How do I install the Gno skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add dvcrn/gno 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.

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Which AI agents work with Gno?

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.

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

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

Gno by dvcrn — Agent Skill

Name: Gno
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: dvcrn

Gno

Search local documents, files, notes, and knowledge bases. Index directories, search with BM25/vector/hybrid, get AI answers with citations. Use when user wants to search files, find documents, query notes, look up information in local folders, index a directory, set up document search, build a knowledge base, needs RAG/semantic search, or wants to start a local web UI for their docs.

dvcrn Updated Sep 8, 2026 32 repo stars

File contents

GNO - Local Knowledge Engine

Fast local semantic search. Index once, search instantly. No cloud, no API keys.

When to Use This Skill

User asks to search files, documents, or notes
User wants to find information in local folders
User needs to index a directory for searching
User mentions PDFs, markdown, Word docs, code to search
User asks about knowledge base or RAG setup
User wants semantic/vector search over their files
User needs to set up MCP for document access
User wants a web UI to browse/search documents
User asks to get AI answers from their documents
User wants to tag, categorize, or filter documents
User asks about backlinks, wiki links, or related notes
User wants to visualize document connections or see a knowledge graph

Quick Start

gno init                              # Initialize in current directory
gno collection add ~/docs --name docs # Add folder to index
gno index                             # Build index (ingest + embed)
gno search "your query"               # BM25 keyword search

Command Overview

Category	Commands	Description
Search	`search`, `vsearch`, `query`, `ask`	Find documents by keywords, meaning, or get AI answers
Links	`links`, `backlinks`, `similar`, `graph`	Navigate document relationships and visualize connections
Retrieve	`get`, `multi-get`, `ls`	Fetch document content by URI or ID
Index	`init`, `collection add/list/remove`, `index`, `update`, `embed`	Set up and maintain document index
Tags	`tags`, `tags add`, `tags rm`	Organize and filter documents
Context	`context add/list/rm/check`	Add hints to improve search relevance
Models	`models list/use/pull/clear/path`	Manage local AI models
Serve	`serve`	Web UI for browsing and searching
MCP	`mcp`, `mcp install/uninstall/status`	AI assistant integration
Skill	`skill install/uninstall/show/paths`	Install skill for AI agents
Admin	`status`, `doctor`, `cleanup`, `reset`, `vec`, `completion`	Maintenance and diagnostics

Search Modes

Command	Speed	Best For
`gno search`	instant	Exact keyword matching
`gno vsearch`	~0.5s	Finding similar concepts
`gno query --fast`	~0.7s	Quick lookups
`gno query`	~2-3s	Balanced (default)
`gno query --thorough`	~5-8s	Best recall, complex queries
`gno ask --answer`	~3-5s	AI-generated answer with citations

Retry strategy: Use default first. If no results: rephrase query, then try --thorough.

Common Flags

-n <num>              Max results (default: 5)
-c, --collection      Filter to collection
--tags-any <t1,t2>    Has ANY of these tags
--tags-all <t1,t2>    Has ALL of these tags
--json                JSON output
--files               URI list output
--line-numbers        Include line numbers

Global Flags

--index <name>    Alternate index (default: "default")
--config <path>   Override config file
--verbose         Verbose logging
--json            JSON output
--yes             Non-interactive mode
--offline         Use cached models only
--no-color        Disable colors
--no-pager        Disable paging

Important: Embedding After Changes

If you edit/create files that should be searchable via vector search:

gno index              # Full re-index (sync + embed)
# or
gno embed              # Embed only (if already synced)

MCP gno.sync and gno.capture do NOT auto-embed. Use CLI for embedding.

Reference Documentation

Topic	File
Complete CLI reference (all commands, options, flags)	cli-reference.md
MCP server setup and tools	mcp-reference.md
Usage examples and patterns	examples.md

---name: gnodescription: Search local documents, files, notes, and knowledge bases. Index directories, search with BM25/vector/hybrid, get AI answers with citations. Use when user wants to search files, find documents, query notes, look up information in local folders, index a directory, set up document search, build a knowledge base, needs RAG/semantic search, or wants to start a local web UI for their docs.---# GNO - Local Knowledge EngineFast local semantic search. Index once, search instantly. No cloud, no API keys.## When to Use This Skill- User asks to **search files, documents, or notes**- User wants to **find information** in local folders- User needs to **index a directory** for searching- User mentions **PDFs, markdown, Word docs, code** to search- User asks about **knowledge base** or **RAG** setup- User wants **semantic/vector search** over their files- User needs to **set up MCP** for document access- User wants a **web UI** to browse/search documents- User asks to **get AI answers** from their documents- User wants to **tag, categorize, or filter** documents- User asks about **backlinks, wiki links, or related notes**- User wants to **visualize document connections** or see a **knowledge graph**## Quick Start```bashgno init # Initialize in current directorygno collection add ~/docs --name docs # Add folder to indexgno index # Build index (ingest + embed)gno search "your query" # BM25 keyword search```## Command Overview| Category | Commands | Description || ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- || **Search** | `search`, `vsearch`, `query`, `ask` | Find documents by keywords, meaning, or get AI answers || **Links** | `links`, `backlinks`, `similar`, `graph` | Navigate document relationships and visualize connections || **Retrieve** | `get`, `multi-get`, `ls` | Fetch document content by URI or ID || **Index** | `init`, `collection add/list/remove`, `index`, `update`, `embed` | Set up and maintain document index || **Tags** | `tags`, `tags add`, `tags rm` | Organize and filter documents || **Context** | `context add/list/rm/check` | Add hints to improve search relevance || **Models** | `models list/use/pull/clear/path` | Manage local AI models || **Serve** | `serve` | Web UI for browsing and searching || **MCP** | `mcp`, `mcp install/uninstall/status` | AI assistant integration || **Skill** | `skill install/uninstall/show/paths` | Install skill for AI agents || **Admin** | `status`, `doctor`, `cleanup`, `reset`, `vec`, `completion` | Maintenance and diagnostics |## Search Modes| Command | Speed | Best For || ---------------------- | ------- | ---------------------------------- || `gno search` | instant | Exact keyword matching || `gno vsearch` | ~0.5s | Finding similar concepts || `gno query --fast` | ~0.7s | Quick lookups || `gno query` | ~2-3s | Balanced (default) || `gno query --thorough` | ~5-8s | Best recall, complex queries || `gno ask --answer` | ~3-5s | AI-generated answer with citations |**Retry strategy**: Use default first. If no results: rephrase query, then try `--thorough`.## Common Flags```-n <num> Max results (default: 5)-c, --collection Filter to collection--tags-any <t1,t2> Has ANY of these tags--tags-all <t1,t2> Has ALL of these tags--json JSON output--files URI list output--line-numbers Include line numbers```## Global Flags```--index <name> Alternate index (default: "default")--config <path> Override config file--verbose Verbose logging--json JSON output--yes Non-interactive mode--offline Use cached models only--no-color Disable colors--no-pager Disable paging```## Important: Embedding After ChangesIf you edit/create files that should be searchable via vector search:```bashgno index # Full re-index (sync + embed)# orgno embed # Embed only (if already synced)```MCP `gno.sync` and `gno.capture` do NOT auto-embed. Use CLI for embedding.## Reference Documentation| Topic | File || ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ || Complete CLI reference (all commands, options, flags) | [cli-reference.md](cli-reference.md) || MCP server setup and tools | [mcp-reference.md](mcp-reference.md) || Usage examples and patterns | [examples.md](examples.md) |

Frequently asked questions

Gno