https://github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai
grep on steroids: semantic code search powered by AI embeddings. Search your codebase by meaning, not just keywords.
https://github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai
Last synced: 4 months ago
JSON representation
grep on steroids: semantic code search powered by AI embeddings. Search your codebase by meaning, not just keywords.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai
- Owner: yoanbernabeu
- License: mit
- Created: 2026-01-09T13:01:33.000Z (5 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-01-16T13:04:04.000Z (5 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-01-17T05:07:56.983Z (5 months ago)
- Language: Go
- Homepage: https://yoanbernabeu.github.io/grepai/
- Size: 316 KB
- Stars: 157
- Watchers: 2
- Forks: 13
- Open Issues: 4
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Changelog: CHANGELOG.md
- Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.md
- License: LICENSE
- Code of conduct: CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
- Security: SECURITY.md
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README
# grepai
### grep for the AI era
[](https://www.producthunt.com/products/grepai)
[](https://github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai/stargazers)
[](https://github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai/releases)
[](https://github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
[](https://goreportcard.com/report/github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai)
[](LICENSE)
**Search code by meaning, not just text.**
[Documentation](https://yoanbernabeu.github.io/grepai/) · [Installation](#installation) · [Quick Start](#quick-start)
---
`grepai` is a privacy-first CLI for semantic code search. It uses vector embeddings to understand code meaning, enabling natural language queries that find relevant code—even when naming conventions vary.
**Drastically reduces AI agent input tokens** by providing relevant context instead of raw search results.
## Features
- **Search by intent** — Ask "authentication logic" and find `handleUserSession`
- **Trace call graphs** — Know who calls a function before you change it
- **100% local** — Your code never leaves your machine
- **Always up-to-date** — File watcher keeps the index fresh automatically
- **AI agent ready** — Works with Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf out of the box
- **MCP server** — Your AI agent can call grepai directly as a tool
## Installation
**Homebrew (macOS):**
```bash
brew install yoanbernabeu/tap/grepai
```
**Linux/macOS:**
```bash
curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai/main/install.sh | sh
```
**Windows (PowerShell):**
```powershell
irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai/main/install.ps1 | iex
```
Requires an embedding provider — [Ollama](https://ollama.ai) (default), [LM Studio](https://lmstudio.ai), or OpenAI.
**Ollama (recommended):**
```bash
ollama pull nomic-embed-text
```
## Quick Start
```bash
grepai init # Initialize in your project
grepai watch # Start indexing daemon
grepai search "error handling" # Search semantically
grepai trace callers "Login" # Find who calls a function
```
## What developers say
> *"I just hit my limit and it took 13% of my max5 plan just to read my codebase. I am very, very excited about your new tool."*
> — u/911pleasehold on [r/ClaudeAI](https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1qiv0d3/open_source_i_reduced_claude_code_input_tokens_by/) (280K+ views)
> *"It works great! Takes 5 minutes to install. Crazy!"*
> — [@LesSaleGeek](https://x.com/LesSaleGeek/status/2010335803604611124) on X
> *"The results are incredible!"*
> — [Kenny Nguyen](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7419451883293061120?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A7419451883293061120%2C7419464457388453888%29) on LinkedIn
## Why grepai?
`grep` was built in 1973 for exact text matching. Modern codebases need semantic understanding.
| | `grep` / `ripgrep` | `grepai` |
|---|---|---|
| **Search** | Exact text / regex | Semantic understanding |
| **Query** | `"func.*Login"` | `"user authentication flow"` |
| **Finds** | Pattern matches | Conceptually related code |
## Documentation
Full docs, guides, and blog:
- **[Documentation](https://yoanbernabeu.github.io/grepai/)** — Configuration, AI agents, MCP setup
- **[Blog](https://yoanbernabeu.github.io/grepai/blog/)** — Benchmarks, tutorials, release notes
## Contributing
See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for guidelines.
## License
[MIT License](LICENSE) - Yoan Bernabeu 2026