# grepai-search-boosting

A skill that configures GrepAI score boosting so source files outrank tests, docs and vendor code.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 749 installs · ★ 21
- Author: yoanbernabeu
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/search/grepai-search-boosting/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-02-01
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/grepai-search-boosting

## What it does

The skill walks through the `search.boost` section of `.grepai/config.yaml`. It ships ready-made blocks: penalties with a factor below 1.0 for tests, docs, `vendor`, `node_modules` and generated code, plus bonuses above 1.0 for `src`, `lib`, `core` and `internal`.

The mechanics are plain. A pattern is matched against the full file path, and the factor multiplies the original score. A 0.85 hit in `tests/auth_test.go` at factor 0.5 becomes 0.425, while 0.82 in `src/auth/middleware.go` at 1.1 becomes 0.90. That is why a test with similar content sinks and production code rises.

Presets cover frontend, Go, Python and monorepo layouts, with patterns like `.spec.`, `_test.go`, `.pb.go` and `/packages/core/`. Turning the whole thing off takes one line, `enabled: false`. If search starts missing files you expect, look at the penalties first: a broad pattern such as `_test.` also catches unrelated files that happen to carry that name.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills --skill grepai-search-boosting -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/grepai-search-boosting/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/grepai-search-boosting/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills --skill grepai-search-boosting -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/grepai-search-boosting/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills --skill grepai-search-boosting -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/grepai-search-boosting/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills grepai-search-boosting
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/grepai-search-boosting/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills --skill grepai-search-boosting -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills --path skills/search/grepai-search-boosting
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/grepai-search-boosting/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills --skill grepai-search-boosting -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/search/grepai-search-boosting/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- rank source files above tests with similar content
- push vendor code and `node_modules` out of top results
- tune ranking for a monorepo layout
- deprioritise docs and example directories
- give core logic a stronger factor than the rest of the code

## Example prompts
- configure GrepAI boosting so tests stop topping my search results
- add a penalty for /vendor/ and /node_modules/ to my GrepAI config
- set up boost rules for a monorepo with /packages/core/

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 7a00796418e7758f.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 7a00796418e7758f
````text
---
name: grepai-search-boosting
description: Configure search result boosting in GrepAI. Use this skill to prioritize certain paths and penalize others.
---

# GrepAI Search Boosting

This skill covers configuring score boosting to prioritize relevant code paths and deprioritize tests, docs, and vendor code.

## When to Use This Skill

- Prioritizing source code over tests
- Penalizing vendor/third-party code
- Boosting important directories
- Customizing result ranking

## What is Boosting?

Boosting modifies search scores based on file paths:

```
Original score: 0.85 (src/auth.go)
Bonus (+10%):   0.935

Original score: 0.85 (tests/auth_test.go)
Penalty (-50%): 0.425
```

This ensures production code ranks higher than tests with similar content.

## Configuration

### Basic Configuration

```yaml
# .grepai/config.yaml
search:
  boost:
    enabled: true
    penalties:
      - pattern: /tests/
        factor: 0.5
    bonuses:
      - pattern: /src/
        factor: 1.1
```

### Full Configuration

```yaml
search:
  boost:
    enabled: true

    # Reduce scores (factor < 1.0)
    penalties:
      # Test files
      - pattern: /tests/
        factor: 0.5
      - pattern: /__tests__/
        factor: 0.5
      - pattern: _test.
        factor: 0.5
      - pattern: .spec.
        factor: 0.5
      - pattern: .test.
        factor: 0.5

      # Documentation
      - pattern: /docs/
        factor: 0.6
      - pattern: /documentation/
        factor: 0.6

      # Vendor/third-party
      - pattern: /vendor/
        factor: 0.3
      - pattern: /node_modules/
        factor: 0.3
      - pattern: /third_party/
        factor: 0.3

      # Generated code
      - pattern: /generated/
        factor: 0.4
      - pattern: .gen.
        factor: 0.4
      - pattern: .pb.go
        factor: 0.4

      # Examples and samples
      - pattern: /examples/
        factor: 0.7
      - pattern: /samples/
        factor: 0.7

    # Increase scores (factor > 1.0)
    bonuses:
      # Core source code
      - pattern: /src/
        factor: 1.1
      - pattern: /lib/
        factor: 1.1
      - pattern: /app/
        factor: 1.1
      - pattern: /core/
        factor: 1.2
      - pattern: /internal/
        factor: 1.1

      # Important directories
      - pattern: /services/
        factor: 1.1
      - pattern: /handlers/
        factor: 1.1
      - pattern: /controllers/
        factor: 1.1
```

## How Factors Work

| Factor | Effect | Use Case |
|--------|--------|----------|
| 0.3 | 70% reduction | Strong penalty (vendor) |
| 0.5 | 50% reduction | Moderate penalty (tests) |
| 0.7 | 30% reduction | Mild penalty (examples) |
| 1.0 | No change | Neutral |
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 7a00796418e7758f

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 7a00796418e7758f tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

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