tomevault-io 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
# .grepai/config.yaml
search:
boost:
enabled: true
penalties:
- pattern: /tests/
factor: 0.5
bonuses:
- pattern: /src/
factor: 1.1
Full Configuration
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 |
| 1.1 | 10% increase | Mild boost (src) |
| 1.2 | 20% increase | Moderate boost (core) |
| 1.5 | 50% increase | Strong boost |
Pattern Matching
Patterns match against the full file path:
/project/src/auth/middleware.go
^^^^
Matches "/src/" pattern
Pattern Types
| Pattern | Matches | Doesn't Match |
|---|---|---|
/tests/ |
src/tests/auth.go |
tests.go |
_test. |
auth_test.go |
test_auth.go |
.spec. |
auth.spec.ts |
spec/auth.ts |
/src/ |
project/src/main.go |
resource/file.go |
Effect on Rankings
Without Boosting
Score: 0.85 | tests/auth_test.go:10-30
Score: 0.82 | src/auth/middleware.go:15-45
Score: 0.80 | src/auth/jwt.go:23-55
With Boosting
penalties:
- pattern: /tests/
factor: 0.5
bonuses:
- pattern: /src/
factor: 1.1
Score: 0.90 | src/auth/middleware.go:15-45 (0.82 × 1.1)
Score: 0.88 | src/auth/jwt.go:23-55 (0.80 × 1.1)
Score: 0.43 | tests/auth_test.go:10-30 (0.85 × 0.5)
Common Configurations
Standard (Recommended)
search:
boost:
enabled: true
penalties:
- pattern: /tests/
factor: 0.5
- pattern: _test.
factor: 0.5
- pattern: .spec.
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /vendor/
factor: 0.3
- pattern: /docs/
factor: 0.6
bonuses:
- pattern: /src/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /lib/
factor: 1.1
Frontend Project
search:
boost:
enabled: true
penalties:
- pattern: /__tests__/
factor: 0.5
- pattern: .test.
factor: 0.5
- pattern: .spec.
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /node_modules/
factor: 0.3
- pattern: .stories.
factor: 0.6
- pattern: /storybook/
factor: 0.6
bonuses:
- pattern: /src/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /components/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /hooks/
factor: 1.1
Go Project
search:
boost:
enabled: true
penalties:
- pattern: _test.go
factor: 0.5
- pattern: _mock.go
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /testdata/
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /vendor/
factor: 0.3
- pattern: .pb.go
factor: 0.4
bonuses:
- pattern: /internal/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /cmd/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /pkg/
factor: 1.1
Python Project
search:
boost:
enabled: true
penalties:
- pattern: /tests/
factor: 0.5
- pattern: test_
factor: 0.5
- pattern: _test.py
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /conftest
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /fixtures/
factor: 0.6
bonuses:
- pattern: /src/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /app/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /core/
factor: 1.2
Monorepo
search:
boost:
enabled: true
penalties:
- pattern: /tests/
factor: 0.5
- pattern: _test.
factor: 0.5
- pattern: /packages/deprecated/
factor: 0.3
- pattern: /packages/legacy/
factor: 0.4
bonuses:
- pattern: /packages/core/
factor: 1.2
- pattern: /packages/api/
factor: 1.1
- pattern: /packages/shared/
factor: 1.1
Disabling Boosting
To disable boosting entirely:
search:
boost:
enabled: false
Or remove the boost section from config.
Boosting vs Ignoring
| Approach | Effect | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Ignore | Completely excluded | Dependencies, build output |
| Penalty | Still searchable, lower rank | Tests, docs, examples |
| Neutral | Default ranking | Regular source code |
| Bonus | Higher rank | Core business logic |
When to Ignore vs Penalize
- Ignore: Files you NEVER want to search (
node_modules,.git) - Penalize: Files you RARELY want but might need (
tests,docs)
Testing Your Configuration
After configuring boosting:
# Search and observe rankings
grepai search "authentication"
# Check if tests are properly deprioritized
grepai search "test authentication" # Should still find tests, but ranked lower
Best Practices
- Start with penalties: Deprioritize tests/vendor first
- Add bonuses sparingly: Only for truly important paths
- Test with real queries: Verify results make sense
- Don't over-penalize: 0.5 is usually enough for tests
- Document your choices: Add comments in config
Common Issues
❌ Problem: Tests always show up first ✅ Solution: Add penalty patterns for your test naming convention
❌ Problem: Can't find code in penalized paths ✅ Solution: Penalties reduce rank, don't hide. Use ignore for complete exclusion.
❌ Problem: Scores above 1.0 seem wrong ✅ Solution: Bonuses can push scores above 1.0; this is normal
❌ Problem: Pattern not matching
✅ Solution: Check that pattern appears in full path (use /tests/ not just tests)
Output Format
Boosting configuration status:
✅ Search Boosting Configured
Status: Enabled
Penalties (5):
- /tests/ → 0.5 (50% reduction)
- _test. → 0.5
- .spec. → 0.5
- /vendor/ → 0.3 (70% reduction)
- /docs/ → 0.6
Bonuses (3):
- /src/ → 1.1 (10% boost)
- /lib/ → 1.1
- /core/ → 1.2 (20% boost)
Effect: Source code ranks higher than tests with similar content
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