# ivygrep

Local code search and task context builder for coding agents. It packs definitions, callers, and Git diffs into Markdown within a strict token budget.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed · ★ 7
- Author: bvolpato
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/bvolpato/ivygrep
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/ivygrep

## What it does

ivygrep indexes your codebase locally to run semantic and literal searches. Queries and source files never leave your machine. On the first run, the tool downloads its default model assets and starts a background daemon. This daemon monitors file changes and updates indexes incrementally.

The `ig context` command prepares targeted context for coding tasks. It pulls definitions, callers, tests, and documentation. Passing `--since` identifies the merge base with your target branch and attaches committed changes plus uncommitted edits. The tool inspects code but never edits files.

The default model runs on the CPU across all architectures. Metal builds accelerate processing on Apple Silicon. For CUDA on Linux x86_64, you need an NVIDIA card with compute capability 8.0 or newer and the CUDA 13 runtime.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Install**
- The MCP registry has no launch command for it: see the repository README

## When to use it
- search local repositories using natural language intent
- package relevant definitions and callers within an exact token budget
- include branch Git diffs and unstaged changes into agent prompts
- inspect symbols and call hierarchies without cloud dependencies

## Example prompts
- Find where refresh token rotation is handled using ivygrep
- Build task context for refresh-token race fixes since main with an 8000 token budget
- Show definitions and callers for calculate_tax using ivygrep

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md