How do I install the Better Grep skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add drunkcoding/better-grep in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Better Grep safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Better Grep?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Better Grep free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Better Grep?

drunkcoding (@drunkcoding) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Better Grep by drunkcoding — Agent Skill

Name: Better Grep
Author: drunkcoding

Better Grep

Performs fast text search with one-shot patterns that minimize iterations by getting files, lines, and context in a single call. Use this skill to replace grep when searching for text patterns, finding specific code locations, or getting context around matches

drunkcoding Updated Sep 21, 2026

File contents

ripgrep: Powerful, one-shot text search

Always invoke ripgrep skill for text search - do not execute bash commands directly.

Default Strategy

Invoke ripgrep skill for fast text search with one-shot patterns. Use -e 'pattern' -n -C 2 to get files, line numbers, and context in a single call.

This minimizes iterations and context usage. Always prefer getting line numbers and surrounding context over multiple search attempts.

Common workflow: ripgrep skill → other skills (fzf, bat, sd, analyzing-code-structure) for interactive selection, preview, or modification.

Tool Selection

Grep tool (built on ripgrep) - Use for structured searches:

Basic pattern matching with structured output
File type filtering with type parameter
When special flags like -F, -v, -w, or pipe composition are not needed
Handles 95% of search needs

Bash(rg) - Use for one-shot searches needing special flags or composition:

Fixed string search (-F)
Invert line match (-v)
Word boundaries (-w)
Files without matches (--files-without-match)
Multiline patterns (-U)
PCRE2 lookahead/lookbehind (-P)
Replace preview (-r)
Search hidden/ignored files (--hidden, --no-ignore)
Pipe composition (| head, | wc -l, | sort)
Use when Grep tool lacks the needed flag

Glob tool - Use for file name/path matching only (not content search)

When to Load Detailed Reference

Load ripgrep guide when needing:

One-shot search pattern templates
Effective flag combinations for complex searches
Advanced features: multiline (-U), PCRE2 (-P), replace preview (-r)
File search modifiers: --files-without-match, --hidden, --no-ignore
Pipe composition patterns
File type filters reference (-t flags)
Pattern syntax examples
Decision flow for choosing Grep tool vs Bash(rg)

The guide focuses on practical patterns for getting targeted results in minimal calls.

Pipeline Combinations

rg | fzf: Interactive selection from search results
rg | sd: Batch replacements on search results
rg | xargs: Execute commands on matched files

---name: better-grepdescription: Performs fast text search with one-shot patterns that minimize iterations by getting files, lines, and context in a single call. Use this skill to replace grep when searching for text patterns, finding specific code locations, or getting context around matches---# ripgrep: Powerful, one-shot text search**Always invoke ripgrep skill for text search - do not execute bash commands directly.**## Default Strategy**Invoke ripgrep skill** for fast text search with one-shot patterns. Use `-e 'pattern' -n -C 2` to get files, line numbers, and context in a single call.This minimizes iterations and context usage. Always prefer getting line numbers and surrounding context over multiple search attempts.Common workflow: ripgrep skill → other skills (fzf, bat, sd, analyzing-code-structure) for interactive selection, preview, or modification.## Tool Selection**Grep tool** (built on ripgrep) - Use for structured searches:- Basic pattern matching with structured output- File type filtering with `type` parameter- When special flags like `-F`, `-v`, `-w`, or pipe composition are not needed- Handles 95% of search needs**Bash(rg)** - Use for one-shot searches needing special flags or composition:- Fixed string search (`-F`)- Invert line match (`-v`)- Word boundaries (`-w`)- Files without matches (`--files-without-match`)- Multiline patterns (`-U`)- PCRE2 lookahead/lookbehind (`-P`)- Replace preview (`-r`)- Search hidden/ignored files (`--hidden`, `--no-ignore`)- Pipe composition (`| head`, `| wc -l`, `| sort`)- Use when Grep tool lacks the needed flag**Glob tool** - Use for file name/path matching only (not content search)## When to Load Detailed ReferenceLoad [ripgrep guide](./reference/ripgrep-guide.md) when needing:- One-shot search pattern templates- Effective flag combinations for complex searches- Advanced features: multiline (`-U`), PCRE2 (`-P`), replace preview (`-r`)- File search modifiers: `--files-without-match`, `--hidden`, `--no-ignore`- Pipe composition patterns- File type filters reference (`-t` flags)- Pattern syntax examples- Decision flow for choosing Grep tool vs Bash(rg)The guide focuses on practical patterns for getting targeted results in minimal calls.### Pipeline Combinations- **rg | fzf**: Interactive selection from search results- **rg | sd**: Batch replacements on search results- **rg | xargs**: Execute commands on matched files

Frequently asked questions