# Surf

> Use instead of Read to skim markdown, TeX, or PDF files. Progressive context disclosure by heading or outline. See `surf --help` for usage.

- Skill: `saintx/surf` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 5 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add saintx/surf`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/saintx/surf/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Docs & Writing
- Author: saintx (https://skillmd.com/u/saintx)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/saintx/surf

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# Surf: Progressive Context Disclosure

Extract a markdown heading, TeX section, or PDF outline item via `surf` without loading the rest of the file. Default `surf ~/path/to/file.md` (no heading) is the file map, not the body.

## Load units (section routing)

Resolve with `surf` against the section heading; do not bulk-ingest a whole reference for one fact.

### About / orientation

| Intent | Section extraction |
|--------|--------------------|
| Overview | `surf references/about.md "Overview"` |
| When to use | `surf references/about.md "When to use"` |

### Usage

| Intent | Section extraction |
|--------|--------------------|
| Default: file map | `surf references/usage.md "Default: file map"` |
| Frontmatter only | `surf references/usage.md "Frontmatter only"` |
| Heading tree only | `surf references/usage.md "Heading tree only"` |
| Targeted section | `surf references/usage.md "Targeted section"` |
| TeX | `surf references/usage.md "TeX"` |
| PDF | `surf references/usage.md "PDF"` |
| Level | `surf references/usage.md "Level"` |
| Wikilink and link input | `surf references/usage.md "Wikilink and link input"` |
| Batch scanning | `surf references/usage.md "Batch scanning"` |
| Platform aggregation (batch section extraction) | `surf references/usage.md "Platform aggregation (batch section extraction)"` |
| Filter by frontmatter | `surf references/usage.md "Filter by frontmatter"` |
| Additional options | `surf references/usage.md "Additional options"` |

### TeX and PDF

`references/surf.tex` and `references/surf.pdf` are one document in two forms. The same address works on either.

| Intent | Section extraction |
|--------|--------------------|
| Extract a section from TeX | `surf references/surf.tex "Markdown, TeX, and PDF"` |
| Extract a section from PDF | `surf references/surf.pdf "Markdown, TeX, and PDF"` |