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:

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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