serena

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Semantic code search, analysis, and editing. Use for understanding code structure, finding classes/functions, refactoring, and impact analysis. Triggers on "where is this function", "show references", "analyze impact" queries

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[Developer Tools]

When & Why to Use This Skill

Serena is a high-performance semantic code search and analysis tool designed to streamline navigation and editing in large-scale codebases. By operating at the symbol level, it allows developers to understand complex code structures, track dependencies, and perform precise refactoring without the overhead of reading entire files, making it an essential utility for impact analysis and architectural exploration.

Use Cases

  • Large-scale Codebase Navigation: Quickly locate the definitions of classes, functions, or variables across hundreds of files using semantic symbol search.
  • Impact Analysis for Refactoring: Trace all callers and referencing symbols of a specific function to evaluate the potential side effects of a code change.
  • Surgical Code Editing: Perform precise modifications at the symbol level, ensuring accuracy while maintaining a minimal context footprint.
  • Pattern and Debt Discovery: Search for specific code patterns, API endpoint usages, or technical debt like TODO comments throughout the entire repository.
  • Dependency Mapping: Build a comprehensive understanding of how different components interact by tracing dependency chains and symbol references.
nameserena
descriptionSemantic code search, analysis, and editing. Use for understanding code structure, finding classes/functions, refactoring, and impact analysis. Triggers on "where is this function", "show references", "analyze impact" queries

Serena Tool Guide

Semantic code analysis. Searches and edits at symbol level without reading entire files.

Core Tools

find_symbol

Locate class, function, or variable definitions.

Examples:

  • "Where is the UserService class defined?"
  • "Find the authenticate function definition"

search_for_pattern

Search for code patterns or strings.

Examples:

  • "Find all TODO comments"
  • "Locate all API endpoint usages"

edit_symbol

Edit at symbol level without loading entire files.

find_referencing_symbols

Track symbol references and dependencies.

Examples:

  • "Show all callers of this function"
  • "Find dependency chain"

When to Use

  • Large codebases (100+ files)
  • Semantic search (understanding code meaning)
  • Refactoring (precise edits required)
  • Dependency tracking
  • Code structure analysis

Common Workflows

Code understanding:

  1. find_symbol to locate main classes/functions
  2. find_referencing_symbols to trace callers
  3. Build overall understanding

Refactoring:

  1. find_symbol to identify target
  2. edit_symbol to modify
  3. find_referencing_symbols to verify impact

Bug fixing:

  1. search_for_pattern to find error-related code
  2. find_symbol to examine details
  3. edit_symbol to fix

Examples

User: Find authentication code

Agent: Uses Serena to search for authentication-related code and explains

User: What calls UserService?

Agent: Shows all references

User: Refactor this code

Agent: Analyzes impact and proposes changes