# Index a codebase
aci index /path/to/codebase
# Search for code
aci search "function that handles authentication"
# Check index status
aci status
# Update index incrementally
aci update
# Reset index (drop collection & metadata)
aci reset
# Start interactive shell mode
aci shell
# Start HTTP server (FastAPI)
aci serve --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000
# Also available via python -m
uv run python -m aci serve
Filter results inline without extra flags:
| Modifier | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
path:<pattern> |
Include only files matching pattern | path:*.py, path:src/** |
file:<pattern> |
Alias for path: |
file:handlers.py |
-path:<pattern> |
Exclude files matching pattern | -path:tests |
exclude:<pattern> |
Alias for -path: |
exclude:fixtures |
aci search "parse config path:*.py"
aci search "database connection -path:tests -path:fixtures"
ACI indexes code at multiple granularity levels. Filter with --type / -t:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
chunk |
Functions, classes, or fixed-size code blocks |
function_summary |
Natural language summaries of functions |
class_summary |
Natural language summaries of classes |
file_summary |
File-level summaries describing overall purpose |
# Search only code chunks
aci search "authentication" --type chunk
# High-level semantic queries
aci search "what handles user login" --type function_summary --type class_summary
# Mix types
aci search "config parsing" -t chunk -t file_summary
By default (no --type), all artifact types are searched.
aci shell launches a REPL with command history, tab completion, and persistent history across sessions.
aci shell
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
index <path> |
Index a directory |
search <query> |
Search the indexed codebase |
status |
Show index statistics |
update <path> |
Incrementally update the index |
list |
List indexed repositories |
reset |
Clear the index (requires confirmation) |
help / ? |
Display available commands |
exit / quit / q |
Exit the shell |
$ aci shell
_ ____ ___ ____ _ _ _
/ \ / ___|_ _| / ___|| |__ ___| | |
/ _ \| | | | \___ \| '_ \ / _ \ | |
/ ___ \ |___ | | ___) | | | | __/ | |
/_/ \_\____|___| |____/|_| |_|\___|_|_|
Welcome to ACI Interactive Shell
Type 'help' for available commands, 'exit' to quit
aci> index ./src
Indexing ./src...
✓ Indexed 42 files, 156 chunks
aci> search "authentication handler"
Found 3 results:
...
aci> search "config parser path:src/*.py -path:tests"
Found 2 results:
...
aci> exit
Goodbye!