# Codanna Code Intelligence Workflow
## Query Optimization
Codanna's semantic search works best with technical terms and specific concepts. Before searching, optimize vague queries:
1. **If vague** (e.g., "that parsing thing") → Make it specific (e.g., "language parser implementation")
2. **If a question** (e.g., "how does parsing work?") → Extract keywords (e.g., "parsing implementation process")
3. **If conversational** (e.g., "the stuff that handles languages") → Use technical terms (e.g., "language handler processor")
4. **If too broad** (e.g., "errors") → Add context (e.g., "error handling exception management")
## Search and Explore
### Step 1: Semantic Search
```bash
codanna mcp semantic_search_with_context query:"your search" limit:5
```
Returns:
```
1. unified - Method at src/io/output.rs:257-301 [symbol_id:896]
Similarity Score: 0.726
Documentation: Output a UnifiedOutput structure...
```
You get:
- Line ranges: `257-301`
- Symbol ID: `[symbol_id:896]`
- Relevance score (focus on > 0.6)
### Step 2: Read Code
Use line ranges to read only what you need:
**Formula:** `limit = end_line - start_line + 1`
**Example:** For range `257-301`:
```
Read tool with:
file_path: "src/io/output.rs"
offset: 257
limit: 45 (301 - 257 + 1)
```
**Alternative (Unix/macOS):**
```bash
sed -n '257,301p' src/io/output.rs
```
### Step 3: Explore Details
```bash
codanna retrieve describe symbol_id:896
```
Shows full signature, documentation, calls, and callers.
### Step 4: Follow Relationships
```bash
# Who calls it
codanna retrieve callers symbol_id:896
# What it calls
codanna retrieve calls symbol_id:896
```
### Step 5: Refine
Run semantic search again with refined terms.
---
## Quick Reference
**Semantic search (start here):**
```bash
codanna mcp semantic_search_with_context query:"..." limit:5
```
**Explore symbol:**
```bash
codanna retrieve describe <name|symbol_id:XXX>
```
**Relationships:**
```bash
codanna retrieve callers <name|symbol_id:XXX>
codanna retrieve calls <name|symbol_id:XXX>
```
**Direct lookup:**
```bash
codanna retrieve symbol <name>
```
---
## Tips
- Read only line ranges provided (saves tokens)
- Use symbol_id to chain commands
- Add `lang:rust` to filter by language
- Semantic search uses ~500 tokens, targeted reads use ~100-200 tokens
- Use `rg` (ripgrep) for pattern matching when available: `rg "pattern" src/`
