btca-local — Claude Code skill for searching Git repositories
This skill guides an agent through searching Git repositories on your machine and citing the code it finds. Use it to investigate a project’s source.
npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-local -a claude-codeWhat btca-local does
btca-local gives the agent a workflow for searching local Git repositories. It uses ~/.btca/agent/sandbox: repositories already there are updated, while missing ones are cloned from their main branch. If you provide a specific repository, the skill directs the search to it.
The agent is instructed to support its answer with citations or links and complete code examples, including imports. The search depends on repositories being available on your machine. The main branch is used unless you request another one.
What it helps with
- locate the implementation of a function in a repository
- trace where a method or API is called
- search a specific Git repository for an answer
- get a source-based explanation with citations and complete code
Example prompts for the agent
- Use btca to find where this repository handles authentication.
- Use btca to explain how this method works and show the complete code example.
- Use btca to search this Git repository and cite the relevant source.
How to install btca-local
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-local -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/btca-local/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/btca-local/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-local -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/btca-local/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-local -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/btca-local/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install davis7dotsh/better-context btca-local2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/btca-local/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-local -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/davis7dotsh/better-context --path skills/btca-localManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/btca-local/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-local -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about btca-local
How do I install btca-local in Claude Code?
Run npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-local -a claude-code. The skill file is installed at ~/.claude/skills/btca-local/SKILL.md.
What does btca-local do?
It guides an agent to search Git repositories on your machine, then answer with source citations or links and complete code examples.
Where does btca-local search for repositories?
It works in ~/.btca/agent/sandbox. Existing clones are updated; missing repositories are cloned, using the main branch unless you ask for another.
Source text
SKILL.md · MIT
---
name: btca-local
description: Invoke this skill when the user says "use btca"
---
# BTCA Local
BTCA Local, aka "The Better Context App Local" is a simple app defined as a skill file. The purpose of this app is to search git repos cloned onto this machine.
## the BTCA Search Workflow
<guidelines>
<guideline>
if the user includes a direct like to a github repo, always load and reference that
</guideline>
<guideline>
if the user doesn't include any specific links/repos they want you to use, do your best to guess based on the context provided
</guideline>
<guideline>
always include links/citations in your answers explaining what you found
</guideline>
<guideline>
include very clear and complete code snippets. don't leave out stuff like imports, that's important context
</guideline>
<guideline>
when answering use lots of bulleted/numbered lists to keep things readable and clear
</guideline>
</guidelines>
<workflow>
<step name="work dir setup">
use ~/.btca/agent/sandbox as the place where you clone/search repos
</step>
<step name="load">
if the repo(s) are already in the work dir ~/.btca/agent/sandbox update them, otherwise clone them. clone the main branch by default, unless the user asks for something else
</step>
<step name="search">
search the repo for the information you need. make sure to follow the guidelines
</step>
<workflow>
<end_goal>
a clear, concise answer to the question with code examples
</end_goal>
## Startup Cases:
This skill can be invoked in a couple different ways, and your behavior should reflect that:
### user invoked without extra context/question
this is the "app startup" state, almost as if a terminal app was booted up.
Your job is to search the working directory ~/.btca/agent/sandbox at the top level, just to get a list of all the repos that have been previously cloned
Then you should simply output the following markdown (filling in the existing repos):
```md
# BTCA Local
_use your coding agent to search any git repo locally_
Previously searched:
- repo 1
- ...
Give me a question and the link to a git repo to get started!
(we can also clean out or pre-load some resources to this list...)
```
### you invoked because of user's prompt
in this case, your job is to answer/execute the users prompt faithfully, just while also using the btca search workflow when needed to better execute your task
### user invoked while also giving a prompt/questions
this one's simple, simply answer the users prompt with the btca search workflow
© davis7dotsh · MIT · davis7dotsh/better-context