash tool is just a slower path to the same result.

## Named Index (This Vault)

This vault uses a **named QMD index** so queries, updates, and context strings stay scoped to this vault — not blended with any other vault that shares the machine. Every QMD command in this document passes `--index <name>`.

The name resolves the same way on all three surfaces (CLI, MCP, SessionStart hook), so they always point at the same SQLite store:

1. `qmd_index` in `vault-manifest.json`, when set — an explicit pin.
2. Otherwise the **vault folder name**, slugified. The template ships `qmd_index` empty so every install gets its own store without being asked a question.

Pin the field if you want a name that survives renaming the vault folder, or want to keep a store you already built.

**Read the resolved name** before running commands rather than assuming either branch:

```bash
INDEX=$(node -e '
  const ok = (s) => typeof s === "string" && /^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._-]*$/.test(s);
  const m = JSON.parse(require("fs").readFileSync("vault-manifest.json", "utf8"));
  if (m.qmd_index && !ok(m.qmd_index)) {
    process.stderr.write("qmd_index is set to an invalid name: " + JSON.stringify(m.qmd_index) + "\n");
    process.exit(1);
  }
  const slug = require("path").basename(process.cwd()).normalize("NFKD").toLowerCase()
    .replace(/[^a-z0-9._-]+/g, "-").replace(/-{2,}/g, "-").replace(/^[^a-z0-9]+|[-._]+$/g, "");
  const name = [m.qmd_index, slug, m.template].find(ok);
  if (!name) { process.stderr.write("no usable qmd index name — set qmd_index in vault-manifest.json\n"); process.exit(1); }
  process.stdout.write(name);
') || exit 1
qmd --index "$INDEX" query "..."
```

The value is used as both a CLI argument and a filesystem path (`~/.cache/qmd/<name>.sqlite`), so an invalid pin must fail here rather than propagate — hence the explicit check instead of `m.qmd_index || slug`.

In-session, substitute the resolved value directly in your commands — it is stable across the vault's lifetime unless the folder is renamed.

## Commands

Each operation lists the MCP call first, then the CLI equivalent. Prefer MCP when available.

### Search (pick one per query)
- **Hybrid (best quality)** — `mcp__qmd__query` with `searches=[{type:"lex", query:"..."}, {type:"vec", query:"..."}]` and an `intent` arg. CLI: `qmd --index <name> query "..." --json -n 10`. Use for complex or conceptual queries.
- **Keyword (fast BM25)** — `mcp__qmd__query` with `searches=[{type:"lex", query:"..."}]`. CLI: `qmd --index <name> search "..." --json -n 10`. Use for exact terms, names, ticket numbers, dates.
- **Semantic only** — `mcp__qmd__query` with `searches=[{type:"vec", query:"..."}]`. CLI: `qmd --index <name> vsearch "..." --json -n 5`. Use for exploratory queries where you don't know the exact words.

### Retrieve
- **By path** — `mcp__qmd__get` with `path` arg. CLI: `qmd --index <name> get "path/to/file.md"`.
- **By docid** — `mcp__qmd__get` with `#abc123` syntax. CLI: `qmd --index <name> get "#docid"`.
- **Batch by glob** — `mcp__qmd__multi_get` with `pattern` arg. CLI: `qmd --index <name> multi-get "org/people/*.md" --json -l 40`.

### Index Management (CLI only — MCP exposes read surfaces)
- `qmd --index <name> update` — Re-index after file changes (fast, ~1-2s incremental). The SessionStart hook and the PostToolUse debounced refresh both run this automatically; manual invocation is rarely needed.
- `qmd --index <name> embed` — Regenerate vector embeddings (slower, run after bulk changes).

## Bootstrap (Fresh Clone)

The QMD SQLite store lives outside the repo (`~/.cache/qmd/<index>.sqlite`), so a fresh clone starts with no index. Run the bootstrap once:

```bash
node --experimental-strip-types .scripts/qmd-bootstrap.ts
```

It resolves the index name (pinned `qmd_index`, else the vault folder slug) and reads `qmd_context` from `vault-manifest.json`, registers the collection, attaches the vault context, walks the vault, and generates embeddings. Idempotent — safe to re-run.

## When to Search

Each case lists the preferred MCP call; fall back to the CLI equivalent if MCP isn't registered.

- User mentions a past decision, incident, person, project → `mcp__qmd__query` (hybrid).
- User asks "what did we decide about X" → `mcp__qmd__query` (hybrid with `intent` describing the decision context).
- User mentions a person by name → `mcp__qmd__query` with `searches=[{type:"lex", query:"<name>"}]`.
- Before creating a new note → `mcp__qmd__query` with `searches=[{type:"vec", query:"<topic>"}]` to check for existing content.
- After creating a note → `mcp__qmd__query` with `searches=[{type:"vec", query:"<note title>"}]` to find notes that should link to it.
- Loading context for review prep → `mcp__qmd__multi_get` with `pattern="perf/evidence/*.md"`.
- Loading 1-on-1 context → `mcp__qmd__query` with `searches=[{type:"lex", query:"<person name> 1-1"}]`.

## After Bulk Changes
Run `qmd --index <name> update && qmd --index <name> embed` in the shell. The SessionStart hook and the PostToolUse debounced refresh run `update` automatically, but `embed` should be run explicitly after sessions that create many notes.